FG Has Apprehended NLC’s Threat To Protest Over Naira Scarcity – Chris Ngige

The Federal Government said it has apprehended the threat made by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to embark on a strike in protest over naira scarcity.

KanyiDaily recalls that the NLC had announced plans to begin a nationwide strike from tomorrow, Wednesday, following the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum given to the federal government to end the petrol and cash scarcity being experienced in the country.

The NLC had also directed all its chapters across the country to mobilize for a protest at all the branches of the CBN over the scarcity of naira that has brought untold hardship to the citizens.

Speaking on Tuesday at the weekly ministerial briefing at the state house in Abuja, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige revealed that the government has “apprehended” the situation.

According to him, he invited the NLC leadership and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to a meeting on Monday to resolve the issue and prevent the planned protest.

Ngige said the CBN has taken steps to address the naira scarcity situation, while the NLC’s national executive council will have a meeting today to “review the situation” and chart a way forward.

He said, “They said they will call up their national executive council meeting because the initial decision to give that ultimatum was given by this same council.

“Members of the council reside in the states and in the local governments so they will come up today, which is Tuesday, the 28th, to review the situation because much as it is, the important thing is that we have emphasised to them that we have apprehended this dispute.

“By section 7:8 of trade dispute act, once the minister apprehends and starts conciliation on it, you maintain status quo ante bellum. So they have gone back now to review the situation. If they’re not satisfied with what they see, they will come back to me and I will invite the CBN again.

“But for now, the issue of discussion is no longer strike, the issue of discussion is implementation and how far it is gone and how far it affects Nigerian workers and the general population.

“So that is it, the final decision will be done today by NEC and they will then do a resolution, of course, inform me and CBN what their resolution is. But like I said, we have apprehended and we are now conciliating.”

KanyiDaily recalls that the Supreme court had declared that old N200, N500 and N1,000 notes remain legal tender until December 31, 2023.