…..begins sit-at-home Thursday
…..urges courts to do justice to election cases before them
Worried by the non availability of cash and the problems Nigerians faced meeting their daily needs occasioned by cash and fuel scarcity, the Nigeria Labour congress (NLC) has given the federal government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) 7 working days ultimatum to address the issues, or face shut down of the country.
The NLC also urged the courts to do justice to the election cases before them to reduce tension and ill-feelings associated with the outcome of the election.
NLC President, Joseph Ajaero, who addressed newsmen at the Central Working Committee (CWC) of the congress in Abuja yesterday, expressed worry that workers and Nigerians as a whole are passing through unprecedented hardship as a result of the unfriendly policy, saying the congress can no longer bear the situation.
He said the congress, will by Wednesday next week, direct all workers to begin sit-at-home strike, beginning from Thursday next week, if government fails to reverse decision on cash and fuel.
“The Congress wish to inform the federal government that we will no longer keep quiet to this issue of perennial fuel scarcity and arbitrary increase of petroleum products prices.
“The issue of cash crunch, the NLC is giving the federal government of Nigeria, the agencies of government including the Central Bank of Nigeria, and top banking institutions, seven working days to address the issue of the cash crunch.
“If they fail to do this at the expiration of the seven days, the Congress is directing all workers in the country to stay at home because it has become very difficult to even access one naira to enter vehicles to your workplace.
“It is even difficult to buy products, especially from traders who don’t have bank accounts. This is the situation we have found ourselves.
“The federal government came out with the policy that even the old currency are still valid. What we have discovered is that even when the banks give you those old currencies, the traders are not accepting it. And even when you take it to the same banks, the banks are not accepting it either.
“We are being frustrated to a level that we can no longer keep quiet.
“In terms of the political situation in the country. We are urging all gladiators to remember that the interest of this country is paramount to all of us and they should do everything reasonably possible to make sure that the system is maintained.
“The courts are there where they will take their matters to and we urge the courts to do justice to the issues brought to them”, the congress president said.
