The Labour Minister, Chris Ngige, has eaten his word and invited the leadership of the United Labour Congress (NLC) to a meeting, today in Abuja, over the ongoing strike by the union.

Members of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), an acclaimed affiliate union of ULC had on Tuesday turned down an invitation from the ministry for a conciliation meeting, saying that NUPENG did not declare strike, but ULC did and will only honour an invitation to discuss with the ULC.

The Minister had in an earlier briefing described ULC as an illegal trade union.

But the Minister is now making a U-turn as he has recongised ULC as a Labour Union whose registration is in motion.

The United Labour Congress of Nigeria (ULC) on Monday commenced a nationwide strike.

The union is downing their tools over the failure of the government to register the union, failure to address Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) issues, deplorable state of Nigerian roads, minimum wage increase, among other demands.

The affiliated unions of ULC include (NUPENG), Electricity Workers, Nigerian Union of Mine Workers, National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions employees, Association of Nigerian aviation professionals, among others.

Kaduna state ULC chairman, Ephraim James confirmed that the nationwide industrial action commences midnight of Monday, September 18, 2017 until further notice.

In a statement signed by Mr Joe Ajaero, President of the ULC, the union demands that, “The Federal Government bans the stationing of the Army and Police in our workplaces and factory premises. The Government should demand that the Federal Ministry of Labour sets up a task force immediately to carry out factory inspections as most of our factories are death traps.

“An immediate review of the Privatisation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to save Nigerians the agony of suffering under the suffocating darkness which the GENCOs and DISCOs have foisted on the nation and immediately prevail on AMCON and Barrister Nwaobike (SAN); the receiver manager of Delta Steel Company Ovwian Aladja who short-paid workers by 75% to quickly rectify it and repay the deficit.

“The immediate payment of all the arrears of salaries owed Nigerian workers at all levels of Government without exception.

“The Federal Government honours its 2009 agreement with University Lecturers under the umbrella of ASUU quickly and commence negotiations with them on new issues so that our universities will re-open.

“The roads leading to all the Petroleum refineries and Depots nation-wide be repaired by the Government to avoid the present carnage of lives, wastage of products and properties on these roads.

•Adapted from a Channels TV report.