The Nigeria Labour Congress on Friday said it has put machinery in place for a two-day nationwide protest slated for February 27 and February 28, 2024. This comes on the heels of Labour two-week ultimatum to the government to meet demands ranging from wage increments to improved access to public utilities and accused it of failing to uphold pledges to soften the impact of reforms.

Comrade Joe Ajaero, NLC’s National President, said the protest would begin a week after the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum it issued to the Federal Government which will expire on February 23. adding that the decision followed an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on the state of the economy and matters related to insecurity in the country.

Comrade Ajaero advised the Federal Government not to flout the deadline of the 14-day ultimatum. He lamented that millions of Nigerian workers are facing hunger, erosion of purchasing power and insecurity due to reforms that drove up inflation.

The organised labour penultimate Thursday served the federal government notice of its intention to embark on industrial action following the failure of government to implement the 16 – point agreement it entered with government on October 2, 2023.

Specifically, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) are concerned that despite organised labour’s efforts to ensure industrial peace, government seems unperturbed by the mass suffering and hardship across the country.

More significantly, Labour has alleged that government has refused to meet most of the agreements mutually agreed to in October 2023.

Even without Labour’s prompting, residents of Minna, Lokoja and Kano had in the last few days taken to the streets to protest the unfavorable economic situation in the country. Similar protests have taken place in Delta State.

The organised labour in a statement lamented that: “it is regrettable that we are compelled to resort to such measures, but the persistent neglect of the welfare of citizens and Nigerian workers and the massive hardship leave us with no choice.

“Constrained by this development and recognising the urgency of the situation and the imperative of ensuring the protection and defence of the rights and dignity of Nigerian workers and citizens, the NLC and TUC hereby issue a stern ultimatum to the Federal Government to honour their part of the understanding within 14 days from tomorrow, the 9th day of February 2024.