Following improvements in availability to Naira notes in the commercial banks over the last weekend, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday resolved to suspend its planned strike which would have commenced on Wednesday across the country.

The NLC, had last week threatened to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike, where they would picket all branches of the CBN from, March 29th if the federal government failed to end the liquidity squeeze, which had affected businesses and commercial transactions among Nigerians.

The congress later announced the suspension of the strike after its National Executive Council meeting, giving the apex bank additional two weeks to improve on the circulation of cash across the country.

Speaking on the development, the NLC national president, Comrade Joe Ajaero said the congress decided to monitor the compliance of the CBN with the money circulation, adding that some commercial banks are becoming empty again despite the cash evacuation.

He noted that the NLC has not called off the strike action but waiting for the development of the situation in the next two weeks if the CBN’s action is sustainable for the country’s economy.

“We agreed that we have to monitor this compliance for the next two weeks to establish whether it is sustainable. CBN rushed to move money to commercial banks, but some of the banks are getting empty again. Queues are returning to some of them.

“It will be very naïve of the NLC to hurriedly call off the action. We would want to loosen up for another two weeks, however. The NLC and TUC have decided to allow March 29 to pass without any picketing, but to watch for the next two weeks. “After two weeks from today, the NEC of the two organisations will meet to decide whether the CBN has fully complied and whether its compliance is sustainable to drive the economy,” he said.

Lagos Workers Complain Over Delayed March Salary

In another development, there is a growing concern among civil servants in Lagos state over the alleged delay in the payment of their March salary which should have been implemented on March 23rd,2023, their regular payday.

The civil servants who spoke with NDR in anonymity stated that their March salary should have been paid on 23rd March 2023 but the government postponed the payment till March 27th for them to receive the additional amount which the government had promised them.

Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu had promised the workers in the mainstream civil service a 20% salary increment during his campaign for the second term. Having won the gubernatorial election, the Lagos state government announced the implementation of its promise, by extending the salary increase to civil servants in local government areas and the State Universal Basic Education Board, stating that the new salary structure would take effect from January 1st, 2023.

However, the civil servants in the state have been in doubt of the development whether the governor will fulfil his promise or not. Reacting to the situation, the Special Assistant on Media to the Lagos State Governor, Mr Wale Ajetunmobi denied the allegation that the state government is delaying the payment of civil servants’ salaries.

Speaking with NDR, Mr Ajetunmobi said that the state workers have been paid since March 24th of the month, claiming that the approved 20% increment will be paid in March and April.

“Personally, those that told you that they have not been paid, are lying. It is a lie from the pit of hell. If anybody tells you they have not been paid their salary till today, it is a lie. Lagos State pays salaries on the 24th of every month, except the 24th falls on a weekend which is when they will get it the following week.

“Another thing is the salary increment, immediately after the governorship elections, the governor approved, so the money is going to be paid, not this month but next month. Everything was well explained in the circular. Every civil servant has the circular that the money will be paid in March and April, and the month has not ended. Lagos state civil service, they don’t owe anybody except if you have a problem.

However, some of the workers confirmed the receipt of alerts in the evening of Thursday March 29th from some banks while others may receive their own tomorrow March 30, 2023.