There are indications the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) may shut down economic activities in the country from Wednesday, August 2, 2023, in protest of the hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol.

It was gathered that the NLC has concluded plans to embark on a nationwide protest over what it described as the government’s insensitive policies which have currently thrown millions of Nigerians into poverty, suffering, and hardship.

A senior official of the union, who confirmed the development in Abuja on Wednesday morning, said the Congress would release a statement on the planned strike later in the day.

“There will be an irrevocable strike action by NLC that will commence on 2nd August,” the source said.

It would be recalled that the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, recently gave a hint about the strike in his address at the end of the 2023 Rain School held in Uyo Akwa Ibom State, when he urged members of the union to prepare their minds to respond to the cry of Nigerians in a creative and timely manner.

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Ajaero said: “It is important that we quickly draw your attention to the insensitive and utterly unacceptable hike in the prices of petroleum products by the government of Nigeria in the midst of the suffering occasioned by the earlier hike of same product price to N537/litre on the 29th day of May 2023.

“Nigerians were yet to grapple with the shock of that inauguration day price increase when just few days ago, we were shocked with the announcement of a fresh price hike to N617/litre by the agents of the federal government.

“To us comrades, this is most unconscionable and a further attempt at emasculating an already suffering and bent Nigerians who are currently groaning under the yoke of an unbending malevolent group presently occupying the corridors of power.

“We have pointed this out so as to prepare all of our minds on the battle that awaits all of us as we leave this place. The skills we have acquired here must be used to strategically respond to this nascent wickedness if we must remain relevant as the people cry out and ask; where is Labour and where is the NLC?

“A cry is out there in the streets comrades and we must respond creatively and timely to those calls. It is in the nature and robustness of our response that the testimony of what we have acquired these past days will be borne. It is truly going to be a demonstration of our resilience which is anchored on how we are able to meet with the desires and expectations of those who look up to us for the articulation and defense of their rights and privileges.

“Our earlier nationwide action was sabotaged by an abnormal injunction procured and served on us in unholy circumstances from the courts by the government. Whether this antics of manipulating the courts to sabotage our collective resolve will work this time is going to be left in the hands of Nigerians and the seriousness with which they see the imminent peril which our lives are being subjected to.”

The Star