ABUJA, NIGERIA – The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is set to meet today, March 28, 2023, to discuss the availability of money in states and local government areas across the country.
Based on these reports, the NLC NEC will decide whether to proceed with a threatened nationwide strike.
NLC President Joe Ajaero disclosed this information during a Monday meeting with Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele.
The NLC leadership had issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to end the naira scarcity in the country, threatening to go on strike if the issue remained unresolved. In response, Ngige invited the CBN leadership and the NLC to a meeting to discuss the matter.
According to a statement from the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Olajide Oshundun, Emefiele informed the NLC about the steps taken to alleviate the suffering of the masses.
The CBN governor stated that a large volume of funds had been made available to deposit money banks, which were directed to open on weekends under strict CBN supervision. Emefiele claimed that Nigerians have been enjoying access to their money since these steps were taken.
Ajaero acknowledged the positive outcomes of the discussions and recognized that Nigerians were now accessing their money.
However, he urged the CBN to improve its services and regretted the information gap created in the implementation of the Naira Redesign.
Ajaero said, “NLC could not have stopped CBN from taking good decisions and implementing them in the interest of the nation. If stakeholders were invited and briefed on the policy, when the people complain, NLC would explain everything to them. But in this case, the CBN did it alone. Moreover, it is a wrong time for administering such a national policy.”
