Labour Congress Commences Nationwide Protest Today

• Labour Congress Commences Nationwide Protest Today

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has started a nationwide protest today in Abuja to compel the Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige, to inaugurate the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) board.

The union and the ministry of labour have backed different people for the chairman of the board, with both parties fighting to inaugurate their preferred chairman.

However, in a statement put out from the presidency office on Sunday, the office of the president stated that the decision of Dr Ngige on NSITF board had the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The NLC is accusing Ngige of scheming to push Comrade Frank Kokori out of office as the Chairman of NSITF. While also claiming the minister sent thugs to attack them last week when they first converged at his Asokoro residence in Abuja.

“This is brazen continuation of Ngige’s antics and machinations against the common interest of the Nigerian workers, which obviously played out with his subversive and divisive tendencies all throughout the negotiation period for a new minimum wage,” the circular sent out by NLC stated.

“Tomorrow will go down in history that there was once a Minister of Labour that was picketed out of office and circulation.”

The protest, which includes members of affiliated groups, started from the Labour house.

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba, who also was at the protest, said they are protesting the attack on Nigerian workers during a procession to Ngige’s private residence in Asokoro, Abuja.

“Members of International Labour Congress in Geneva will be protesting against Ngige on June 18,” he said.