Yesterday, Ventures Africa reported that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) strike scheduled to hold today may not take place due to the ruling of the National Industrial Court (NIC) yesterday. NIC President, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, passed a ruling restraining the labour unions from going on strike, pending the determination of a suit the federal government filed before it. He ordered all parties to maintain the current status quo until the legal dispute is settled. He also directed the government to engage in productive dialogue with the NLC towards creating an amicable resolution of their dispute and adjourned the case to May 24 for a hearing of the motion on notice.

Following hours of negotiation between the federal government and the union leaders which ended in a deadlock, the NLC still went ahead with the strike. Representatives of the NLC said they proceeded with the strike action because they were annoyed by the decision of the federal government to proceed to court, in spite of the existing negotiation. This strike action has divided the NLC and TUC into two factions those for and those against the strike. In view of the refusal of the NLC president led faction to end the strike, the Federal government has warned that it would not pay any worker who doesn’t come to work during this period.

It would be recalled that over the weekend, organized labour and the civil society gave the federal government till midnight on Tuesday to reverse the increase or face an indefinite national strike. However, despite the declaration of a nationwide strike and protests across Nigeria, activities in Nigeria’s commercial hub Lagos, remain the same as people went about their daily duties. Banks are still attending to customers while traders are also very busy.

These tweets tell you more about what is happening in Lagos:

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