The Nigerian Union of Railway Workers (NUR) are set to stop train operations nationwide from today, in solidarity with a directive from the Organised Labour.
In a statement signed yesterday, by the NUR Secretary General, Comrade Segun Esan, the workers said that the decision to embark on a nationwide strike was taken after exhaustive consideration of the nation’s subsisting labour atmosphere and the uncomplimentary body language of the Federal Government on the unfortunate Owerri incident of 1st November 2023.
The union said that it had sent copies of the statement to the Managing Director of NUR, Commissioner of Police and the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The statement reads: “Against the subsisting backdrop of the 1st November 2023 violent physical assaults, illicit arrest and detention of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comr. Joe Ajaero and many other workers at the Imo State NLC Secretariat, Owerri, by the Imo State Police Command, the Nigeria Labour Congress has convened a virtual National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting today Monday, 13th November 2023 and after exhaustive consideration of the nation’s subsisting labour atmosphere and the uncomplimentary body language of the federal government on the unfortunate Owerri incident of 1st November, the Congress’ NEC-in-session has finally decided that the nationwide strike action as threatened by the Congress must commence.
“In effect, therefore, all the workers of Nigerian Railway are duty-bound to join the nationwide strike action from the zero-zero hour of Tuesday, 14th November, 2023 by staying back at home and away from their offices while the NRC management and its security apparatus are enjoined to resume the spotlight to lock, secure and protect all the fixed and movable assets of the Corporation while the strike action lasts.
“All the offices, stations, workshops, and entire premises of the Corporation remain locked and inaccessible from the zero-zero hour of Tuesday, 14th November 2023 till otherwise directed by the Congress.
“This is a critical moment that we all must rise in strong and indivisible unison to salvage the credibility and integrity of the Nigerian workers who have for long been seized in the jugular by the state and its coercive instrument.
“Dare to challenge the oppressors, dare to win!”
