Index to Nigerian Newspapers

Barely 24 hours after meeting with President Bola Tinubu where an agreement was reached to call off their protests, the rapprochement between the organised labour and the Federal Government appeared to have collapsed as the unions on Thursday night vowed to embark on a nationwide strike from August 14 if their leaders were summoned for contempt of court orders.

 The Nigeria Labour Congress hinged its decision on the contempt of court application filed by the Federal Ministry of Justice against the labour leaders on Wednesday.

It threatened to down tools should the Federal Government fails to withdraw the lawsuit accusing the labour leadership of disobeying court orders.

The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, announced the decision on Thursday night after the union’s National Executive Council meeting which was held in Abuja. 

In a bid to avert a strike by the labour movement last month, the FG had through the Federal Ministry of Justice secured an order from the National Industrial Court restraining the NLC and the Trade Union Congress from embarking on any strike action over issues bordering on “removal of fuel subsidy, hike in prices of petrol and consequential increase in cost of living,” pending the determination of the suit.

The Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba, in a statement, urged the NLC to withdraw the seven-day notice it issued on its plan to commence a nationwide industrial action from August 2, if the demands of labour unions were not met.

The justice ministry sternly warned in a statement on July 26 that the planned strike by the union would be contempt of court, an offence that is punishable by imprisonment.

President Bola Tinubu has set a 30-day tax reform target and aims to break the cycle of overreliance on borrowing for public spending and debt servicing. He inaugurated the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, chaired by Taiwo Oyedele, in Abuja. The committee aims to transform the tax system for sustainable development and achieve a minimum 18% tax-to-GDP ratio within three years. The committee is expected to deliver quick reforms within 30 days, with critical measures recommended within six months and full implementation within one calendar year. Tinubu urged the committee to improve Nigeria's revenue profile and business environment, directing it to achieve its one-year mandate in fiscal governance, tax reforms, and growth facilitation. He directed government ministries and departments to cooperate fully with the committee, stressing that failure would be an excuse for failure. The committee members, drawn from public and private sectors, are accomplished individuals with a proven track record in revenue transformation.