The National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the leadership of the Trade Union Congress will meet on Monday (today) to decide whether or not to commence a nationwide strike on Wednesday.
The President of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, M. Peter Akpatason, made this known during a telephone interview on Sunday.
The NLC and the TUC had on June 5, 2007 given the government a two-week ultimatum to reverse the new prices of petroleum products and the Value Added Tax.
They also want the government to cancel the sale of the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries.
Three trade groups � the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria; the National Association of Road Transport Owners; and the Petroleum Tanker Drivers � are currently on strike over the sale of the refineries.
Our correspondents learnt on Sunday that the meeting would hold at the Labour House in Abuja.
Akpatason, who also disclosed that the government had sought for an extension of the 14 days ultimatum by one week, said that Monday�s meeting was to work out the modalities to ensure the success of the strike.
He added that Tuesday had been scheduled for the final round of mobilisation for the strike by the State Executive Councils of the NLC.
He said that letters would be dispatched directing workers to proceed on strike by Wednesday morning.
The NUPENG President said, �It is going to be total, every strike has to be total at this point in time.
�You know this is a new government and we must convince the government and Nigerians that we are serious and credible. Possible failure will determine how the government is going to perceive us.�
Akpatason, however, said the NLC and the TUC had rejected the request for an extension of the deadline by government.
He said the government had two days to respond to the demands of the labour unions to halt the national strike.
He said, �Further extension of the ultimatum is not possible at this time because the government was given a whole 14 days to respond to the demands of the labour unions.�
The Zonal Secretary, Western Zone of NUPENG, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, also confirmed that the strike might begin on Wednesday.
Korodo said, �By virtue of the circular sent out, there will be no strike between Monday and Tuesday until the outcome of the SEC meetings.
�The NLC will meet tomorrow (today) between 10am and 2pm to finalise actions,� he said.
The SEC is expected to meet by 1pm on Tuesday to brief all the unions under it of the outcome of the Monday meeting.
NARTO leaders will also meet on Monday with the government to decide whether to direct their members to continue with their strike or not.
The Executive Secretary of NARTO, Mr. Enoch Kanawa, said the group would conclude discussions with government on Monday.
Kanawa noted that because of the nature of the operations of NARTO and tanker drivers, products scarcity might remain if the meeting with government or that of the NLC with government ended in a deadlock.
He said, �We are the owners of the trucks, and if we did not reach an agreement with government, the tanker drivers would remain on strike.
�Also, the PTD is a member of NUPENG, a branch of the NLC; and if NARTO suspends its strike and the NLC continues with its own, the tanker drivers will still be on strike. So, it is a dicey situation.�
A meeting between the government and those of the Congress on Friday night ended in a deadlock.
Representatives of the government and the NLC are expected to meet again on Thursday.
�The NLC will meet tomorrow (today) between 10am and 2pm to finalise actions.�
Also on Sunday, the National Association of Nigerian Students said it was in full support of the strike.
The NANS President, Mr. Olalekan Soyombo, told our correspondent in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, that the strike by the NLC would have far-reaching consequences on the ecomomy.
Soyombo, therefore, appealed to President Umaru Yar�Adua to do what was right by heeding the call by the NLC and the TUC.
He said, �The average Nigerian lives under abject poverty; a majority of Nigerian workers are pauperised while our leaders are basking in opulence.
�The President should prove to all Nigerians that he is truly a product of the university. He should see his current situation as an opportunity to instil sanity into the polity.�