The Amalgamated Union of Food Stuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria (AFUCDN) has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike, citing multiple taxation at illegal roadblocks on major highways in the country.
National president of the union, Muhammed Tahir, who made this known while addressing journalists at the end of an emergency meeting on Tuesday, the union resolved to support onion traders who had commenced cutting supply to the southern part of the country owing to the same issues, after a review of the issues.
He said the union would cut the supply of food nationwide if the federal government fails to meet its demands within three weeks.
Earlier in March, the union had stopped the movement of food supply to the south-west over similar allegations, including extortion of and attacks on members. The action was suspended after the intervention of Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
Tahir clarified that AFUCDN is not on strike at the moment but may not guarantee industrial harmony after three weeks if its demands are not met.
Legal adviser to the union, Magama Saleh, said the government must do the needful to avert the impending industrial action which had the capacity to trigger a food crisis.
“This is an emergency meeting in regards to what is happening to our members in south-east and south-south Nigeria, this is also to brief our members nationwide on the aftermath of the three-month strike,” he said.
“Today’s resolution is that we are declaring support to the various unions under the umbrella of the amalgamated union.
“The onion association embarked on strike last night and only to the south, and as a national union, we have discussed extensively and have resolved to support them on their industrial action,” he said.
