THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared a nationwide strike to protest the cash scarcity in the country.

The strike is scheduled to commence on Wednesday, March 29 and would involve public sector workers in the country and affiliate unions constituting the Nigeria Labour Congress.

As part of the strike, the NLC would picket all branches of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) nationwide.

The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, announced plans for the strike at a media briefing in Abuja.

The industrial action, according to Ajaero, became the last resort for the labour union after the expiration of the ultimatum the congress issued to the Federal Government over the naira crisis.

The NLC had earlier issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to end the petrol and cash scarcity in the country.

Addressing journalists, Ajaero also noted that the congress would be protesting the naira scarcity at CBN branches nationwide.

He said the situation worsened over time despite the Supreme Court order allowing the use of old N500 and N1000 notes as legal tender till December 31 this year.

“Last week, we requested the review of the cash crunch bedevilling the country, but we have discovered to our dismay, that as of this moment, not much effort has been made to alleviate the situation. Government is still foot-dragging on these issues we raised,” Ajaero said.

“Based on this, we met again this morning to review our position and resolved that by Wednesday next week, all CBN branches will be picketed. Workers are directed to stay at home, too, because people cannot eat, workers can no longer go to the office, and we have been pushed to the wall.

“We have decided to take our destiny in our hands; we have mobilised our workers on this exercise.”

The ICIR reported how the CBN introduced new N200, N500 and N1000 notes and directed that old notes cease to be legal tender from February 10.

The cashless policy has since created hardship for Nigerians, with many citizens, who are unable to obtain cash to meet daily needs, struggling for survival.

The worst hit are petty traders, artisans and labourers, who sustain their businesses through low volume cash transactions.