The NLC, TUC and JAF had told journalists on Monday in Abuja that they had no option than to embark on a strike since all entreaties to the Federal Government, including a letter to President Umaru Yar’Adua, yielded no positive response.

The NLC, the TUC and JAF also directed that airports, seaports, banks, filling stations, offices and markets must be shut during the strike.

Besides, transporters and schoolchildren were advised to stay at home for their safety.

The NLC had on June 5, 2007 given the government a 14-day ultimatum to reverse the increases in the prices of petroleum products and the Value Added Tax.

They also threatened to embark on strike if the government failed to nullify the sale of the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries as well as the Egbin Power Plant in Lagos to private entities.

Apart from this, they asked the government to implement a 15-per cent salary increase for workers with effect from January 1, 2007.

A meeting between the government representatives and the labor leaders on Friday over the contentious issues ended in a deadlock.

Addressing journalists after the Monday meeting the President of the NLC, Mr. Abdulwaheed Omar, said that the congress tried its best to prevail on the Yar’Adua government to reverse the anti-people policies of the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

Omar recalled that after the meeting between the government and the labor leaders, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation said that a liter of fuel would still be far above its current price.

He said, “The NNPC arrogantly went on air to say that fuel prices will rise to N230 per liter and that even if Nigerians go on strike and mass protest for 10 years, nothing will change.

“What we witness is a government desperately trying to claim paternity of the Obasanjo regime’s policies. Nigerians can no longer continue to suffer in the midst of plenty. They can no longer live under sub-human conditions.”

Omar warned that any bank, filling-station or office that defied the directive of the NLC would be responsible for its action.

He advised parents and guardians not to send their children and wards to school as teachers had given commitment that they would not teach.

He said, “Schoolchildren should, therefore, not be allowed to roam the streets as that may be unsafe.”

Despite the Senate on Monday said it would hold talks with the labor leaders at the NLC headquarters in Abuja at 10am on Tuesday (today).

The Deputy Leader of the Senate, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, made the Senate position public at a news conference in Abuja.

Ndoma Egba said,”We are here to let you know that the Senate feels very concerned about the labor crisis. We are meeting at the leadership level to discuss the demands of labor and we have agreed to meet with labor tomorrow (today) by 10am.

“Apart from that, we want to register our gratitude for the window of opportunity given by labor in the resolution of this crisis by extending their deadline by another day. We are thankful to them and we hope that we will fully utilize that window to avert the impending crisis.”

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Patricia Etteh, told newsmen in Abuja that the House and the government were working on ways to resolve the impasse.

She said, “The government and the legislature are putting heads together to ensure that the strike does not go on. They should give us a chance to see how we can iron things out amicably. I believe in dialogue; there must be a meeting point.”