The One Love Family founder acknowledges workers’ welfare concerns but argues that negotiations with the Federal Government should take priority over industrial action.
Founder of the One Love Family, Satguru Maharaj Ji, has appealed to Nigerian workers to suspend their planned strike and pursue dialogue with the Federal Government over their welfare demands.
Maharaj Ji made the appeal in a press release issued in Ibadan on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, describing the workers’ demands for improved welfare as legitimate while warning that industrial action could place additional pressure on the economy.
He urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other labour organisations to pursue negotiations that could bring the government to the table and produce an acceptable resolution.
According to Maharaj Ji, constructive engagement would provide an opportunity for both parties to address outstanding concerns without further disrupting economic activity.
He also defended President Bola Tinubu against what he described as unfair characterisations by some public commentators, arguing that the administration had shown a willingness to engage with Nigerians.
“President Tinubu, right from day one of his administration, has shown that he is a listening father, who has always been showing his readiness to engage with Nigerians and address issues affecting different sectors of the country,” he said.
Maharaj Ji further argued that both the Federal Government and the current NLC leadership inherited an economy facing serious challenges.
He maintained that resolving the situation would require cooperation, sustained negotiations and a willingness to consider the concerns of workers and the government.
Labour relations and economic pressures
The appeal comes amid continuing public debate over workers’ earnings, living costs and the ability of households to cope with economic pressures.
For organised labour, industrial action can serve as a means of pressing employers and government authorities to respond to demands. However, strikes can also disrupt services and economic activity, depending on their scope and duration.
Maharaj Ji’s intervention reflects the view that negotiations should be prioritised before workers resort to a strike. Whether that approach can resolve the dispute will depend on the specific demands, the government’s response and the willingness of both sides to reach an agreement.
The appeal does not establish that the planned industrial action has been suspended. Any change to the unions’ position would need to be confirmed by the relevant labour organisations.