By Cross Udo, Abuja
The Organised Labour yesterday raised the alarm over the alleged sponsorship of some groups by suspected agents of the government to sabotage the ongoing struggle to compel the government to roll out palliatives to cushion the negative effects of subsidy removal on petrol.
Recall that since May 29 President Bola Tinubu announced that subsidy is gone after being sworn in, prices of goods and services have gone up, thereby causing untold hardships to the people.
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, had made some demands from the government as palliatives to cushion the ongoing hardship which includes wage awards, tax exemptions, and allowances to public sector workers.
Others are the provision of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), and buses, the release of modalities for the N70bn for Small and Medium Enterprises, the release of officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers by the police, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria crisis in Lagos, among others.
As the 21-day ultimatum the NLC issued to the government after a two-day warning strike on September 5 and 6 expired without any tangible results, the Congress has called for a National Executive Council, NEC, meeting on Tuesday to review the situation and then take a decision on the next step to take.
Ahead of the meeting, the NLC has raised the alarm that instead of addressing the problems in the land as regards the hardship occasioned by the petrol subsidy removal, the government is allegedly using some associations and groups to sabotage the struggle, which it claimed is in the interest of the masses.
ThisNigeria learnt from an impeccable source privy to struggle that the government is working hard to use some members of the Union and some associations to discredit the struggle with the argument that any strike embarked upon labour will worsen the economic situation.
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The source also said that some of the associations from the organized private sector have resorted to taking laughable positions because they are afraid that they may be bound to implement any positions that the government would take that will favour workers.
*NLC NEC meets tomorrow to decide the next action
Asked what the possible outcome of the NEC meeting on Tuesday (tomorrow), the source said, “It is difficult to predict what will be the outcome of NEC because the government is using more time creating division and sabotaging the struggle instead of using the same time and energy to solve the problems at hand.
“They are creating more time using all manners of tactics on those who will attack and oppose the NLC leadership and those who will say the leadership is on its own.
“The issue is that the worker on the street, the worker on the factory is being hurt by the economic hardship and so many of them cannot go to work. You can see the opinion of the government, you can see the Manufacturers association, NECA talking because they want to continue to pay slave wages.
“Why have the organized private sector on their own not raised the wages of workers? If they are patriotic, must they wait for the public? Even the public sector raising wages is sending shivers into their ear and they are saying NLC should not take action.
“Should they be talking to the NLC on the pages of newspapers or as stakeholders and employers we should have met to look at all these issues together. So, those are some of the things the government is doing, getting all these organisations to be saying this strike will affect productivity.
“The governors that are telling people to work for only two or three days in a week, the other days they are not working, does it not affect productivity?”
On whether there is any attempt to use some unions or members of the unions to divide the ranks of the NLC, he said, “The government is even talking to some of the Union members.”
Responding to the allegation that the Trade Union Congress, TUC, may have been conquered by the government to work against the NLC, the source who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to speak on behalf of the Congress, said he would not want to use the world conquered because they (TUC) have made their demands to the government.
He added, “We need to wait and find out what the government is doing about the demands.”
The source, however, said, “Government is using groups to infiltrate the NLC and swell public opinion against the sufferings of workers.”
Fielding questions on whether the NEC meeting would decide on the date for the commencement of the strike after the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum, he said, “The NEC meeting will decide the next action. I don’t think that the issue of whether a strike or no strike, the commencement and the pattern it’s going to take because the ultimatum has expired are the only agenda.
“In most instances, it’s when you report progress that the issue of strike or no strike comes up. So the issue of strike is expected to form part of the NEC discussion. It will consider whether there is anything on the table.”
Further asked whether the government has invited the NLC to a meeting after the last Friday expiration of the 21 ultimatum, the source said, “There is no invitation from the government on any meeting.”
Recall that the NLC had recently threatened to shut down the economy starting with a two-day warning strike due to what it described as the extensive hardships and deprivation afflicting the citizens across all states of the federation.
The warning strike, the union had said would take place on Tuesday, September 5, and Wednesday, September 6
The decision was reached after the NEC, meeting of the Congress.
Apart from the issues bordering on palliatives, the NLC raised the alarm over what it described as renewed onslaught by the government and its agents against labour unions.
Reading the resolution in Abuja, the President of NLC, Joe Ajaero explained that the proposed strike action was necessitated as a result of the government’s deliberate neglect and disregard to engage the relevant stakeholders through the channel of social dialogue.
He said the Federal Government has refused to engage and reach an agreement with the Organised Labour on critical issues on the consequences of the unfortunate hike in prices of Petroleum which has unleashed massive suffering on Nigerian workers and masses.
The NLC President said the NEC meeting which was “an all-inclusive session, deeply analysed the prevailing national sentiment, taking into account the extensive hardships and deprivation afflicting our citizens across all states of the federation.”
According to him, “The council scrutinized the Federal Government’s failure to establish essential structures to address the widespread suffering in our nation. Furthermore, it considered the government’s deliberate neglect and disregard for engaging with national stakeholders through the channels of social dialogue, a commitment it had solemnly declared during the President’s inaugural address on May 29, 2023.
“It further examined the renewed threats against trade unions and their leaders by various Governors and organisations and was alarmed on the new dimensions and shape these sordid events have taken.”
Continuing, he said that the NEC-in-session observed that, “The Federal Government has refused to engage and reach agreement with Organised Labour on the critical issues of the consequences of the unfortunate hike in the price of petrol which has unleashed massive suffering on Nigerian workers and masses.
“There is a renewed onslaught against trade unions and their leadership by the State and its agents across Nigeria
“The Police under the instruction of certain forces peddling the name of the President of the federation have invaded and occupied illegally the National Headquarters of the NURTW making it difficult for the Union to discharge its responsibilities to its membership across the nation.
“The Imo State Government has continued in its efforts at cloning the Congress in the State in other to continue its exploitation workers’ rights and privileges despite all efforts at reaching amicable resolution
“The Abia State Government has continued to interfere in trade union affairs and seek to impose its leadership on state councils of NURTW and NULGE and has continued the inglorious path of workers intimidation and Union bashing in Abia State
“Certain Aviation companies of which Air Peace airline is the flagship have continued to violate the rights of workers to join unions of their choice in disregard to the provisions of international conventions and laws of Nigeria.
“Marauders disguising as herdsmen have been unleashing terror on farmers and citizens across the nation, members of the Amalgamated Union of Food Stuffs and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria (AUFCDN) are however not involved but respected citizens and businesses
“Nyesom Wike, the new Minister of the FCT has continued to unfortunately threaten workers and residents of Abuja with the demolition of their houses despite the government’s inability to make same available.”
As a result of the aforementioned, the NEC-in-Session resolved as follows, “To embark on a total and indefinite shutdown of the nation within 14 working days or 21 days from today Until steps are taken by the Government to address the excruciating mass suffering and impoverishment being experienced around the country
