By Cross Udo, Abuja
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has told President Bola Tinubu to as a matter of urgency, order importation of food items within two weeks from any part of the world to cushion the effect of hardship in the country.
TUC has also accused the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank of being behind the high cost of living in the country through their advice for the removal of subsidies on petroleum products and electricity tariffs and told the government to stop following the dictates of the two world bodies.
*Says it’s not part of the NLC protest
This came as the Congress disassociated itself from the proposed nationwide protest slated for Tuesday, February 27, and Wednesday, February 28 by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, saying that it was never part of the process, meeting, and declaration of embarking on streets protesting against the economic hardship.
TUC said it would not participate in any process, adding that ab initio, it was not a party.
These among others were the crux of the press briefing by the President of TUC, Comrade Festus Osofo in Abuja yesterday.
Although, the TUC in its recommendations/solutions which it said it would present to the federal government through the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, did not mention anything about the proposed protest by its sister union, the NLC, Comrade Festus Osifo, while fielding questions from journalists on whether it would participate in the protest, categorically said it was not part of it.
The President explained that NLC’s protest for economic hardship was not related to the initial 14-day ultimatum given to the Federal government because of the non-implementation of the agreement on wage award, salary increase, CNG buses, and others reached with the government in October 2023.
According to him, “However, this protest that is being called by the NLC is not related to the ultimatum that we jointly gave. What we were told by NLC is that the protest is not related to the ultimatum that was given jointly.”
He said, “It is where you agree that you want to do something jointly that this is the way to go. And along the line, you decided that you are not doing it again, that one will be talking out opting out. There was no initial agreement to embark on the protest. Whenever we are doing things together, you always see us coming together and addressing you.
“On that particular day the ultimatum for the protest was issued, did you see any member of TUC there? I know a lot of you have read the letter that was leaked. The letter was meant for NLC members, but it found its way to the press.
“And I think it was very clearly stated in the letter. I think the reasons have been clearly stated so we were not part of the process. We were not part of the agreement. Abinitio so there is no need to opt out from at all.
“Like I’ve said repeatedly, that in the trade union movement, you have a toolbox, that in that toolbox, you have different tools that you could use in calling government to order. First of all, you engage with what you think is superior information, and that is what we have put together today.
“We will engage the government with the solution points we listed here today. We will push the government, discuss with them, have conversations with them, have meetings with them, and proffer the solutions that we have put forward.”
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*Tells govt to stop following dictates of IMF, World Bank
TUC listed what it described as the solution that the government should consider to implement to solve the economic challenges in the country.
Among them include, “Determination of real value of naira, new Minimum Wage, Custom Exchange Rate for Goods used in Manufacturing, allegation that sub nationals throw billions of dollars monthly into the parallel market, dollarization of political party primaries and electioneering, clamp down on speculative trading in the foreign exchange market.
Others are, patronising made-in-Nigeria goods, strengthening the economic management team, time to stop following the dictate of IMF and World Bank, Effectively supervising the activities of Banks, Curbing crude oil theft, and increasing investment in enhancing oil and gas production, curbing insecurity for farmers to return to the farm, temporary importation of food from abroad, local refinery of crude oil.”
Furthermore, Osifo said, “Some of these solutions are for immediate implementation. Some are for medium-term implementation, while others are for long term. That means some of them may not be implemented in one year.
“But we believe that those that can be implemented immediately, should be done. I believe that if the government goes ahead to do those things. Most of the problems that we are facing today, will be eased off.
“Look at what we wrote there as number one. We are not proffering solutions that are not practicable. It is a solution that is feasible, a solution that is possible. If the number one alone is implemented, I can tell you that the high cost of living we are facing today will reduce.”
Further, on the issue of the earlier 14 days ultimatum it jointly gave the Federal government, the TUC President said, The reason we gave that ultimatum was that the government signed an agreement with us October 2, when we look at that agreement, it was worrisome that nothing has been implemented. They paid a wage award just once, for September.
“We looked at that document, there are low-hanging fruits and the wage award was the last thing that government should do. Visitation to the refinery. It was also there in that agreement.
“But as of when we issued the 14-day ultimatum, the government was not even ready to take also the refinery. So we’re now wondering, are they just giving us stories that are not right, that we need to find out what is happening?
“So that was why we served an ultimatum jointly. Normally when you serve an ultimatum, you give like 14 days or one month. If the person you served the ultimatum just go to sleep and say whatever.
“Then it will embolden you to say these people are calling us bluff. Then we need to call them to order. But when you serve an ultimatum? The review of that ultimatum is supposed to be two or three days before the end of that ultimatum. Is not four or five days after you give an ultimatum, you still have like some days more.
“So, when we issued that ultimatum, the government invited us we started engaging and we told them the quick wins that must be achieved if you want us not to go on strike. So a meeting was held on Monday.
“The ultimatum was served on Thursday and a meeting was held on Monday. So when we had that meeting, we went through everything and we told them you have not done this, you have not done that.
“They said okay, fine. That they are going to act. Remember before the ultimatum was given, a monthly wage award was paid: in September. But as we speak today, before the expiration of that ultimatum they paid 4 months addition.
“Remember we had a challenge with RTEAN. We went to Lagos, we protested and it was part of the agreement with the government. But as we speak within the life of that ultimatum, the RTEAN issue has been completely resolved. Then visitation to the refinery, with the life of the ultimatum also, the government fixed a date and we visited the refinery.
“We also said, the money you owe ASUU you must pay. And as of today, we have also learnt that they have paid for four months. So we gave an ultimatum earlier because we didn’t see any level of demonstrations but as of today, they have started doing some work on the agreements.
“So if you give an ultimatum to say; if you don’t do this I will do that. If the other party does its part, then you now have to also sit down to review.”
He said, “So, it is when you jointly agree, right? That you want to do something. When you agree jointly that is the way to go and along the line, you now decide that you are not doing it again.
“Comrades, can any of you show us where there is any agreement for us coming together? Whenever we are doing things together you always see us together addressing you. On that particular day, did you see any member of TUC there?”
TUC gave the federal government up to March to start refining oil at the Port Harcourt Refinery.
*Lagos CSOs ignore police, embark on protest
Members of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) yesterday trooped to the streets of Lagos to protest the high cost of living and soaring food prices.
The Lagos Commissioner of Police Adegoke Fayoade had on Sunday cautioned the protesters against disrupting commercial activities. But during the demonstration hours later, police officers were spotted at the protest grounds providing security. The protesters took their grievances as far as the Maryland axis of the state.
”This is not true. The Police proactively arrived at the scene to ensure adequate security for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and prevent their procession from being hijacked by hoodlums,” the Lagos State Police Command spokesman Benjamin Hundeyin while debunking claims that the police had warned against holding any protests in Lagos.
”The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Adegoke Fayoade, addressed the protesters before their procession took off in his presence.”
SP Hundeyin also confirmed that the protest went as far as the Maryland area.
”The procession moved as far as Maryland. The Police were with them all through. The protesters played their part well and did not obstruct traffic. The Police provided adequate security and ensured the procession was not hijacked.
Everything went fine,” the spokesman said.
He stressed that the protesters properly conducted themselves as no violence was recorded.
”The procession has so far been peaceful without any untoward incident. What can be seen in the picture is CP Fayoade, addressing the joint security team and charging them to be professional, and courteous but firm.”
Similar protests were held in Edo and Osun states where demonstrators marched through the streets with diverse inscriptions such as “End Economic Hardship” and “FG End the Hunger in Nigeria Now,” to drum home their points.
