The National Economic Council (NEC) presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima yesterday appealed to the Organised Labour to put on hold the proposed indefinite nationwide strike from Tuesday, October 3, 2023.
Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the NEC meeting at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, said the Council asked the Labour leaders to resume negotiations at the states’ level.
Recall that the two labour centres, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) had on Tuesday directed their affiliate unions to commence the nationwide industrial action from October 3, saying it would be a total shutdown of the system until the government takes steps to attend to their demands.
The Organised Labour accused the Federal Government of refusing to meaningfully engage and reach agreements with the labour on critical issues of the consequences of the unfortunate hike in the price of petrol occasioned by subsidy removal which has unleashed massive suffering on Nigerian workers and masses.
The directive to embark on an indefinite strike was arrived by the various NEC of the two labour centres after the expiration of a two-day warming strike on September 5 and 6 and that of the 21-day ultimatum that ended last weekend without the government attending to the workers’ demands on the provision of palliatives to cushion the effect of hardship.
READ ALSO:NAF strikes: Villagers abandon Anambra, Imo communities
However, briefing journalists on the resolution of NEC on the impending indefinite strike, Mutfwang said the Council thought that continuing on the path of dialogue would be the best option for the economy, especially at the state level.
“Council noted the notice by the national leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress to proceed on an indefinite strike from October 3, 2023. The Council noted further the implication of this strike for the economy and the nation and thus urged members to continue to engage with the leadership of their respective states and to appeal to them to shelve the action and continue on the path of dialogue with the federal government. This is the appeal of Council,” the governor said.
*Urges FG, Labour to continue negotiations at state level
Explaining the grounds for NEC’s appeal further, Mutfwang described the situation of most of the states when the various governors took off on May 29, noting that many of them were just coming out of prolonged industrial strikes, adding that enforcing a new strike at this time would further damage the economy.
He, however, appealed for more time for the government to work on addressing the concerns of Labour, even as he noted that there are feelers indicating that leadership at every level genuinely wants the issues raised by the Labour addressed once and for all.
“NEC expressed genuine concern on the situation in the country and appreciates the concern by Labour to have those issues addressed. That is why NEC is appealing for patience, appealing for time to be able to address the concerns of Labour.
“We also believe that Mr. President will be addressing the nation first of October and some of the concerns of Labour will be appropriately addressed in the President’s speech.
“It is, therefore, important that… it’s federation, so whatever happens, Labour is represented in all 36 states, and the FCT and NEC are appealing that discussions should continue at the state levels because there will be peculiarities as to the issues to be addressed concerning the demands of Labour, therefore dialogue is the way to go.
“The nation is at a very critical moment at this time. In some of the states, when they took over on May 29, the workers were on strike, some of those issues have just been resolved for the workers to return to work. To ask them to go back immediately, it’s going to further damage the economy.
“Therefore, NEC, while expressing genuine concern about the situation in the country, appeals for calm and patience and I want to believe that the leadership across the nation at this point wants to truly address the issues that concern Labour and the general populace and move the country forward”, he said.
*CSOs, rights activists set to enforce sit-at-home
The United Action Front of Civil Society, the organised platform of civil society groups and activists on matters of governance and democracy in Nigeria said it fully endorsed the indefinite nationwide strike action jointly declared by the NLC and TUC.
The group in a statement by Olawale Okunniyi, Head, National Coordinating Centre, United Action Front of Civil Society, claimed that the the present government lacks the requisite wherewithal to fix the rots allegedly perpetrated by the immediate past government of the same party.
The statement read, “It is unfortunate that while the arbitrary fuel price hike in the name of subsidy removal on the premium motor spirit (PMS) has pushed most Nigerians below the poverty line, the government continues to play the Ostrich despite the promises made to labour leaders on the need for upward review of workers’ wages, inclusive palliatives to citizens, among others.
“The leadership of the organised civil society, therefore, urges all Nigerians to rally behind NLC and TUC in protest against the insensitivity and dubious politics of the Nigerian government, which has, so far, demonstrated a total lack of comprehension and sensitivity to the economic challenges facing the country.
“We wish to reiterate that the inhuman policy of arbitrary hike in fuel price has further impoverished and pauperised millions of households, who were hitherto merely coping with meagre wages and incomes for their livelihoods.
“It is evident that the present government lacks the requisite wherewithal to fix the rots perpetrated by the immediate past government of the same party and may eventually end up worsening the situation. It is regrettable that rather than prioritise reduction in the costs of governance, the Tinubu administration is deliberately indulging in over-bloated appointments as typified by the appointment of the highest number of ministers and the largest cabinet yet in Nigeria’s history.
“It is also regrettable that the National Assembly which only recently arbitrarily allocated public funds to its members who embarked on recess has also increased the number of its standing committees, which would also translate into additional costs of governance in an economy where the overwhelming majority of the masses could barely cope with the costs of living in Nigeria or afford one square meal.
“The leadership of the United Action Front of the Civil Society, therefore, urges Nigerians across public and private sectors to rally support for the NLC and TUC in demanding living wages for the working people and improvement in the living conditions of Nigerians, while decrying the insensitivity and deceitful ploy of the Nigerian government to pauperise and enslave them and ensure the reversal of the suffocating policies of economic slavery in the name fuel subsidy removal.
“Again, we wish to emphasise that the Tinubu administration cannot in good conscience insist on arbitrary fuel price hike while those who looted the national treasury in the name of subsidy are today being accorded red-carpet treatment all over the place.
“More disturbing is that the government appears determined to subject the citizens to more hardship with the prevailing abysmal exchange rate with consequences for higher inflation in the country.
“To this end, the indefinite strike action declared by the NLC and TUC is therefore inevitable to save the country from impending upheaval as the harrowing economic situation may heighten self-help, insecurity, and violent protests.
“It is deceitful for the government to have delayed the review of minimum wage considering that the present N30,000 monthly can no longer support an average Nigerian worker who, under the prevailing economic situation, has more than 3 dependants in addition to the immediate family.
“We call on the NLC and the TUC to remain resolute in defending the country against all forms of anti-masses policies that have foisted unmitigated poverty on millions of Nigerians and unprecedented unemployment and hardship in both the urban and rural communities.
“Finally, the leadership of the United Action Front of Civil Society wishes to enjoin all civil society leaders, activists, working people in the private and public sectors as well as all well-meaning Nigerians, in general, to team up with us in rallying support for the success of the indefinite strike action declared by Labour by making out time to be part of the civil society coordinating centre charged to enforce citizens sit-at-home during the nationwide strike action called to save Nigeria; push for living wages for the working people and better welfare conditions for Nigerians in the face of excruciating consequences of the exploitative and wrongheaded policies of the government.”
*We’ve no pact with govt to halt action, says NLC
The NLC yesterday denied entering into any pact with the Federal Government to suspend the proposed indefinite strike slated to commence on October 3.
Recall that the organised labour comprising the NLC and TUC had on Tuesday announced that workers will proceed on indefinite strike over the government’s failure to provide palliatives to cushion the effect of the removal of subsidy on petrol.
It was reported in some sections of the media that the Director of Press, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr Olajide Oshundun, had said there was an agreement between the organized labour and the government to suspend the proposed strike.
Though Oshundun had since denied saying any such, the NLC said there was no agreement whatsoever and that the government has not invited the union or given any date to meet with the union over the proposed strike.
NLC in a statement issued by its Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah, said, “The press statement issued by the Director of Press, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr Olajide Oshundun on our proposed strike action and illegal occupation of the secretariat of the National Union of Road Transport Workers has been brought to our attention. We note some inconsistencies.
“Accordingly, we find it necessary to make clarifications. Firstly, we do not have any agreement with the government to suspend the planned strike action. Neither do we have any date for a meeting with the government that may lead to the suspension of the proposed strike.
“While we do not intend to demean or minimise the office of the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, this matter is beyond the Ministry. This should have been obvious to them during our most recent meeting.
“Secondly, while we appreciate the role played by the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Barrister Simon Lalong in securing the release of the executives of the National Union of Road Transport Workers from unlawful/illegal police detention, we take exception to the Ministry describing these executives as factional leaders.
“They were lawfully elected into office. We still find it necessary to advise the police and those elements behind their travails to desist from this despicable and shameful conduct. They are advised to retrace their steps.
“If democracy is to be of meaning to us, then we should resist the urge or temptation for impunity. Enough is enough.”
