Nigerians across various walks of life Monday expressed mixed feelings over the decision of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to call of the planned strike scheduled for yesterday.
They described the union’s decisions as a betrayal of trust and accused them of selling out.
After a long-drawn negotiation, the unions’ leadership backed down on the planned anti-fuel price/electricity tariff hike.
At the end of the meeting between the Organised Labour and the federal government, the unions agreed to suspend the strike following some terms reached by the two parties.
In separate reactions, some Nigerians who spoke to Blueprint expressed their displeasure over what they described as a betrayal by labour without getting something tangible from the government.
Ibadan
From Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, workers on the platform of Joint Action Front (JAF), Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and beyond (ASCAB) gathered at the NLC state secretariat, Agodi, to vent their anger.
Wielding various placards, the unionists who embarked on a protest rally from the NLC secretariat, American Quarters, to the Agodi state secretariat, said the decisions to suspend the planned strike had put the labour leaders in bad light in the eyes of Nigerians.
They particularly expressed displeasure at the unions’ failure to report back to their members as it is customary before announcing a suspension of the strike.
The protesters said irrespective of the position of both the NLC and TUC, they remained opposed to the hike in fuel price and electricity tariff, and therefore called for a reversal to status quo.
Addressing the gathering, ASCAB Secretary Professor Adenike Ogunshe regretted that rather than cushion the effects of COVID-19 on Nigerians, the Buhari-led administration inflicted more hardship.
She said: “In a country where people are dying of malaria because of lack of probably N500 to buy medication, this government is taking loans as if the more they borrow the longer they will live. They have so much borrowed that the next 70 generations can’t pay back.
“All over the world, governments are planning and doing the best to cushion the effects of COVID-19 on their citizens, but our cushioning effects in Nigeria is to increase our electricity tariff and fuel price.
“Mr. President speaks from both sides of the mouth. When he was contesting, he told us that there was nothing like fuel subsidy, five years down his own reign, he is now removing subsidy. So, who is fooling who?
“NLC, TUC can decide to suspend the strike and it is unfortunate. They went to the table to negotiate with government and they could not come back to tell us that they have succeeded in telling the government to reverse what they have done then we can start afresh but came back to give us two weeks. It is in our hands whether Nigeria will drown completely or will rise in its own best glory.”
Also speaking, an activist, Mr. Femi Aborishade, blasted the NLC and TUC for reaching a compromise that was not in the interest of Nigerian masses.
Making reference to Federal High Court pronouncements of 2013 and 2016 rendering arbitrary increases of prices of petroleum products and electricity tariff as illegal, null and void, Aborishade urged the Buhari government to be a respecter of the rule of law.
“I oppose the compromise entered into by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) leaderships.
“I oppose the resolution of betrayal of the interest of the Nigerian masses entered into by the leadership of the NLC and TUC.
“We must be governed by the rule of law. The Federal High Court had made an order as far back as 2013 that the regulation of petroleum products by which oil dealers can increase the prices of petroleum products at their whims and caprices that that policy is unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.
“In 2016, a federal high court ordered that the 45 per cent increase in electricity tariff was illegal, unconstitutional, null and void and that all DISCOs should reverse back to the old price. The federal government has not brought to book the DisCos, oil dealers yet they are repressing the Nigerian people.
“I oppose any increase in fuel price, electricity tariff. Our government should not lawless but should be law-abiding,” Aborishade said.
In his remarks, the state Chairman of JAF, Professor Ademola Aremu said the federal government unleashed poverty on Nigerians under the guise of subsidy removal.
He said: “In 2012, the president was protesting the increase in fuel price. He was talking as a former Minister of Petroleum and said that the price of fuel shouldn’t be more than N45 and that was why Nigerians voted for him. We don’t believe in subsidy; we believe that what we have is over-invoicing and massive corruption.
“After the 2012 struggle, they promised to fix our refineries and about N148 billion has been spent and till today, we are made to believe that we are not actually producing anything. There are 445,000 barrels of crude earmarked for local consumption so what they are expected to do is to take our crude oil out, get it refined and put it back to us. We don’t know how a litre of PMS is N162.
“The effect of this is an increase in food prices. A bag of rice is now N30, 000 due to an increase in the cost of transportation. What this government is doing is to unleash poverty on the people.”
Similarly, another union leader representing the non-academic staff in the state, Mr. Olukoya Adepeju said: “We are not happy because the national body supposed to have consulted its members before deciding to suspend the strike. This puts the union in a bad light. People now see the union as a betrayer because we were still mobilizing for the industrial action up till 12 am.
“So, if there is need to stop this strike, there should be consultation where they give reasons for the suspension. We are not happy the way the strike was suspended.”
Kaduna residents shocked
In a related development, some Kaduna residents who spoke to Blueprint on the development were in shock, saying the labour leaders “lacked courage.”
While saying the unions have become appendages of the federal government, they said their position was not a reflection of the Nigerian masses.
For instance, a resident and mother of three, Hajia Sherifa Ameen, said: “these labour leaders are sell-out and they are lacking in courage. What manner of leadership is that provided by the labour leaders. At best, one can describe them as appendages of the federal government. The question is; were they hypnotised?”
Expressing similar view, another resident and member of the Coalition of Civil Society groups in the state, Comrade Joseph Atumaka said the time is now for Nigerians to take their own destiny in their hands rather than waiting on labour for rescue.
He said: “Our labour leaders have betrayed us. How can the majority of Nigerians find it difficult to survive at this critical period, and the labour is giving the government breathing space?”
We’re not shocked – CNPP
Also, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has said it was “not disappointed that the labour unions in the country bowed at the last minute as usual as it has long become their trademark.”
In a statement by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, the CNPP said: “We expected that this would happen and that was why the CNPP opted to rally civil society movements across the country.
“We are monitoring the situation and rejigging our plans in view of the now obvious reality that the ordinary citizens who cannot travel to Abuja are on their own.
“In the last five years, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have remained toothless bulldogs and compromised arm of the federal government of Nigeria.
“The suffering masses who believed the labour unions can now continue to suffer, while all voices are shut.
“Following the current compromise and sell out, we advise Nigerians never to take the labour unions seriously until there is a rebirth when these current leaders of the unions are gone.
“We join the Nigerian people to clearly declare that we have completely lost confidence in the current leaders of the labour unions in Nigeria.
“For them, getting “palliatives” for the unions is all they want while the masses can continue to suffer.
“The CNPP calls on all Nigerians not to lose hope in the country. There will be light at the end of the tunnel.”
Also, an Abuja resident, Barrister Nnamdi Asomogha said: “Please what ground did the federal government yield that led to the suspension of the strike!? Suspension of the new electricity tariff by two weeks! This is inedible. Electricity bills come at the end of the month so the suspension is at best deceptive.”
In a similar vein, Comrade Sunday Adeniran said: “I am disappointed. When FG yielded to increase in pump price and electricity tariff, according to Comrade Ayuba Wabba mni (NLC President) the Organised Labour was not consulted.
“When FG heard of the impending shutdown of the economy, Organised Labour was remembered to be existing and hurriedly invited for a negotiation. Sincerely for me, nothing would have stopped the strike, it would have still been embarked upon until FG reverts back to what we have always had and then can invite the Organised Labour for consultation.
“The frequency of cancelling planned strike actions at the 11th hour is fast eroding the confidence of workers and the masses in the Organised Labour.”
Also in an interview with NAN, a retired public servant, Mr. Kunle Ogunsanmi, said the economic situation of the country does not warrant any form of industrial action.
Ogunsanmi appealed to both the Federal Government and the labour leaders to shift grounds on the issues at hand, for the overall interest of Nigerians.
Also, a university student, Bolaji Ayeni, said the strike suspension would save the education sector from losing the whole academic session which had been battered by the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.
NLC, TUC slammed on twitters
What hiked tariff are they suspending for two weeks knowing full well that bills have being distributed and the next set of bills will be in October ending when the 2weeks suspension has elapsed. Lol awon clowns…. Mai Angwar D Farmer @melifew213
We have lost this country to bad unions and very poor and shameful govt. You can’t continue to allow Nigerians suffer like this. Soon and very soon…. E go shock una … Dugha Obehi @Obehidugha
What Nigerians should know is that, those government new policies have come to stay and there’s nothing NLC/TUC or anybody can do about it. This government has the key to NLC and can lock/ unlock them anyhow… My candid advice especially to those who have meters… Jimoh Kazeem
NECA, others laud truce
But in a commendation tone, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) described the truce as a welcome development.
NECA Director-General Timothy Olawale made the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
“As you are well aware, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had threatened to embark on industrial action over the government’s refusal to reverse the hike in electricity tariff and fuel pump price on Sept. 28, 2020.
“However, after several engagements between labour and the government, the strike was suspended.
“This is with understanding on some issues, such as the setting up of a Technical Committee on the issue of electricity tariff reforms.
“This has always been NECA’s position that the parties should amicably resolve issues through social dialogue, especially as Nigeria is a signatory to the Fundamental Conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Also, our jurisprudence recognises dialogue in resolution of issues,” he said.
Also, the lawmaker representing Nasarawa South senatorial district, Senator Umaru Al-Makura lauded the organised labour for suspending the planned nationwide protest and strike.
Al-Makura gave the commendation Monday in Lafia while receiving the leadership of the Nasarawa state council of Nigeria Union Journalists (NUJ).
“The suspension of the action by the organised labour has saved the country from danger and given the country some signs of relief, the organised labour deserved commendation,” Al-Makura said.
He said this was not the right time to embark on strike considering the numerous challenges bedevilling the country, and called on all stakeholders to put hands on deck to contribute towards addressing critical issues bordering the country.
Al-Makura further commended the federal government for making compromise leading to the suspension of the mass action by the organised labour.
Earlier, the NUJ chairman, Comrade Salihu Alkali, commended the former governor for his developmental strides while in office and wished him all the best in his new assignment.
NLC, TUC explain position
Explaining the rationale behind their decision to call off the planned strike, the two labour centers said this followed government’s decision to suspend the new tariff for two weeks to allow a technical committee comprising Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs) NLC and TUC.
The committee, they said, would work for duration of two weeks effective Monday, 28th September, 2020, to examine the justifications for the new policy in view of the need for the validation of the basis for the new cost reflective tariff.
On the deregulation of downstream sector, labour said all parties agreed on the urgency for “increasing the local refining capacity of the nation to reduce the over dependency on importation of petroleum products to ensure energy security, reduce cost of finished products, increase employment and business opportunities for Nigerians.”
A communiqué was issued and signed at the end of the meeting.
Among others, the meeting agreed that,”a specific amount to be unveiled by the FGN in two weeks’ time will be isolated from the Economic Sustainability Programme Intervention Fund and be accessed by Nigerian Workers with subsequent provision for 240,000 under the auspices of NLC and TUC for participation in agricultural ventures through the CBN and the Ministry of Agriculture. The timeline will be fixed at the next meeting.
“Federal Government will facilitate the removal of tax on minimum wage as a way of cushioning the impacts of the policy on the lowest vulnerable.
“Federal Government will make available to organized labour 133 CNG/LPG driven mass transit buses immediately and provide to the major cities across the Country on a scale up basis thereafter to all States and Local Governments before December 2021.
“Housing; 10% be allocated to Nigerian workers under the ongoing Ministry of Housing and Finance initiative through the NLC and TUC.”
The Keyamo-led committee is to submit its reports in the next two weeks, commencing from Monday 28, September 2020.
