There are divergent views on the botched Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) industrial action, even as a section of Nigerians have questioned the motive behind the move by the Labour union. Is it in good faith or for selfish reasons? PAUL OKAH queries in this report.
For weeks, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) threatened to embark on an indefinite strike to attract the attention of the federal government to the plight of workers, especially with regards to fuel subsidy removal by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
However, Nigerians woke up on Tuesday morning to learn that the organised Labour had suspended the proposed strike action slated for October 3 for 30 days, following a memorandum of understanding reached with the federal government; regardless of the widely advertised strike on social media and mainstream media.
In exchange for suspending the indefinite strike action, the federal government is to strictly adhere to and fulfil the terms of the agreement reached by the two parties in the negotiation meeting held Monday night, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
To many Nigerians, the NLC is fond of heightening tension by threatening strike action, but would predictably dash hopes of millions of Nigerians just when they were getting ready to join any industrial action that would draw attention to the plight of workers.
NLC, TUC right to suspend action
In a chat with Blueprint Weekend, a civil servant and member of NLC, Mr Lyon Israel Taiwo, said that the NLC and TUC were right to call off the strike as many issues they were agitating against have been addressed by the federal government.
He said: “NLC and TUC did well to call off the proposed indefinite strike. It was expected because the federal government has shown interest in ameliorating the plight of Nigerians occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal.
“As you know, the Nigerian constitution does not allow the Federal Government to impose payment of minimum wage on states, but to encourage governors to do everything that will benefit workers.
“If you have been following issues affecting workers, you would have heard that some state governors are already implementing increase in salaries of their workers. They are now to be encouraged to do more.
“If you read the communique, you can see that in item number 10, there’s an agreement with regards to payment of wage to state and local government employees.
“Remember that a two-day warning strike was embarked on last month. It was due to the seriousness of NLC leaders that forced the federal government to negotiate with them. The FG or state governors don’t need any one to remind them of their responsibilities to the citizens. The Labour centres need to be saluted for coming out against fierce opposition.
“Having said that, Labour issues cannot be solved overnight in Nigeria. The NLC and TUC have used a powerful tool of collective bargaining to have a gain now, rather than groundig the nation totally. Don’t forget that the Labour centres have powers that are guiding them, likewise the Nigeria nation and all the states.
“Let’s assume the NLC and TUC didn’t bargain with the FG to gain more than what they offered a few days ago. If we start an indefinite strike today and it continues for next few months and FG didn’t do anything, what will Nigerians do then? People will still blame NLC and TUC leaders.
“Let’s remember our unions in tertiary institutions and how nine-month strike didn’t move the government and see why we should commend TUC and NLC.
“Also, the masses will definitely be better off once the terms of the MoU are implemented. Remember that N25,000 will be given to 15 million households, while most vulnerable pensioners will also be taken care of. Small and medium scale businesses are to be given tax exemptions, moratorium and specific grants and loans. So, the masses have been considered in this agreement.
“Mind you, the NLC and TUC only suspended the strike action for 30 days to see if the FG will renege on the signed MOU. The win at the federal level is also a win for local government and state workers. Remember since the removal of fuel subsidy, state revenues have greatly increased.
“It’s time to ask defaulting state governors why they have not been paying minimum wage. NLC and TUC have done their part.”
Similarly, a Civil Servant, Adeyemi Oluwole Ajayi, said many state governors have already started paying minimum wage and that things will improve by the day.
He said: “I am in support of calling off of the proposed strike by NLC and TUC. We have seen the Labour centres taking battles to states when the need arises. Most times, we blame the FG, but it is time we started holding our governors accountable and to own up to their responsibilities.
“In the meeting held 2 days ago, the chairman of NGF was present virtually, so they are aware of FG’s commitments. The FG cannot command the governors because they are sovereign.
“Do you know the minimum wage is a law in Nigeria? It will be due for review next year and still some governors have not paid them till now. Yet, people go to polls during elections and vote them for second term in office. Is that also the fault of the Labour at the centre? No! NLC and TUC didn’t fail any of them.
“The Chairman of Governors Forum was in the meeting, including Governor Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State. They all know what is at stake. Already some state governors have increased minimum wage in their respective states. Things will continue to improve.”
‘Our leaders should’ve engaged further’
On his part, a worker in the private sector, Victor Amusan, said that NLC was supposed to engage further with the federal government before suspending the strike action.
He said: “It is disheartening that the NLC does not show much interest or enthusiasm in fighting for state and local government workers, but concentrates on federal workers. After raising hopes of many Nigerians, the NLC suspended the much-advertised strike in the middle of the night, leaving many in limbo.
“Next time, they will come back seeking for their solidarity and support to embark on another strike. The N35,000 wage they want to give federal government workers will be squeezed out from suffering Nigerians one way or the other. We should just prepare for more hardship.
“That apart, Joe Ajaero disappointed himself. At least, NLC and TUC should have gone into a day strike before negotiation. As things stand, Nigerians will never take the Labour Union serious again. Now the federal government workers will be smiling, what about state and local government workers? Whenever NLC wants to go on strike, will state workers also join them? So, they should have been taken into consideration in the negotiation, especially as NLC expects Nigerians to cooperate with them if the agreement fails to come to fruition in the next 30 days.
“Private sector is also left out in NLC negotiations. N35,000 minimum wage has been approved for federal government workers, but there is nothing for state government and private sector workers. “There is nobody is to fight for state and LG workers, especially those in private sector. Presently, many Nigerians will continue to denigrate and refuse to see the NLC and TUC as serious unions that take the welfare of their members seriously because of their ignoring state government and private sector workers.”
NLC has compromised
Similarly, another civil servant, Stephen Akpan, accused the NLC of being the extension of the federal government, saying the MoU was a rushed decision taken without the interest of the masses at heart.
He said: “Over time, I have learnt never to trust this extension of the federal government called NLC and TUC. Why do they keep playing with the minds of Nigerians?
“Do you know how many people were rushing to travel early on Tuesday morning so as to meet up with work? If NLC knows they cannot sustain a strike, then they shouldn’t give us false hope. They should just let us be. I suspected that the strike will not go on.
“Government was not shouting all over the place. Nobody sought a court injunction to stop it and some other things made the suspension of the strike look like a perfect script.
“I read everything in the early hours of Tuesday. FG dribbled NLC and TUC with delay tactics and implementation of both wages award and new minimum wage implementation. Let’s read in-between the lines. FG said N35,000 will be paid from September till the new minimum wage is passed into law.
“What if the new minimum wage that the payment is to start January next year wasn’t signed into law before January? Does the FG prefer to continue payment of N35,000 beyond January 2024? The new minimum wage should commence with immediate effect or reflect in January 2024, when the provision for it would be already captured in the 2024 budget.
“What stops the FG from paying the N35,000 wages award from June that subsidy removal was pronounced, but chose to start September? What happens to the numerous months of unpaid salary/ pension arrears owed some state workers? NLC/TUC have failed states and LGs workers. The MoU is a fishy one, in short.”
Labour leaders now predictable
Also speaking, a civil servant, Jennifer Ajayi, said that NLC has become predictable as the leaders often rush to call off strikes without taking into consideration the feeling of the masses.
She said: “It is sad that NLC keeps disappointing Nigerians. They call off strikes on the basis of fake promises when none of those things are implemented. Even if they’re implemented, it will benefit only a few.
“In a country of over 200 million people, federal civil servants are less than 30 million. What about those in the private sector? What about state and local government employees? Even the proposed wage award for federal employee are not sustainable. A bag of rice is N50,000 and the increment is N55,000.
“Also, in the demands of the NLC, there is nothing like reviving our refineries, which will benefit the entire populace. I was not in the meeting, but I can assure you that the NLC was compromised.
They shouldn’t have called off the strike so soon. The very day they mentioned that they’re going on strike on Tuesday, I knew that they’d call off the strike before embarking on it because NLC has always been predictable.
“I feel for the citizens of Nigeria. Please, if you have means to take your entire household and relocate to Europe or America, do that. Nigeria is not getting better anytime soon. Don’t let anyone deceive you.
“Our government policies are just to punish the masses. Most of the people ruling us are heartless. How can you impose hardship on your citizens, without first considering remedies to curtail the hardship. Which developed country does that?
“That apart, Comrade Ajero of NLC and Osifo of TUC are nothing but short sighted, vision-less leaders, who themselves have no clue as to how Nigeria can come out of the woods.
“They incited people to follow them, with the intention of ameliorating the plight of Nigerians, the duo turned around and created more problems than solved the previous ones. How on earth are they be thinking to create conversion from PMS to gas in a short while? How are they thinking of building gas dispensing stations across the states in a short while? How much is cooking gas at present?
“Are Ajero and Osifo not aware that Nigeria imports cooking gas? If the union leaders don’t have what to offer as solution, they should leave Nigerians alone. I would like to tell Ajero and Osifo, when next you whisk up emotions, be sensitive and sensible enough to carry with you real solutions. What is the measure for non-government workers?
“The high rate of inflation is getting worse every day. What is N35,000 going to do for a family of four for just a month? I don’t think there is hope for the common man. I’m sure this agreement will not get to the common man.
“In a family of eight, I was the only one managing a business, based on my professional skills. No other person is being paid salary in my family. So, to the NLC, everyone should go and sort out himself to survive.
“NLC should engage the federal government to put out a means to reduce price of commodity. Let the common man eat too. That’s the only way NLC can help the masses.”
Agreement commendable, if implemented- Expert
On his part, an Economic Expert, Mohammed Suleiman, while speaking with Blueprint Weekend, said that NLC should be commended for reaching an agreement with the federal government and averting another strike, adding it implementation of the MoU will be better for Nigerians.
He said: “I commend NLC and TUC on their diligent efforts in reaching an MoU with the federal government effectively averting the impending strike. Their commitment to negotiations and the welfare of Nigerian workers is commendable.
“While this MOU addresses several crucial points, I would like to emphasize the importance of Point 10: Urging state governors to implement wage awards for their workers. It is paramount that the Labor Union continues to exert pressure and advocate for the swift implementation of these temporary increments at the state level.
“Workers in all states deserve the same benefits and considerations as their federal counterparts, and it is essential to ensure uniformity in the application of these wage awards.
“The National Economic Council and Governors Forum should be reminded of their responsibility in this regard, and the Labor Union’s persistence is key to achieving this goal.
“NLC’s dedication to the betterment of Nigerian workers and willingness to engage in social dialogue is essential for the progress of our nation. Let us hope that the MOU’s provisions are swiftly implemented for the benefit of all.
“It’s valid to question whether these agreements will truly alleviate the pains faced by ordinary Nigerians. While the MOU contains several provisions, their effectiveness ultimately depends on the swift and sincere implementation by the government and relevant authorities.
“The wage increase, suspension of VAT on Diesel, and financial support to vulnerable households are steps in the right direction. “However, the true progress will be measured by how well these measures are executed and how they positively impact the lives of everyday Nigerians. It’s essential for civil society, including organizations like the NLC and TUC, to continue advocating for transparency and accountability in the implementation process.
“Only by holding the government accountable can we ensure that these measures indeed alleviate the suffering of the common Nigerian. Progress is often incremental, and while these agreements may not address all the challenges at once, they represent a starting point for positive change. The journey towards a better Nigeria requires persistence, vigilance, and the collective efforts of both the government and the people.
“Let us hope that these agreements serve as a stepping stone towards a more prosperous and equitable future for all Nigerians.”
