NLC Declares Two-Day Warning Strike Over Effects Of Subsidy Removal
..May proceed on indefinite strike later in the month
…. NLC Faults FG’s Subsidy Palliative
… Lists six grievances against FG
The Nigeria Labour Congress will commence a two-day warning strike on September 6, 2023, in preparation for a total shutdown which will commence in 21 days.
The decision was taken at the end of its National Executive Council meeting which was held in the early hours of Friday morning.
A communiqué released by the labour centre and jointly signed by its National President, Joe Ajaero, and Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, said it decided to take the decisions following the failure of the Tinubu-led Federal Government to dialogue and engage stakeholders within the organised labour on efforts to cushion the effects of the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit popularly known as petrol on the “poor masses”.
Already, the organised labour, in August, staged a one-day protest which grounded activities in major cities across the country.
While listing some of the other reasons why it would mobilise its members for the nationwide shutdown, the centre accused the police of laying siege to the national headquarters of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, alleged exploitation of the rights of workers in Imo State, interference in trade union matters by the Abia State Government, proposed demolition by the new minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, among others.
On the resolutions it took, the NLC NEC resolved, “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.
“To commence a two-day nationwide warning strike on Tuesday and Wednesday, the 5th and 6th of September, 2023, to demonstrate our readiness for the indefinite strike later in the month and to also demand that the state vacates the illegally occupied National Headquarters of the National Union of Road Transport Workers.
“To embark on a mass protest and rally in Imo State within this month of September 2023 in preparation for a major shutdown of the state to compel the state government to stop the abuse and violation of the rights and privileges of workers and trade unions in the state.
“To begin the shutdown of the operations of Air Peace Airline and other companies in the aviation sector that are involved in serial violation of the rights of workers in the sector.
“To call on communities around the nation to stop taking laws into their hands but report to the authorities for amicable resolution any matter involving members of the Amalgamated Union of Food Stuffs and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria which is one of our affiliates.
“To demand that the new Minister of the Federal Capital Territory desist from threatening poor masses in the FCT with demolition of their properties built from their years of toil but should focus more on making houses available to the people.”
‘Many May Not Get One Cup Of Rice’: NLC Faults FG’s Subsidy Palliative
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has faulted the Federal Government’s palliatives following the removal of subsidy on petroleum.
While the Federal Government had months back removed subsidy on the commodity, it gave food palliatives to state governments for onward distribution to Nigerians. It also gave N5bn to them.
But hours after declaring a two-day nationwide strike owing to the impacts of fuel subsidy removal, the NLC President Joe Ajaero says the distribution of food palliatives is inadequate to combat the effects of the government’s move.
“If you share that N5bn or even the five trucks of rice or grain, many people may not get one or half cup of rice,” he said on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday.
“If you share the N5bn, many people, probably within the working class or the poor of the poor, may not get N1,500. Now, is that the palliative?”
The labour chief described the palliatives as “mere tokenism”, maintaining they cannot cushion the impacts of the subsidy removal policy.
“When you do it, you reduce us to mere tokenism – maybe give us N10,000 for three months and leave people to die. That is not the issue, “Ajaero added.
“We have to sit down and look at some measures that would cushion the effects or that would substitute the suffering of Nigerians. So, by the time you say you are giving state governors N5bn each, what does that translate to if they share it?”
He, however, said, that if the money budgeted for the palliatives was put into the public transport system, the people would be better for it.
“For every day a worker moves from his house to the office and comes back with a reduced transportation rate, he may save N1,000 daily,” he argued.
“If he tries that for 28 days or even 20 days, he may be saving about N20,000 on transportation alone. That’s a policy. That would help even the farmer who moves his goods and services from one point to the other.”
