Nationwide Strike Looms: Labour urges Nigerians to stock up on essentials
The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) will on Monday meet with the representatives of the organized labour in an effort to prevent the nationwide strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
However, the NLC has advised citizens to stock their homes with food items, medicines, and other essential things ahead of the commencement of its seven-day strike to protest the removal of fuel subsidies and the escalating cost of living in the country.
“The citizens should also minimize their movements so as to avoid being stranded,” said Assistant General Secretary, NLC, Chris Onyeka.
Recall that the NLC had given the government a seven-day ultimatum with threats of a nationwide strike scheduled to commence on Wednesday, August 2, 2023.
The labour movement in a statement signed by its National President, Joe Ajaero, accused the Tinubu-led Federal Government of failing to meet up with the demands it presented to it following the removal of the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, which caused an astronomical rise in the pump price of the commodity.
Following the announcement of the strike by the NLC, the government team immediately called for an emergency meeting with the organized labour comprising the NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) with a follow-up meeting on Friday at the State House.
READ ALSO: NLC threatens strike action, gives FG 7 days ultimatum to reverse policies
“Congress has taken a unanimous decision, and it is mandatory that every affiliate should obey the directive of the Nigeria Labour Congress,” said the General Secretary of NUPENG, Afolabi Olawale.
The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers, and the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), on Saturday, confirmed that they were mobilizing their members to ground the supply of fuel and the national electricity grid from Wednesday in response to the planned mass protest called by the NLC.
The acting General Secretary, NUEE, Dominic Igwebuike, stated, “The NUEE is an affiliate of the NLC and I’ve told you that we will join the strike action…all workers in the power sector will join the mass protest on Wednesday, August 2, 2023.”
The Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance, Chief Ede Dafinone, advised Nigerians to prepare for tougher times, especially in the next six months, as the price of petrol is expected to continue rising.
He, however, said despite the difficult economic situation, Nigerians should keep hope alive as the challenges would soon fizzle out.
Dafinone gave the advice on Saturday during a reception held in honour of federal lawmakers of Urhobo extraction in the 10th National Assembly organized by the Urhobo Leadership Forum in Abuja.
Other lawmakers honoured were. Rev. Francis Ejiroghene Waive representing Udu, Ughelli North and Ughelli South federal constituencies; daughter of James Ibori, a former governor of Delta State, Mrs. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, who represents the Ethiope Federal Constituency; and Benedict Etanabene, representing Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency.
Dafinone described fuel subsidy as a necessary evil, which required clinical amputation to save the nation from the brink of a full-blown economic collapse.
He said, “At this point, the government is putting together policies to ameliorate the situation. But Nigerians must be aware that the next one or two months will be difficult, because petrol price may still go up again, and we must be ready to spend wisely in an economy that will get worse before it gets better.”
According to him, the criticisms trailing the removal of fuel subsidy by Tinubu are not fair, adding that all political parties agreed during campaigns that subsidy had to go.
Etanabene, however, disagreed with Dafinone’s submissions, saying the government was not sincere in its dealing with the people.
The lawmaker maintained that there was nothing wrong with the government subsidizing petrol for Nigerians, adding that the idea of providing palliatives would not ameliorate the sufferings of the citizens.
Borno, Adamawa, Yobe’s Palliatives
Meanwhile, the governments of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states have started taking steps to cushion the hike in transport fares caused by the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the state governments, which operate their transport companies, have continued to ensure that the fares remain lower than what obtains in motor parks.
In Borno, Governor Babagana Zulum approved the release of 50 buses to address the situation.
According to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Malam Isa Gusau, the buses will be added to the fleet of the state-owned transport outfit, Borno Express Corporation.
Gusau said 30 vans were also provided for farmers, particularly those residing in Maiduguri, to enjoy free rides to the outskirts of the state capital where their farmlands are located.
A University of Maiduguri student, Mustapha Abdullahi, and a government worker, Ali Modu, who patronized the buses picking passengers at N50 per drop, lauded the government for the intervention.
In Adamawa, the state government constituted a special committee on mitigating the effects of subsidy removal with Dr. Amos Edgar, the Chief of Staff to Governor Ahmadu Fintiri as chairman.
Edgar revealed plans by the state government to purchase shuttle buses for workers for inter-local government commuting at subsidized rates.
He said another measure being taken by the government was the approval of N10,000 monthly subsidy for all workers and pensioners.
The Director, Transport, Adamawa Ministry of Transport, Mr. Labaran Salisu, said some of the 250 partially leased vehicles in the ministry’s custody for inter-state services would be deployed for town services at subsidized rates.
In Yobe, the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, Dr. Mohammed Goje, said plans were underway to provide free transportation of students and civil servants.
“Very soon, the state government will provide buses for free transportation for civil servants and students,” Goje said.
Osun, Ekiti Residents Appeal
Residents of Osun and Ekiti states have appealed to the Federal Government to provide special funds to states to assist in ameliorating the effects of the fuel subsidy removal on the economy.
A survey conducted by NAN in the state shows that many residents have abandoned the use of their vehicles as a result of the exorbitant cost of petrol.
Respondents appealed for the speedy implementation of the palliatives, including the provision of commercial buses to cushion the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy.
The spokesman for Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, Malam Olawale Rasheed, said the state government would soon unveil palliatives to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.
Rasheed said the planned intervention would include support to public transport vehicle owners, monitoring of fuel stations, and a review of the public sector work time.
He said top officials were finalizing the state palliative plan in line with the directives of Adeleke.
In Ekiti, a CSO member, Mr. Gbenga Ilori, urged the government to strive to revive its moribund transport company, Ekiti Kete Transport Company.
He also called on the Federal Government to evolve a program to help states in this direction to cushion the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy on Nigerians.
Ilori described the hardship the subsidy removal had caused the masses as unprecedented, saying something drastic needed to be done to alleviate it.
According to him, many residents, especially workers, are finding things difficult as they now spend more to commute to their workplaces than what they earn, while many others have resorted to trekking long distances.
An engineer with the state Ministry of Works, Mr. Fatai Alaba, suggested the adoption of alternatives to fuel-powered vehicles.
“The Federal Government can import or make gas-powered vehicles for Nigerians to cushion the hardship on the people,” he said.
A civil servant, Mrs. Sola Kehinde, advised the state government to resuscitate the transport company in the state and ensure that they pick government workers at different locations to their workplaces.
As the situation unfolds, lawyer and human rights activist, Ridwan Oke, warned the NLC against disobeying any substantive court order on the issue of strike, describing such as contempt of court.
“It will be wrong for anyone who has been ordered to refrain from something to go ahead to do it. That will be tantamount to contempt of court,” Oke added.
Another lawyer, Muhammed Adam, corroborated Oke’s statement and emphasized that the NLC would be in contempt of court should it go ahead with the strike.
“If they proceed, it will amount to contempt of court and it’s punishable with imprisonment. The proper thing is to apply to the court to set aside the order or appeal the order and apply for an injunction pending appeal. Otherwise, they will be in contempt,” he stated.
Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, Samson Itodo, urged the NLC to engage the Federal Government in negotiations.
“It is quite a difficult situation. Honestly, what will be the pros and cons of embarking on the strike action? They should negotiate more because who is suffering at the end of the day? It’s Nigerians who will suffer. I understand that the NLC is defending the people’s rights and the entire people in society because of the hardship of the policy. The government, on its part, needs to accelerate its response,” Itodo said.
The National Deputy President, TUC, Tommy Etim, blasted the government over the lack of seriousness shown so far with regard to the negotiations.
“When we got to the Villa on Friday, we waited for almost two hours at the gate for clearance with no intervention. It was after two hours that we were allowed in. By the time we got to the point of the meeting, we realized that the team representing the government failed to show up. So, it is wrong to actually say labour stormed out of the meeting. How can labour storm out of a meeting that did not hold? We felt very disappointed because we did not expect this from the government,” he said.
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