The Federal Government has reportedly begun moves to avert the looming nationwide industrial strike. According to multiple sources, government is determined to use every means possible including carrot and stick, to achieve the aim.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), at a joint emergency meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, resolved to embark on an indefinite strike with effect from October 3 following Federal Government’s failure to address the suffering and other socio-economic hardships occasioned by the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol.
On Tuesday, September 5 and Wednesday 6, NLC had embarked on a two-day warning strike to force government to address the mass suffering of Nigerians, especially workers.
At a joint press briefing, yesterday, the unions which reunited after a momentary parting of ways, asked their state chapters to mobilise for protests across the country with effect from October 3.
It also directed all affiliates and state councils to immediately begin mobilising for street protests and rallies.
However, multiple highly placed sources told Daily Sun last night that the Federal Government was doing everything to ensure the strike does not hold.
“To say the announcement to embark on a strike rattled the government is to say the least. Although President Bola Tinubu is out of the country, he has given a marching order to those concerned to ensure the strike is averted. They are ready to adopt both orthodox and unorthodox measures to foil the strike.”
As part of the move, sources said President bola Tinubu may announce an additional palliative package during his Independence Day speech on October 1. “He is scheduled to present the workers’ relief package during the traditional presidential speech on Nigeria’s Independence day.”
This could not be confirmed, however, at press time.
Another aspect of the plot, according to one of the sources, is to approach a court to obtain an injunction against labour. Government lawyers are reportedly drafting the suit in preparation to storming the court.
“This antic that was elevated to a state policy under the administration of Buhari, when Senator Chris Ngige was minister of labour and employment, is still well awn alive under this regime. Nigerians should not be surprised if the government obtains a court order between now and October 3.”
However, Labour has dismissed concerns that its planned nationwide strike would be hampered by a court order.
“Whether we’ll obey a court order? Well, wait till then. We should reach the bridge before we cross it,” spokesperson for NLC, Mr. Benson Upah, replied to DailySun in a phone interview when asked what would happen if the Federal Government obtained a court order to stop the strike.
•Afenifere seeks more consultation
As anxiety mounts, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has appealed to the Federal Government and the labour leaders to engage more in consultation with a view to resolving the issues surrounding the fuel subsidy removal and the attendant difficulties Nigerians are facing.
The appeal was made in a communique issued at the end of the monthly meeting of Afenifere held at the residence of the Leader of the organisation, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, at Ijapo Estate, Akure, Ondo State.
Prominent Yoruba leaders from all parts of Yorubaland were in attendance. Delegates also came from all the states in the South Western part of Nigeria, including Yoruba speaking areas of Kogi and Kwara States.
After comprehensive deliberations on the issues, the meeting called on the government to redouble its efforts in finding a lasting solution to the intractable problem of exchange rate in order to bring succour to the teeming population of our people, in no distant future.
•OPSN urges FG, Labour to factor wellbeing of Nigerians and avert strike
The Organised Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN), umbrella body of MAN and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises and the Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), has again urged the Federal Government and labour to factor in the wellbeing of more than 200 million Nigerians and avert the planned strike
It said the two should work together in the interest of the nation’s economy which could be jeopardised by the strike.
Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, Director-General of MAN, who reiterated OPSN’s earlier admonition to avert the looming disruption of socioeconomic activities, noted that current economic indicators in the country do not support a strike.
“The view of the OPSN is that of deep concern; if not that of anxiety. We have keenly watched the back and forth consultations between the government on the one hand and Labour on the other.
“It is evident that the series of consultations have not yielded positive results and the latter has resolved, in one way or the other, to go ahead with the strike.
“We are worried that adequate consideration is not given to the dire situation of the economy and the devastating and disruptive impact that a nationwide strike will have on the country at this time.
“Government and labour need to understand that our economy is being de-marketed and the livelihood of the average Nigerian is being diminished by these incessant bickering.
“One is beginning to wonder if the wellbeing of more than 200 million Nigerians is being factored into their negotiations,’’ Ajayi-Kadir said.
The MAN director-general urged government to reengage labour and find an amicable ground to avert the imminent disruption to business activities that would attend the protest and nationwide strike.
He appealed that adequate consideration be given to the grim state of the economy and the possible unintended consequences of social unrest that might result from the strike.
@Daily Sun
