NLC, TUC reject FG's options, go ahead with nationwide protest

The planned nationwide protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) for Wednesday goes on as scheduled despite the efforts of the Federal Government to stop it.

The protest is to compel the Federal Government to implement measures to cushion the hardship forced on Nigerians by the removal of petrol subsidy.

President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, who disclosed this to journalists last night in Abuja, said reports flying around that the congress had suspended the mass action were the handiwork of mischief-makers working against the interest of Nigerians.

TUC also directed all its state councils in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, to mobilise for the protest today.

The nationwide protest by NLC and TUC followed the congress’ rejection of the policy measures unveiled by President Bola Tinubu in his national broadcast on Monday.

Ajaero said the meeting with the representatives of the Federal Government did not change anything. He directed the state councils of the congress to mobilise for the mass action.

In a statement, Ajaero said, “We have neither reconsidered nor suspended the nationwide mass protest. We want to inform all Nigerians that we have just risen from a meeting with the federal government, where we sought to get them to listen to the demands of the people and workers of Nigeria.

“The outcome of this meeting earlier today has, however, not changed anything or the course, which we have set for ourselves tomorrow as custodians of the interests and desires of Nigerian workers and people.

“Nigerians are advised to ignore the work of fifth columnists, who are working hard against the wishes of the people. We urge everyone to gather in our respective states and wherever we may be across the nation to give vent to this collective resolve. Once again, the Nationwide Mass Protest will start tomorrow.” NLC listed its demands as immediate implementation of resolutions reached with the congress, jointly signed with the government and TUC, as well as “immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of the government, such as hike in school fees of tertiary institutions and fuel price”.

Other demands include fixing of local refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna; release of eight months withheld salaries of university lecturers and workers; appropriate recognition and support to the presidential steering committee and the work of its sub-committees; and cessation of inhumane actions and policies of government.

Apart from failing to address the workers’ demand for a wage award to cushion hardship brought by the abrupt fuel subsidy removal, NLC said the president’s speech did not name those behind the government’s allegation of fuel subsidy scam, and it was silent on the issue of repair of the refineries.

As at yesterday, all the affiliates of NLC, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other university workers, had indicated their readiness to join the protest as directed by the labour centre.

ASUU president, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, was quoted as telling journalists that the union will join the protest.

In a statement titled, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Speech – Not the Silver Bullet that Nigerians Expected,” NLC said the government’s proposed measures failed to meet the expectations of the Nigerian masses.

It stated regarding Monday’s presidential broadcast, “Our review of today’s broadcast by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu leaves us with the impression that the promises and assurances made by President Tinubu is not the silver bullet that Nigerians expected. The speech, indeed, appears to be out of touch with reality and anomalous with the hardship and suffering that most Nigerians are going through now.”

The statement signed by the NLC president said though the opening speech by Tinubu conveyed a commitment to a better and productive economy, it was expected that the next thing would be how the government planned to resuscitate the comatose public refineries.

It said the entire speech by Tinubu was silent on the repair of the refineries.

NLC also said workers were concerned that Tinubu failed to unmask those behind the looting of Nigeria’s commonwealth under the guise of petrol subsidy.

It stated, “It is unacceptable for the President and Commander-in-Chief to lament like ordinary Nigerians about a group that Mr. President routinely referred to in his speech as the ‘elites of the elites’ who have stolen so much from Nigeria that they have become so powerful as to constitute a threat to democratic governance.

“What Nigerians expected from Mr. President is a firm commitment to bring these economic saboteurs to justice and recover what they have stolen.

“Third, Mr. President’s statement on working with organised labour to review the national minimum wage is out of sync with what has played out since President Tinubu removed the so-called petrol subsidy.”

NLC expressed dismay that while Tinubu in his speech lavishly praised the private sector for quickly dispensing wage award to their employees, the federal government failed to do the same for public sector workers.

It stated, “This is a clear case of failing woefully to live up to the standards it has set for others to meet. It is open knowledge that the review of the national minimum wage is a matter of the law which is expected to happen in 2024.

“How would Nigerian workers cope with the current reality of hyperinflation and suffering unleashed by the hasty removal of the so-called petrol subsidy till 2024, when the national minimum wage would be reviewed? This is incredible.

“Fourth, the claims of interventions by the federal government through palliatives, loans and conditional grants to poor Nigerians, big manufacturing concerns and small businesses, and provision of CNG buses remain what they are – promises! Nigerians are used to such promises, which have never produced any verifiable and meaningful changes in the lives of citizens.

“Fifth, for many Nigerians, it is incomprehensible that the principal actors in the current government, including Mr. President himself, were clear in 2012 on the need to tackle the fundamental issues that brought about petrol subsidy.

“Those issues included the failure of previous governments to repair our national refineries and bring those behind the monumental subsidy sleaze to book. Today, these issues were swept under the carpet in President Tinubu’s speech. Nigerians wonder ‘what has changed?’

“Finally, we wish to assure Nigerians that the Nigeria Labour Congress remains committed to matching discussions with government with the current realities of sufferings that Nigerians are going through. Until we see real commitment by government to do the needful to improve the lot of Nigerians and ameliorate the sufferings workers and ordinary Nigerians are going through, we remain committed to continue with our struggle.”

Similarly, TUC, in a statement issued last night and jointly signed by TUC president Festus Osifo and General Secretary Nuhu Toro, directed all affiliates and state councils of congress, “To mobilise their members for action by midnight of today, 1st August, 2023.”

It said the hike in the pump price of petrol had brought untold hardship on Nigerians, with many having to trek kilometres to work and places of business.

TUC stated, “Organisations have shut down and workers laid off because of the anti-poor policy.

“The congress is not averse to the removal of subsidy; we support the fact that it has to be removed, but there must be measures in place to ameliorate its effect on Nigerians. And such measures include: fixing of the refineries and possibly building more; functional transportation system; living wage; good medical facilities; and employment.

“The policy was not thought through, which is why its impact is excruciating on Nigerians. Sadly, when Nigerians cried out, the federal government proposed a paltry sum of N8, 000 for poor families without details on mode of payment.

“Annoyingly, also, the same government is giving a whopping sum of N70 billion to 469 lawmakers and N39 billion to the judiciary. The injustice and impunity cannot be tolerated.”

Osifo said three days ago, the organised labour (TUC/NLC) was at the villa for a meeting with the federal government to discuss further on the palliatives, but government boycotted the meeting, slowing down the negotiation process.

The statement said, “Nigerians are dying and we cannot afford to keep quiet any longer. The federal government must realise that governance goes beyond declaration of emergency on food security; it is time to swing into action to avert the starvation in the land. Government promised to attract investors when they win elections, which we have not seen.

“They should go abroad, get investors, create more decent jobs and provide an enabling environment for investment in terms of security and others. It is when more people get employed that taxes can be paid and government will have more money.

“The exchange rate is abysmally high and stifling businesses. This has affected the cost of production and inflation rate. Naira should not be on a free fall; no country allows that. Nigeria is dollar dependent and our only major source of forex is oil and, painfully, we cannot refine our crude.

“The federal government has failed to manage it forex well and it is taking toll on the pockets of Nigerians. Government must come up with good monetary policies that will help investments and also empower the naira.”

However, Chief of Staff to the President, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, described organised labour as a listening organisation that would not go ahead with its planned protests after listening to Tinubu’s national broadcast.