The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) will today, Wednesday, August 2, 2203, begin a protest against fuel subsidy removal and current economic hardship, as talks with the Federal Government on short-term palliatives collapsed yesterday.
There had been doubts over fate of the nationwide protest called out to demonstrate against what Labour described as ‘anti-poor and anti-workers policies’ of government, with some saying NLC would as usual, chicken out at the last minute, especially after suspending a planned strike twice this year alone – in March against currency swap introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and in June against removal of fuel subsidy.
Rising yesterday from the rescheduled Presidential Steering Committee on Palliatives meeting with Organised Labour, comprising NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC), there had been insinuations that the labour leaders would rethink its planned nationwide protest.
TUC President, Festus Osifo, stated that while President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s palliative measures were welcoming, they were not comprehensive, adding that while government requested that the protest be shelved, the Organised Labour would consult with members whom they represent to reach a consensus on the next course of action before the day ends.
Corroborating Osifo, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, described Organised Labour as a listening organisation that would not go ahead with its planned protests after listening to President Tinubu’s national broadcast on Monday.
He said: “Basically, we laid out the plan and intervention of the President as you all heard in his broadcast. We made it clear that this was Mr. President’s initial roll out interventions and the conversations will be ongoing as we go along. So, we’re hopeful that they will do the right thing and not protest tomorrow (Wednesday).”
But in a swift reaction, NLC denied rumours making the rounds that it was reconsidering the nationwide protest, which it alleged was the handwork of fifth columnists. It insisted that despite all distractions, the Congress and its members were fully mobilised across the country and nothing has changed.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the Congress neither reconsidered nor suspended the nationwide mass protest. Ajaero, in a statement personally signed by him, listed the Congress’ demands, which include the immediate implementation in good faith of the resolution with the Congress, jointly signed with the government and TUC.
It demanded the immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of the government, including the recent hike in fuel prices, school fees and Value Added Tax (VAT).
Part of the NLC demands, Ajaero said also include the fixing of local refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna; release of eight months withheld salaries of University lecturers and workers.
He said the government should accord appropriate recognition and support to the presidential steering committee and the work of its sub-committees, as well as put a stop to inhuman actions and policies of the government.
Also, General Secretary of NLC, Emmanuel Ugboaja, in a phone interview, told newsmen: “The protest is going on tomorrow (today). There is nothing to reconsider. The person that quoted me must be an imbecile. I have not spoken with the media today. It is all the tactics to cause confusion. I say the action is on. We are fully mobilised across the country, nothing has changed that, not even the meeting we had today with the government.
“We are not reconsidering. It is the action of fifth columnists. They are working for the government. There is nothing that happened at today’s meeting that is enough to make us change our minds. We have neither reconsidered nor suspended the nationwide protest. Nigerians should ignore any information to the contrary. We are committed, resolute, and made last minute preparation to ensure that the mass protest takes place and is effective across Nigeria and nothing will stop us except the government meeting all of our demands.”
Asked if TUC was still part of the solidarity, NLC Assistant General Secretary, Chris Onyeka, said: “We are all moving forward. TUC remains an independent labour centre that could determine the type of action they want. If they want to join us or not, fine and good, we were at the meeting together. We are walking together and speaking together.”
