Confusion, Fear as NLC Insists on Strike Amid Transport Union, Northern CSOs Pull Out
By THECONSCIENCEng
There is palpable confusion and fear among citizens who are caught in the web of uncertainty as the Nigerian Labour Congress NLC insisted on embarking on a scheduled nationwide strike and protest on Wednesday.
Many are worried about getting stranded should the strike hold and also weary of the harsh impact on a fragile economy and already difficult means of livelihood.
There are also apprehensions about criminal elements hijacking the protest to breach public peace and unleash mayhem as witnessed in the past.
Various units of the labour unions also bicker over the protest with some key groups already pulling out.
Less than 24 hours to Wednesday’s planned nationwide strike and mass protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress, 16 Northern-based civil society groups under the aegis of the Coalition of Arewa Civil Society Organisations had pulled out on the grounds that the indefinite strike action will damage the fragile economy and cause more hardship to ordinary Nigerians.
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The decision to pull out was contained in a statement jointly signed by Chairman and Secretary of the Arewa Coalition, Comrade Ibraheem Suleman Dogo, and Comrade Friday Luka Dalung, according to the groups.
In the same vein, Chairman of the Lagos State Parks and Garages (LASPG), Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya (MC Oluomo), announced that transporters in the state will not be joining the August 2 strike called by the organised labour.
Rather, Akinsanya announced on Tuesday at a meeting with transport union leaders and operators, relief measures for commercial bus drivers and passengers to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government.
He said the tickets sold to drivers at parks for N800 would now be N600 and all bookings would be reduced by 25 per cent.
For passengers, Akinsanya said routes which used to attract N500 transport fare would now be charged at N300 while commuters previously paying N200 would now pay N150.
However, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday night insisted it will proceed with the nationwide mass protest as initially planned, following a meeting with the federal government.
The NLC leadership, led by Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the organization, expressed that the outcome of the meeting with the government did not bring about any changes or concessions that would alter their course of action.
A terse statement on its website
signed by its national president, Joe Ajaero, said the protests would be held as scheduled across major cities in the country.
Earlier in a briefing with journalists at the State House, the Secretary-General of the NLC, Emmanuel Ugboaja, stated that the Congress might reconsider its stance on the proposed strike action. Ugboaja’s statement had led to a series of controversies with news about a possible suspension making waves across the country.
The terse statement which was posted on the official Twitter handle of the NLC @NLCheadquarters reads, “Ignore fake rumours, NLC is never divided. We are one united and strong labour centre. The protest rally will be held Tomorrow (Wednesday) nationwide.”
Presently, the NLC is demanding an immediate reversal of all “unfriendly” policies as initiated by the Tinubu government such as as the hike in the price of petrol, immediate inauguration of the presidential steering committee, an increase in public school fees, the release of the eight-month withheld salaries of university lecturers and workers and an increase in Value-Added Tax, among others as bone of contention while its TUC counterpart said it had given the government a two- week ultimatum following which it would take “solid actions.”
Earlier, Femi Gbajabiamila, the chief of staff to the president, had described the Organised Labour as a “listening” organisation that would not go ahead with its planned protests after listening to Tinubu’s national broadcast to the nation.
We indeed appealed to Labour to call off their protests for tomorrow. We’ve found listening ears here and they all accepted that Mr. President’s broadcast was a welcome development and that they’ll go back home to talk to the other leaders.
“So we’re hopeful that they will be do the right thing and not protest tomorrow.”
