On Wednesday, August 2, 2023, members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Civil Societies Organisation (CSO) took to the streets of major cities to protest the consistent increases in the pump price of premium motor spirit (PMS) by president Bola Ahmed Tinubu government without commensurate palliatives to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal which have reduced majority of Nigerians to wallowing in abject poverty. The National Assembly gate was pulled down by the angry protesters in Abuja prompting a meeting between Tinubu and Labour leaders on the way forward
By Udoka Ekeleme
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu was forced to come down from his presidential glory on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 to meet with the leaders of the two labour unions, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, with a firm commitment to accede to some of the demands of the organized labour.
At the meeting which was prompted by the mass protest embarked upon by members of NLC, TUC and Civil Society groups to compel the government to provide commensurate palliatives to cushion the effects of the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Tinubu had promised to constitute a new presidential committee on palliatives, as the labour leaders complained about the existing committee, led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, which they described as an aberration.
Tinubu also acceded to organized labour’s demand for wage award, since negotiation of a new minimum wage would not come until 2024, in accordance with constitutional provisions.
The protests took place in virtually all the states of the federation, with various state NLC and TUC councils mobilising workers for the action. From Lagos to Ogun, Edo, Kano, Kaduna, Kebbi, Enugu, Abia, Bayelsa, Imo to Rivers, among others, the workers said the removal of fuel subsidy, which led to a sharp increase in the price of goods and services, had made life unbearable for them.
For example, in Ogun State, the state government promised to convert vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, to make transportation affordable to the people. Others states also promised to do same and give hardship allowances to workers.
Tinubu’s promise came barely hours after protesting workers stormed the National Assembly and pulled down its gate to gain access into the complex when the security personnel guarding the parliamentary main gate refused to open it and allow protesters access into the National Assembly complex. Promptly the Federal Government filed a contempt proceeding against NLC and TUC leadership.
Speaking to State House correspondents at the end of the brief meeting with the President, the President of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, said they deepened their discussions with the President on palliatives for workers.
He disclosed that the President explained certain things hitherto not in his nationwide broadcast to them at the meeting.
Ajaero said: “We met with him (President Tinubu). The issues we discussed are the same issues that led to the protest today. He has expressed his position, made some commitments, which were taken side-by-side with what the Senate said, and we’re taking it back to the office with our colleagues to review it and release a document on our next line of action.”
In a statement issued by presidents of NLC and TUC, Ajaero and Festus Osifo respectively, the labour leaders said “We want to appreciate the massive solidarity and support of the Nigerian people who thronged the various venues around the country in their numbers, despite intimidations and blackmails by agents of government and forces of retrogression to discourage them from joining the nationwide protest called to ventilate citizens’ outrage at the anti-poor and anti-peoples’ policies of the government.
‘’We doff our hats at your determination and commitment to save ourselves and, indeed, the nation from those whose only interest is to foist continuous deprivation and suffering on Nigerians.
“The message you have sent today is a strong demonstration of our collective resolve as patriots and owners of the sovereign will to demand that those who occupy the corridors of power must listen to us. You have sent a very strong, loud and clear signal to those occupying the various government houses, be it at the federal or state, that the people remain the sovereign and the barometer for measurement that resides with the trade union movement who have continued to be the bastion of that collective will.
“The NLC and TUC also appreciates the timely intervention of the leadership of the National Assembly for their pledge to resolve the issues raised by the Nigerian people and for their deep understanding of the need for government to provide quick wins as succour with short timelines to ameliorate the consequences of the hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, on the citizenry.”
Speaking against the contempt suit filed against labour leaders by the Federal Government, the two presidents also said, “It is also important that we inform Nigerians that we have just received a court summons purporting to charge us with contempt of court. We urge all Nigerians to be vigilant because it appears that the days of long knives are here with us again.
‘’The leadership remains resolute in its commitment to the protection of the interests and welfare of Nigerian people and nothing whatsoever can take our eyes away from this focus nor shake this belief.
“Having demonstrated our collective resolve through the strong signal we sent today (yesterday) across Nigeria, we urge vigilance on the part of all workers and masses to protect our nation and our decisions while we await the response of the government through the National Assembly as was assured by their representatives during the protest.
“To further show our collective resolve, All Nigerian workers will resume at the courts wherever they may be across the nation on the days of the court sittings to hear the contempt proceedings against the leaders of trade unions.
‘’The airports, seaports, hospitals, schools; all public and private sector workers will all appear in court across the nation in response to the contempt charges.
