In spite of the biting hardship in the country occasioned by Federal Government’s economic policies, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu chides the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over its one day nationwide protest, insisting that it was unacceptable for Nigerians to judge his government’s performance in just nine months
By Ikenna Princewill
The faceoff between the presidency and the organised labour is yet to be settled. Last week, both the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu were at each other’s jugular over the economic hardship ravaging the masses as a result of the fuel subsidy removal and floating of the nation’s currency.
On Tuesday, February 27, 2023, the NLC made good its threat to embark on a two days nationwide protest over the hardship in the land. The organised labour earlier scheduled the protest to last for two days, that is, Tuesday and Wednesday, February 28.
The NLC protests recorded massive turnout and compliance from the organised labour and its sympathizers across the country. Later on the first day of the protest and to the dismay of the millions of ordinary Nigerians who showed solidarity with the NLC, the body was to call off the protest while accusing the Federal Government of threats and intimidation.
On Tuesday, February 27, the NLC alleged that the Federal Government’s efforts to undermine it through divide-and-rule tactics, using threats and intimidation was the reason it terminated the two days protest after it commenced on the first day.
The organized labour also expressed concern that its headquarters as well as state offices nationwide had been militarised by the Federal Government, insisting members of the congress won’t be cowed by any threat
The leadership of the Labour centre equally vowed not to honour any invitation from the Federal Government to attend any night meeting, ahead of any of its declared nationwide mass actions, saying it was a strategy to hoodwink them.
President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, who disclosed this while fielding questions from journalists at a briefing to update Nigerians at Labour House, Abuja, maintained that the leadership of NLC would only attend meetings with the government officials when actions had not been declared.
Ajaero said: “Each time they invite us for meetings, we will attend and listen to them because if we don’t attend, they will blackmail us. You are aware that they held a meeting with us till late on Sunday. While that meeting was on, they wrote letters to all the unions to undermine us.
“You’re meeting with the leadership of the NLC, and you’re still inviting every union in the country to undermine us. Even at that meeting, where I was talking, they wanted two of my deputies to be talking, so that we don’t have leaders, but we survived all that.
“There is nothing on earth they have not done to subvert the NLC. Nothing! And we’re still waxing stronger. So, if they invite us for a meeting, we will still go and listen because we have our views, we have our positions, and we will still gently present our positions. We won’t say we’re not going except when we realise that…”
Recall that a few hours before the commencement of the two day protest, the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, invited the leadership of the Congress to a meeting that lasted till late night in a bid to scuttle the rally
Ajaero described the February 26 night meeting as an “obsolete strategy” adopted by the federal government to delay, demobilise and demoralise aggrieved protesters nationwide.
The labour leader, while responding to enquiry, said: “Henceforth, the NLC will no longer be comfortable attending meetings on the eve of any action. Never again! It was a waste of time, waste of energy and nothing comes from such meetings.
“It was to delay us, to demobilise us, and to make people have the impression that we went there to discuss other issues, apart from the issues on ground. This is our new resolve.
“You (FG) can no longer call us for a meeting when we have action tomorrow or next tomorrow, and you delay us till 11pm, 12am in the night, so that we won’t come out to mobilise for action. Such a strategy is obsolete. I think they should adopt new strategies.”
But President Tinubu was to react to the NLC protests on Thursday, February 29 during the inauguration of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) performed by the President at the Ikeja Train Station, Lagos.
Tinubu told the NLC that it was unacceptable for it to engage in such protests against his government which he said had not exceeded nine months.
Tinubu: “Calling for a strike in just nine months of an administration is unacceptable. NLC is not the only voice in Nigeria. It should wait till 2027 if it is interested in joining the electoral process”.
The Nationwide Protests ended with labour handing a 17-point demand to president Tinubu for his perusal and expected implementation.
NLC said, “However, your Excellency, NLC believes that the following demands as proposed below, if immediately implemented will assist our nation overcome the present crisis of survival in the short-run. They are adoption of measures to mitigate the increasing hardship in the country via mechanisms that will allow for immediate food availability locally”.
The demands include, *We suggest a reopening of land borders to allow food, cement and other essentials to come in.
*Emergency measures to ensure food security around the country, including ensuring that farmlands are secured so that farmers can return to the land.
*We propose an immediate removal of the collection of levies, fees, dues and tolls from petty traders across the nation by local and state governments.
*Immediate implementation of the October 2, 2023, agreement reached with your government.
*An immediate deployment of large numbers of CNG conversion kits to all states of the federation to grant the citizenry easier access to conversion of their vehicles from PMS to CNG.
*Composition of a team of relevant stakeholders to monitor and supervise all Federal Government’s intervention funds in the interest of Nigerian people. The same arrangement is advocated at all levels to ensure that government interventions reach the poor and the vulnerable.
*An immediate purchase and deployment of CNG/ electric buses across all states of the federation to be managed by stakeholders.
*Speedy conclusion of the National Minimum Wage negotiation, ensuring that it approximates a living wage.
*Halt immediately the implementation of all IMF and World Bank policies in Nigeria. They have not only worked anywhere but have brought extreme hardship which imperils our nation’s security and undermines our sovereignty.
*Immediate reduction in the cost of governance in Nigeria at all levels to reflect the nation’s tight fiscal position.
*Direct the purchase and use of Made in Nigeria goods and services to stimulate local production and save jobs.
*A removal of VAT on basic consumer items.
*An immediate tax holiday to all workers earning from N100,000 per month and below including a reduction in PAYE for all workers earning below N500,000/Month.
*Cash Transfers to the vulnerable with verifiable and inclusive social register to begin immediately.
*Direct all state governments to immediately pay all owed wages, wage awards, allowances, gratuities and pensions.
*A drastic reduction and removal of import duties paid on essential drugs and medical consumables to relieve the current hardship being witnessed by the sick.
*Reversal and suspension of further increases in school fees across the nation.
