NLC mobilises for nationwide strike over fuel subsidy removal

From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja

The Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the federal government to reverse all perceived anti-people policies, including the recent hike in the pump price of petrol, or face an indefinite nationwide strike from August 2.

The NLC also instructed all of its affiliates and state councils to start immediately organizing workers and other Nigerians, including their civil society allies, for a protracted strike and large-scale demonstrations should the government fail to meet its conditions for fuel subsidy removal.

The NLC reached the decision at its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting held Tuesday, July 25, at its headquarters in Abuja.

In a communique issued after the meeting which was signed by its President, Joe Ajaero and General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja on Wednesday, NLC said the federal government had shown enormous disdain and contempt for Nigerian people and workers having acted and continued to act without regard to the welfare and cries of the citizenry.

It said the government’s conduct suggests it does not intend to commit itself to the MoU it signed with the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

According to the Congress, Nigerians were outraged and have been putting pressure on the NLC to lead them in protest against the increases in the pump price of PMS.

“That government seems to have declared a war of attrition on Nigerian workers and masses without any care leaving them in the throes of hopelessness and helplessness.

“That the federal government has refused to put in place safeguards to protect Nigerians from the harsh economic situation that its policies have inflicted on the people rather it has decided to insult the sensibilities of Nigerian masses by offering us N8,000 per family and offering themselves N70b.

“That the federal government has frustrated and abandoned its own Committee which was a product of social dialogue between the government and workers’ organizations in the country. While the Committee has not met, the government embarked on unilateral actions and programmes.

“That since Mr President’s “subsidy is gone forever” speech on inauguration day; the peace of mind of Nigerians has gone; decent living is gone, increasing despair of unimaginable dimensions.

“That the federal government has continued to treat Nigerians as slaves and a conquered people which it treats with impunity without any concern for the consequences.

“That the federal government has continued in an unholy mission of robbing the poor to pay the rich in Nigeria as typified by its continued frustration of the activation of the agreed alternatives to Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and new hike in prices of PMS to N617 per litre.

“That the federal government has continued to promote the gang up of the ruling elite against Nigerian people and workers.

“Observes that the federal government has continued to churn out without relenting policies designed to emasculate Nigerian workers and people via not just increases in PMS prices with its spiralling effect but also increases in VAT, increases in School fees across all Publicly owned Secondary and Tertiary institutions of learning that the NNPCL has turned itself into the forces of demand and supply and fixes the price of Petroleum products while mouthing deregulation.

“That the pressure has come to a breaking point and given the government’s continued indifference to the plight of the poor resolved that It would not be a party to the killing of poor Nigerian workers and masses. 14. that it is the responsibility of men and women of conscience propelled by patriotic zeal to take necessary action to protect democracy and our beloved nation since it is clear that the federal government is not interested in discussions having exhausted half of the agreed 8 weeks without activating the Presidential Steering Committee.

The CWC-in-session also demanded the immediate inauguration of the Presidential Steering Committee as agreed in earlier consequential dialogues between the federal government and the Congress.

The NLC called on all civil society organizations and Nigerians wherever they may be to begin mobilization to take action on their own to save the country.