President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, in Abuja appealed to the organised labour to avail him more time to consider their grievances before embarking on any nationwide strike.
This is just as indication emerged that the Federal Government may enforce the court order restraining the organised labour from embarking on a strike over the withdrawal of fuel subsidy in May should the Nigeria Labour Congress make good its threat on August 2.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, disclosed Tinubu’s plea to State House Correspondents after leading some officers of the House to brief the President on the outcome of their engagement with the National Association of Resident Doctors, which has declared a nationwide strike.
At about the same time, following the threat by labour, the Federal Government on Wednesday evening held an emergency meeting with the organised labour comprising of the NLC and the Trade Union Congress at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
But briefing reporters, Abbas said Tinubu appealed that being new in office, he needs time to evaluate the issues raised by workers over which as he is yet to be briefed.
Abbas said, “What he (Tinubu) said is that he’s just coming on board. We should ask them and beg them to please give him a little more time.
“The things that they mentioned, he is completely unaware of them, he is yet to be briefed about all those issues.
“But from what he heard from me, he also advised that we should channel some of those issues to the Chief of Staff to look at them one after the other. I believe the next coming days, some concerted actions will be taken.”
The Speaker explained that the House leadership invited NARD following their intention to go on strike, saying that the lawmakers succeeded in persuading the union to shelve the plan.
“Sequel to the meeting we had with them, there were series of conditions that they gave, that we felt we need to share with the President,” he revealed.
Asked what the House was doing to restrain the Nigeria Labour Congress from proceeding with the August 2 protests, Abbas said, “In the same manner, the same way, we will also invite them to come and sit so that we hear their grievances and then we follow the same pattern of engaging and persuading them to give us a little time so that we can be able to meet their expectations.”
Meanwhile, the House leadership’s meeting with the President was held as leaders of the NLC and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria met with the Presidential Steering Committee on Palliatives set up by the Federal Government.
However, the meeting failed to convince the labour leaders to shelve their plan as they insisted on proceeding with the protest slated for August 2.
Wednesday’s meeting, which took place in the office of the President’s Chief of Staff, was attended by labour delegations led by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero and his TUC counterpart, Festus Osifo.
It was in continuation of the June 19 meeting over the initial increase of the petrol pump price to N520 per litre.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, Ajaero said, “We are going ahead with the protest because we have to be emphatic on what we put in our communique, to say we are commencing protests from August 2.”
On his part, the TUC President, Osifo, said both sides listened to the presentations from the Steering Committee secretariat and labour made its input afterwards.
He said, “Some of the things they presented, we did not agree with them. So, the areas we did not agree on, we also made our inputs known because when you come to such a meeting, it is for the government or its representatives to do a presentation.
“But it’s left for us to either agree or disagree. So, during the meeting, we gave them sufficient feedback. And they also agreed to go and look at those feedbacks and get back to us on Friday.”
However, the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, said the discussions achieved some progress in negotiations.
She explained: “We’ve agreed to continue to make progress. It was a very productive meeting.
“The focus was really around how we fast track a lot of the interventions that will bring relief, particularly around CNG, mass transportation, cleaner energy, transportation and reduce the impact of the cost of transportation.”
On why the rollout of palliatives is being delayed, she said, “We have to get it right. We must do this well, and we keep our promises. So, it’s important that whatever is announced gets done.”
Verheijen said the President was working assiduously to address the issues “as quickly as he can.”
Meanwhile, the Federal Government may enforce the court order restraining the organised labour from embarking on a strike over the withdrawal of fuel subsidy in May should the NLC make good its threat on August 2.
The congress on Wednesday announced plans to commence a seven-day warning strike with effect from Wednesday but findings indicate that the FG may initiate contempt proceedings against the labour leaders if it went ahead with its threat.
A senior official stated that the government would ensure compliance with the court order.
“We will file contempt charges against the labour leaders if they go ahead to disobey a subsisting court order by going on strike,’’ the official stated.
In the aftermath of the fuel subsidy withdrawal which led to a spike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit from N140 to N540 per litre and the attendant increase in prices of goods and services, the NLC and the TUC had mobilised their members for a nationwide industrial action on June 7.
But the FG on June 5, secured an order from the National Industrial Court barring the unions from embarking on their planned strike to protest the unilateral removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.
On June 20 when the case came up, Justice Olufunke Anuwe reiterated that her order restraining the NLC and TUC from going on a strike remained in force. The judge, as a result, ordered the parties to maintain the status quo and adjourned the matter till July 20, for a hearing.
NLC insists
However, the NLC on Wednesday said it would mobilise a nationwide strike on August 2, should the government fail to meet all its demands namely the immediate reversal of all “anti-poor policies such as the hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit; increase in public schools’ fees; increase in Value Added Tax among others.’’
The congress decided after a meeting of its Central Working Committee on Tuesday night in Abuja.
The labour congress in a statement jointly signed by Ajaero and Secretary-General, Emmanuel Ugboaja, faulted the Tinubu administration over “unfriendly” policies while adding that the administration has continued to treat Nigerians as slaves.
The NLC noted that Nigerians lost their peace of mind following the “Subsidy is gone” comment made by the President during his May 29,2023 inaugural address.
On its next steps, the NLC noted that it had received pressure from Nigerians who have been calling on it to lead a national strike.
The Congress also explained that it had reached a breaking point hence it would “give the Federal Government a seven-day ultimatum within which to meet all our demands and to embark on a nationwide action beginning Wednesday, August 2, 2023, to compel the government to reverse its anti-poor and anti-workers policies.”
In a telephone interview, with newsmen, the Assistant General Secretary of NLC, Chris Onyeka, said, “The seven-day ultimatum given by Nigeria Labour Congress to the Federal government is a protest and also a strike. We can’t be protesting, and we are working.”
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Is very unfortunate that the federal government of Nigeria are not fair to the citizens.
ReplyDeleteDidn't take time before increasing fuel pump price, leaving the poor masses more impoverished.
The government not being sincere and considerate shouldn't expect NLC, NARD, JOHESU or any serious minded union to continue to watch the government slide to another recession.
If the president feels he can't handle what's at stake, he can honourably resign even though designation is not common in Africa
I need to draw out some points from what I just read.
ReplyDelete1. The president and his team are asking for time to evaluate the issues raised by the labour team- When they made the 'subsidy is gone' comment, they did not foresee its aftermath effect on Nigerians? .
2.The Federal Government may enforce the court order restraining the organized labour from embarking on a strike over the withdrawal of fuel subsidy in May should the NLC make good its threat on August 2.- The same FG that does not obey court orders???? God!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Abeg, why you bring me come Naija?