Activists Thumb Down Labour

Human rights activists and members of civil society groups have said the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, betrayed Nigerians by suspending the strike when the Federal Government did not revert to the old pump price of N65 per litre.

The NLC called off the six-day old strike on Monday, acceding to government’s new pump price of N97 per litre, a reduction from the initial N141 per litre.

Several activists were displeased with the labour leaders for not continuing with the strike to press home Nigerians’ demand, saying that they have compromised and sold out.

“Labour betrayed Nigerians for calling off the strike. They have compromised. Nigerians cannot trust them again. It is a shame they backed out,” said Yinka Odumakin, spokesperson of Save Nigeria Group.

Former President, Nigerian Bar Assocition, NBA, Rotimi Akeredolu, backed Odumakin, saying the NLC took a wrong decision in calling off the strike when they knew full well that the demands of Nigerians had not yet been met.

“I expected labour to have stuck to their guns and pressed for total reversal till the end. They capitulated and disappointed teeming Nigerians who have been going out to protest,” he said.

“It is unfortunate that labour caved in and capitulated. That is not our own resolution; they have no reason to chicken out. The government was still expecting more challenge from labour when they backed out. They have betrayed Nigerians,” added Debo Adeniran, founder, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL.

“We are disappointed with labour. When they were suspending the strike, we were already penetrating the soldiers. It is really disappointing,” Lagos lawyer, Bamidele Aturu stated.

“They have done what they have always done in the last 20 years. By calling off the strike, they have betrayed the civil society organisations at the late hour. When they called the strike, they said it was a joint action, when it was time for negotiation, they left the civil society behind.

“I am not surprised. It is consistent with their behavior in the past 20 years. We are aware of everything, this struggle must continue,” said Alhaji Balarabe Musa, former Governor of Kaduna State.

The Coalition of Civil Society Groups met at Anthony Village, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, yesterday and dissociated itself from labour calling off the strike, saying labour betrayed Nigerians.

Members of the coalition include Professor Ben Nwabueze, Dr Tunji Braithwaithe, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Dr Kalu Idika Kalu, Professor Pat Utomi, among others.

In a statement issued and signed on their behalf after the meeting by Prof. Anthony Kila and Nike Ransome Kuti, the group said: “We reject the removal of the “purported” fuel subsidy and the unilateral imposition of N97 as the pump price of petrol.

“We dissociate ourselves from the decision of labour to call off the national strike against the removal of fuel subsidy and thereby withdraw their members from the mass action being carried out by Nigerian citizens.

“We wish to emphasise that contrary to labour’s claim, civil society was not consulted in the decisions leading up to this unacceptable position by labour. Nigerians feel betrayed by labour’s decision to call off the strike without achieving their minimum demand of reverting petrol price to N65.”

According to them “We call on Nigerians to remain peaceful but resolute in the fight against corruption, wastage, and fraudulent cum incompetent management of our resources. Corruption is the principal cause of underdevelopment in Nigeria. We must continue to ask for transparency, accountability and good governance.

“We commend Nigerians for their perseverance and endurance over these times and covenant to continue to work and sacrifice to bring about the Nigeria of their dream. We assure Nigerians that we shall continue the fight against the increase in their burden, which is a result of corruption and bad management of oil resources.”

The coalition said it would continue its consultation with all of civil society, faith and youth groups and that it would communicate shortly the next line of action to be taken by Nigerians in the struggle.

“We encourage Nigerians to maintain the momentum against bad governance as a fundamental right. In defence of your liberty we advise that you stay at home until the soldiers are withdrawn from the streets.”

However, the Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria has praised Nigerians for the commitment, courage, determination, and zeal exhibited during the one week great oil subsidy protest that shook the nation to its very foundation.

In a release signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, the party praised all stakeholders in the oil subsidy saga for realising that this country is bigger than money and that Nigerians would have to live to enjoy whatever money is available.

“Last week, we monitored the activities of long-abused and oppressed Nigerians here and those in Diaspora , their anger and utterances and came to the unhappy conclusion that if nothing is done to stop the protest in 48 hours, things can go wrong, resulting in a mindless and violent revolution that can cause deaths of millions and massive destruction of property.”

The party says it saw the finger of GOD in averting what would have been a national catastrophe for Nigeria and warns Nigerian leaders especially at the federal level to show concern and learn the huge lessons of history from this one week strike. It could have been worse,” it said.

Lagos ACN warned that the one week protest raised a lot of issues that bordered on monumental corruption, which remains the biggest problem facing Nigeria and urges the Federal Government to know that it will never be business as usual in Nigeria.

“Nearly 50 innocent Nigerians died in this protest, hundreds were injured, properties worth millions were destroyed and nearly one trillion naira was lost and these cannot just be set aside by mere wishful thinking. President GEJ and his ministers and advisers must know that this blood could be shed in vain.

“The Federal Government has promised to bring the looters of the oil subsidy to book, it has promised sweeping changes and reorganisation in the shrine of corruption called NNPC, it has promised to cut the huge cost of governance in Nigeria, it has promised to be transparent in handling oil revenue accounts, it has promised fiscal discipline and we hold them by their words.”

“The Federal Government must now investigate whether Nigerians consume 35 million litres of petrol every day, it must find out whether our five refineries will meet domestic consumption if fully operational, Nigerians must also be told the cost of refining a litre of petrol here and abroad, it must have the political will and the courage to fight the smugglers of the products across our borders,” the party said.

It added: “We suggest that the Federal Government must now match its words with actions and go extra mile to convince Nigerians that it is serious in dealing with the man-made problems that have put a knife on things that hold us together as a country.”

—Kazeem Ugbodaga