Subsidy Removal: NLC Mobilizes Workers, CSOs for Nationwide Strike by August 2

* FG: We are determined to pursue dialogue

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja 

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said it has commenced mobilization of all its affiliates, state councils and civil society organisations to hold mass protest rallies across the nation begining from Wednesday, August 2 in protest against the hardship imposed on workers and the masses by the removal fuel subsidy and government’s anti-poor policies.

It said the move is to compel government to reverse the harsh policies including the hike in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). 

The labour movement accused the Federal Government of abandoning its own committee, which was a product of social dialogue between the government and workers’ organisations in the country. 

However, the Federal Government has responded to NLC’s threat, saying that it is determined to pursue dialogue as a means of resolving the concerns raised by organised labour.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday at the sidelines of the Registrar of Trade Unions Workshop on the challenges facing trade union administration in the country, the Permanent Secretary of Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Kachollum Daju said: “I think for now, I will just say that the Federal Government has been doing its best dialoguing with labour unions and stakeholders to resolve the issues and this dialogue will continue.”

On the nationwide strike embarked upon by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), the permanent secretary said it was rather unfortunate that the doctors did not have patience for the new government to settle down and address their grievances.

She said that the ministry had taken their case to the highest level and that the Federal Government has assured the doctors that their demands will be looked into. 

“It’s rather unfortunate that NARD is on strike because we have been having consultations over the demands they raised and we have met quite a number of times and government has assured them that the issues raised are being looked into. We all know that in transition, there is a process and until the process is completed, there is nothing we can do but unfortunately they decided to go on strike.”

Rising from a meeting of its Central Working Committee (CWC), the labour movement gave the Federal Government a seven-day ultimatum to reverse its decision on fuel price hike and other anti-poor and anti- workers policies, or it will embark on a nation-wide strike.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the  CWC meeting in Abuja Tuesday night, NLC said it has directed all affiliates and state branches “to begin immediate mobilization and closely work with associations, individuals and other entities including the ones already on the streets to ensure that government listens to the people”.

It said: “The NLC has resolved to give the Federal Government a seven-day ultimatum within which to meet all our demands and to embark on a nation-wide action beginning Wednesday, the 2nd of August, 2023 to compel the government to reverse its anti-poor and anti-workers policies.

The communiqué jointly signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero and General Secretary Emmanuel Ugboaja, said the Federal Government has 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.

NLC also accused the government of declaring a war of attrition on Nigerian workers and masses without any care, thereby “leaving them to the throes of hopelessness and helplessness”.

In addition, the NLC accused the Federal Government of refusing to put in place safeguards to protect Nigerians from the harsh economic situation that its policies have inflicted on the people.

Rather, it said the government has decided to insult the sensibilities of the Nigerian masses by offering us N8,000 per family and offering themselves N70 billion.In the communiqué, NLC demanded an

 immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of the Federal Government including the recent hike in PMS price, increase in public universities’ school fees, the release of the eight months withheld salary of university lecturers and workers and increase in VAT.

It also demanded the immediate inauguration of the Presidential Steering Committee as agreed in the earlier consequential dialogues.

The union urged all civil society organisations and Nigerians wherever they may be to begin mobilization to take action on their own to save the country.

It said the CSOs should be prepared to lead and organize mass protest rallies across the nation to demonstrate outrage against the inhuman actions and policies of the government.