CSJ Calls on FG to Ensure Labour’s Proposed Strike is Averted

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has advised the Federal Government to ensure that the proposed indefinite industrial by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) is averted in public interest.

The non-governmental organisation (NGO) gave the advice Wednesday in a statement signed by its Lead Director, Eze Onyekpere. 

He stated that the strike slated for October 2 by the workers unions could have been averted through more considerate and humane engagement by the Federal Government in the post petrol subsidy removal and floating of the naira negotiations, but noted that: “It is still not too late for the Federal Government to act in the public interest.”

The CSJ acknowledged the importance of President Bola Tinubu’s policy reforms, notably the removal of fuel subsidies and the floatation of the naira, but nevertheless Onyekpere insisted that: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu missed an opportunity to gain widespread support for his two main policy reforms – the fuel subsidy removal and the floatation of the naira – by not adequately addressing the hardships that followed these policy pronouncements. The expectation was that President Tinubu would announce corresponding relief programmes alongside these policies, and these programmes should have been implemented either simultaneously or immediately after making the policy and reform declarations. Unfortunately, this has not been the case.

“For instance, the proposed salary increase for workers, which has been pending for three months now, remains unresolved in a country where the minimum wage is N30,000 ($30) per month. This starkly contrasts with fellow African nations like Algeria, South Africa, and Morocco, where minimum wages are $170, $242 and $360 respectively.”

He noted that the NLC has expressed concerns that the government-appointed committee responsible for negotiating cushioning measures for workers has either intentionally delayed or neglected to commence negotiations, a situation deeply troubling to CSJ.

It argued that the deployment of the Minister of Labour as the chief negotiator with the organised labour is misplaced, considering the financial nature of the negotiations, adding that high-level discussions involving significant political and financial decisions should be chaired by the president, vice-president or in their absence, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), insisting that the team must include the Ministers of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Labour, etc. 

The NGO said in such situations, the Minister of Finance is in the best position to present the government’s financial standing to labour representatives and to recommend decisions including wage increase based on affordability.

The CSJ firmly placed responsibility on the government for the current developments, asserting that the decision to announce the removal of fuel subsidies without proper consideration of the consequences reflects an unacceptable level of arrogance towards the Nigerian people, while acknowledging that the policy reforms were intended to address issues like fuel subsidy corruption, petroleum smuggling, foreign exchange market manipulation and fiscal constraints, but stressed that such reforms cannot exist in isolation. 

“They should be accompanied by strategic interventions across various economic sectors to alleviate hardship, boost productivity and curb fiscal leaks,” it said.

CSJ also contended that the Federal Government should have taken swift action to combat rampant oil theft and prosecute those responsible for subsidy fraud, as revealed in recent reports by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and previous reports of the Auditor General for the Federation.

Meanwhile, it called upon the Federal Government to engage in meaningful dialogue with the NLC/TUC to resolve the proposed industrial action and implement measures to mitigate the impact of the recent policy reforms on the Nigerian populace.

Onyekpere said: “CSJ remains unwavering in its commitment to advocating for social justice and equitable policies that prioritize the well-being of all Nigerians.”