NLC suspends strike
May 22, 2016
Written by:
Soji-Eze Fagbemi- Abuja
Following the intervention of the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Sunday, suspended its nationwide strike and street protest over the increase in price of petrol by the Federal Government.
The strike was called off after the NLC emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the Bolton White Hotel, Abuja, on Sunday.
Senator Tinubu had stormed the Labour House, Abuja, on Friday, where he held meeting with the NLC leadership, while the leadership of the Senate, led by the Senate president, Senator Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, also met with the NLC leadership and appealed to them to suspend the strike.
Addressing a press conference after about three-hour meeting on Sunday, president of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said the congress would resume negotiations with the Federal Government on the twin issue of petrol price increase and hike in electricity tariff.
“Congress singled out for commendation, its state councils, affiliates and other patriotic Nigerians who at very short notice picked up the gauntlet for this struggle. Congress commends the leadership of the National Assembly and APC, led by Senator Bola Tinubu.
“In consideration of the above, NEC, after due consultation with its constituents, resolved to suspend with immediate effect, the action it commenced on Wednesday, May 18. The action is thus hereby suspended,” he said.
Wabba added that the congress would resume negotiations with government on the twin issues of the hike in electricity tariff and an increase in the pump price of petrol and any other issue that may arise thereof.
The NLC president noted that the NEC reviewed the protest action and its impact across the nation, noting the sacrifices of its members, response of the generality of Nigerians, government’s attitude and the brutality of the police in some states.
He pointed out that the NEC took special notice of the Ebonyi State police command, where their members were intimidated, harassed, arrested and detained unjustly.
He, however, said the protest and strike were taken in the best interest of the poor and the weak and in drawing government’s attention to the dangers of relying on importation as a sustainable strategy for making available petroleum products in the country.
Which Strike Was Called Off?
ReplyDelete"Labour Unions can be more important if they exercise their legitimacy by using the endowed protocols ranging from engagement in open serious debate in public policies, albeit not just on oil price hike as often without any thoughts of realities, mounting pressure on the political class, advocacy for proper implementation of policies, lobbying to organised protests. In my opinion, Protest should come last. Nigerian Labour groups lost their honour since they have misused the tools of engagement and representation of the generality of Nigerians.
"Well, we may probably recognize NLC due to their roles in the past for bringing the country to a halt, then thereby bringing everyone to their sides and grounding all ports and roads that serve as veins of the economy.
Without any apology, however the May 18th, 2016 call by NLC and their sub-group collaborators who called for a 'Mother of All Protests' has indeed publicly 'murdered' the Nigeria Labour groups in a cold swift encounter with their unresonated Nigerians"
-Lashley Oladigbolu