The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened to embark on an industrial action, that would cripple economic activities nationwide if the Federal government dares to implement what it described as ‘anti-people policies.’
Over three thousand workers and civil society allies yesterday staged a peaceful protest in Abuja. It was the last lap of the ongoing National rallies against some government policies.
The rally which started at about 7.30 in the morning at Berger junction, through Wuse market, down to the NNPC Towers, terminated at the National Assembly complex.
Led by the NLC President, Abdulwaheed Omar, the protesters carried placards with inscriptions that read; ‘We say no to Deregulation’ , ‘Don’t remove subsidy, but remove corruption’ ‘Give us a living minimum wage’, among others.
The Congress in reaffirming its total opposition to the Federal government’s plan to deregulate the petroleum downstream sector of the economy, also called on the National Assembly to subject the policy to a public debate so that Nigerians can decide.
NLC president, comrade Abdulwaheed Omar while addressing a mammoth crowd of workers during the rally in Abuja, said the three key issues that necessitated the rallies which began last May in Lagos were planned deregulation of downstream sector, demand for a new minimum wage, and non-implementation of the Justice Uwais electoral reform report.
Other Labour Leaders, who spoke during the rally , warned against any plan by the government to commence the policy of deregulation, adding it would only bring untold hardship on the populace.
A letter NLC sent to President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua through the Minister of FCT, Senator Adamu Aliero, read in part; ” It is our view that the deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry will only spell doom to the economy and bring untold hardship to the Nigerian people. If deregulation is allowed, the country will return to the era of arbitrary high prices, profiteering, adulteration of commodity, artificial queues, as well as endless importation of refined petroleum products.”
The letter was jointly signed by NLC president comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, TUC general president, comrade Peter Esele and co-chairman of LASCO, comrade Dipo Fasina.
It added that the problem of instability in the supply and distribution of petroleum products is embedded in the inefficiencies and corruption in the management of the Petroleum Support Fund and sharp practices in the downstream sector of the oil industry.
Labour further said that these were exacerbated by the deliberate weakening of the capacity of the refineries to produce, due to incessant but deceptive Turn Around Maintenance[TAM] that only leads to frequent breakdowns.
His word: “We pray that your administration will listen to the voice of the people and muster the political will to do justice. But if Government insists on pursuing anti-people and anti-democratic policies which we believe will be detrimental to workers and the Nigerian people, the Labour Movement will have no option but embark on a full blown national strike after today’s rally.
“We want to also challenge the minister of Petroleum, Dr Rilwanu Lukman if he thinks deregulation is a popular thing, let them subject it to a referendum and let Nigerians decide, and that is majority vote. I want to also challenge members of the National Assembly that if the essence of the policy is for the people so let them subject it to a referendum and let’s see”
On the demand for the review of national minimum wage, Labour said in these times of global economic crisis most governments have abandoned the path of market fundamentalism in favour of a regulated people-oriented system of governance.
“This stresses the need for stimulating and reinvigorating the labour market through mass job creation and cushioning the effects of the economic downturn on the citizenry. In line with this, workers need a stimulus package and better standard of living by government increasing the minimum wage and carrying out general wage review in the country. While the wages of workers were raised by 15% in the last three years, emoluments of political office holders were increased by over 800%. The rather lame attempt at cutting 20% from the wages of political office holders is only tokenism in the current compensation scheme.
“We are demanding the expeditious conclusion of negotiations and implementation of a new Minimum Wage and general review of wages in the country”, Labour further demanded.
The union leaders also disclosed that another issue of concern to the Labour Movement is the need for fundamental electoral reforms to check the massive fraud and violence that have become the hallmark of our electoral system.
“The setting up of the Justice Uwais Electoral Reform Committee was a welcome relief to most Nigerians who believe in the sustenance of our democracy through credible elections. It was surprising that despite the wide consultations that led to the recommendations of the Uwais Committee, the Federal Government jettisoned some fundamental recommendations that would have strengthened our electoral system and ensured that the votes of the people count”
However at the National Assembly, Senate president, David Mark who was represented by the chairman Senate committee on Labour, Wilson Ake appealed to the organized Labour to make the letter brief so that it can be read in the floor of the two chambers.
He pledged the support of the National Assembly towards ensuring that Nigerians do not face unnecessary hardship.