THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday took far-reaching decisions on issues affecting its members and the proposed deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry by the Federal Government.
It, therefore, resolved to embark on immediate protest rallies to mobilise Nigerians to force the Federal Government to abandon the policy.
Following a six-hour deliberation by the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NLC in an emergency meeting called to deliberate on what it termed the “state of the nation,” especially the issue of the deregulation, the NLC said it “reaffirmed its rejection of deregulation.”
Addressing journalists after the meeting, the NLC President, Comrade Abdulwahed Omar said the NEC-in-session deliberated on the government’s announcement that it had decided to fully deregulate the downstream sector of the oil industry, adding, “NEC re-affirmed its standing rejection of deregulation.”
He however said the protest rally is the first phase of the struggle, as the Congress would weigh the response of the government, and may snowball into a full blown strike if the government remains adamant.
Reading a communiqué issued after the meeting which was jointly signed by him and the General Secretary, Comrade John Odah, the NLC President said: “Consequently, NEC resolved that Congress will embark on focused rallies and protests as a first step of getting government to abandon the policy.
“Where such rallies and protests do not achieve the objective, NEC will reconvene to decide on the next course of action.” The protest rally will take place in the six geopolitical zones of the country, starting from Lagos, with grand finale scheduled for Abuja.
Besides the issue of the proposed deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry, Comrade Omar said the other issues discussed were the demand for a new minimum wage and electoral reforms.
He said: “NEC-in-session expressed disappointment that almost three months after the National Minimum Wage Review demand was served on government, it is yet to set up the tripartite structure for negotiation.
“NEC resolved that an appropriately worded letter be written to government to demand that the negotiating framework be put in place without further delay. Where government fails to do this within 21 days of the letter, NEC will resolve on the next steps to take to ensure a speedy review of the minimum wage. In the meantime, Congress should use rallies and protests to further mobilise Nigerians around this matter.
“NEC considered the delay in issuing a white paper on the report of the Electoral Reforms Committee (ERC) and reports on attempts to jettison some of the key recommendations of the committee.”