…As TUC protest govt. action, sale of assets
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Saturday said that the 2023 National May Day celebration in Abuja will be held on the streets to enable Congress deepen its reconnection with the people.
This was as the Trade Union Congress (TUC), vehemently protested what it described as the last minute order by the Federal Government denying the organised labour the use of the Eagle Square as venue for the May 1, Workers Day rally.
In a statement on Saturday, April 29, 2023, the General Secretary of the NLC, the Mr Emmanuel Ugboaja, said that the unfortunate development that resulted to the sudden withdrawal of the earlier approval granted for the use of the Eagle Square by the federal Government, the Congress has decided to shift the venue for the celebration to the Streets of Abuja.
The NLC statement titled; “National May Day celebration in Abuja: Change of Venue,” said that the last minute questionable action of the Government at the centre to deny Workers the use of the Eagle Square for this year’s May-Day celebrations three days to the event despite having granted us the permit months ago is laden with mischief and actually a sign of what is to come in the near future.
The NLC said that the development was a call to all workers to be prepared, stressing that; “this is so that we can deepen our reconnection with the people who are our true partners in the struggle for a free society”.
The NLC further said; “Do remember that this is a venue we have been using in the past decades for our May Day celebrations.
“The sudden decision to withdraw the permit may be laden with mischief and actually a sign of what is to come in the near future”.
The Congress said that the take-off point for the May Day celebration shall be at the National Headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) by 8:00 a:m, adding that all affiliates are to assemble on the grounds of the Paschal Bafyau Labour House on Monday the 1st of May from where they shall proceed on a rally around Abuja.
In a related development, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), kicked against the order by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), denying labour unions the use of the Eagle Square as venue for the May Day rally.
The TUC noted that the Abuja Investment Company, a subsidiary of the FCDA, wrote informing the organised labour of the withdrawal of the permit granted it for holding the May Day rally in Abuja, on Monday.
President of the TUC, Mr Festus Osifoh, who stated these while speaking with journalists shortly after the Congress National Executive Council (NEC), meeting in Abuja on Friday, said the union rejected the last minute change of venue for the Workers’ Day rally.
Osifoh said; “But suffice to note that this is not the first time that we will be holding May Day parade at the Eagle Square, and swearing in would follow on May 29.
“This has been taking place since 1999, and we have always had a way of carrying out our parade before they go ahead with their preparations for hand-over.
“May 1, is four weeks away from the handing over date, but our government is telling us that political considerations are much more important than the issues of workers.
“They have asked us to go to the Old Parade Ground, and we are not going. If they are not giving us the place that we have been using for this event, then we will wait and at the appropriate time, we will answer them,” he stressed.
Osifoh bemoaned the Federal Government for putting political considerations above workers’ interests and welfare, stressing that the Congress believed that workers’ issues should be prioritised.
The TUC also condemned the alleged last minute move by the Federal Government to privatise institutions, including federal medical centres, NIPOST and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), stressing that Nigerian workers would resist any plan to sell the assets of public-owned establishments, especially at the twilight of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
Osifoh further said; “TUC is opposed to plans by the Federal Government to privatise NIPOST and to strip the entity of its assets, handing them over to private concerns. We say no to this, and it is fundamentally not correct because NIPOST is a national asset”.
The TUC alleged that the Federal Ministry of Finance had released N8 billion for the proposed privatisation plan, adding that a large part would be given to private companies that would manage the assets.
The Congress also said; “We call on the government not to disburse that money, but to keep it and let the incoming administration have proper deliberations on the right course of action”.
