BY YAKUBU B. GALADIMA, ESQ
The 5-days warning strike organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has come and gone albeit, save for the timely intervention by the Federal Government whereby the strike was suspended on the third day. The momentum the warning strike was generating was such that were it not suspended, it would have transmogrified from a Kaduna State affair into a national affair had it got to the crescendo.
Now that the aforesaid warning strike has been suspended, what every onlooker and participant alike is expecting is that all grievances leading to the strike should be resolve justicially, judiciously, equitably, etc. anything short of which would at best be a case of deferring the doomsday. God forbid bad things!
My article today is going to be more of a stocktaking on the causes of the warning strike as organised by the NLC vis-a-vis the resultant net effect of the strike respectively. Therefore, I shall, without hesitation, enumerate here under my personal assessment of the Kaduna State NLC’s strike. The points as you will soon read are my matters arising, viz :
- Actions/ conducts of the State Government headed by Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai:
The prospects that the strike was imminent and would have continued would have been because of the many actions or conduct of the state government. Thus, given that el-Rufai is the Chief Executive, there’s no way he could be absolved from all the blame. Therefore, it will suffice to say that the many actions taken by el-Rufai over time, when put together, culminated into causing the showdown by the NLC. This is because there has never been smoke without fire.
So, what then are some of the actions of el-Rufai that warranted the strike? The NLC enumerated the following notable atrocious actions as the reasons for the warning strike:
* 21,770 Kaduna State Primary School Teachers sacked since 2017;
* 7,310 Local Government employees sacked;
* 3,000 civil servant sacked;
* 1,700 Primary Health Care workers sacked;
* 20,000 workers yet to be paid their April salary;
* Over 11,000 currently penciled for disengagement and conversion to casual and contract workers… etc.
The above are few out of the litany of reasons NLC embarked on shutting down Kaduna State.
Perspicaciously, it would be proper for el-Rufai to rescind from any premeditated actions, if any, which may further smear his hard-earned reputation and at the same time, find a way to address the attendant excruciating harsh conditions that have accompanied his austerely actions/conduct.
Further to the above, he should, most especially for those workers that have been compulsorily retired, ensure that their benefits are promptly paid to them. Wearing a volte face by vacillating wouldn’t save the situation. Again, I sincerely advise the state government that any fight back against NLC or workers in the state who joined the strike will be desultory and unnecessary.
- The systemic failure and rot in governance:
Being in government or power nowadays is to plunder and not to plough. Everyone seems to gravitate towards the allures and grandeur in government and never concerned about the essence of governance. Constitutionally, the Doctrine of Separation of powers between the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary is such that there’s balance in governance. But most regrettably, that only exists in theory.
Because of some grand interests and insatiable quest for ‘satisfaction’ , mostly selfish, one or two arms of government become eclipsed, pocketed and hamstrung.
Ditto from Kaduna State, one would have expected the State Assembly to rise up to the bidding against the almost excesses of the Executive right from the onset to deter it from embarking on its brazen violations of laws. This they would have done, either by enacting laws to that effect or even set in motion impeachment processes. Whereas, the Judiciary even though now on strike should have equally been churning out Orders without fear or favour against the Executive where it is adjudged to be wanting or culpable.
All of that for me defines the absolute essence of separation of powers which is for checks and balance. Regrettably, as seen overtime, the compromised arm(s) are so ensconced in their new found roles that they do not care what happens. This has been our lot in Nigeria at large. So, since actual check and balance couldn’t have been seen practicable in Kaduna State, it suffices to say that the warning strike by NLC and supported by Trade Unions became inevitable.
- Rediscovered power of the NLC:
Personally, before the warning strike in Kaduna, I had believed that the power of the NLC had been whittled down. But with the way the showdown by the NLC was planned and attended showed that it has rediscovered its powers. Additionally, the quick intervention by the FG also attest to that.
Therefore, the unity of purpose and solidarity experienced during the suspended 5-day warning strike by the NLC in Kaduna State reflected how powerful the NLC and Trade Unions are indeed watchdogs against government’s callousness or recklessness.
In the final analysis, the net effect of the suspended NLC’s organised warning strike is that it has awakened every citizen from slumber and out of fear or trepidation to speak truth to power. Again, the strike demonstrated the disappointments the people have against the present government of Kaduna State which perhaps extends to the FG for woefully failing them on their campaign promises. Whereby given the opportunity now to vote, the people will with such speed of a gazelle vote out the present government.
In conclusion, as an incurable optimist that I am, I still believe that Governor el-Rufai in Kaduna State can still right his wrongs by fanning to flame the little flicker of hope hanging so as to make life good for everyone in Kaduna State. Doing this will purge him from any contempt muddied over him.
Barrister Galadima can be reached through ybgalas@gmail.com; 09081254041(SMS only)
