Subsidy Removal: NLC Declares 2-Day Warning Strike

• Tuesday, 5th and Wednesday, 6th Sept 2023 as action days
• Accuses FG of insincerity, lack of empathy

BY EDMOND ODOK – Accusing the Federal Government of lacking sincerity of purpose and empathy in its engagements, the Nigeria Labour Congres (NLC) has declared a two-day warning strike over the effect of petrol subsidy removal on Nigerians.

According to a communique issued at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Congress on Friday, the nationwide strike will commence on Tuesday, 5th September 2023 following the failure of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to have meaningful dialogue with the Organised Labour on efforts to cushion the subsidy removal effects

The communique signed by the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, and its Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, said the decision was taken to express displeasure over the government’s insensitivity and obvious aloofness towards the plight of suffering masses due to its recent policy decisions.

To convey its message on the planned action, the NLC stated that it has decided as follows; “To embark on a total and indefinite shutdown of the nation within 14 working days or 21 days from today until steps are taken by the government to address the excruciating mass suffering and impoverishment being experienced around the country.

“To commence a two-day nationwide warning strike on Tuesday & Wednesday the 5th & 6th of September, 2023 to demonstrate our readiness for the indefinite strike later in the month and to also demand that the state vacates the illegally occupied National Headquarters of the National Union of Road Transport Workers;

“To embark on a mass protest and rally in Imo State within this month of September 2023 in preparation for a major shutdown of the state to compel the state government to stop the abuse and violation of the rights and privileges of workers and trade unions in the state;

“To begin the shutdown of the operations of Airpeace Airline and other companies in the aviation sector that are involved in serial violation of the rights of workers in the sector to freedom of association and to collectively bargain and organise;

“To call on communities around the nation to stop taking the law into their own hands but report to the authorities for amicable resolution any matter involving members of the Amalgamated Union of Food Stuffs and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria which is one of our affiliates.”

Also turning its attention to the utterances of Barrister Nyesom Wike who presides over the nation’s capital as the Minister, the NLC demanded that the new Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) should “desist from threatening poor masses in the FCT with demolition of their properties built from their years of toil but should focus more on making houses available to the people.

“He is not a Minister of Demolition and should be prepared to meet Nigerian workers and citizens on the street if he carries out his insensitive utterances.”

More than three months after the President declared an end to subsidy in his inaugural speech that saw the pump price of petrol tripling from N197 per litre to N617, the Labour Movement has maintained its stand that the government should work to avoid plunging the masses into further untold hardship.

And despite the subsequent hosting of the Labour leaders at the Presidential Villa in Abuja by President Tinubu, last month as part of efforts to stop the workers’ nationwide protest, the Organised Labour has continued to accuse the Federal Government of lacking transparency and being indifferent to the suffering of Nigerian masses.