By Uche Nwodo

Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, and its affiliates have been asked to shelve their planned industrial action over the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government on the masses.

The NLC and Trade Union Congress, TUC, had declared an indefinite strike starting from Tuesday, October 3, if the federal government does not put visible measures in place to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal or rescind the policy entirely.

The two labour unions have told Nigerians to stockpile foodstuffs because the strike would shut down economic activities in the country.

But reacting to the plan, a coalition of civil society organizations, comprising the Network Alliance for Global Challenge; Good Governance for the Masses; Centre for Human Rights Advocacy; Lawyers Without Borders, Abuja; Youth Initiative Agenda for Democratic Process; South-West People Parliamentary Agenda; Yoruba Youth Assembly; Peace Initiative For Better Nigeria; Boarders People’s Rights Agenda, and Youth League Academy, observed that the planned industrial action would worsen the nation’s economy, begging the labour unions to jettison the move for the interest of the nation.

In a statement made available to AljazirahNigeria and signed by the convener of
Frontline Socio-Economy Research Centre, Balogun Hameed; secretary,
Centre for Human and Socio-economic Rights, Omotehinse Alex, and executive director of
WorkBond International Network, WIN, Omotaje Olawale Saint, noted that the planned strike would “inevitably be an ill wind that would blow no one, no good. As a strategic, civil trenches social stakeholder, we are deeply disturbed by the challenges of the socio-economic quagmire confronting Nigerians and the government at this perilous juncture in our history. We strongly advise that the leadership of trade unions bureaucracy in the country should reconsider its decisions for strike action and mass protests over the attendant hardships that occasioned the federal government’s removal of fuel subsidy. As much as we sympathise with our compatriots on the prevailing, harsh economic conditions in the country, we call for fortitude and forbearance for the nation and citizens to be able to enjoy the imminent benefits of the new reform policies.

The coalition reiterates that as crucial as workers’ wages might be, “it is neither the sole, social force nor, the majority in our society. Therefore, organized labour must never throw caution to the winds in the determination of its actions or, inactions. No social group should hold the nation at ransom. Needless to say here the teeming majority of our citizens engaged in the informal services sector, artisans, trading, farming, and casual works to eke daily sustenance. Any disruption of the economy and production processes that would adversely affect other members of our society must be taken after grave and sober considerations.

“The Organised Private Sector, OPS, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, National Chambers of Commerce, Mines, and Industries, NACCIMA, have loudly articulated their apprehension that the strike by labour would provoke fatal, negative consequences on their operations, production processes, businesses, as well as the national economy. They expressed fears that private business under prevalent, precarious national economic conditions is highly vulnerable to collapse with any slight uncertainties or jeopardy of the production man-hour. They opined that employers in order to keep afloat, may have no other viable option than to consider staff rationalizations, which would aggravate the already acute unemployment crisis in the country. It is our hope that the bureaucracy of organized labour would consider temporary sacrifices to safe jobs of millions of Nigerians.

“If the naked truth must be told, our national economy has been in reverse gear for decades. We are barely surviving on borrowed time with huge dependence on foreign markets and economy. This is further compounded by the rudderless mismanagement of our banking and financial sector by Godwin Emefiele leadership of the apex bank, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu demonstrated uncommon courage in unfolding fundamental reform policies in the financial sector and the oil and gas industry, which is the mainstay of our macro economy. Technocrats and experts within the country, continental Africa and globally have applauded the reform policy initiatives of the President. The consensus is that the economic hiccups across the country are temporary symptoms of the bitter pills of pertinent reforms for the nation’s socio-economic transformations and industrial advancement.”
It urged the labour unions to consider veritable policies already put in place by the President

Bola Tinubu administration to revamp the already battered economy and help is sustaining the gains so far by engaging in further dialogues, rather than downing tools at this critical period of the nation’s life.

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