PALLIATIVES: Labour Begins Nationwide Protest, Federal Govt Declares Action Illegal

Organised labour will today launch its planned nationwide protest against what it called “anti-poor policies” implemented by the federal government including the recent hike in fuel price.

At the forefront of the labour centre’s grievances is the recent removal of fuel subsidy which has led to a hike in the pump price of petrol, triggering a domino effect on transportation costs, food prices and other essential commodities.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), in a statement yesterday after the meeting with federal government’s representatives in Abuja, said that the outcome of the meeting had not changed its position to embark on a mass protest as custodians of the interests and desires of Nigerian workers and people.

NLC national president, Comrade Joe Ajaero, asked Nigerian workers to gather in their respective states to give vent to organised labour’s collective resolve.

The organised labour is specifically demanding the immediate implementation “in good faith” of the resolutions Congress jointly signed with the government and the Trade Union Congress (TUC ) of Nigeria and also to immediately reverse all “anti-poor policies” of the government.

Other demands are: fixing local refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna; release of eight months withheld salaries of university lecturers and workers; according appropriate recognition and support to the presidential steering committee and the work of its sub committees, and to put a stop to inhuman actions and policies of government.

“Nigerians are advised to ignore the work of fifth columnists who are working hard against the wishes of the people. We urge everyone to gather in our respective states and wherever we may be across the nation to give vent to this collective resolve”, he said.

Earlier yesterday, the NLC and the TUC had met with the presidency and declared the palliatives announced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a national broadcast on Monday as a positive step but expressed concerns about their scope and effectiveness.

After the rescheduled Presidential Steering Committee on Palliatives meeting held in Abuja, TUC president, Festus Osifo, told State House correspondents that while the FG’s measures were welcomed, they were deemed inadequate to address the pressing issues faced by the workers and citizens.

“We consider the proposed measures as a starting point, but they do not go far enough. There are significant gaps, and we believe the measures can be more comprehensive,” Osifo said.

One of the specific concerns raised by the unions is the provision of only 3,000 buses to address transportation challenges. They argued that this number falls far short of the required quantity to make a substantial impact.

“The 3,000 buses are inadequate. By the time you divide 3,000 by 37 (36 states and Abuja), you will see how many they would come to. So it’s not sufficient; it is grossly inadequate,” Osifo stated.

The unions also demanded wage awards above the minimum wage, pointing out that some states had already implemented such measures.

They expressed belief that the federal government can do more, especially considering its claim of saving one trillion Naira from fuel subsidy already.

“We have been advocating for wage awards that don’t have much bureaucracy, that you don’t have many issues around the law. Let the federal government come with wage awards just like some state governments have announced,” Osifo added.

On the appeal to shelve the protest, he said, “Our response was that we are going to go back this evening and also have a conversation around that, and you will hear from us at the end of that conversation.”

On where they stand on minimum wage, Osifo said, “Yes, so it’s part of what we said, on our part, what we’re demanding was wage award.

“For example, you have heard some states say they will be paying N40,000 minimum. So it is more or less what they are giving. It is not the law but they are doing above the minimum wage.

“So, for us, we felt that the federal government could do on their own so much above the minimum wage without much conversation.

“What we have been advocating on the part of labour is wage awards that don’t have much bureaucracy, that you don’t have many issues around the law.

“Because the law that prescribed minimum wage says every five years, until you amend that, no other thing can kick in.

“But we said immediately, let the federal government come with a wage award just like some state governments have announced that they will be paying N40,000 or N50,000. So, they should do something like that.

“We have also heard some states saying that they’re going to pay a PMS allowance of XYZ amount. So those are the wage awards that we were thinking of and we are pushing the government to do.”

Asked if no agreement has been reached on the protest, he said, “No, no, because what they have proposed, like you heard what the president said yesterday, for us, we are taking that as a baseline.

“We believe strongly that if the president said they saved N1 trillion, they should do more. If you take your calculator, you check 3,000 buses, that will give you something around less than 100 per state. So we feel that it is not adequate. We feel that if the government said on their own that they have saved N1 trillion, that they can do much more.”

NLC national vice president, Titus Amba, corroborated the position of the TUC president, saying they were returning to consult with labour leaders.

Meanwhile, the chief of staff to the president, Femi Gbajabiamila, expressed hope that organised Labour would not proceed with the planned protests after they listened to President Bola Tinubu’s national broadcast.

“We appealed to Labour to call off their protests, and we found listening ears here. They accepted that Mr. President’s broadcast was a welcome development, and they will go back to talk to other leaders,” Gbajabiamila said.

Meanwhile, the government has told the NLC that its plan to shut down the country today under the guise of industrial action is illegal.

The government had instituted a case at the National Industrial Court, Abuja, seeking to stop the NLC from embarking on the strike.

The court had also made an order stopping the NLC from going ahead with the strike pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

But despite the court order, labour unions have insisted on a mass protest.

The solicitor-general of the federation and permanent secretary in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba, in a letter to the NLC, through their lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, said parties before the court are supposed to maintain status quo, to respect the pendency of the matter.

In the letter with reference number MJ/CIV/ABJ/316/23 and dated July 31, 2023, the solicitor-general said, “Parties are expected to maintain the status quo even in the absence of a restraining order. However, there was no threat of contempt of court in the clarification provided by this Ministry. Undoubtedly, drawing the attention of NLC and the public to the pendency of the order cannot be equated with threats.

“The issues of peaceful protests and police permits are also not in contention, however, you may wish to be guided by the contents of the communique issued by the National Executive Council of NLC at the end of its meeting of 27th July, 2023. The decision or projected cause of action by NLC are directed principally in furtherance of issues connected with hike in fuel price and consequential matters of palliatives and workers welfare. We assert that it is grossly inappropriate to lead public protest in respect of issues relating to or connected with fuel price increase, which are currently before the court!

“From the communique, it is apparent that the current move by NLC goes beyond peaceful protest by issuing a seven-day ultimatum for the government to meet the demands and also embark on a nation-wide action to compel the government to reverse alleged anti-worker policies.”

She further held that uncontroverted media reports had established that NLC was not planning a peaceful protest but intending to ground the government by endangering public peace, instilling fear in the masses, and precipitating further crisis.

She referred to the NLC assistant general secretary warning people to stock food at home and to restrict their movement, and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and National Union of Electricity Employees confirmed that they were working towards grounding supply of fuel and the national electricity grid, and throwing the country into darkness.

The solicitor-general reiterated that the interim order clearly restrained NLC from embarking on industrial action of any nature, arguing that strike is only a form of industrial action.

“It is incumbent on your law firm to sensitise the labour unions that peaceful protests are no justification for disrupting or shutting down essential services, which is tantamount to a strike action,” she argued.