As TUC, others pull out
By Olawale Lamina
As the last minute efforts to avert the labour unions strike failed Monday night at the office of the
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and other
related unions have embarked on their proposed protests over inflation and hardship being experienced
by the masses in the country.
The Pinnacle Times checks revealed that as early as 7:12 a.m., different unions and other aggrieved
Nigerians had entered into the Labour House headquarters in Abuja in preparation for the industrial
action, even in the presence of security agents who were around to monitor the rally and forestall any
security breaches that may ensue.
Recall that on February 8, the NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC had given a two weeks
nationwide strike notice to the Federal Government over its failure to implement agreements reached
on October 2, sequel to the removal of fuel subsidy in the country.
The labour unions had warned that failure by the federal government to fulfill its promises after the
ultimatum by Labour would be met with a two-day national protest, starting today (Tuesday), February
27, and Wednesday, February 28.
But, in a twist, TUC President Festus Osifo declared that the union led by him would not be part of the
protests, based on the facts that the union was never part of the process and meeting towards the
streets protest. But Osifo called for conversations around the news national minimum wage in order to
pass it into law.
The TUC boss who lamented widespread hardship among the populace identified uncontrolled and
insecurity as responsible for the current socio-economic challenge facing the country.
He proposed fixing the value of Naira and clampdown on speculative trading in the FOREX market,
curbing oil theft, building interest in made in Nigeria goods, among other measures.
Naira devaluation about 80 per cent of the demands placed before the federal government had been
met. He made the declaration on Monday at a news conference over the state of the nation
Similarly, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris has called on the
labour unions in the country to“always see reason with the government.”
He said that government has never reneged on its promises as speculated.
Meanwhile, the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, at the commencement of the ongoing two-day nationwide
warning strike accused government officials of diverting money meant for households to alleviate the
sufferings of the people, arguing that the United Nations, as a way of mitigating hardship among the
poor recommended two dollars per day for them to feed. Ajaero said that,for a family of six, this would
translate to over N700,000 in a month, justifying the present minimum wage proposed by the labour
unions.
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