Nigeria: Labour Congress Calls Off Strike

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday suspended the nationwide strike it embarked upon last Wednesday to protest the hike in the price of petrol by the Federal Government.

The government in a statement last night welcomed the decision by NLC and expressed readiness to return to the negotiation table.

NLC president, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, announced the suspension of the 4-day strike action to journalists in Abuja after an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the body.

He said, "NEC after due consultations with its constituents resolved to suspend with immediate effect, the action it commenced on Wednesday, May 18, 2016. The action is thus hereby suspended."

Wabba said the NLC would resume negotiations with the government on the twin issues of hike in electricity tariff and petroleum products as well as any other issue that might arise thereof.

He urged the government to play by the rules in its engagement with its constituent part, stakeholders and non-state actors as proof of its commitment to deepening democracy.

Wabba said that the union's action was taken in the best interest of the poor and in drawing government's attention to the dangers of relying on importation of petroleum products as a sustainable strategy for making available petroleum products. He added that posterity would prove its position right.

He said the Congress adjudged the protest action to be successful in spite of both internal and external challenges.

Wabba said, "NEC reviewed the protest action and its impact across the nation, nothing the sacrifices of its members, responses of the generality of Nigerians, government's attitude and the brutality of the police command where members were intimidated, harassed, arrested and detained unjustly."

He commended all its affiliates and Nigerians who picked up the gauntlets for the struggle over the fuel hike as well as the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his mediating role in the face-off between the Congress and the Federal Government.

Daily Trust reports the NLC strike pressed ahead with its strike in spite of an order by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) restraining it and its affiliates from embarking on the strike pending the determination of a suit filed by the Federal Government. The court adjourned the case to May 24, 2016 (tomorrow).

However, the strike failed to make significant impact after a faction of the NLC led by Comrade Joe Ajaero, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), among others, refused to join it.

The Federal Government later reached a deal with Ajaero faction, the TUC led by Comrade Bobboi Kaigama. The three agreed on palliative measures by the government to cushion the effect of the increase in the price of petroleum.

A 15-man technical committee was also constituted with the Federation of Trade Union side-7 members; TUC and Ayuba led NLC 5 members; Ajaero led NLC 2 members.

The FG had representatives including Minister of Labour and Employment - Chairman; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources; Min. of Budget and Planning; Min. of Finance; Min. of Solid Minerals; Chairman National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission; Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Secretariat.