Workers under the auspices of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), and Trade Union Congress (TUC), today, began a nationwide strike following disagreements with the Federal Government over palliatives to cushion the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy.
Hundreds of workers in Abuja, led by their leaders, Joe Ajaero (NLC) and Festus Osifo (TUC), respectively, marched angrily from the city centres to the governments’ offices in their respective states.
In Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, they marched to the National Assembly to lay their grievances despite efforts by security operatives to prevent them from gaining access into the complex.
Similar protests were recorded in other states’ capitals across the country, including Lagos, Rivers, Kano, and a host of others, where they marched from Ikeja to the State Assembly in Alausa, carrying placards with various inscriptions, and chanting solidarity songs.
Yesterday, there was a bit of confusion as to whether the protests will hold as planned, following reports that labour will consider the Federal Government’s options, in addition to pleas from the federal lawmakers and other well-meaning organisations to suspend the protests.
Ignore fake rumours, NLC is never divided. We are one united and strong labour centre. The protest rally will be held Tomorrow (Wednesday) nationwide.
But Ajaero, in a statement yesterday, dismissed rumours of suspending the action, saying there is no reason to do so.
The NLC, on its official Twitter handle, @NLCheadquarters, said: “Ignore fake rumours, NLC is never divided. We are one united and strong labour centre. The protest rally will be held Tomorrow (Wednesday) nationwide.”
The protests come despite measures to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal announced by President Bola Tinubu in a national broadcast on Monday. Some of these include:
- To strengthen the manufacturing sector, increase its capacity to expand and create good-paying jobs with N75 billion between July 2023 and March 2024.
- Fund 75 enterprises with great potential to kick-start a sustainable economic growth, accelerate structural transformation and improve productivity. Each of the 75 manufacturing enterprises will be able to access N1 Billion credit at 9% per annum with maximum of 60 months repayment for long-term loans and 12 months for working capital.
- Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to be energised with N125 billion.
- N50 billion for Conditional Grant to 1 million nano businesses between now and March 2024. N50,000 each to 1,300 nano business owners in each of the 774 local governments across the country.
- About 100,000 MSMEs and start-ups to get N75 billion, with each enterprise to get between N500,000 to N1million at 9% interest per annum and a repayment period of 36 months.
- Release of 200,000 metric tonnes of grains from strategic reserves to households across the 36 states and FCT to moderate prices.
- Provide 225,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer, seedlings and other inputs to farmers to promote food security.
- Support cultivation of 500,000 hectares with N200 billion
- Invest N100 billion between now and March 2024 to acquire 3000 units of 20-seater CNG-fuelled buses.
- In collaboration with the Labour unions to introduce a new national minimum wage for workers for immediate implementation upon budgetary provision.
However, labour was unimpressed, declaring that the broadcast had “no silver lining”, insisting on its demands, and unable to reach agreements on them with the government.
The unions insist on the immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of the government, including the recent hike in PMS price, school fees and VAT; fixing our local refineries in Port-Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna; release of eight months withheld salaries of University lecturers and workers, and many others.
