Labour’s endless industrial action, a make or mar

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress appear to be heading for failure in the present call for a strike to protest the Nigerian government’s fuel subsidy. Though, on the ongoing warning strike by the labour force, the TUC seems to be undecided to ensure the enforcement of the Industrial action to the later. A significant number of citizens, who in the past, readily identified with Labour on public remonstrations against fuel price increases and subsidy removal seem, this time around, to have a different view of the situation.

Many are not persuaded of the usefulness of a general strike as a tool to fight government to reverse the fuel subsidy framework introduced for petroleum products during the inaugural speech of President Ahmed Tinubu. For that matter, do they see much to be gained by a reversion to the status quo or build credibility on the labour force?

Annother view of the emerging perspective is that the conversation around the domestic economy’s outlook has apparently benefitted from a new awareness of the country’s currently huge revenue shortages, which has rendered governments at several levels incapable of meeting their wage bills and other crucial overheads; and, more importantly, recent revelations of the colossal corruption attendant upon the administration of fuel subsidy by previous administrations.

This recognition of the dire nature of the times complements a burgeoning belief in the anti-corruption crusade and the anti-profligacy stance of the Tinubu administration. Additionally, sections of the public have wondered at organised labour’s fixation on a silver bullet solution to national challenges with negative impact on workers’ welfare. Most doubt that in our current situation, a general strike is an optimum response to government’s preferred solution to one of the symptoms of a complex body of issues, involving the structural nature of Nigeria’s federalism.

The Federal Government and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have agreed to give government two weeks to address some of the grievances of the Congress. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Solomon Lalong at the end of a meeting with the leadership of Trade Union Congress, led by its President, Comrade Festus Osifo made the assertion.

The meeting was convened by the Minister to resolve TUC’s and Nigeria Labour Congress’ differences with government and to avert the pending warning strike by organised labour.

According to Lalong, the issues for which a two-week timeline was set for their resolution include wage award for federal civil servants to cushion the effect of rising poverty among them, and tax exemption for a certain level of workers, both in the public and private sectors.

The other issues on the two-week timeline are to put structures in place to ensure effective implementation of the palliatives declared by the Federal Government for the states and the FCT, and to set out the modalities for accessing the N70 billion proposed for the funding of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), among others. The Minister declared that after the two weeks, the meeting would reconvene for further discussions, and added that the parties understood that some of the issues were urgent, while some would require a long span of time to resolve. The parties also agreed that there would be no strike within this peace period of two weeks “while we are doing deliberations and also working towards realising some of these objectives. The Minister had implored Nigeria Labour Congress to suspend its planned two-day warning strike scheduled for 5th and 6th September, as such action would be detrimental to the gains already recorded by government in securing a greater future for Nigerian workers and citizens.

He urged the leadership of NLC to give the government some time to address the issues raised holistically. The Minister reassured Nigerian workers that government would never take them for granted nor fail to appreciate their support and understanding.

The President of the TUC, Comrade Festus Osifo, stated that the two-week timeline was reasonable, as it would give government ample time to address the issues. He disclosed that at the commencement of the meeting, the leadership of TUC was pushing for a one-week timeline for the resolution of issues in dispute, but had to reconsider after weighing governments constraints, stating, “We also need to be pragmatic.”

Osifo emphasised that their demands as contained in a communique earlier issued by the Congress on increasing the amount provided for palliative as the sum of N5billion allocated per state is inadequate to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians.

The NLC on its part commenced a two-day warning strike after shunning a meeting with the Federal Government over increasing hardship and suffering across the country caused by the removal of fuel subsidy but this still remains a litmus test whether they will stand firm to regain her image before Nigerians or wind down to the pressure from the federal government.

The NLC had given notice of a two-day warning strike to protest the excruciating mass suffering and impoverishment experienced around the country, threatening a total and indefinite shutdown of the economy within 14 working days or 21 days after the warning strike, if government did not take steps to address the hardship experienced across the country. NLC President, Joe Ajaero noted that NEC in session of NLC resolved to embark on a total and indefinite shutdown of the nation within 14 working days or 21 days from today until steps are taken by the government to address the excruciating mass suffering and the impoverishment experienced around the country. The Organised labour unions must at this critical period reunite before the politicians take the advantage to apply divide and rule among other.

Pertinently, the Tinubu-led administration should as a matter of urgency take another look to cushion the effect of the untold economic hardship on Nigerians. The N5 billion Palliatives dished out to the various states Governors is gradually turning into ‘christmas gifts’ from the federal government as the money will eventually be diverted into private use. For instance, operatives of the department of State Security have started arresting government officials in Nasarawa State who took bags of rice palliatives to sell in the market yesterday.

Truth be told, palliatives can only do so much, what Nigerians desire include infrastructural development. Fixing the refineries, road networks, resisting oil theft, fixing the energy and power sector, effective education and good healthcare system, will alter the course of the nation’s plunge in economic doom.