…We will make our position known today – NLC President
…As Labour marches nationwide, grounds activities
…Port Harcourt refinery will resume within four months — Tinubu
…No single kobo saved from subsidy removal since May – Labour
…As Govs appeal to residents, promise more palliative measures
By Matthew Denis, Bankole Taiwo, Ismail Azeez, Barth Ndubuwah, Austine Emmanuel, Moses Adeniyi
The Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress have resolved to suspend the nationwide protest, the Presidency has disclosed.
This was revealed in a statement issued by Dele Alake, Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications & Strategy following a meeting between the Presidency and the labour leaders.
The statement read, “The leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress led by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, and that of Trade Union Congress, Comrade Festus Usifo, held a meeting with President Bola Tinubu Wednesday evening at the State House, Abuja.
“Consequent upon the fruitful and frank discussion with President Tinubu and their confidence in his ability to encourage open and honest consideration of all the issues put forward by the Labour Movement, the Labour Leaders resolved to stop further protest.
“They opted for further constructive engagement with the government to resolve all outstanding issues as they affect the working people and Nigerians in general.
“President Tinubu gave his commitment to the Labour leaders that the Port Harcourt refineries will start production by December 2023 after the completion of the ongoing rehabilitation contract between NNPCL and Italian firm, Maire Tecnimont SpA.
“President Tinubu assured the Labour leaders that he would continue to work for the best interest of Nigeria while pleading with the Labour leaders to join hands with him to birth a better and economically buoyant country.
President Bola Tinubu also assured the organised labour that the Port Harcourt refineries will start production by December 2023 after completion of the ongoing rehabilitation contract between NNPCL and Italian firm, Maire Tecnimont SpA, the Presidency has said.
However, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it will make its decision on the suspension or continuation of its protest against the effects of fuel subsidy known on Thursday.
Mr Joe Ajaero, NLC President, made this known to journalists after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said that Tinubu did not force them to suspend the industrial action, adding that Tinubu is a “pro-democracy activist; so he understands protests.”
Ajaero said that the president made some commitments during the meeting which they would take to workers’ leaders..
He said the issues at the meeting were the same as those that led to the protest ab initio.
“He has expressed his position and made some commitments, which were taken side-by-side with what the Senate said. We’re taking it back to the office with our colleagues to review it and release a document on our next line of action,” he said.
Ajaero said the issues of the palliatives as contained in the Presidential broadcast were broad, adding that some things needed to be done immediately to cushion the effect of subsidy removal.
He said that an immediate decision about the protest could not be taken by the labour leaders that came for the meeting now.
“No one person can call it off. That’s why I say we’ll have to go back to the office. So that we will look at it at the Exco meeting.
“And by tomorrow, the NLC will equally have their NEC meeting, to look at the bigger picture,” he concluded.
The Federal Government on Wednesday filed a contempt proceeding against the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, for allegedly embarking on an industrial action contrary to a June 5, 2023, exparte order by the National Industrial Court, NIC.
The “notice of consequences of disobedience to order of court” filed before NIC in Abuja, was addressed to NLC President, Joe Ajaero; Deputy Presidents, Audu Aruba, Prince Adeyanju Adewale and Kabiru Sani; General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja; TUC President, Engr Festus Usifo; Scribe/ Chief Executive, Nuhu Toro.
The contempt notice signed by Senior Registrar, Balogun Olajide, reads: “Take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in the order of the National Industrial Court, Abuja, delivered by Honourable Justice Y. Anuwe on June 5, 2023, as per the attached enrolled order, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to Prison.”
The FG also attached a copy of the exparte order made by Justice Anuwe on June 5, 2023, to the notice of contempt proceeding forwarded to the NLC and TUC officials.
The order reads in part: “Having therefore considered the totality of this application, I make the following orders: The defendants/Respondents are hereby~ restrained from embarking on the planned Industrial Action/or strike of any nature pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice dated June 5, 2023.
“It is ordered that the defendant/Respondents be immediately served with the originating processes in this suit, the Motion on Notice and the order of this court hereby made.
“The Motion on Notice is hereby fixed for hearing for June 19, 2023. The Hearing Notices to that effect shall be served on the defendants/Respondent along with the other processes.”
After its negotiations failed to appease the organised Labour to set aside its nationwide protest, the Federal Government on Wednesday resorted to using court instrument to stop labour reactions against the discontinuation of subsidy payment on petrol.
In attempt to explore legal instrument, the Federal Government on Wednesday filed a contempt proceeding against the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) for allegedly embarking on an industrial action contrary to a June 5, 2023, exparte order by the National Industrial Court, NIC.
Recall Nigerian NewsDirect had reported that the Federal Government may not leave out the option of court instrument in its attempt to forestall a nationwide protest by the organised Labour.
The contempt suit by the Federal Government was brought to notification in a “notice of consequences of disobedience to order of court” filed before NIC in Abuja, which was addressed to NLC President, Joe Ajaero; Deputy Presidents, Audu Aruba, Prince Adeyanju Adewale and Kabiru Sani; General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja; TUC President, Engr Festus Usifo; Scribe/Chief Executive, Nuhu Toro.
The contempt notice signed by Senior Registrar, Balogun Olajide, reads: “Take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in the order of the National Industrial Court, Abuja, delivered by Honourable Justice Y. Anuwe on June 5, 2023, as per the attached enrolled order, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to Prison.”
The FG also attached a copy of the exparte order made by Justice Anuwe on June 5, 2023, to the notice of contempt proceeding forwarded to the NLC and TUC officials.
The order reads in part: “Having therefore considered the totality of this application, I make the following orders: The defendants/Respondents are hereby restrained from embarking on the planned Industrial Action/or strike of any nature pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice dated June 5, 2023.
“It is ordered that the defendant/Respondents be immediately served with the originating processes in this suit, the Motion on Notice and the order of this court hereby made.
“The Motion on Notice is hereby fixed for hearing for June 19, 2023. The Hearing Notices to that effect shall be served on the defendants/Respondent along with the other processes.”
Recall that the Federal Government had at the on set approached the court to secure an injunction to foreclose Labour’s initial plans to embark on strike in June at the early stage of the announcement of President Tinubu to end petrol subsidy.
Series of meeting to talk Labour out of the strike action had fallen into deaf ears, as Labour have insisted on embarking on the nationwide protest except the government yield to their demands.
NewsDirect had reported how that the Federal Government may seek to employ injunction to forestall plans on the nationwide strike.
The organised Labour had on Sunday told the Federal Government that there is no order be it interim, interlocutory or perpetual order from either the National Industrial Court, or any other court restraining Nigerian workers from participating in peaceful rallies convened by it.
The NLC had also reminded the Federal Government through the Solicitor-General that there is a subsisting judgement that the right to demonstrate and to protest on matters of public concern are rights that are in the public interest which individuals must possess and exercise without impediment as long as no wrongful act is done.
The organised Labour had stated these via a letter from the Falana Chambers to the Permanent Secretary/Solicitor -General with the title, “Re-NLC in contempt of court,” signed by Sam Ogala Esq.
Meanwhile, the Solicitor-General of the Federation, Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba, on Monday in a reaction denied the Ministry of Justice threatened the NLC over the planned strike.
This was contained in a letter addressed to the counsel for NLC, Messrs Falana & Falana’s Chambers on Monday in Abuja by Jedy-Agba.
In the letter, the Solicitor-general of the Federation said the ministry simply drew the attention of the NLC to a pending court order.
The NLC President also on Wednesday during protest, refuted the claim of President Tinubu that N1 trillion has been saved since his government ceased payment of fuel subsidy.
“Mr President talked about N1trillion saved. The committee where we meet, they told us that no one kobo has been saved so far. Therefore, we have not agreed on what to pay anywhere,” he said.
Labour matches nationwide, grounds activities
Wednesday witnessed labour march nationwide in protest against subsidy removal and the demands for palliatives.
From the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to other States of the Federation, labour unions marched in groups to protest the hardship the recent policy had posed on the masses.
Abuja
In the FCT, the organised Labour led by the NLC and TUC on Wednesday tasked President Bola Tinubu to immediately address issues that is crippling down the economy.
Speaking while submitting their letter to the Senate Chief Whip, Sen. Ali Ndume who represented the Senate President, Senator Goodwill Akpabio, the NLC President, Ajaero said “the President should fix our refineries and let them work again. Fuel price increase and Naira devaluation is killing local industries.
“Put an end to the cost of Transportation and give us CNG Buses, let the poor breathe by stopping reckless price increase, pay living wage and support informal workers, stop the increase in school fees, education is our right, pay University workers their eight months salary arrears.
“Nigerians are suffocating, Tinubu let Nigerians breath and stop listening to IMF and World Bank. End corruption by recovering the loots and hail the culprits.”
On his part, the TUC President, Comrade Festus Osifo appealed to both the executive and legislature to cut down their excessive budgets as Nigerians are passing through hardship.
He said, “At this critical stage, we are appealing to the President and members of the National Assembly to cut down their budgets.”
Osifo tasked the government to look inward by patronising made in Nigeria vehicles and encourage the manufacturing Sector.
The protest, however, took a different dimension as the gate leading to the National Assembly Complex was broken down by the protesters.
The protesters had demanded security operatives stationed at the legislative building to open the gates so workers can to talk to the lawmakers.
But the security officials refused. In anger, the protesters pulled down the gates and flooded the Assembly complex.
In response, Ndume (APC, Borno South), asked the labour leaders and protesters to call off the nationwide protest and give the Senate one week to address the demands brought before it.
Southwest
In States of the Southwest Labour activities were in full march in protest of the recent conditions.
In Lagos, Labour demanded N30,000 subsidy palliative from the State Government to assuage the hardship occasioned by fuel subsidy removal.
Chairman of Lagos NLC, Funmi Sessi, made the demand when the Deputy Governor, Kadri Hamzat, addressed the protesters.
“We need subsidy palliative. Our minimum wage can no longer take care of our burdens.
“Many people are dying, and hungry. We know the State Government is trying, but they still need to do more.
“We need subsidy palliative of N30,000 each for workers, for the next six months. We know the government has slashed BRT fares, but we want to be able to put food on our table. Some of us have cars, we need to buy fuel.
“We want health care to be affordable. Agencies and parastatals should get buses to transmit workers to and fro.
“We want a stakeholders’ dialogue with the State Government. We also need food banks, we want stomach infrastructure; it is very important,” he said.
Among those who joined the labour leaders to protest in Lagos were human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 election Omoyele Sowore.
The organised Labour in Ogun State, on Wednesday marched through major roads in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital to protest removal of the fuel subsidy.
The workers demanded the immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of President Tinubu’s administration.
They described the removal of fuel subsidy, hike in school fees and VAT as anti-people policies.
The workers also demanded the release of eight months withheld salaries of university lecturers and an end to “inhuman actions” and policies of the government.
According to them, the policies had brought untold hardships to Nigerian workers and further worsened the living condition of the people.
Armed with various placards, the workers marched from the NLC secretariat in Leme area of Abeokuta metropolis to the governor’s office in Oke-Mosan preventing free vehicular movement.
Some of the inscriptions on their placards read: “Let the poor breathe, don’t suffocate them.” “Stop importation of petrol, revive the refineries now!!!.” “Stop the looting, tax the rich and subsidise the poor” and “Give workers what is due.”
Addressing the workers, the NLC chairman in the State, Hammed Ademola said the protest was in compliance with the directive of the national body of the union.
“We have to be on the street, we must not wait until we die, our destiny is always in our hands and now is the right time for us to tell the government of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu that we Nigerians are suffering.
“The fuel subsidy removal has caused a lot of hardship, untold hardship onto the masses of this nation. We are suffering, we have crude oil, yet we are still buying abroad, enough is enough,” Ademola said.
His TUC counterpart, Akeem Lasisi demanded the reversal of fuel subsidy, saying, “Subsidy is the constitutional responsibility of any government, subsidy is a global practice, so it is unfortunate in this country that our own subsidy is marred with corruption.
“Instead of government to remove the corruption in subsidy, they removed subsidy itself.”
The workers also demanded the repair of Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries.
The workers then marched to the Governor’s Office, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta where the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tokunbo Talabi received the protest letter containing the demands of the workers.
In Osun, protesters thronged the city of Osogbo, capital of the State, calling on the government to urgently address issues of economic hardship occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal.
The protest led by members of the Academic Union of Universities (ASUU), Labour Unions – the NLC and TUC, Joint Action Front, and members of the Osun Civil Societies Coalition (OCSC) began from the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo to major areas of the state capital.
Addressing the protesters, leaders of the protesting groups said the government, especially federal and states, should swiftly intervene to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians.
Members of ASUU who joined the protest called on the President Tinubu administration to offset the eight-month withheld salaries of its members, as well as roll out measures to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal.
“We are out today to demand the abolition of all anti-masses policies by the federal government. We are saying enough to incessant petroleum price hikes.
“We are saying enough to insecurity that is ravaging the nooks and cranny of our land. We are saying enough to corruption. We are saying enough to the commercialisation of education. Nigerian masses are saying enough to incessant abuse of power.
“We are saying enough to poor workers’ wages, the payment that cannot take workers home. Workers are demanding the immediate stoppage of all atrocious policies that are capable of incapacitating our people, which are capable of incapacitating Nigerian workers for giving their children quality education. We are saying enough is enough.
“Politics in Nigeria should be demonetised. We are saying enough is enough to all the policies that bring sufferings to the lives of our people. We are saying enough to all the policies that are capable of dividing Nigerians into different factions.
“We are here today to communicate to the Nigerian government that the masses are suffering. We are saying enough to the protracted holding of ASUU members’ salaries. We are saying enough to all policies that are unfriendly to the masses.”
They urged the authorities to address issues relating to the security and well-being of the country as it is the primary responsibility of every government to aid the safety of the masses.
Speaking, the Chairman of TUC, Osun State Council, Comrade Adekola Adebowale said they were protesting against the anti-people policy of the Federal government.
“Despite the support of people given to the present administration, they stopped the fuel subsidy. Nobody fought against it but, there must be something to cushion the effects. Unfortunately, this jettisoned what they promised during the campaign era. Nigeria belongs to every one of us, Nigeria is not the sole property of anybody.
“We want things to change for the better, not promising. Only those that have life have hope, if you don’t have life no hope. We will not allow anybody to kill us before we raise our voices.
“Today’s protest is a directive from the Federal Secretariat of the TUC and the leadership of the union is not folding their hands. They are working assiduously so this country has a good shape, moving from an era of poverty to prosperity,” he said.
South South
In the Southsouth, protests also rocked capitals of the different States.
Following protests in Rivers, the State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara assured that he will not take the mandate given to him by the people of Rivers for granted as his administration is poised to embarking on policies that will better the lots of the people.
Governor Fubara who gave the assurance while addressing the organised labour on a peaceful protest to Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday to register their discontent against the effects of subsidy removal, said he feels the pains and difficulties experienced by the workers and the generality of the masses as a result of subsidy removal.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Chidi Amadi, he commended the organised labour for their peaceful disposition during the protest, stating that the demands of the workers would be channeled to the appropriate authorities.
He pointed out that Gov. Fubara was the first governor in the country to release free buses to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal and urged the workers to be patient and supportive to the Rivers State Government to collectively address the challenges.
“Difficult times require difficult decisions. At the state level, the governor has assured that he will do everything within his powers to ensure that the present challenges felt by not only the workers, but the generality of the people, are properly addressed.
“Beyond the subsidy intervention buses, the Governor is talking with the organised labour and other strata of the society to ensure that policies are put in place to address the challenges faced by the people,” he said.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of NLC, Comrade Alex Agwanwor said the protest is to intimate the governor on the biting effects of the subsidy removal on workers and the masses without first putting in place proper measures to mitigate the sufferings of the people.
The chairman while applauding the governor for being the first to roll out free subsidy intervention buses presented a six-point demand to the governor for actions, which include immediate implementation of the resolutions with congress jointly signed with government and TUC on the issues and reversal of all anti-poor policies; especially the hike in the price of Petroleum Motor Spirit(PMS).
North
Situation in the North also recorded protests in various parts.
In Kaduna, the NLC in collaboration with the TUC condemned the N8,000 palliative as announced by President Tinubu, describing it as an insult to Nigerians.
The NLC and TUC Chairmen, Kaduna state, Comrade Suleiman Ayuba and Abdulahi Alhassan Danfulani respectively, stated this during the joint protest organised by the NLC and TUC in Kaduna on Wednesday.
They said Nigerians are not interested in any palliative but measures that can curb the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy, posed on its citizens.
According to Ayuba, Nigerian government is not specific on when to alleviate the plights of the citizens, instead continue to enumerate obvious challenges in the country without possible solution, adding that priority should be given to the revival of refineries across the nation.
The Union Leaders, while rejecting the students loan proposed by the FG also condemned the hike in public school fees, stressing that free education is their right and therefore called for the reversal of school fees in all public schools.
He disclosed that the protest is just a one day national exercise to call the FG to order so they can know that NLC and TUC is still very much around, while calling on members to stay at alert for further instructions from the national headquarters.
He noted that the Union is very much open to dialogue for upper review of 200,000 to cushion the effect of the economic hardship on their members because it is not yet time for the review of minimum wage, so as to improve their standard of living.
They also appreciated the Kaduna state government led by Senator Uba Sani who was represented at the protest by his special adviser on labour matter, Adamu Samaila.
They said it’s a departure from the Kaduna state government of the past.
In Kano, the State chapter of NLC joined the nationwide protest with call on President Tinubu to deal decisively with the criminal content of subsidy instead of exposing the ordinary citizens to avoidable pain and hardship.
The State Chairman, Kabiru Inuwa who led the organised labour in the protest to present its position letter to the state government at the Kano State government house, demanded the immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of the government including increase in fuel price, school fees, VAT and among others.
According to him, “There is nowhere in the world where government leaves its citizens totally to the vagaries of the market without some measure of control and protection. The Federal Government should therefore deal decisively with the criminal content of subsidy instead of exposing the ordinary citizens to avoidable pain and hardship.
“As a matter of urgent National importance, it is imperative to fix all our refineries to be able to cater for the domestic fuel consumption. Further, Government should go after parties associated with corruption such as over-invoicing, under delivery of products, over-estimation of national capacity, crude oil swaps, smuggling, and make them to account etc.
“We are concerned that no Government acting reasonably, leaves its national currency to forces of the Market. Government’s so-called merger of exchange rates even when it has nothing to export other than crude oil raised our debt stock to N81 trillion from N72 trillion and puts enormous pressure on local manufacturing capacity utilization. It also impacts negatively the cost of locally produced goods and services as a lot of input are imported.
“Finally, to address the raging revenue crisis, the government needs to deal decisively with crude oil theft and tax the rich progressively. It is time for the rich to make sacrifices. The poor have done enough; there is nothing more to give.
“So far, Labour has maintained her own side of the bargain, whilst government has shown little or no inclination to implement any of the agreements reached on June 5, 2023.
“The purpose of the protest is to tell the government to come and fulfill the promises they made during the sitting they held with the NLC and TUC where seven resolutions were reached. Out of the seven resolutions, none have commenced. The resolution includes, provision of palliatives, salary increment, salary wage awards, provision of CNG gas stations across the nation among others.”
However, a mild drama occurred when the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Abdullahi Baffa Bichi attempted to address the labour union midway to the government house but the workers snubbed him and proceeded to the frontage of the government house.
Speaking while addressing the protesting union members, Dr. Bichi promised to submit the request of the NLC to the State Governor for onward transmission to the Federal Government.
The protesters who chanted several slogans were seen displaying placards inscriptions such as “August 2nd will forever be known as the day we resisted bulaba’s anti-people policies,” “we want N200,000 minimum wage,” “fuel subsidy shouldn’t be removed,” “FG shouldn’t dance to the tune of IMF and World Bank,” among others.