…NLC strike ultimatum to terminate on Friday
…Don’t judge us on the basis of few months in office – SGF, Akume
…Independence celebration to be low-key, sober
As talks to strike settlement to convince the organised labour out of moves for indefinite strike to further protest the impacts of removal of subsidy on premium motor spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol, becomes more controversial, the Federal Government (FG) has said threats of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to embark on the action would not be in favour of the workers.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, on Wednesday, said that the proposed strike by the NLC, which is expected to commence if the government fails to attend to their demands will not be in the interest of workers.
The SGF while fielding questions from State House correspondents after meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said he was optimistic that issues concerning the strike would be addressed amicably.
Akume who called on the organised labour to be patient as the government finds a solution to their demands, said, “The Labour leaders are very patriotic Nigerians and we want to believe correctly that nobody would want to have a strike at this time of our history because it is not in the interest of the workers and it is not in the interest of anybody.
“This government is very determined to raise the standard of living of the Nigerian workers and to create prosperity for all and that is not something that can be done overnight. So, it will be inappropriate to begin to judge the government on the basis of the few months that it has spent in office.”
On his part, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong said that the government will continue to discuss with the labour for a harmonious relationship.
“We have come to discuss with the issues we discussed and also follow up. The President is not around and many of the issues, we will continue to discuss with the Vice President so that there will be smooth, harmonious relationship with the labour,” he said.
On whether there is any hope concerning the deadline for indefinite strike by the organised labour, he said, “No, no, no! As for me I don’t think there is any problem. We have fully spent time with the Nigerian labour and posture of the President too is towards welfare and prosperity for workers.
“We have no doubt and that’s why many of the meetings we have with them we are not ending up boxing ourselves, we smile, all of us. We hope that the best is going to come.”
On what Nigerians should expect on the indefinite strike, he said, “Don’t worry about that. That’s why I said it’s a friendly engagement we are doing with them. We don’t have any fears about some of the things they put and also the suggestions and the package of the Federal Government.”
Specifically asked whether there will be no strike from September 21, he said, “I don’t want to say that; I’m not the NLC’s President.”
Recall NewsDirect had reported how that the meeting held between the Federal Government and the NLC ended in deadlock without clear direction on cancellation of the strike.
Recall also NewsDirect had reported how the NLC had last week threatened an indefinite strike which it said could commence any moment after the termination of a 21-day ultimatum it issued to the government on September 01, 2023.
The declaration of the indefinite strike is trailing a warning strike which held two days across the nation, on Tuesday, September 05 and Wednesday, September 06.
Barely a week after leading the two-day nationwide warning strike, the NLC again threatened last week to embark on an indefinite strike should the Federal Government fail to meet its demands at the end of a 21-day ultimatum which will expire this week.
According to the NLC, the proposed strike was necessary following the failure of the Federal Government to provide palliatives to assuage the hardship of Nigerians as a result of the fuel subsidy removal.
The NLC which had on September 01, 2023 handed down a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government over the delay in sharing of palliatives, had said it might be compelled to declare an indefinite labour action if appropriate responses from the government were not taken.
Among others, some of the demands of the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (NLC) include: wage award, tax exemptions and allowances to public sector workers, provision of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses, release of modalities for the N70 billion for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), release of officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) by the Police.
The Federal Government in effort to forestall the indefinite strike called the NLC into a meeting on Monday which apparently ended in deadlock.
…FG says Independence Day celebration to go on low key, sober mood
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has disclosed that the October 1, 2023 Independence Day celebration would be held in low key in sober mood, considering present situations in the Country
According to the SGF on Wednesday, “Independence Day is a very historic event for any country and we in Nigeria are no exception. We are fully prepared for this year’s celebration but for obvious reasons, it is going to be low-keyed.
“This year’s celebration is going to be low-keyed, there will be no room for a fantastic jamboree at the Eagle Square and other locations.”
Akume admonished Nigerians to use the independence anniversary to reflect deeply on the unity of the Country and the journey ahead.
He assured citizens that better days lie ahead for the Country under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, saying, “It is a time for reflection for us as a people and the journey forward for the nation, which is being led appropriately by the captain of the ship, President Bola Tinubu. We are wishing Nigerians the best of luck and we want to assure them that better days are coming and pretty soon too.”
Since the removal of subsidy on petrol, Nigerians have continued to groan over the hardship that trailed the development, as many keep lamenting it has further worsened bad conditions for the masses. Although the government has announced its palliative measures, the organised labour has not ceased to clamour it is irreconcilable with what the situation has placed before Nigerians, particularly the workers earning a minimum wage of N30,000.