Daily Independent (Lagos)
Sylvester Enoghase
29 June 2009
The organised labour has warned that the ongoing rallies and protests in some state capitals would escalate into full blown strike should the Federal Government pay deaf ears to workers' demands on to stop deregulation.
This warning was handed down last week during the labour rally and protest that paralysed business activities in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
Speaking to a crowed of workers and civil society organisations from all walks of life at the Ramat Square on Tuesday last week, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Abdulwaheed Omar, called on Nigerians to support labour its three demands - increase in minimum wage, acceptance of Justice Uwais Report and the stopping of deregulation policy by the Federal Government
He said, "We are aware of newspapers' report that Federal Government will soon embark on deregulation of pump prices of petroleum products. We have made it loud and clear that if the government is adamant on this obnoxious deregulation policy, Nigerian workers would paralyse the nation".
"We are for now sensitising Nigerians on the hardship that would befall the entire citizens should the Federal Government refuse to listen to us on our demands for increase of workers' minimum wage from N5,500 to N52,200; accept and implement Justice Uwais Electoral Report to the letter and drop the deregulation policy. But should the government pay deaf ears to our demands, we shall down tools in all the sectors of the economy, including oil industry and see how the wealth will come to the government.", he added.
Protesters trekked for several hours, chanting solidarity slogans, condemned government plans to deregulate the nation's oil and gas sector, as well as its doctoring of Justice Mohammed Uwais Electoral Committee's Report on electoral reform. Labour also demanded the upward review of workers' salaries to N52.200 as well as commitment by government to fight corruption in the country.
According to Omar, Nigerians are bearing a disproportionate share of the hardships brought on by the ongoing global crisis. This is most evident in the jobs crisis, with increasing income inequality, rapid increases in unemployment, and growing hunger and poverty in the country.
He said, "If our leaders are honest with Nigerians, they on daily basis come up with policy statements on how the global economic meltdown could be cushioned yet, the suffering masses are not feeling the impacts of their decision making".
The labour leaders stressed that the wages and salaries of workers have been rendered useless by inflation. While the workers had 15 per cent salary increase in the last three years, political office holder have enjoyed 800 per cent salary increase within the same period.
"Despite all cries by Nigerians against deregulation, government is still bent on going ahead with deregulation; if the cries of Nigerians would not be heeded; if government goes ahead with deregulation, every Nigeria worker, including those in the oil sector will down tools in protest", he said.
He advised the government to fix the nation's refineries and provide more petroleum products, rather than deregulate the petroleum sector, adding that the government had enough money to provide for everyone in the country.
He said poverty and hunger crisis in the country requires leadership, coordinated responses, forged in an inclusive manner for all Nigerians.
Omar stateed that since we are in a democratic society, workers and the masses bearing much of the brunt of the crisis must have a say in policy-making in the country.
He stressed that labour and civil society organisations are, therefore, calling on the Federal Government to adopt a strong, pro-development out programmes that would lead the economy out of the woods, rather than embarking on projects that would add to the suffering of Nigerians.
"We believe good pro-development outcome programmes would serve to initiate an inclusive, democratic process towards real and lasting solutions to the nation's crisis", he said.
He said, "We are for now sensitising Nigerians on the hardship that would befall the entire citizens should the Federal Government refuse to listen to us on our demands for increase of workers' minimum wage from N5,500 to N52,200; accept and implement Justice Uwais Electoral Report to the letter and drop the deregulation policy, but should the government pay deaf ears to our demands, we shall down tools in all the sector of the economy including oil industry and see how the wealth will come to the Government", he added.
Noting that the organised labour has carried out similar rallies in Lagos, Asaba, Kano and now Maiduguri, Omar said "This rally is a continuation of the nationwide peaceful rallies planned by the labour groups, as part of the May Day celebrations, to protest recent government policies perceived to be anti-labour, particularly the deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector".
Presenting labour and civil society organisation's demands through a letter to Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sherrif, for onward delivery to President Umaru Yar'Adua, the NLC's president said, "The letter contains the wishes of Nigerians. We have today honoured you with the title of 'Comrade'. You are now part of us and we believe you will deliver this letter to President Yar'Adua".
He charged Sherrif to ensure that the letter is delivered to the President noting that Labour saw a lot of sense in the recommendations in Justice Uwais recommendations that suggested that all electoral litigations before elected public officers with such cases are sworn into office, the no deregulation issues as well as wages review
Meanwhile, the Executive Governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has called on the organised labour to follow the part of dialogue in its demands from the Government.
Receiving the letter, Sheriff said, "Leaders in democracy must be responsible to the electorate by listening to them. We are leaders because of you all and must listen whenever you make any demand on matters that affect you. I appeal that whatever demands you make must be done through peaceful dialogue. I assure you that you letter would be delivered to President Yar'Adua. Once again, I appeal to you that you chose the path of dialogue in tackling every matter between you and the government because there is nothing that dialogue cannot solve".
"Noting that democracy is government of the people, for the people and by the people, I urged labour to follow the part of dialogue in its demands from the Government because you all voted us to power", he said.
He, however, called to workers to support government so that the dividends of democracy can get to the grassroots
Earlier, the Secretary of Labour and Civil Society Organisation coalition (LASCO), Abiodun Aremu, claimed that while the rest of the world is backing away from an absolute reliance on market forces, it is illogical for the Yar'Adua government to insist on chaining the country to these nebulous forces.
He insisted that all over the world, the primary concern of government is the basic interest of the populace not the so called market forces.
He said "This is the kernel of our fundamental opposition to the deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry because with deregulation, prices will soar; there will be fuel hoarding, profiteering, adulteration, and scarcity will be the order of the day. We shall return to the days of long queues at the fuel stations".
"Our protests are also to draw government's attention to the fact that kerosene, which is used by the working class and diesel used by industries have been so deregulated that they have become scarce and unaffordable", he said.
According to Aremu, the failure to provide minimum electricity has meant a reliance on generators, which must use petrol or diesel.
"The increase in the prices of these commodities, which is what deregulation entails, is to worsen the state of industries and Nigerians", he claimed.
He however stressed that signs of what to expect is exemplified in the long queue at the filling station whether buying petrol, diesel or kerosene which the poor masses used for domestic cooking as speculations continue to surround the actual take off of deregulation policy.
Also, former President of the NLC, Ali Chiroma, called on Labour to continue in the struggle.
He said, "Wages are so low and prices of basic goods so high that there is an urgent need for government to shore up the wages of workers in the country as well as cushion the effects of inflation".
The veteran labour leader, however, said all the demand of labour is relevant to the progress of the future of Nigeria.
The NLC's Head of information, Owei Lankemfa, who agreed that the continuation of the strike was because of government adamant over workers' demands, called for full support from Nigerians to achieve the needed demands.
He said "As you are aware, we held a series of rallies, mass protests and street marches last month in Lagos and Asaba. We had postponed these protests in other parts of the country partly with the hope that things will improve in the country, that Government would become more receptive to the cries of the people and that concrete steps would be taken to address our demands, unfortunately, this has not been so".
According to him, we have other demands such as the need by Government to lighten the hardship of the people, reduce the excessive taxation of workers' wages, check high unemployment and the need for Government to focus its polices towards delivering on the basic needs of the populace.
He, however, said our primary demands remain the upward review of wages, a stop to the deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry and fundamental electoral reforms that can build a solid foundation for democracy in the country.
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