By Mike Adeyemi
The Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Kwara State chapter, Comrade Aliu Issa Ore has said the union is not going back on the proposed industrial actions over the hike in the pump price of petroleum and the increment in electricity tariff.
Ore stated this yesterday night during a chat with our reporter.
According to him, “All is set for the proposed strike in Kwara except we receive any contrary directive from the headquarters of NLC in Abuja.
“We are set for the strike in Kwara State. And as I am talking to you, we haven’t gotten any contrary directive from the headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
“We are still waiting for the outcome of a meeting held today between the Federal Government and members of the NLC. Preparation is in top gear in Kwara to hit the street on Monday,” he stressed.
He added that the Kwara chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress on Sunday had a meeting with all its affiliates and they have agreed to embark on stay off job action.
“We held a meeting with all our affiliates like the banks and other stakeholders in the state to come out on Monday for a protest while offices remain shut. If the headquarters call of the strike, we won’t protest,” Ore affirmed.
In the same vein, the Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Kwara State chapter, Comrade Kola Olumoh condemned the action of the Federal Government over hike in the pump price as in human.
“I want to believe that the Federal Government is not being sensitive to the plight of Nigerians. If not I don’t see any reason why they would not call stakeholders before taking such decision.
“As it is now, Nigeria is too hard up to reach. If we that brought them into power are being treated like this, what is the purpose of bringing them in then”, Olumoh queried.
He added that labour unions will not take it lightly with the government until the hike in the pump price and electricity tariff is reverted.
“The government has to show us where it spent over N10/trillion naira on subsidies as earlier claimed. The whole subsidies claim is a scam. No going back on the strike unless the government renege on its decision,” the TUC leader concluded.
Recall earlier on Sunday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) insisted that it will carry on with its proposed strike action with regards to the recent increase in electricity tariff and the removal of petrol subsidy.
This resolve was taken following a closed-door meeting between the NLC and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Gbajabiamila met with representatives of NLC, at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, in an attempt to mediate and broker an amicable solution to the impasse between Organised Labour and the Federal Government.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, NLC President Comrade Ayuba Wabba said the proposed strike by the union will proceed unless the FG addresses the issues.
Reacting to the court order restraining the NLC from downing tools, Wabba said the organization has not been served with the order and cannot speak on it.
He, however, noted that there is a judgement of a Federal High court stopping the increase of electricity tariff which the FG has refused to obey.
According to the NLC President, the proposed strike will only fail to hold if the govt makes a u-turn before 12 midnight today.
At the brief before the closed-door meeting on Sunday, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila said Labour cannot go on a strike in good conscience as the consequences will be dire on Nigerians who will feel the hardship caused by the industrial action.
