By Kelechi Eke

Nigerians are today concerned over how the current face-off between the Organised Labour and the Federal Government of Nigeria will pan out.

The Organised Labour, led by the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC and the Trade Union Council (TUC) are protesting the unprecedented hardship currently suffered by Nigerians following government’s sudden removal of petroleum subsidy.

NewsOrient Network reports that few hours after the nationwide protest across yesterday, Wednesday 2, 2023, being the first day of the protest, the leadership of the organised labour alerted it’s members that a court summon has been sent to both the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress in relation to the street protest.

Labour therefore directed all it’s affiliate unions and their members from all sectors of the country’s economy, including air, land and sea transport sector, to ensure they shut down operations and be in court during all the days and periods of the court sittings.

A report in www.thelabourngr.com on the development reads: “President of the the NLC Joe Ajaero and his TUC counterpart, Comrade Festus Osifo in a statement jointly signed on Wednesday in Abuja, reaffirmed Congress’ commitment to protecting the interests and welfare of Nigerian workers and the masses even in the face of a purported contempt of court charge.

They said: “It is also important that we inform Nigerians that we have just received a Court summons purporting to charge us with contempt of Court. We urge all Nigerians to be vigilant because it appears that the days of long knives are here with us again.

The leadership remains resolute in its commitment to the protection of the interests and welfare of the Nigerian people and nothing whatsoever can take our eyes away from this focus nor shake this belief.

“Having demonstrated our collective resolve through the strong signal we sent today across Nigeria, we urge vigilance on the part of all workers and masses to protect our nation and our decisions while we await the response of the Government through the National Assembly as was assured by their representatives during the protest.

“To further show our collective resolve, All Nigerian workers will resume at the Courts wherever they may be across the nation on the days of the Court sittings to hear the contempt proceedings against the leaders of trade unions. The Airports, the Seaports. the Hospitals, Schools; all public and private sector workers will all appear in Court across the nation in response to the Contempt charges.”

The labour leaders who showed appreciation for the support from workers and Nigerians who came out to protest the hardship and difficulties policies of the present administration has thrown at them, noted that their voice have been heard as an audience with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the end of the protest has open the door for a new dialogue which would hopefully allow for full implementation of all promises.

“We want to appreciate the massive solidarity and support of the Nigerian people who thronged the various venues around the country in their numbers despite intimidations and blackmails by agents of government and forces of retrogression to discourage them from joining the nationwide protest which was called to ventilate citizens outrage at the anti-poor and anti-peoples’ policies of the government. Our hats are doffed at your determination and commitment to saving ourselves and indeed the nation from those whose only interest is to foist continuous deprivation and suffering on Nigerians.

“The message you have sent today is a strong demonstration of our collective resolve as patriots and owners of the sovereign will to demand that those who occupies the corridors of power must listen to us.

You have sent a very strong, loud and clear signal to those occupying the various government houses be it at the federal or state that the people remain the sovereign and the barometer for measuring that resides with the trade union movement who have continued to be the bastion of that collective will.

“The NLC and TUC also appreciates the timely intervention of the leadership of the National Assembly for their pledge to resolving the issues raised by the Nigerian people and for their deep understanding of the need for Government to provide quick wins as succor with short timelines to ameliorate the consequences of the hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) on the citizenry.

“Once again, we look forward to the continuing support of all Nigerians and workers around the country as we continue in this struggle for freedom from the clutches of oppression and impoverishment.

We must remain unwavering and together refusing to allow them divide us so that collectively, we will build a nation where, no one will be considered too small to be left behind.

“It is pertinent to inform Nigerians that the extent of the success of the protest is underlined by the request of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu to meet with the leadership of the NLC and TUC in a closed-door session.

The engagement was fruitful that immense mileage was gotten with regards to the issues that bogged down the work of the Presidential Committee on Subsidy removal and necessitated the protest viz;

“He committed to an immediate restructuring of the framework for engagement in line with the input of the Labour leaders. He let out a certainty that the Port Harcourt Refinery will commence production by December this year.

“He pledged to ensure that Agreement is reached on the Wage Award for Nigerian workers immediately. He promised to unveil a workable roadmap to the CNG alternative next week.

“On the strength of the President’s pledge and commitment, we have decided for a return to a new and reinvigorated dialogue process to allow for full implementation.
Once again. we thank Nigerians while we wait for the Government to fulfill its own part of the understanding as agreed with His Excellency.”