NLC finally suspends strike

National Executive Council of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has finally suspended the three-day-old protest and strike action it embarked on over arbitrary hike of electricity tariff and pump price of premium motor spirit (PMS) from N86.50 to N145 per litre.

The Congress through a letter sent to Federal Government last weekend, which out rightly kicked against the new pump price of N145 per litre, however, demanded for revert to the old pump price of N86.50 per litre as precondition for negotiation.

However, during the exhaustive review of consultation with its constituents and other stakeholders including the leadership of National Assembly and All Progressive Congress (APC), the NEC-in-session “resolved to suspend with immediate effect, the action it commenced on Wednesday, May 18, 2016.

“Congress will resume negotiations with government on the twin issues of the hike in electricity tariff and an increase in the pump price of petroleum products and any other issue that may arise thereof.

“It similarly remains committed to genuine dialogue within the framework of internationally established and recognized principles of representation,” a communiqué co-signed by Ayuba Wabba, NLC president, and Peter Ozo-Eson, NLC general secretary, read.

Going forward, the Congress vowed that it “will continue to resist wrong legislations, policies and programmes and will always act in the best interest of Nigerians as it remains the only pan Nigerian organisation not affected by religion, region, creed, partisanship or primordial sentiments.”

For the first time, the strike and protest held in major capital cities of the 36 states and Federal Capital City, Abuja, was regarded as unpopular due to its low turn-out and participation by Nigerian workers.

In the bid to ensure amicable resolution of the crisis which led to the walk-out by the Wabba faction on Tuesday midnight, prominent political leaders of All Progressive Congress (APC) namely: Bola Tinubu, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state at the Labour House persuaded the NLC leaders to return back to negotiation table.

“NEC reviewed the protest action and its impact across the nation, noting the sacrifices of its members, response of the generality of Nigerians, government’s attitude and the brutality of the police in some states.

“NEC took special notice of the Ebonyi State Police Command where our members were intimidated, harassed, arrested and detained unjustly.

“After an exhaustive deliberation, NEC noted its protest action was informed by the twin issues of the unjustified and illegal hike in electricity tariff and increase in the pump price of petroleum products. NEC adjudged the protest action to be a success in spite of both internal and external challenges.

“NEC reiterated the correctness of its position on the twin-issues of electricity tariff hike and astronomical increase in the pump price of PMS and the hardship they portend for Nigerian masses.

“NEC also acknowledged that the temptation to compare the strike action with that of 2012 could be compelling but that the scenario had changed as both the actors and the terrain were different.

“NEC said before it had embarked on the action, it had anticipated a probable outcome and therefore was not surprised by government’s negative response.

“Nonetheless, it felt fulfilled by having the presence of mind and courage to identify its mission and fulfilling it, stressing that if a similar situation arises again, it will still rise and stand with the people.

“NEC therefore commended those who took part in the action in one way or the other and reaffirm its commitment to the struggle,” the communiqué read further.

According to the Congress, the three day industrial action was “taken in the best interest of the poor and the weak and in drawing government’s attention to the dangers of relying on importation of petroleum products as a sustainable strategy for making available petroleum products. It expressed the belief that