Ayo Ola
One of the United National Peace Ambassadors, Chief Amina Temitope Ajayi, on Tuesday, lauded the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria for suspending their planned strike to protest the manner the Federal Government removed subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise called petrol or fuel.
She commended the organised labour for not throwing Nigeria into chaos, which she said would have aggravated the sufferings of the masses.
She also said that calling off the strike by the organised indicated that the labour unions are law-abiding as the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja division, in its ruling on Monday had restrained NLC and TUC from embarking on the strike.
Chief Ajayi said: “There is great hope Nigerians. Nigerians are wonderful, peace-loving and law-abiding people. I commend the NLC and TUC for suspending the planned indefinite strike which NLC gave notice that was to commence from Wednesday. It is good that they have signed an understanding with the FG.
“That is a mature approach to fighting for the people. Dialogue and negotiations are the trending strategies now. Strike is old-fashioned.
“I know President Bola Tinubu, as a man of integrity and a President who has the interest of the people at heart. He will ensure that the Federal Government delivers its part of the agreement.
“It is a win-win situation. It is a victory for the people. It is a victory for Nigeria. I commend the organised labour and I also commended the FG’s team that worked assiduously and proactively to resolve this impasse.”
NLC, TUC and the Federal Government negotiating team had made some resolutions. The resolution was signed by NLC President, Comrade Joseph Ajaero; TUC President, Comrade Engr Festus Osifo; TUC Secretary, Comrade Nuhu Toro; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ms Kachollom S. Daju and Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabioamila, who is also the Chief of Staff to the President.
The agreement was titled: “Resolution of engagement between the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nigeria Labour Congress, and the Federal Government to resolve the issues associated with the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) on June 5, 2023.
Following the engagements between the Federal Government, TUC and the NLC, with the intervention of Speaker of the House of Representatives to resolve the disputes that arose from the withdrawal of subsidy on PMS, the following resolutions were reached:
1. The Federal Government, the TUC and the NLC to establish a joint committee to review the proposal for any wage increase or award and establish a framework and timeline for implementation.
2. The Federal Government, the TUC and the NLC to review World Bank Financed Cash transfer scheme and propose the inclusion of low-income earners in the program.
3. The Federal Government, the TUC and the NLC to revive the CNG conversion program earlier agreed with labour centers in 2021 and work out detailed implementation and timing.
4. The labour centers and the Federal Government to review issues hindering effective delivery in the education sector and propose solutions for implementations.
5. The Labour Centers and the Federal Government to review and establish the framework for the completion of the rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries.
6. The Federal Government to provide a framework for the maintenance of roads and expansion of rail networks across the country.
7. All other demands submitted by the TUC to the Federal Government will be assessed by the joint committee.
Consequently, the parties agreed on the followings:
A. The NLC to suspend the notice of strike forthwith to enable further consultations.
B. The TUC and the NLC to continue the ongoing engagements with the Federal Government and secure closure on the resolutions above.
C. The Labour Centers and the Federal Government to meet on June 19, 2023, to agree implementation framework.
Ajayi had on Monday appealed to the NLC, TUC and their affiliates, to obey the ruling of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja division, which barred them from embarking on strike over the removal of petrol subsidy.
The federal government had prayed to the court for an interim injunction stopping the labour unions from embarking on the proposed strike from Wednesday.
The Presiding Judge, Olufunke Anuwe, in her ruling on Monday, directed the unions to halt the planned strike pending the hearing and determination of the ex parte motion filed by the federal government.
She stated that the federal government was able to show that the planned strike is capable of disrupting activities in the health and education sectors.
“The defendants/respondents are hereby restrained from embarking on the planned industrial action/or strike of any nature, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice dated 5th June 2023.
“It is ordered that the defendant/respondents be immediately served with the originating processes in this suit, the motion on notice and the order of this court hereby made.
“The motion on notice is hereby fixed for hearing for 19th June 2023. Hearing notices to that effect shall be served on the defendants/respondents along with the other processes.”
In an interview with journalists in Lagos on Monday, Chief Ajayi urged organised labour, as responsible unions, to abide by the ruling of the court.
She also said they should not embark on their proposed strike slated for Wednesday.
She decried that many Nigerians are currently going through pains, adding strike will have a dangerous impact on the Nigerian economy.
She stated that the nation’s economy was fragile and urged labour not to complicate things for Nigerians by embarking on another but avoidable industrial action.
She further begged the organised labour not to cause further economic and social dislocation, to Nigerians, who she noted are currently going through high. cost of living.
She lamented that further strikes will negatively impact businesses and worsen Nigeria’s economic woes.
Ajayi, who is Chairman/CEO of Silicon Valley Nigeria Economic Development SV-NED Inc said the petrol subsidy had plunged Nigeria into debt and its removal was, therefore, inevitable.
She stated that President Bola Tinubu should be commended for, according to her, taking a bold and audacious step by announcing petrol subsidy removal during his inaugural speech.
According to her, sustaining petrol subsidy would have plunged Nigeria into a deeper debt trap.
Ajayi, who is also a former President of the All Nigerian American Congress, (ANAC), added that they should, in the interest of all of Nigeria, embrace dialogue and accept the offers from the Federal Government, for an amicable resolution of the impasse caused by the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol or fuel.
According to her, the government should ensure that appropriate programmes and measures are activated to cushion the painful impacts of the removal of petrol subsidy removal.
Ajayi said, “I appeal to NLC and TUC and their affiliates that this govenrment is still new. We should give the government a breathing space. We need to nurture this government as a nation. This is democracy. It is being actualised. We need to use only dialogue to find a solution.
“I feel for the people for their sufferings. I also feel for the concerns of the labour. But the President of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has promised to give palliatives. He knows the language of policymaking. He knows how to make money. He knows how to make use of experts. This is the time to engage experts.
“Everybody must respect each other’s position. Labour is labour anywhere in the world. They should be best friends of the government. Govenrment should consult and engage the labour because they represent the masses. The government should also respect labour. It should not come to the point where labour should go on strike. How many strikes have they done in Nigeria? Strike is old-fashioned now, Negotiation is the way now. Everybody has its own shortcomings but dialogue is the word.”
She added, “Experts like Prof Ngozi Okonjo Iweala; former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi, and many other experts have called for the removal of subsidy. ‘He who goes a borrowing ends a sorrowing.’ I have taken research on our neighbouring countries. Why is the price of petrol higher than ours? We need to take a break because of the generations yet unborn.
“In America, it is $150 to fill a tank. Nobody will go on strike. Everybody wants to use their cars. In America, you use more of public transportation. The rail and the buses. I am appealing to LNCL and TUC, I know they are fighting for the masses. They should cooperate with the govenrment, dialogue with the government and find a solution. Everybody knows that fuel subsidy is suicidal to this country.
“People said there will be inflation. How long shall we continue giving Nigerians feeding bottles? We can not continue giving Nigerians feeding bottles. We should be real.”
“The govenrment is just a week old. Labour is the father of this baby. There must be consultation. Everybody must respect each other’s position. Labour is labour anywhere in the world. They should be best friends. Govenrment should consult and engage the labour because they represent the masses. The government should also respect labour. It should not come to the point where labour should go on strike.
“How many strikes have they done in Nigeria? The strike is old-fashioned now, Negotiation is the fashion now. For me to live in America for almost 30 years, I know how organised the country operates. Everybody has its own shortcomings but dialogue is the world.
“I am appealing to Labour to give the govenrment a breathing place and cooperation. Every Nigerian should support this new government.”