As a Unionist of many years of experiences, I thought it wise to call on the President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, not to embark on action that can spoil the good image of the NLC as a body or any of its affiliates. Amongst NLC affiliates are:
SSANU, ASUU, NAAT, NASU, ASUP, ASURI, AAEUN. ASSBIF, NUT, NMA, NURTW, PENGASSAN, NARD, etc.
It is pertinent to write that as a member of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities ( SSANU), I am a stakeholder in the NLC and as result of this, I have every right to speak out at anytime I feel that my interest is not adequately represented, protected or feel that the leadership is going astray.
Honestly, I was highly disturbed by the notice for nationwide withdrawal of services dated 2nd June, 2023 addressed to all State Chairpersons, All NLC State Councils.
The notice states therein that, ” You will recall that arising from the National Executive Councils meeting held on 2nd June, 2023, it was decided that Congress will embark on a nationwide action and withdrawal of services against a fraudulent increase in the prices of fuel across the thirty six states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and FCT.’
Paragraph 3 of the notice states that, ” Please, be informed that the nationwide action will commence on Wednesday, 7th June, 2023. To this effect, we request that all State Chairpersons should mobilize workers for the action and ensure full compliance with the directive as services in both the public and private sector are expected to be fully withdrawn by Wednesday, 7th June, 2023.
Paragraph 4 states that ” All State Chairpersons are expected to fully abide by the decisions of the National Executive Councils.
The said notice was signed by Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, General Secretary.
Going through the notice and various utterances of Comrade Joe Ajaero when addressing the Press affirmed that he doesn’t have much knowledge about how Union should be run. And if he is not put into check, he would surely spoil the good image of the NLC or turn NLC to nonentity. As Yoruba of good origin would say, ” agba kii wa l’oja ki ori Omo titun wo.” Literally meaning, ” Elders should not be at a place and allow things to crumble.” Hence the need for this write-up.
I am not going to drag anything with the leadership of the NLC in this write-up on whether they support the removal of the fuel subsidy or not because the removal of fuel subsidy, to the wise, is settled. All we should be after is how to cushion the effects and as well manage the future gains. All I just want to pass to them is that they are wrong in their approaches and that it is better they revert them otherwise, they would have themselves to blame.
My observations:
1. The National Executive Council of the NLC does not have a right to call on members to embark on nationwide withdrawal of services without a recourse to the Congress of the NLC. Sufficient to write that no referendum was conducted before they called for the strike.
2. No ultimatum was served on the Federal Government. At least 21 day ultimatum at the first instance. Infact, rising up from a meeting on 2nd of June, 2023 and directed their members to down tools on 7th of June, 2023, is not only laughable but shows that the leadership of the NLC is a mediocre.
3. The Nigeria National Petroleum Company ltd ( NNPCL) that announced the selling pump price of petrol ranging from N488.00 to N570.00 per litre depending on the region of the Country, according to President Joe Ajaero, is a private organisation. I think if the NLC wants to help the nation, they should go to NNPCL office to fight them to revert their decision.
4. I doubt if the NLC is aware that removal of fuel subsidy has National Assembly backing. The 2023 budget, effect from July 1, 2023, does not take care of fuel subsidy. And, assuming the FGN lead by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu wants to bring back fuel subsidy, legal procedures have to be followed.
5. The NLC leadership is a bunch of mediocre because, they acknowledged that FGN lead by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not fully constituted his cabinet and as a result of that the Government has not fully settled down. The question why are they planning to disturb him? Definitely, Comrade Joe Ajaero and his cohorts are destructive tools in the hands of opponents of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. And if we should guess, it is not in the hands of political opponents because the candidate of Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, that Comrade Ajaero supported during the Presidential electioneering campaigns, came out openly to say if he became the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, he would stop fuel subsidy immediately, but the Petroleum Marketers and their cohorts.
My advice to NLC President:
1. In future, if you are confront with this kind of situation, please, consult widely and most especially past leaders.
2. To err is human but perfection is God. Sufficient to say that there is no man above mistake. Just ensure you revert your directive that members should commence strike on Wednesday, 7th June, 2023.
3. Allow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to constitute his cabinet and, thereafter, be on his neck to ensure that he appoints people of proven characters.
4. Advice him to pump enough money into circulations through payments of outstanding salaries, allowances, pensions and gratuities of your members and the retired members.
5. Prevail on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to pay the salaries of Federal University Staff that are withheld as a result of obnoxious advice giving by the former Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige.
6. Prevail on Government to pay Local Contractors.
7. Prevail on FGN lead by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to review the salaries and allowances of workers and most especially the minimum wages.
8. Prevail on FGN to lease out the Federal Government Oil Refineries. This could be on 25 years in the first instance.
9. Prevail on the FGN to open borders to allow legal businesses to flow
10. Prevail on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that subsidy removal on petroleum should be diverted to: Health, Education, Security, Agriculture, Road constructions and others.
11. Prevail on Government to lift ban on employments.
12. Creating enabling environments for people to venturing into legitimate business.
Advice to Mr. President:
Your Excellency, please, ensure you keep to your promises you made to Nigerians during your electioneering campaigns.
Finally, I hereby humbly appeal to Mr. President to direct the relevant authorities to pay our salaries and allowances that are being withheld.
As at the time of writing this write-up, FGN is owing me five (5) month salaries and allowances Shameful to write that my salaries and allowances for that five (5) months is not up to N1.5m. Professor is a little bit about N2m for that five (5) months.
This is not a time to compare a Professor monthly salaries and allowances to the allowances of an average Senator, not to talk about their monthly salaries. Like Yoruba of good origin would say, ” Olorun lo ma se idajo awon ti won n f’ehin pin eran.”
I rest my case.
God bless Nigeria.
signed.
Prince Oriwaye J. Adefolalu, mpa, mnim.
Former Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, University of Lagos (2003-2009).
+2348035061143.
Post a Comment