NLC To Issue Seven Days Sit-At-Home Order Ultimatum Over Currency, Fuel Scarcity, Other Issues
Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, on Tuesday, issued a seven days ultimatum to federal government to address the ongoing currency scarcity caused by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, fuel scarcity, interference in Labour Congress affairs by the state governors and irregularities in the electoral process, stating that the Congress would be forced to order workers to Sit-At-Home.
Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, on Tuesday, issued a seven days ultimatum to federal government to address the ongoing currency scarcity caused by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, fuel scarcity, interference in Labour Congress affairs by the state governors and irregularities in the electoral process, stating that the Congress would be foreced to order workers to Sit-At-Home.
The NLC warned to withdraw her members from work if the current scarcity of naira persists adding that Nigerians are going through hell.
This was contained in a Communique of the Central Working Committee of the
Nigeria Labour Congress, during the the inaugural meeting of the Central Working Committee (CWC) held on Monday, March 1 3, 2023 in the Auditorium of the Congress, Abuja.
The meeting deliberated extensively on core union and national issues adding that the Union may be forced to embark on nationwide protests if the situation wasn't normalised after seven days ultimatum it handed over to the government.
The communique released and signed by the President of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, and the General Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaj, said after reviewing three major issues troubling the Union, decided to issue the communique.
According to the statement, the presidential and national assembly elections; scarcity of PMS and redesigning of the Naira notes and its aftermath are issues that needs urgent attention adding that the masses of Nigerians are suffering.
NLC's CWC noted that despite their broad observations concerning the elections, the Union still reiterated its earlier statement that those with issues with the outcome of the election should utilise the court to seek redress.
"It nonetheless said it found it appropriate to renew our call to INEC to sanitize its image as it disenfranchised many people in the presidential and national elections with consequential effects." The communique reads.
On the issues of naira redesign, CWC said, poor implementation of the Naira re-design policy has caused considerable pain and hardship to the people.
CWC, therefore, resolved to give the government seven working days beginning from Tuesday, March 14, to make naira notes available to the people or Congress would be compelled to direct its members to withdraw their services.
"Similarly, the CWC-in-session after reviewing the fuel supply situation in the country and the attendant arbitrary costs at filling stations, expressed dismay at the non-challance of NNPC and Government.
"It accordingly resolved ask the NNPC/ FGN to normalize the fuel supply situation.
The CWC expressed its outrage at the surreptitious increase in electricity tariff without notice and without improvement in quality of service.
"CWC resolved that henceforth any surreptitious increase would be met
With Appropriate response." The communique further explained.
On the concerns of the Union affairs, the CWC, stated that they acknowledged that the State Council election held in 33 states, were successfully saved.
According to them, Osun, Ebonyi and Imo where there were extraneous interventions by Governors were recorded.
It also resolved to condemn interference in Congress council election, noting that Governors have no business controlling the state councils of Congress. It also resolved to set up caretaker committees in Osun, Ebonyi and Imo.
Meanwhile, the CWC, in pursuance of the provisions of Congress constitution, setted up statutory committees including the May Day Committee.
According to the CWC, after reviewing the performance of the Labour Party, at the just concluded presidential and National Assembly elections, the Union resolved to contribute to rebuilding and repositioning the party by sensitising workers and other Nigerians.
"There were national protest actions in Abia and Imo states over nonpayment of salaries/ allowances and pensions for several months, nonremittance of check-off dues and other anti- union activities.
"Reviewing the performance of the actions, it was noted that Abia State Government has signed an agreement with Congress pending full implementation of the agreement.
The Union stated that in Imo, however, the action was on-going as more unions are poised to fold in from as the issues are multi-sectoral and include the following:
According to the CWC, the refusal to implement previous agreements reached between the state government and trade unions since 2021 an the 20 months salary arrears owed to some workers stigmatized as ghost workers and Declaration of 1 1,000 workers in the state as ghost workers and diversion of their salaries even when they were regularly at work are troubling issues of consideration.
It also frowned at the vandalisation of Congress office and equipment by hoodlums recruited by the state government; Implementation of discriminatory pay and institutionalisation of apartheid in monthly payments, refusal to pay eight years arrears of gratuities owed retirees and None appropriate implementation of the national minimum wage laws.
"Harassment, intimidation and brutalisation of trade union leaders in the state; Intimidation of workers in the state; Continuous disregard for Collective Bargaining and Social Dialogue; Violent interference and disruption of the Congress Delegates Conference in Governor's bid to impose his favoured candidates are not proper.
"The CWC asked the Inspector General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Security to direct their officers and men in the state not to lend themselves to the nefarious activities and nihilistic tendencies of the Governor as that could lead to the escalation of the conflict with the state.
"The CWC similarly also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call the Governor of the state, Senator Hope Uzodinma to order for his SERIAL acts of physical and social violence which have led to the deaths of not a few, adding that an unmoderated Uzodinma was a recipe for anarchy." The communique reads.
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