Labour/Civil Society - TAKE OFF POINT FOR MASS PROTEST IN ABUJA

ANNOUNCEMENT ABUJA RESIDENTS! THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS (NLC), TRADE UNION CONGRESS (TUC) AND CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS INFORMS THE PUBLIC THAT BERGER ROUNDABOUT IS THE MEETING POINT FOR THE ANTI-FUEL PRICE INCREASE MASS PROTESTS EVERYDAY AT 8AM FROM MONDAY JANUARY 9, 2012. BE THERE AT BERGER ROUNDABOUT! Signed: Labour/Civil Society Coalition

Press Statement PRESIDENT JONATHAN’S BROADCAST DOES NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUES

7^th January, 2012

  

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) listened to President Goodluck Jonathan’s broadcast to the nation  tonight.

The speech is undoubtedly due to the resistance of Nigerians to the unreasonable increase in PMS (petrol) prices and the planned national strikes scheduled to begin on Monday January 9, 2012.  So the Presiden having to address Nigerians, is the first gain of the planned protests.

But the President’s address follows the pattern of other documents (like the SURE Programme) by his administration; long in rhetorics and short on basic issues.  For instance, the major anchor of the broadcast is that salaries of political office holders are to be cut by 25 per cent.  But he failed to tell us how much this will amount to. Is this a mere symbolic gesture or a fundamental contribution to economic recovery?

He also talked about his administration holding meetings with transporters to reduce fares.  We see this as a populist statement that has no foundation in reality.  If a transporter who used to buy petrol at N65 per litre now buys it between N141 and N220, what appeal can be made to him not to increase his fares by a high percentage?  How do you “deregulate” the economy and hope to regulate transport fares by private operators?

In any case, transport fare is just one of the items that shot up. Prices of basic commodities like food have also increased, and there is a fuel price hike-engineered hyper inflation in the country.

The President should have reversed the price of PMS to N65 which would have automatically reduced rising tension in the country.

The President also promised the completion   of rail lines and infusion of buses in to the transport system.  It is like putting the chart before the horse; these measures should have been put in place before the astronomical increase in petrol price.

We reiterate that Nigerians cannot afford the high fuel prices and will not accept the hyper inflation this misguided policy has created.

President Jonathan lost a great opportunity in his broadcast by sticking to his guns; that the unreasonable increase in fuel prices will remain.

The Labour Movement and its allies on behalf of the Nigerian populace reiterate that the broadcast has changed nothing and that the indefinite strikes, rallies and mass protests scheduled to commence nationwide on Monday 9^thJanuary, 2012 will go on.

The will of the Nigerian people must prevail over that of any government in power.

Owei Lakemfa                                                        John Kolawole

NLC Acting General Secretary                             TUC Secretary  General

WHAT A WORLD!

"THOSE THE GODS WANTS TO DESTROY, THEY FIRST MAKE MAD"...WOLE SOYINKA.

Nigeria is a funny country and Nigerians are the most funniest people.

Some people feel that they can eat their cake and have it whole and back. But that is just not possible.

Nigerian people are no more "sidon dey look" and inactive anymore we have waken up from our slumbers and are watching. Those that did the right thing will be rewarded not just in heaven but here on earth also and those that didn't perform will be discarded. Those that stood on the platform of the people and also stood for the people would be supported by the people, but the ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE WILL PAY AND EVEN WITH THEIR LIVES.

The Edo state governor, that all through his tenure as the President of the NLC had stood for the people and fought against oil pump increase. And that alone won him the popularity he enjoys now. He was the people's man and also the people's governor. And the people stood and fought for him when he was cheated out of his right by the PDP. The PDP which he now supports.

But this same people's man and governor has turned his back on those who made him who and what he is today, by siding up with the anti-people party PDP. He now claimed that NLC, the platform that he used massively to fight the Federal Government of Nigeria, wants to destroy Nigeria by declaring Nationwide strike and protest, of which he was the master. Just like all anti-people leaders, he had just signed away the love, respect, worship and strength of the people.He had forgotten that he still has an election in front of him and that he will want the people to come out and cast their votes for him. This will be very much impossible. His love party, PDP will effectively rig the election just like they did the first time and no-one will even blink an eye at his direction.

After PDP would have effectively dealt with him, they would discard him, just like a waste bin is discarded off.

If you are reading these, Comrade Governor, know that you are now a disappointment to your people all over the Nation that once sang your praise.

If the people of Edo state had not started yet, they will stone you, abuse you and even curse the ground you passed through.

Press Statement NIGERIANS SHOULD IGNORE ANY BLACK MARKET INJUNCTION

6^th January, 2012

Press Statement

NIGERIANS SHOULD IGNORE ANY BLACK MARKET  INJUNCTION

There are rumours circulating that the desperate Jonathan administration has purchased a black market injunction possibly from the National Industrial Court (NIC). The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is not aware of any such injunction, we were not served any paper of court appearance, we were not present in court nor were we represented in any capacity. Also, the NLC was not served any court summons nor were we served any court order.

The cretins in the Jonathan administration imagine that by seeking to drag the judiciary in the mud, they can avert the general strikes, rallies and mass protests that will begin on Monday 9^th January, 2012.  They cannot make the simple analysis that the whole populace is angry and that Nigerians do not need any group to ask them to protest an evil policy that seeks to impoverish them.

The NLC asks Nigerians to ignore this childish ploy and rumour; there is no going back on next week’s protests and shutdown.

The issue of the strikes, protests and against an obnoxious policy, is not and industrial relations one; it is not between an employer and an employee. Rather it is one between the Nigerian People versus the Jonathan Government.

So if the issue was taken before the National Industrial Court, then it is the wrong place to shop for a black market injunction. To obtain an injunction from a court that has no competent jurisdiction is to try playing ping pong with the judiciary.

Labour reiterates that the constitutional and fundamental right of Nigerians to protest cannot be annulled.

The NLC asks Nigerians to ignore such rumours; the strikes, mass rallies and protests will go on as scheduled.  The NLC advises the Jonathan administration to listen to the people or face their justifiable wrath.

 

Owei Lakemfa

Acting General Secretary

NLC CONDEMNS INVASION BY GOVERNMENT THUGS AND DEPLOYMENT OF PRESIDENTIAL GUARDS IN ABUJA

6th January, 2012 The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) condemns the invasion of its Secretariat, Labour House, Abuja by thugs right under the noses of the police.  The thugs numbering about seventy who were hired by government agents, later apologized for their action claiming that they were not told they were being brought to the NLC.  They revealed that they were promised One Thousand Naira (N1,000) each to carry out the invasion. Subsequently, they forced the agents that brought them to pay the N1,000 fee right in the presence of the cameras. The aim of the invasion was to cause a fracas and claim that workers are divided over the issue of fuel price increase.  It is instructive that while the invasion was on, the FCT Police Command ignored calls by NLC officers to come and escort the thugs out of the Labour premises.  Also, the heavily armed security men who had condoned off parst of the NTA Link Road where Labour Hosue is situated,,  did nothing to stop the invaders.  The NLC views this incident as another desperate attempt by the increasingly isolated and unpopular Jonathan administration to stop the mass movement against its insensitive and ridiculous fuel price increases of between 120-220 per cent. The Militarization of Abuja As part of its desperate moves to abort the peoples mass protests and intimidate Nigerians, the Presidency this morning turned out heavily armed units of the Presidential guards.  The troops blocked roads, condoned off parts of the city, harrassed and frisked passersby. We condemn this “show of force” designed to intimidate peace loving Nigerians.  The NLC also condemns this misuse of the army and warn that the police and armed forces are citizens like the rest of us who are equally affected by the negative impacts of the fuel price hike, and should therefore not be taken for granted. The Labour Movement specifically ask Abuja residents to hold demonstrations in  various parts of the city and its surburbs, and march to the city centre  by 8am from Monday 9th January, 2012 Ignore Propaganda on Fuel Price Reversal Fraudulent text messages were sent around this morning claiming that Government had reverted PMS (Petrol) price back to N65 and that on the strength of this, Labour had called off the general strike, rallies and mass protests which commence on Monday 9th January, 2012.  Another text message claims thatt he strike and commencement dates have been shifted.  There is no truth in these claims.  The NLC informs Nigerians that on this issue of strikes and protests, only statements or messages from the Labour Movement should be taken as authentic. We reiterate that the right of Nigerians to peaceful assembly and protest is a fundamental one which no government can abridge.  The NLC will work with the patriotic Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) to bring those who brutalize Nigerians, and their bosses who issue the orders, to justice. Owei Lakemfa Acting General Secretary

OFFICIAL PRESS STATEMENT BY THE NLC ON THE RUMOURED DIALOGUE

 

PRESS STATEMENT

PETROL PRICE HIKE: NO DIALOGUE WITH GOVERNMENT

 

The attention of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has been drawn to stories planted on the internet today that the leadership of the Labour Movement was meeting with some government officials on issue of increase in fuel prices.

 

This is an absolute falsehood.  Labour leaders are busy mobilising for the  indefinite strike action and mass protests which commence from Monday 9^th January 2012, and have no time for frivolous, unsustainable and unproductive ‘dialogue’ with the Presidency or any of its Dialogue Committees.

 

We see these stories of “meetings” with the Federal Government as mischievous and part of government’s strategy to break the fuel  hike protest. 

 

We restate categorically that the Labour Movement has no intention to hold any discussion with the Federal Government or any of its officials on the issue of increases in petrol prices until the price is reverted to N65 per litre to allow for a level playing field.

 

We call on workers and the Nigerian people to ignore all such stories and remain focused and committed to participate actively in the general strikes, mass rallies and street protests starting from Monday 9^th January, 2012.

 

Alleged Marketers Funding of Protests

Our attention has also been drawn to reports in the media that same oil marketers were funding the general strike and mass

protests against the excessive increase in petrol prices. These reports which are planted in the media by the Presidency are a desperate ploy to divert attention from the mass protests.

 

We wish to state categorically that no oil marketer or any individual can fund a protest of the working people.  The negative impact of the increase in petrol prices is there to see; astronomical rise in the cost of transportation, school fees, medical bills, food and services.  The Nigerian people, unlike those in government are independent minded and cannot be bought by any group be they marketers, the IMF or World Bank.

 

The NLC advises the Jonathan administration to wake up to the reality that Nigerians are resolved to resist its punitive policies and are determined to reclaim their country from those who are intent on bringing it down.

 

The Presidency’s Buses

The Presidency yesterday announced that it is importing 1,600 buses to cushion the effects of its inhuman hike in the price of petrol.  First, we think it is a false claim as the buses in question refer to those being imported by Trade Union Congress (TUC).

 

Secondly, the announcement is laughable because if divided by the 774 Local Governments in the country, it amounts to 2 buses per Local Government.  Thirdly, one would have thought that the Presidency would put these “cushioning effects” in place before the unreasonable hike in petrol price.

 

 

Owei Lakemfa,

Acting General Secretary.

JOINT COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE EMEGERGENCY MEETING OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCILS OF THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS AND THE TRADE UNION CONGRESS OF NIGERIA

In Defence of the Nigerian People on Fuel Price Increases!

Joint Communiqué of the Emergency Meeting of the National Executive Councils of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) Held on Wednesday 4^th January, 2012.

The National Executive Councils of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) took place today, Wednesday 4^th January, 2012.

The NLC and TUC noted that:

The Presidency announced the removal of petroleum subsidy and adjusted upward, the pump price of petrol on 1^st January, 2012 even when it claimed it was consulting Nigerians.

Due to this upward review of prices, the pump price for petrol is now selling for between N141 and N200 per litre nation-wide rather than N65. This prohibitive increase in price of PMS once again confirms the position of Labour that deregulation to this government means incessant price increase of a strategic product (petrol) that impact on cost of living, cost of production and the general well-being of increasingly impoverish Nigerians.

The immediate generalized negative impact of this price increase on transport cost, food, drugs, schools fees, rents, indicate that government is totally wrong to underestimate the impact assessment of the so-called  deregulation policy.

Due to the untoward hardship workers and other Nigerians are experiencing based on excessive increase in petrol prices,  there have been sporadic protests by Nigerians in at least 10 cities;

These protests, which are peaceful have witnessed the use of unprecedented force by the Police leading to harassment, intimidation, arrests and the murder of a protester.

There is a subsisting understanding between Congress and the Federal government in 2009 that removal of subsidy will not commence until certain conditions have been met. These include the fixing of all the refineries and building new ones, regular power supply, and provision of other social infrastructure such as railways and repairs of roads as well as eliminating the corruption associated with supply and distribution of petroleum products in the downstream sector of the oil industry;

After exhaustive deliberations and consultations with all sections of the populace, the NLC, TUC and their pro-people allies demand that the Presidency immediately reverses fuel prices to N65.  If the Government fails to do so, they direct that indefinite general strikes, mass rallies and street protests be held across the country with effect from Monday 9^th January, 2012.

From that Monday, 9^th January 2012 date, all offices, oil production centres, air and sea ports, fuel stations, markets, banks, amongst others will be shut down.

We advise Nigerians to stockpile basic needs especially food and water.

We call on all Nigerians to participate actively in this movement to rescue our country. The emphasis is on peaceful protests, rallies and strikes while refusing to be intimidated.  Labour calls on the police, armed forces and other security agencies to reject orders that they turn their weapons on fellow Nigerians.  We warn that anybody who does so, will be individually brought to justice.

The primary objective of this patriotic call and movement is to revert PMS price to N65, restore normalcy and reclaim Nigeria for Nigerians.

No Retreat!

No Surrender!!

Forward Ever!!!

 

 

Abdulwahed I. Omar                    Peter Esele

President, NLC                         President, TUC