There was palpable fear and tension in Abuja, on Friday, as the organised labour intensified its strategy to mobilise workers and Nigerians for the strike and mass rally against the removal of fuel subsidy.

The Nigeria Labour Congress asked the people to be prepared, saying the battle would be fight to the finish.

To ensure total success, the affiliates of the two labour centres, the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Friday, fine-tuned the combination of available communication processes to mobilise their members for the strike.

By presstime, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) were some of the unions that had effectively mobilised their members across the country to join the strike and mass rally.

A letter signed by SSANU President, Comrade Samson Ugwoke and titled; “Letter of authorisation to join the general declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC),” asked all members of the union to join the  strike in their respective jurisdictions.

The letter, addressed to all SSANU branch chairmen and members, was also copied to all Vice Chancellors of Nigerian universities, heads of inter-universities centres, the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC) and NLC Acting General Secretary.

The letter read, “SSANU, as a responsible affiliate of the Nigeria Labour Congress, is obligated to participate fully in the general strike/protests declared by the congress over the recent fuel price increase.

“This letter, therefore, authorises all SSANU branches and members to join the strike/protests in their respective jurisdictions. This is without prejudice to SSANU’s impending ultimatum over the non-implementation of the 2009 FGN/SSANU agreement, which expires on the 3rd of January, 2012. The National Secretariat will communicate to you our next line of action on the issue immediately after the NLC’s general strike.”

Speaking on the preparedness of the NLC and his union (SSANU), Comrade Ugwoke said: “We have met and sent the authority letters to all branches and all Nigerian universities and all university centres to comply fully with the indefinite strike and mass protest that will commence on Monday 9 Jan. 2012. So, we have mobilised our members across the country.

“Apart from the authority letters and with the attachment of NLC communiqué, we have also sent text messages to all chairmen, secretaries and treasurers that are NEC members of SSANU across the country. So we have mobilised our members and we are ready.”

Also, the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) directed its members to fully mobilise and support the movement.

A text message sent by NCSU General Secretary, Comrade Gerald Ukeni read: “All state councils of NCSU, are by this text, directed to mobilise our members to commence total strike with effect from Monday, January 9, 2012, ensure that during the period union offices are kept open for coordination; keep in touch with the national headquarters for further clarification. Aluta continua.”

The President of NCSU told Saturday Tribune that all civil servants would withdraw their services from Monday until their demand of fuel price reversal was met.

On the other hand, ASUP President, Comrade Chibuzo Asomugha called on members of the union to be on the alert for further directive saying, “we must stand up to be counted at this very critical time of our history as a nation.”

Meanwhile, the government has reportedly embarked on desperate moves to break the ranks of labour and its civil society groups as some groups emerged to organise a pro-fuel subsidy removal rally.

While pro-government groups, under the aegis of Women for Thisday and National Youth Movement for the Removal of Fuel Subsidy on Friday besieged the headquarters of the NLC to drum support for subsidy removal, the Road Transport Employers‘ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) declared support for the removal and dissociated itself from the planned strike.

Members of the Women for Thisday and Movement, numbering about 1,000, were allegedly sponsored by one Seeky Torughedi (alias Young Shall Grow) as revealed by a member of the group.

They arrived at the  NLC’s premises at about 10:25am, carrying placards with various inscriptions and were guarded by armed policemen.

Most of them were clad in white and yellow T-shirts, while some of their placards read, “support subsidy removal for transformation of Nigeria, “NLC, TUC please do not sabotage our economic good, let there be deregulation.”

In the meantime, security personnel have cordoned-off all the routes leading to the Eagle Square, around the three arms zone to prevent another protesting group from gaining access to the area.

In a five-paragraph statement, TREAN National President, Dr. Olufemi Ajewole, said it supported the removal and that it was organising a one-day pro-subsidy rally to show solidarity and support for the bold initiative taken by federal government.

Reacting, in a statement, the Acting General Secretary, Comrade Owei Lakemfa, said; “The thugs numbering about 70, who were hired by government agents, later apologised 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 fraca 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 chase the thugs out of the Labour premises.  Also, the heavily armed security men, who had condoned off part of the NTA Link Road where Labour Hosue is situated,  did nothing to stop the invaders.”

Comments (2)

Show/hide comments

Removal of fuel subsidy
written by Shamu, January 07, 2012

I am fully support of d strike due to so many reasons let me say our country is in "BRACKET"

• 
• +0
• 
• 

Re. Alternative measure for the FGN on oil subsidies
written by Murphy, January 07, 2012

I write to advice the FGN on where money could be taken in other to give life to the oil subsidies( if applicable) In a single sentence, may I suggest that, the FG slim down the robust earnings of the upper and lower legislative houses in other to save the whole nation? After all, from all parameters their income is above imagination and I would not like to talk about that here. Additionally, if the Govt, can effectively control the rate of fee fraud in our banks by politicians, so called business magnate with much affluence to power, and off cause frauds in ministries and Govt offices are whole more than sufficient to put smile in the face of our economy. Lastly, may I say that Mr . President should remain man enough and shun is evil political allies ?

• 
• +0
• 
• 

Show/hide comment form

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (registered users only)

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Add Comment