By Joseph Edegbo :
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC has vowed to reject and resist the planned increase in the pump price of petrol by the Federal Government, describing it as extremely insensitive to the acute hardship being experienced by Nigerian workers and people
It therefore advices the Federal Government to promote local capacity to refine petroleum products for domestic use;
A communique issued at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja, the NLC said it would organize Protest Rallies in all the 36 States of the Federation on 27th January 2022 which would culminate in the submission of protest letters to all the 36 State Governors.
Subsequently, a National Protest will take place on 1st February 2022 in Abuja.
The communique which was signed by the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wanna and Emmanuel Ugboaja said in case government decides to announce new petrol prices before the proposed protests, the protest will kick off instantly and without any other further notice in evestate of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory
While the communique condemned the soaring inflation, increase siege of insecurity, privatisation/ concession of many public assets in the country, the NLC demands Buhari to sign the 2021 Electoral Amendment Bill into law.
It noted with concern the hyper-inflation in the prices of basic goods and services, especially essential commodities including cooking gas and building materials such as cement.
It urged the government to adopt effective economic policies
to halt the inflationary trend as it presents additional pressure on the lean income of Nigerian workers and other citizens, explaining that it has made life terribly unbearable for the poor masses of our country.
“c. Insecurity
The NEC Reasoned:
– That the crises of insecurity in Nigeria has continued to deteriorate since its last meeting; and
– That the parlous state of insecurity apart from scaring away potential local and foreign investors from the Nigerian economy has also unleashed an unquantifiable social
dislocation and crisis in the country including food insecurity, widespread hunger and mass destitution.
“The NEC, in light of the foregoing, RESOLVED
a. The Federal Government should consider the recommendations and policy initiatives gleaned from the NLC National Summit on Peace and Security and National Roundtable on Social Protection Cover in developing a National Plan of Action against Insecurity in Nigeria; and
“. The Federal Government should adopt a multistakeholder approach and innovative non-kinetic intervention model towards a achieving a sustainable solution to the crises of insecurity in Nigeria.
d. Industrial Concerns
“The NEC Noted:
– The Plans by the National Assembly and Nigeria Customs Service to introduce excise duties on carbonated drinks manufactured in Nigeria;
That such plans will only exacerbate the prevailing hyperinflation of essential goods especially food consumables, lead to decline in sales, job losses in the food sub-sector and increased hardship for ordinary Nigerians.
– Plans for the privatization of Nigeria’s railways, public healthcare facilities and concession of Nigeria’s major international airports.
The NEC, therefore, RESOLVED:
” That the executive arm of government at the federal level
and the National Assembly should work together with Organized Labour and manufacturers in the sub-sector for a win-win solution;
“That plans to privatize and concession prime national assets would be tantamount to ‘State Capture’ of the commonwealth. The NEC urged government and promoters of the privatization and concession plans to learn from the misadventure of the power sector
privatization which instead of improving the lives of the ordinary Nigerian have increased the level of suffering and hardship faced by the Nigerian masses; and
“. To REJECT the concession of Nigeria’s four major airports and the privatization of Nigeria’s prime national assets including the Transmission Company of Nigeria and other assets billed through legislative actions for privatization
e. Electoral Reform
The NEC Considered:
-” The current push for broader electoral reform especially with
respect to recent demands by the Congress for President
“Muhammadu Buhari to sign into law the 2021 Electoral Act
Amendment Bill passed by the National Assembly; and
” The CWC considers the provisions in the 2021 Electoral Act
“Amendment Bill especially the provisions for electronic
voting and direct political party primaries as progressive and
capable of delivering inclusive, transparent and credible
elections in Nigeria.
“The NEC, therefore, RESOLVED
– To call on President Muhammadu Buhari to pass the 2021 Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law particularly given that he has less than 2 days to sign the bill into law; and – To call for even broader and deeper electoral reform including the establishment of Electoral Offences Commission, the democratization of the appointment of the national leadership of the INEC, the adoption of Proportional
Representation in our laws and Diaspora Voting.
f. Charter of Demands by Nigerian Workers
The NEC ADOPTED:
– The Charter of demands by Nigerian Workers which core thrusts include the demands for basic social, economic and political rights that fulfil the ideals of citizenship,
improve the lot of the working class and actualize the dream of nationhood.
Actualizing the thrusts of the Charter would facilitate the conferring of decency and dignity to the average Nigerian worker and citizen in line with the provisions of Chapter 2 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution:
Guarantee of quality and affordable healthcare as a fundamental right of every Nigerian and a core justiciable
responsibility of the State. Provisions to be made for the attainment of Universal Health Coverage for every Nigerian.
– Free and quality primary-junior secondary education. Wellrounded and affordable public senior secondary and tertiary education. Free technical and vocational training for Nigerian youths desirous for a career in artisanal trade.
– Efficient, responsible and sustainable, extraction, refining,
processing and marketing of all of Nigeria’s natural resources
“in ways that maximizes value chain potentials, enhances technological development and fosters inclusive growth.
-” Government should ensure the creation of an enabling environment for the development of a robust local economy, stable Naira, and industrialization for creation of mass jobs.
– Guarantee of the right to life, physical safety and welfare of every Nigerian must be undertaken as the primary responsibility of government. must be protected at all times.
– Promotion of effective social protection cover for Nigerian
workers and vulnerable segments of the population especially the poorest of the poor, the youth, the disabled,
women and other vulnerable groups in our country.
“- Evolution of inclusive and transparent electoral system
“The NEC pursuant to actualizing the Charter of Demands, RESOLVED
-” That the Congress would convene a National Retreat for its
Leadership on Engagement with Partisan Politics in the third
week of January 2022 in Abuja.
