FG vs labour: Nigerians react to NLC’s call for citizens to join nationwide protest

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As the clock ticks towards the proposed nationwide protest and strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress which begins tomorrow, CHRISTIAN APPOLOS presents the position of a cross section of Nigerians on the issue. Excerpts.

Ogungbemi Olubolade, pharmacist: NLC should go on strike or protest

Strike is a legal tool to press home demands. So, I think the NLC should go on strike or protest. We cannot allow anybody to hold us to ransom. However, has the labour done its homework and ready to sustain the action? After one week, will it be able to sustain it? While I fully support the proposed action, I equally beg NLC and its members not to make mockery of themselves by starting but not sustaining it.

Razaq Sanni, university non-academic staff: The action ought to have started

I think the strike is even coming a little too late because the Nigeria Labour Congress ought to have stated either strike or protest before now. This government started by giving it very hot to Nigerians. They didn’t even allow us to take a breath of air before dishing out policies that are worsening our living condition. However, I am really in support of strike or protest. It is better late than never. Meanwhile, labour should ensure they have done everything expected of them in their ongoing negotiation with government. If truly the government is being recalcitrant on coming up with implementable solution, I think the strike will help them to start thinking straight.

John Ameh, investigative journalist: NLC’s decision is in order

NLC’s decision to embark on protest is in order. The government cannot continue to make promises it is not willing to fulfill. Also, deploying the court to thwart strikes is an illegality. The court cannot become an instrument of oppression as is often the case because once strikes are forestalled through the courts, the government goes back to sleep and does nothing to ameliorate or address the concerns and hardship of workers and citizens at large.

The judiciary should stop issuing orders stopping strike in the country. The history is there that often the government deploys the court to stop strike.

The issue at hand affects everyone not just the civil servants. The entire Nigerian citizens should join this NLC’s industrial action. Every Nigerian should join the action to register their displeasure over government’s nonchalance to addressing the problems that have risen as a result to fuel subsidy removal. To me, the action is a crusade to compel the government to begin to take concrete action to cushion the effect of the policy. As citizens, we have a duty to let the government know that it cannot continue to make policies that deepen poverty in the country.

Okezie Cosmas, businessman: NLC is mouthpiece of Nigerians

I believe that NLC’s proposed action is among the best actions that should be taken by workers and Nigerians at this time. Nigerians should also brace up to take more actions to put government in check. Nigerian citizens have been too quiet to successive governments and government is really taking the citizens for granted. The living condition of almost every Nigerian is tough and getting worse while our government officials live large. So far, the policies of the current administration are not favourable at all.

I think the protest is our best chance to mount pressure on the government to make a change. Nigerians feel NLC is the voice of the people and we are banking on the NLC to make a move.

Some people may think or feel that labour unions are fighting for the interest of their members alone but the truth is that the NLC is fighting for the interest of the generality of the citizens. I feel if the citizens join hands with the NLC, definitely we will achieve more. We cannot leave this fight for the NLC alone because all the citizens are affected by the fallout of the hike in price of fuel.

Adamu Muhammed, civil servant: Every Nigerian should join the protest

Considering the reality on ground, the NLC is right by insisting on protest. In fact, strike is better since it is obvious that the government is not proffering any tangible solution. The government of today ought to realise that Nigerians are wiser though they are very patient. So, NLC embarking on protest is a welcome development. In fact, Nigerians have been expecting it.

We are in a serious problem in Nigeria right now and everybody is suffering. Therefore, businessowners and private organisations should join the industrial action. There should be a road demonstration by all Nigerians to let government know that the citizens are not happy. We need actions that will make the government understand our situation. Let’s shut down every economic activity in the country for just a day or two; it will help our collective interest.

Daniel, journalist: NLC should not disappoint Nigerians this time

The government’s attitude and action since the pronouncement of end to fuel subsidy removal, to pump price hike within a month and the news of tuition fees increase in public schools call for serious action by workers and Nigerians. So, NLC’s proposed protest is in order. Meanwhile, the NLC should from here onward be very sincere in what they do. I warn that NLC must ensure the protest holds. It should not be the usual noisemaking of embarking on strike but at the expected day, they do otherwise. I really believe that action against the policies that cause the suffering and hardship we face now will send a strong message to the government and probably trigger a change.

Meanwhile, Nigerians should back NLC. If truly Nigerians are suffering, their best choice then is to join the action.

Oyewale Olaogun, businessman: The action is long overdue; I will be on the streets

I support the NLC on this industrial action. In fact, the action is long overdue. To many Nigerians, NLC has been avoiding either going on strike or embarking on a serious protest against the Federal Government since Buhari’s administration. At a point we the citizens thought NLC was getting kickbacks from the government. It is said that strike or protest is the only language the government understands, so, it is high time workers and Nigerians stormed the streets and let government know that survival of the citizens should be their priority.

Ita Edet Okon, public servant: It will force the government sit up

The action will make the government to sit up and it will probably bring a positive solution to cushion the effect of the suffering and hardship we are currently going through in Nigeria. So, I support NLC’s decision for street protest and I will join the action.

Meanwhile, Nigerians should wake up from their slumber and support the NLC by joining the protest. It is time for Nigerians to begin to demand and bring about the change they want. We cannot be sitting in the comfort of our homes, suffering but wishing for change and a better Nigeria; it will never happen. We must take action to let the government know that we are not foolish or stupid.

Since the advent of this current pump price hike, businesses are closing down and most companies are retrenching workforce. More businesses will shut down if the situation continues. How many workers do the government employ in a year? We all know that it is the private businesses that employ the bulk of the country’s population and government policies are rather causing businesses to shut down, how do they want the citizens who are being retrenched every day to cope? Therefore, I see NLC’s call for Nigerians to join the action as a call for national duty for the betterment of Nigeria.

Joshua Onoshoho, interior designer: It is a step in the right direction

NLC is right to challenge government’s poverty-driven policies. It is a step in right direction because the government needs to be checked. With the level of hardship and inflation Nigerians endured in the eight years of Buhari’s administration, Nigerians expected to take at least a little rest as the new government came in. But unfortunately what we are seeing is worse. We expected policy shift from this government. Without a serious action, we may wake up one day to see that fuel is sold at N1,000 per litre.

NLC’s decision to challenge government to do the right thing in the interest of the survival of the citizens is the best news the suffering masses have heard so far. Nigerians are already pushed beyond the walls. I hope the government will be able to withstand the reaction of the citizens, because the suffering and poverty in Nigeria may lead to serious revolt.

Nigerians should heed the call of NLC and join the action. Everybody is feeling the hardship. People can hardly go out with their cars. Nobody needs to be told what is happening. In fact sit-at-home is already happening across Nigeria because a lot of people cannot move around because of high transportat fees.

It is time for Nigerians to be on the streets. The middle class is moving down to poverty line while the people already in poverty line are moving to extreme poverty. Nigeria is in a serious crisis. The citizens must wake up and take action.

Felix Khanoba, public affairs analyst: The issue is beyond organised labour, citizens must wake up

Strike or a serious protest is what we need right now because everybody in Nigeria is passing through unbearable hardship as a result of government policies. As it is right now, Nigerians cannot afford to be too soft to the government. A total shutdown of economic activities, either through protest or strike, will send a serious message to the government. The action will also help wake Nigerians up from the slumber of thinking that manna will always fall from heaven without demand or action for it. It is time for Nigerians to begin action to check government. It is obvious that government takes Nigerians for granted because no one has taken any serious action.

The issue at hand has gone beyond the organised labour because even non-workers, people on the street, villagers, farmers, students, everybody is feeling the situation. We are going to the same market, the same public transport. So, everybody must join hands. It has to be a collective action and effort to hold the government accountable. Nigerians should not just depend on the labour to do it for us; everyone should come out to support the labour on the protest against government’s bad policies.

Abdulmalik Hassan, medical doctor: Industrial action has become a necessity

The proposed action is very necessary because the way the government removed the subsidy and the consequences that followed is totally unacceptable. Government took the action without anything on the ground for people to fall back to. Prices of goods and services have gone up but salaries are still the same. This has watered down the purchasing power of the citizens. The hardship that has followed is unbearable. With all of these happening, the best action is for workers and Nigerians at large to hit the streets. We must make government know and understand the enormity of the suffering and hardship.

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