Mixed Reactions as Labour Suspends Strike

Mixed reactions have trailed the suspension of the planned  industrial action called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to protest the recent hike in electricity tariff and fuel pump price.

The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress did suspend the strike scheduled to commence today yesterday following an agreement reached with the Federal Government at a meeting which started at 8.30pm on Sunday and ended at 2:50am Monday morning.

Minister of Labour and Employment Christ Ngige who earlier revealed that after exhaustive deliberations on the issues raised by the labour centres, the meeting agreed to suspend the application of the cost-reflective electricity tariff adjustments for two weeks.

The removal of subsidy had led to an increase in electricity tariff from about N30.23 to about N62.33 per kwh, while the price of petrol was increased from about N145 to about N161 per litre.

The labour unions gave the government two weeks to implement the agreement otherwise it would declare industrial action and call out workers to protest.

However, some Nigerians, however, decried the suspension of the planned strike.In Lagos State, the labour leader expressed dismay that the leadership continues to make the Minister of Labour make fool of workers.

Members of labour in Edo, Lagos and Ogun states could not hide their disappointment as they expressed anger that the leadership, who represented them at the meeting with the Federal Government, failed to give members fair representation.

Also In Benin City, protesters led by the former presidential candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP), Dr. Osagie Obayuwana and the state NLC chairman Mr. Sunny Osayande, assembled at the King’s Square (Ring Road) and bore placards with inscriptions such as “No to electricity hike”, “No to fuel hike”, “Kill corruption” amongst others, even as they attacked the government for the increase the prices.

The Joint Action Front (JAF) and Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB),  In Oyo State, also, staged a peaceful protest in Ibadan against labour’s decision.

The protest, which began from the NLC secretariat in Ibadan, moved through Agodi-Gate, Oje, Yemetu and terminated at Government Secretariat.

Social media users also expressed their concerns regarding the suspension

Labour is nt serious yet. So they didn't demand for a cut on salaries,emoluments & allowance of political leaders? No cut on no of aides? They didn't demand for a stop to the subsidizing of political leaders in terms of us paying for rent, food, fuel etc. No, we are not ready.

— Emeka Anene (@martmekus) September 28, 2020

I won't talk again about labour,I stopped believing them since Oshio baba sold out and jumped into politics.
Anyways,I still will not agitate against deregulation of the petroleum industry, I supported it in 2012 and I still feel it is the way to go.

— Izuchi Enyinnaya (@isuzu2017) September 28, 2020

Organized labour has just failed woefully. Nothing tangible was agreed, and why was the government Representatives not led by the president? @WabbaAyuba you have played and rubbished again by this insincere government or has something changed hands? I'm just asking sha

— milkyboy Nwachinemere (@Michael99789284) September 28, 2020

However, the All Progressive Congress  (APC) and the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) commended the decision to call off the strike.

What is your take regards labour’s suspension of the application of the cost-reflective electricity tariff adjustments for two weeks?