Gbenro Adesina
Some Nigerians and civil society organisations have expressed disappointment over the last-minute suspension of the planned nationwide strike action by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) earlier scheduled for September 28, 2020.
Many of them described the suspension of the planned action as a betrayal, saying that the Labour Unions did not represent the interest of Nigerians while taking the decision to put off the strike action as none of their requests were met.
Following the increase in the prices of petrol and electricity tariff by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, the Labour Unions had vowed to lead Nigerians in protest and indefinite strike action to condemn the move by the government.
However, the strike was suspended after a late-night meeting on Sunday with a federal government team at the presidential villa in Abuja.
Reacting, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) said it was not disappointed that the Nigerian labour unions bowed at the last minute: “as usual as it has long become their trademark”.
The body in a statement by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu said: “We expected that this would happen and that was why the CNPP opted to rally civil society movements across the country.
“We are monitoring the situation and rejigging our plans in view of the now obvious reality that the ordinary citizens who cannot travel to Abuja are on their own.
“In the last five years, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have remained toothless bulldogs and compromised arm of the federal government of Nigeria.
“The suffering masses who believed the labour unions can now continue to suffer, while all voices are shut.
“Following the current compromise and sell out, we advise Nigerians never to take the Labour unions seriously until there is a rebirth when these current leaders of the unions are gone.
“We join the Nigerian people to clearly declare that we have completely lost confidence in the current leaders of the labour unions in Nigeria.
“For them, getting “palliatives” for the unions is all they want while the masses can continue to suffer.
“The CNPP calls on all Nigerians not to lose hope in the country. There will be light at the end of the tunnel.”
Also, the Coalition of Civil Society groups in Kaduna state led by Comrade Joseph Atumaka expressed shock, saying that Nigerians must stop waiting for labour to act on their behalf.
