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Home |   About Us |   Contact Us |   Members |   Search |   Subscribe |   Disclaimer |   THE GUARDIAN CONSCIENCE, NURTURED BY TRUTH LAGOS, NIGERIA.     Friday, June 11 2004   news   editorial/opinion   politics & people   focus/record   business   sports   metro   capital market   weekend   golf weekly   Guardian Chat Click to join the chatroom Sokoto NLC opts out as leather workers, ex-NULGE chief oppose strike From Seun Adeoye, (Osogbo) and Kehinde Akinrolabu, (Lagos) A S organised Labour continued its battle against the increase in fuel prices, dissenting voices have emerged from its camp, condemning frequent strikes backed by the workers movement. Dr. Oyebade Olowogboyega, the immediate past president of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), said the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) lacked moral credibility to lead the people in the ongoing action. Also, the Sokoto State chapter of the NLC and the National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and non-Metalic Products Employees (NECFRLANMPE) opposed the strike. Olowogboyega, who was also the governorship candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP) in Osun State, said the Adams Oshiomhole-led NLC has failed in its responsibility and should not expect any positive results from the current strike. Delivering a public lecture titled "An Emerging Democracy: A Case Study of Nigeria" in Osogbo, on Wednesday, Olowogboyega expressed disgust at the several strikes embarked upon by the NLC since the inception of democratic rule, saying not all the actions were justified. The NLC, according to him, should cover its face in shame because the same congress published full-page advertisements in several newspapers canvassing votes for President Olusegun Obasanjo's second term. He queried: "What informed the campaign and endorsement of a presidential candidate by the Congress without verifying the manifestoes of the candidates What caused the love-lost between Labour and government "I have to declare that the victory of Obasanjo in 2003 election was perfected by the NLC and it was the first time in history that Labour would not demand or vet the manifesto of a candidate before he was universally adopted." According to him, the NLC voice was only being heard when fuel prices were increased, whereas there were other begging issues that the congress has kept mute on. He said: "Labour creates wealth, no doubt, but an emerging democracy cannot withstand protracted industrial crises. The truth must be told that there is no successful democracy anywhere in the world where Labour is as militant as this. "Do you know that Labour could achieve more by mobilising the control of the personalities elected into the National Assembly, rather than rely on powers of strikes and other industrial unrest ", he queried. The former NULGE chief further asked: "What has Labour done to present an alternative democratic agenda for the Nigerian State What has the NLC done with the political party it registered with INEC How many candidates vied for positions under the Labour Party " The state NLC chairman, Alhaji Garba Liman, announced the withdrawal of the state workers from the strike on Tuesday, when he visited the Sultan of Sokoto, Dr. Muhammadu Maccido. "We decided to take this action in Sokoto State because of the request of his Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto. This is the first time he is making such a request," Liman said. He, however, said that the action would be communicated to the NLC national leadership. Maccido had appealed to NLC in the state not to join the strike as it might be hijacked by some unscrupulous people to cause a breach of the peace. "The ugly developments in Plateau and other parts of Nigeria are still fresh in our minds," Maccido said. Dialogue, he said, should be used to negotiate the impasse. According to Mr. Peter Asaban, the General Secretary of the NUCFRLANMPE, there have been five nationwide strikes since 1999, the results of which did not enhance the nation's interest. He spoke at a press briefing in Ikeja, Lagos on Tuesday, saying strike was not appropriate means of curtailing the high prices of fuel. He added: "How many Nigerians can afford to feed themselves for three days without working not to mention 21 days The strike would do well-meaning Nigerians no good". Asaban said the matter was beyond Oshiomhole "The matter is beyond the NLC. Our union's intention is to appeal to Nigerians not to create an avenue for bloodbath and we mean the shedding of innocent blood. It is not everybody that can stock food at home," he stated. Asaban added that the nation still had a long way to go and President Olusegun Obasanjo was doing his best, although this was not enough. He urged Nigerians not to support strikes because according to him every strike becomes a problem, which does not resolve the problem it is meant to solve. � 2003 - 2004 @ Guardian Newspapers Limited (All Rights Reserved).  Powered by dnetsystems.net dnet�

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