As Strike Against Fuel Price Hike is Suspended...
Labour Issues Fresh Ultimatum
By Chris Nwachuku and Nnamdi Duru
Labour served the Federal Government a fresh ultimatum yesterday to ensure wholesale return by fuel marketers to pre-January price levels, as it shelved its three-day-old industrial action.
According to Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who announced the strike suspension yesterday in Lagos, workers and the civil society groups would not hesitate to hit the trenches again if the government or marketers fail to sustain the Abuja Federal High Court order that the price levels be reversed, or if they engaged in measures that may create artificial scarcity.
Saying Labour had observed substantial compliance by marketers with the court order, Oshiomhole noted that some areas nationwide are yet to enjoy the benefit of the judicial verdict. He thus gave the Federal Government seven days to ensure full compliance by marketers nationwide or incur fresh backlash from Labour and its allies.
Justice Roseline Ukeje of the Federal High Court in Abuja had on Tuesday reaffirmed an earlier order by the court restraining NLC from going on strike, while price levels are to return to status quo, i.e. the levels before the increase on January 1, this year.
Global news reports yesterday indicated that crude oil prices on the international spot market dipped, in response to the news of labour's suspension of its strike.
Addressing a press conference yesterday, Oshiomhole said: "After an exhaustive discussion with the trade union centres, National Association of Nigeria Traders and human rights groups, we are aware that marketers have complied with the court order in major cities including Lagos and Abuja. We hereby suspend the strike. We are also aware that there are some areas that the marketers have not substantially complied with the order. We have resolved to give government seven days to ensure that the entire country obeys the order."
Yesterday's announcement of the strike suspension was preceded by a meeting of leaders of the three main labour centres and human rights organisations. The labour bodies are the NLC, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Congress of Free Trade Unions of Nigeria (CFTU). Dr. Beko Ransome Kuti and Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana, led the civil rights organisations.
Oshiomhole explained Labour's decision not to wait for government and marketers to fully comply with the court order before suspending the industrial action," saying: "We did not go on this strike against our people. We did carry out the action to protest the price. It was a battle also against dictatorship and arrogant approach that the government exhibited as if Nigerians do not matter again, or as if Nigerians are under the mercy of few marketers. What we are saying by our collective action is that Nigerian people should not be taken for granted. We have demonstrated that today, and we hope that those in authority have heard us loud and clear"
He noted that Labour did not promptly act on the court order last Tuesday, knowing full well the tendency of the Federal Government to obey judicial pronouncements only when it pleases. Citing the example of government's refusal to restore the security of Anambra State Governor Chris Ngige, Oshiomhole said if Labour had gone to sleep, believing that the Federal Government and oil marketers would obey the court order, Nigerians would have been completely disappointed at the end of the day.
Although the current level of compliance by marketers is not 100 percent, the Labour chief confirmed that some of the marketers have complained that they could not open their outlets to enable them obey because their staff, who are also members of the oil workers union, heeded NLC's order to go on strike. He said that with the strike suspended, the marketers would have no reason not to resume sale at the old rate.
To ensure that government does not go back on its promise to obey the court order, the National Executive Council meeting of the NLC will be held within the next few weeks to review the level of compliance.
Oshiomhole also said he was not oblivious of the fact that many marketers were yet to comply owing to the strike. Hence, he allowed the Federal Government seven days to ensure strict compliance by the marketers.
The NLC president also clarified controversies surrounding the court order, saying the court did not ask marketers to sell fuel to the public at N38 per litre contrary to the interpretation given the order in some quarters.
According to him, Labour was in the know that petroleum prices varied per litre before the strike - a situation which he said, was confirmed by the leadership of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) in the labour team.
Labour urged government to convene a stakeholders meeting to address the problem of recurring price increase and protest by the people over government action. It also demanded urgent repairs of the refineries, which Oshiomhole explained would not only stimulate job creation but also enhance economic growth and development.
Oshiomhole expressed gratitude to all workers nationwide, civil rights organisations and market association for their cooperation in making the strike a success. He also thanked students and the unemployed who did their best to ensure successful execution of the industrial action.
He was particularly pleased with the courage demonstrated by the Justice Roseline Ukeje, who he said ignored all overt and covert pressures to deliver a judgement which favoured the average Nigerians
"We salute the courage of Justice Ukeje. She demonstrated courage to defend Nigerians inspite of the enormous pressure mounted on her. She proved that judiciary can still be relied upon," said the NLC chief.
On the conduct of the police, he said the Inspector-General of Police and Lagos State Commissioner of Police deserved commendation for the manner the peaceful labour action was handled. He urged them to always realise that they were appointed to serve the people, not individuals or only state officials.
On arrival in Lagos, Oshiomhole was greeted at the local wing of Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja by a mammoth crowd led by the leadership of affiliate unions and the civil society groups. The NLC president drove from the Lagos airport to NLC office in Yaba in an open jeep with an inscription "General," amid cheers from people cutting across diverse social strata. Shouts of "Oshiomhole! Our man, Oshiomhole for 2007" rent the air as he waved to an enthusiastic crowd. He was accompanied by a long convoy of over 50 vehicles and 1000 Okada riders.
Overwhelmed by the show of support, Oshiomhole, in a very emotional speech at Yaba bus stop, assured the people that he would always provide leadership as long as they are willing to support him. He affirmed that Nigerians must not be made to suffer in their own land, adding that people should stand up always for any cause that is just and fair.
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