Labour and fuel price increases
SIR: The Obasanjo regime has become a leech in the body politic of the state. In the light of this, to get ride of a leech by dealing a fatal blow on the spot it attaches itself may not only kill the leech but also causes severe damage to the part of the body on which it clings as a parasite.
This is the main reason why I am in support of The Guardian editorial of October 28, 2004 captioned "Cycle of fuel prices and strikes" in which it appealed fervently to labour and civil society groups to contemplate "other legitimate means of applying pressure on the government in order to attain their otherwise laudable objectives of a higher standard of living for Nigerians".
The constant strikes like the constant fuel price increases which they are set out to protest against, are causing untold hardship to the masses and an impediment to economic activities. The government is not bothered probably because the well-being of the people is its least worry. The main concern of government obviously is to satisfy IMF and the World Bank by whatever means possible regardless of the cost to the nation.
Labour and cicil society organisations will definitely outlive any government; therefore the battle against unfriendly government policies must be fought in a way that the boat is not rocked to the detriment of all. In the circumstances, more effective means must be fashioned out through a well-considered process.
The government's strategy apparently is to put labour on the spot to earn the disaffection of the people who will eventually be disillusioned by the constant strikes irrespective of motives. The ultimate aim of government is to discredit labour before the people and make it irrelevant in the scheme of things. This should not be allowed to happen.
Ngoji Briggs,
Port Harcourt,
Rivers State
