ONITSHA—THE PZ Industries Plc yesterday backed out of the nationwide strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) against hike in price of petroleum products by the Federal Government. Addressing journalists in Onitsha, the state chairman of the company, Lagos State chapter, Mr Oladipupo Bello said that members of the PZ had also withdrawn its membership of the National Union of Registered Foot Wear, Rubber, Metal and Non-metalic Products (NUCFRLANMPE) because of undemocratic manner both the president of NLC, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole and the present National President of NUFRLANMPE were running the affairs of the unions.
“For every strike in Nigeria, some people in the labour circle are richer while the branch officers are suffering. What have we achieved? What happened to dialogue? That is why we say, when we have different federated unions we will have vibrant unions” he said. Bello said that PZ Industries Plc decided to pull out from the NLC strike because of a subsisting Abuja High Court order restraining the labour from going on strike.
He accused the NLC leadership of high handedness and undemocratic practices and praised the federal government for decentralizing the NLC, saying that the action would act as a check against alleged corrupt practices by the NLC leadership.
Recalling the recent delegates conference of the NUCFLANMPE at the Presidential Hotel, Enugu, Bello said his members who were there to contest various national positions were denied the opportunity by Oshiomhole who single-handedly installed for a second tenure the national president, Comrade, Gbadebo Ajibade in spite of various allegations of financial impropriety against him.
Others who should have been disqualified but allowed to contest the elections, he said included Comrade Joseph Akerele and the former secretary of NLC, Lagos State chapter, Ifeloju Akande whose executive was dissolved by Oshiomhole for alleged case of embezzlement of the union fund.
“I am disappointed at Oshiomhole’s statement at the conference centre that there are some Judas among the workforce. But he allowed a fraudster to contest election. Here was somebody he found guilty of corruption and dissolved his executive. He allowed him because they belong to the same caucus.
Bello who disclosed that his members were screened out of the contest on frivolous excuses said the PZ Industries with membership of 4,000 paid the highest check of dues of N1million monthly and had contributed N8m for the delegates conference which they were denied participation.
