PRESIDENT of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade
Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole yesterday vowed that labour leaders will not hesitate
to change the character of their struggle to fire-for-fire approach if the
police continue to kill and arrest people just because they participate in
strike actions.
Oshiomhole who was addressing a world press conference on
the on-going strike in which the police were reported to have killed one
person in Kaduna, described the situation as unfortunate that five years
after the return to democratic rule in Nigeria, Nigerians are still in pains
without seeing any dividends.
According to him, Nigerians have suffered so much to
ensure a successful return to democracy in the country, yet they still
remain in hardship and the level of poverty has continued to widen, adding
that it is now clear that people are angry with the government.
�Why shouldn�t people be allowed to tell government their
feelings?� he further queried.
To ensure that these killings and arrests stop, he said,
labour will today forward a protest letter to the Inspector General of
Police, Alhaji Tafa Balogun over the police brutality on innocent citizens
during the strike action.
In his worlds: �We intend to tell the IG that police
brutality would only worsen the situation, thereby making the peaceful
behavioural attitude of workers to go to an unpalatable situation,� he
added.
Equally, he said, the congress may decide to let the
strike go beyond the four days of warning, adding that one can only hope
that the IG will call his boys to order and advised Nigerians to always
rally round the labour and fight for their rights.
Commenting on the strike which some people view as
half-way, Oshiomhole said the action is satisfactory as it had recorded 80
per cent compliance throughout the 36 states of the federation.
On the presidential committee set up to cushion the
measures the hike in fuel prices may cause, the NLC president said it was a
bold move by government but called for an all-embracing powers to make the
committee functional.
He re-affirmed that the sit-at-home strike action will
continue up to its fourth day and later a two-week break would be observed
before the next line of action, insisting that there was a total compliance
from NLC. He further advised banks and hospitals to remain closed throughout
the country.
Meanwhile, the staff of the Ministry of Federal Capital
Territory (MFCT) have accused the minister, Malam Nasir el-Rufai of denying
them right to participate in the on-going nationwide strike through sack
threats on erring workers.
The staff who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity,
alleged that the staff were asked not to participate in the strike action in
a circular No. Ref/MFCT/PS/2004/1246/7 dated 8th October, 2004 and signed by
the MFCT Permanent-Secretary, Mr. Deji Omolade threatening to sack anybody
who participates in the strike action.
