Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
Taraba State workers joined their colleagues from other parts of the nation under the directive of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, to staged a protest in Jalingo, over the hardship in the country.
The protesters were seen carrying placards with inscriptions such as END HUNGER AND POVERTY NOW, FIX LOCAL REFINERIES AND END SUBSIDY, TAX THE RICH, END HARDSHIP NOW, STOP THE HUNGER, REMOVE TAX ON DRUGS OUR HEALTH MATTERS, STOP FOOLLING NIGERIANS amongst others.
Addressing the Workers at the NULGE Sectariate in Jalingo, the State Chairman of NLC, Comrade Peter Jedel, urged them to be prepared for a total shutdown of government activities, if it refused to meet the demands of Nigerians after the expiration period given by the National Secretariat of the Congress.
He read the communique reached by the National Executive Council of the Congress as follows:
COMMUNIQUE AT THE END OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
(NEC) MEETING OF THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS (NLC) HELD ON
FRIDAY, THE 16TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2024
On Monday, the 29th day of May 2023, the President of the Federal Republic
announced during his inaugural speech the withdrawal of Subsidy on
Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in Nigeria. Consequently, the price of the product, which is central to transportation and power in Nigeria, escalated across the nation, throwing the nation into turmoil and confusion as citizens were left stranded, thus increasing suffering, hardship and angst among the
populace.
Series of meetings were held with the federal government culminating in the signing of an Agreement which we now call the October 2 Agreeinent. This
Agreement contained several safeguards which we had believed if
implemented conscientiously would have gone a long way to ameliorate the
suffering and hardship that the ill-conceived and ill-implemented policies of
the government have foisted on the masses and workers.
The NEC-in-session considered the unfortunate state of our nation; the huge suffering pervading the nation, the general crisis of living, the outrage
expressed by the majority, and the increased attendant fears of the continued
consequences of these Policies and the persistent refusal of the Government
to implement the tenets of the October Agreement. It also took notice of the
decision of the National Administrative Council (NAC) of the both Congresses
of the NLC and TUC to demand that the Agreement be implemented.
To this end, NEC unanimously noted its deep disappointment and
condemned the actions of the federal government in refusing to implement
the agreements and reached the following decisions:
1. That it reaffirms the 14days notice issued the federal government within
which to implement the Agreement and address the mounting crisis of
survival in Nigeria.
2. That the Notice expires on the Midnight of Thursday, the 22nd of
February, 2024. If on expiration, Congress is not satisfied with the level
of Government’s compliance with the conditions of the Notice, it will be at
liberty to take action that will compel Government to implement the
agreement.
3. Declares a 2-day National Protest on 27th and 28th of February to
demonstrate outrage on the mounting hardship and insecurity around the
nation.
4. If demands are not met after the nationwide protests to issue a Seven-
Day notice that will expire on the 2nd day of March, 2024 to the federal
government after which an indefinite nationwide strike will ensue.
5. That Nigerian workers and people are not interested in empty talk now but action so, calls on all of affiliates, state Councils and Civil Society
Allies to start mobilizing across the nation for effective action as the
deadline approaches.
As such, in light of the urgency of the situation and the continued suffering
of the Nigerian people and Workers, the NEC-in-session calls for immediate
action from the federal government to rectify these grievances and restore
faith in the democratic process and social dialogue.
Comrade Joe Ajaero
President
Comrade Ismail Bello
Ag. General Secretary
He concluded.