The Labour Party top brass backed the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress’ upcoming strike on Wednesday, claiming that the president has shown little consideration for the condition of Nigerian workers.
The development follows organised Labour’s decision to halt operations across the country beginning on October 3 as a result of the government’s failure to effectively execute measures to allay the suffering of the common people after the elimination of gasoline subsidies.
NLC National President Joe Ajaero expressed regret that none of the demands made by the Federal Government were met after the NLC’s 21-day deadline expired last week.
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Among other things, the NLC and the TUC are asking for wage awards, implementation of palliatives, tax exemptions and allowances to public sector workers and a review of the minimum wage.
Obiora Ifoh, the LP’s national publicity secretary, lamented that Nigerian workers hadn’t demonstrated enough tolerance and understanding in response to the planned strike in a statement headed “Workers strike: Labour Party identifies with Nigerian workers” on Wednesday.
While charging supporters of the party to stock up on food, Ifoh warned that the leadership of LP will support any legitimate means to demand better welfare for Nigerian workers.
He said, “We have followed with keen interest, in the last four months, various meetings between Organised Labour and various government bodies including the president of the Senate, the presidency and the ministers of Labour as well as all the efforts made by the Labour leadership to get the government to understand the magnitude of sufferings its policies have thrown Nigerian workers into since the enthronement of this administration.
“We are not in any way surprised at the government’s apparent indifference, insensitivity, intransigence, and recalcitrant posture towards the genuine demands of the Labour bodies because their usurpation of power was not sanctioned by both the workers and generality of Nigerians.
“Nigerians went to the polls with clear conviction of the government they wanted but this was denied them through institutional conspiracy. Today, Nigerian workers are being punished for taking a stand during the February 25 Presidential Election. Labour Party is also aware of the sordid conditions which workers, the majority of them being our members, are subjected to, where many go to the office on a Monday and are forced by the prevailing economic challenges to sleep in their offices all through to Friday before returning home.
“We are also using this medium to inform all our members and supporters to stock their homes with their necessary needs ahead of a long-drawn mass action until victory is ascertained. No retreat, no surrender.”
