Northern CSOs pull out of NLC strike

BY ABBAS MUSA KANEMPRESS

1ST AUGUST 2023

Few hours to Wednesday’s planned strike and mass protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress, 16 Northern-based civil society groups under the aegis of the Coalition of Arewa Civil Society Organisations have backed out on the fact that the Nigerian economy would be negatively crippled by indefinite strike and cause hardship to the ordinary citizens.

The NLC had given the Nigerian Government a seven-day ultimatum with threats of a nationwide strike scheduled to commence on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, directing all its affiliates and civil society groups across the 36 states to mobilise workers and citizens for a long-lasting strike should the government fail to meet its demands.

The NLC had earlier in a statement by its National President, Joe Ajaero, accused President Tinubu of failing to meet up with the demands it presented to it following the removal of subsidy on petrol.

The decision to pull out was in a statement jointly by Chairman and Secretary of the Arewa Coalition, Comrade Ibraheem Suleman Dogo, and Comrade Friday Luka Dalung.

According to the groups, the planned strike was not the best way to resolve problems from the current harsh economic conditions as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy.

They said that the strike would cripple Nigeria as movement would be restricted with markets, schools, and healthcare facilities compelled to shut down.

“We can’t afford to go back to the days when the Federal Government used monies meant for the development of public infrastructure; education, health care, and jobs for payment of subsidy to rich marketers,” the statement noted.

“We can’t also continue to feed smugglers and act as ‘Father Christmas’ to neighbouring countries.

“It is for these reasons we recommend dialogue and more robust discussion on the matters arising from fuel subsidy removal,” he said.

“It would be recalled that President Tinubu, on June 12 Democracy Day commemoration, said he decided to free Nigerian resources from the stranglehold of unpatriotic elements.

“We expect the labour unions and relevant stakeholders to look beyond the harsh policies now and consider the future of a sustainable economy that will bring about overall development across all spheres of life.

“However, between now and tomorrow, Wednesday, August 2, we urge the Federal Government to invite representatives of organised Labour to stop the nationwide strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress,” Ajaero said