Muhammadu Buhari
From: Dianabasi Effiong, Calabar
Academic activities in the University of Calabar and some universities in the Calabar Zone of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) were brought to a standstill on Wednesday as the union joined the indefinite strike action embarked upon by Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) over the increase in pump price of petrol from N86.50 to N145 by the Federal Government.
Similarly, the Cross River State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday embarked on an indefinite strike in spite of Tuesday’s ruling by Justice Babatunde Adejumo of the National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja restraining the Organised Labour from embarking on strike.
Speaking with journalists who monitored the strike in Calabar on Wednesday, Prof Nsing Ogar, Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, said the union would not call off the strike until government did something about the current pump price. He also described the development as very annoying.
Speaking with journalists who monitored the strike in Calabar on Wednesday, Prof Nsing Ogar, Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, said the union would not call off the strike until government did something about the current pump price. He also described the development as very annoying.
But academic activities were ongoing at UNIUYO on Wednesday although some students who spoke with our correspondent that rumours were rife that their lecturers would join the strike.
The zone comprises University of Calabar, University of Uyo (UniUyo), Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH), Abia State University (ABSU), Ebonyi State University and Akwa Ibom State University.
As the strike and protest walk by the Organised Labour progressed along major streets in Calabar, our correspondent observed that government offices and public schools remained closed.
The usual traffic snarl along major roads including the Mary Slessor Avenue, Marian Road, Murtala Muhammad Highway, Eta Agbor dramatically disappeared.
But banks and filling stations in the state were opened for business activities.
Mr John Ushie, NLC Chairman in the state, said that directives to embark on the strike came from the National President of NLC, Mr Ayuba Wabba.
Ushie said that since the meeting between the labour leaders and the federal government ended in deadlock labour had no option than to embark on strike.
“We have no option than to embark on strike. The meetings that were held between labour and the federal government could not hold water. We are asking the federal government to reverse to the old pump price of N86.50. We did not receive any court injunction. How can the government seek for an injunction when negotiations were on going? We have mobilised our members in the state and we are embarking on an indefinite strike starting from today (Wednesday),’’ he said.
Ushie said that since the meeting between the labour leaders and the federal government ended in deadlock labour had no option than to embark on strike.
“We have no option than to embark on strike. The meetings that were held between labour and the federal government could not hold water. We are asking the federal government to reverse to the old pump price of N86.50. We did not receive any court injunction. How can the government seek for an injunction when negotiations were on going? We have mobilised our members in the state and we are embarking on an indefinite strike starting from today (Wednesday),’’ he said.
At the state and federal secretariat some offices were locked while some people were seen in groups discussing about the development. One of them, who pleaded anonymity, said that he was confused whether the strike was holding or not.
He said that he was confused because the NLC had two factions, adding that the Joe Ajaero led faction had disassociated itself from the strike, while the Ayuba faction insisted on the strike action.
Mr Eyo Nsa-Etim, Chairman of NUT in the state, said that the union got directives from their national headquarters in Abuja to embark on strike. Nsa-Etim, who is also the Vice Chairman of NLC in the state, said that government-owned primary and secondary schools in the state would remain close until further notice.
Also, members of the NLC in the state staged a peaceful protest walk from the Calabar Zoo garden in Mary Slessor down to the state millennium park.
Some members carried placards with inscriptions: “Reverse the pump price to N86.50; Government should listen to the voices of the masses; and There is hunger in the land and the government is increasing the price of fuel; This is not the change we voted for; Labour says no to dictatorship, black market injunction; Increase in fuel pump rice is another slavery; Buharism: Gov’t of the few, for the few and by the few; Labour is not for sale; and so on.
Also, members of the NLC in the state staged a peaceful protest walk from the Calabar Zoo garden in Mary Slessor down to the state millennium park.
Some members carried placards with inscriptions: “Reverse the pump price to N86.50; Government should listen to the voices of the masses; and There is hunger in the land and the government is increasing the price of fuel; This is not the change we voted for; Labour says no to dictatorship, black market injunction; Increase in fuel pump rice is another slavery; Buharism: Gov’t of the few, for the few and by the few; Labour is not for sale; and so on.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Civil Service Union/State Auditor of NLC, Comrade Peter Ipole said the strike would continue indefinitely and that NLC would not be intimated and stampeded by government over what he described as glaring injustices on Nigerian people.
“We are not talking about minimum wage as some people are insinuating. What we are saying is, let the old pump price of N86.50 remain. We are also against the 45 per cent increase in electricity tariff. They said they are subsidising fuel with N13 .70. If you add that amount to N86.50, it will give you a little above N100. Why must the poor masses be punished with additional N44.000?” Ipole asked.
Our correspondent also observed partial compliance to the NLC’s call for strike because other affiliate unions, including the trade union congress (TUC) did not participate.
The popular Watt and Ika Ika Oqua markets in Calabar metropolis, many private schools, companies and corporate organisations also opened for businesses.
Mr Ndoma Egodo, a Calabar based legal practitioner, described the strike as wasteful and an exercise in futility.
“I consider the NLC strike as irrelevant, selfish and an exercise in futility. How many times have they gone on strike over fuel hike and at the end what have they achieved? In the least, they achieve salary increase and how does that affect other millions of Nigerians. For me, strike has become obsolete way of settling issues,” he said.
He said that although he did not subscribe to increase in pump price of petrol, “ the most important thing now is availability of the product to me and most Nigerians and let us see how it goes in the long run,”.
Egodo also advised the governments to take appropriate measures to improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians who suffer the brunt of subsidy removal.
Also speaking, Mr Promise Akaeze a Banker said that the strike action by NLC would not have serious impact on the economy, adding that Nigerians were already weary of the sliding economic.
“The reality is that, the masses are currently suffering in all ramifications and may not be comfortable to join the NLC in this struggle. They may prefer struggling to make ends meet rather than engage themselves on, what could be considered unnecessary struggle,” he said.
Mr Sunday Emmanuel, a self-employed also expressed doubt if the organised labour would achieve its goals aim, citing the pull-out of TUC as a serious setback on the struggle.
“Banks are working; taxis are plying the town and Markets are opened; only government offices and schools are closed. This means that economic activates are still going on, because of this, it is obvious that the strike will not achieve much as desired by NLC,” he said.
He urged the Federal Government to use the proceeds from the subsidy removal to create jobs and other palliatives to mitigate the hardship being encountered by the masses.
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