Obasanjo talks tough as strike begins in Nigeria

President Olusegun Obasanjo took a tough stance against the nationwide strike following the complete deregulation of petroleum prices, and accused the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) of subversion.
In a broadcast to the nation, President Obasanjo said: "The tactical move by the NLC to mislead and recruit some opposition political parties is evidence of an attempt not only to politicise what otherwise is an economic issue but also to promote its avowed objective of bringing down a democratically elected government. This new alliance appears designed to attain power through undemocratic means. The leadership of the NLC has engaged in series of subversive activities deliberately misrepresenting government policies to the public and its members and using every opportunity to blackmail the government and others who hold contrary opinions or views. The NLC leadership is conducting itself as a parallel government in Nigeria and brazenly breaks the law of Nigeria regarding the conduct of strikes."

The president said: "Government has sufficient evidence that the NLC has provided cash to hoodlums to distribute subversive materials and act against the Nigerian state. This cannot be the way that a responsible labour leadership should act," adding: "I appeal to all Nigerians to remain calm and go about their normal duties without let or hindrance. The Nigeria Police and other law enforcement agents are ready to provide maximum protection and security. No one should attempt to disrupt the normal transportation either by land, sea or air or try to force the closure of markets, banks and shops. Let me also assure all banks and all public and private institutions of maximum police protection and security."

The nationwide strike organised by the Labour-Civil Society Coalition (LASCO) begins even as the Federal Government declared that it had no business with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and headed for the courts to stop organised labour from embarking on the strike. In Abuja, oil marketers agreed with the oil sector unions- NUPENG and PENGASSAN, and the governors to revert to the pre-October 1 price of N 34 per litre.
The Organised Private Sector (OPS) also appealed to the Federal Government to "heed our call for an emergency meeting of all stake holders in the economy (MAN, NECA, NACCIMA, NLC, petroleum marketers, NNPC, etc.) in order to avert today's strike." Major markets and banks recorded a high turn-out of customers as people besieged the banks and markets to accumulate enough cash and store food items at home, in line with the directive of the National Executive Council of the NLC.

Unions affiliated to the Nigeria Labour Congress and some staff associations had directed workers to stay at home. The Nigeria Civil Service Union asked all civil servants to stay at home in compliance with the NLC directive. Labour leaders also alleged that the government was using the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to induce labour leaders to opt out of the strike. NLC officials said the offer was, however, rejected.
In Lagos, members of LASCO intensified mobilisation of students, market women, transporters, etc. Giving details of the modalities of the strike in Lagos, the joint chairman of LASCO, Mr Bamidele Aturu, asked all to stay at home but to participate in rallies organised in their areas in support of the strike.
He said: "The strike action and mass protests are part of our sacrifices to defend democracy, resist dictatorship and ensure a future for our children and ourselves. One of such rallies would be held at Yaba bus-stop in Lagos."

The NLC issued a series of bills one of which is entitled: "Fuel price increase: Enough is enough!" It explained that the new price increase would result in high transport fares, high rents, increase in the prices of food items while "many workers will be thrown into the unemployment sea, as factories unable to pay higher energy cost will either reduce their number of workers or shut down," adding: "We say to the Obasanjo regime that enough is enough! We reject further sufferings being imposed on us!! We do not and will not accept the new prices for petrol, diesel and kerosene. This is a battle we must wage and win, no retreat, no surrender."
The Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) directed all its members to "fully participate in the stay-at-home and mass protests collectively decided by the Coalition of Labour and Civil Society Groups." It added: "All banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions are to be closed indefinitely."

The Nigeria Civil Service Union also directed its members to stay at home. The acting general secretary of the union, Comrade Nkem Nwauzor, said: "We shall move round the country because the strike is popular, everybody is alert."
The National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees asked its members to resume the suspended strike. The union's General Secretary, Dr Adebayo Kazeem, urged members to ensure that the strike "is very peaceful and is devoid of any act of violence, vandalism, abuses, name calling, character assassination or damage to lives and property."

After a two-day meeting of oil marketers, the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and the Petroleum and Gas Senior Staff Association and the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation initiated by the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mr Jackson Gaius-Obaseki, all the parties agreed that oil marketers must revert to N 34 per litre not later than this morning.
President of PENGASSAN, Mr Brown Ogbeifun, who confirmed this, said the unions reminded the marketers that the petrol now being sold at N 40 per litre was bought from NNPC at N 28 per litre. He said the two unions told the government representatives "if you want to deregulate or liberalise, you must consult with Nigerians." Mr Ogbeifun said it was confirmed that the marketers had not made any independent importation in the last two months. The two unions, like the NLC, are not opposed to liberalisation but want the government to ensure that local refineries are made to work.