NLC Said No Going Back On Nationwide Strike After Gbajabiamila Last Minute Dialogue Failed

NLC has declared that there is no going back on the proposed nationwide strike.

News Rain reports that the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress,( NLC) on Sunday has said there is no going back on the proposed nationwide strike, if the Federal Government refused to meet up with the demand on ground.

The National President of the Labour Congress, Comrade Ayuba Waba while speaking on the planned strike, affirmed that the ultimatum period as scheduled by Congress is still intact unless the Federal Government meets up with the demand that was laid down by the Congress.

The Honorable Speaker of the House Representative Femi Gbajabiamila in his last-minute dialogue with the Labour Congress on Sunday said: “This is an appeal to you to tarry a while maybe for a few weeks. My concern is the consequence of the action on the people we are trying to protect. When you shut down the economy, the people will be at the short end of the stick”.

The current situation of things seems not to be in favor of the Federal Government as Gbajabiamila’s last-minute meeting with the representatives of the NLC, led by its leadership Ayuba Wabba, that of the TUC Quadri Olaleye, the General Secretary of NLC, Emma Ugboaja,  ended in an inconclusive manner, as the labor leaders insisted that there is no going back unless the Federal Government meet up with their demands.

The Labour leaders maintained that consideration can only happen in the interest of the masses, only if the Federal Government can meet up with the demands.

Honorable Gbajabiamila at the meeting said that the said meeting was delayed based on his assumption that the negotiations between the Labour Congress and the Federal government will end up a positive conclusion.

He said “we left this meeting to the last minute because I thought that it was safe to assume that the ongoing talks between you and the Ministry of Labour would yield some results of the consequences if not yielding results. I was so sure that at the end of the day, wise counsel would prevail on both sides for the good of the country and the good of the common man”.

“But unfortunately, talks seem to have broken down and it is incumbent on us as a House, as elected Representatives to see how we can come in to mediate and perhaps be a third voice and be able to broker some amicable resolution.

“We have done this in the past trying to intervene in several looming strikes and we have been successful in many regards, and we hope that this will not be different. I just commend the Labour union for doing what you have been doing over the years, by being the watchdog of the government and the society, protecting the common man.

“But, you know we can’t do this. We can’t go on this strike. In good conscience, we can’t. In most of the things, you know that we are the same page. The Leadership and the House of Representatives are on the same page with you. But what is the consequence? That is the bigger picture of going on strike.

“When we have a complete government shutdown, the people that we seek to protect will invariably end up holding the short end of the stick and it ends up defeating the purpose. Sometimes, no matter how long negotiations last, at the end of the day, the interest of the people matters. The leadership of the House shares your thoughts and philosophy regarding workers’ plight.

“My position on electricity metering and estimated billings have remained the same over the years. I championed that course when I was Leader of the House, we also championed that course during this Covid-19. We understand the pains that Nigerians are going through and will not compromise that because we don’t want to put them in more hardship.  Honorable Gbajabiamila said.

Recall, that the NLC has been in talks with the Federal Government over the hike in the price of the pump in price of the petrol, VAT, and electricity tariff, the Labour Union Congress wants the Federal Government to reverse its decisions on those essential commodities hence they will embark on a nationwide strike.

Gbajabiamila however appealed to the Union leaders, he said: “I know there have been talks of palliatives. I am concerned about the people out there when we shut down the markets, the banks, and others. It is going to put them at the short end of the stick. That is my worry. What are we going to achieve at the end of the day? We are going into a battle because I consider this as such. We must try and understand what the end game will be”.