Labour Lists Conditions For Suspension Of Strike

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) yesterday gave conditions for dialogue and eventual suspension of the nationwide strike against federal government’s fuel subsidy removal last week.

Making their stance public during a protest rally by both unions to Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday, the two unions stressed that the Presidency should first revert to the old pump price of fuel before any dialogue would ensue.

Chairman of the NLC in the State, Chief Chris Oruge and his TUC counterpart, Comrade Chika Onuegbu insisted that the President should listen to the voice of the people.

Chief Oruge said, “the workers of Rivers State are saying No to subsidy removal. We want you to carry our message to our brother, the President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan”.

He continued, “it is not that we don’t want to obey our brother but if you go outside now you will see a lot of Nigerians trekking…Transport fares and everything have gone up. The N18000 minimum wage is worthless”.

The Rivers NLC chief averred that the State Governor had enormous powers as the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum to prevail on the Presidency to retain the fuel subsidy.

He explained that the protest was one way labour wanted to register its displeasure on the policy.

In a similar vein, The Chairman of Trade Union Congress, Comrade Chika Onuegbu argued that since the removal of the fuel subsidy, Nigerians were undergoing numerous hardships, including sudden rise in prices of foodstuffs, transport fares among others.

As a result, he explained that labour’s action had become crucial to addressing the plight of Nigerians, adding, “on behalf of the Nigerian people we want to appeal to Mr President to listen to Nigerians and listen to us by reverting to the old pump price of fuel, with that we can now dialogue.”

Responding, Governor Chibuike Amaechi assured them that their request would be tabled before the President but used the forum to invite labour to a town hall meeting where he would explain government’s policies better.

Rt Hon. Amaechi stated that so far palliatives had been put in place to ensure that fuel doesn’t sell above N137 in the state and that government had liaised with the Road Transport Workers Union (NURTW) to bring down transport fares to N50 except on some routes which would charge above that.

In addition, he disclosed that a special discount market was underway in the three senatorial districts of the state to sell products at subsidized rates to the populace.

Besides, he noted that his administration had rolled out plans through the 2012 budget that would ensure more public utilities are provided, as he assured that free education and health will be the pivot of his government.

He sued for understanding from labour, saying, “it is not that government is not aware of the people suffering. We are very conscious of your problems including the President…We know that there are challenges”.