By Danielle Lobito
Union 'Warriors'
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have suspended their strike actions on the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government of Nigeria. NLC and TUC accepted the new pump price of fuel at N97 per litre after the government decreased the pump price from N141 per litre to N97 today.
Last Saturday, NLC and TUC claimed that they would not back down until the pump price of fuel is reduced to N65 per litre, which was the initial price. Why have they backed down against their words although the National Assembly did not defend the masses like the NLC and TUC? However, the legislators can afford the increment unlike most of their voters.
Nigerian Labor Unions Suspend Strike on Fuel Subsidies
Was Fashola Right Or Wrong?
Nigerian soldiers
36 Governors of Nigerian States were in favour of the removal of fuel subsidy. Even after the governor of Jigawa State accused all state governors of supporting the removal of fuel subsidy, the governors kept mute and refused to defend themselves apart from those that were bold enough to support the federal government openly e.g. the governors of Jigawa, Edo, Anambra and Rivers States.
Was it right for the governors of Lagos, Ekiti and Osun States to try to support the masses after the removal of fuel subsidy in 2012 since they supported the federal government in 2011, behind the corridors of power? Some governors are in their first tenure; the masses would be senseless to vote for them again. Such governors were not genuinely supporting the masses on fuel subsidy removal. They were merely canvassing for future votes.
Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola was summoned to Abuja over union strikes and mammoth protests in Lagos State as if mass protests did not occur in other states. Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi was also 'summoned'. Fashola reportedly travelled in one of ‘nine’ presidential jets sent in a jiffy. Fashola later warned the Petroleum, Energy and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) against going on strike while the labour and trade unions were negotiating with the government as if he supported the federal government.
PENGASSAN wanted to go on strike on Sunday and ‘shut down oil wells’ in Nigeria. It could have forced the government to back down to N65 per litre. Unfortunately, the NLC and TUC suspended their strike action today after accepting the federal government’s offer of N97 per litre.
Fashola should not be complaining of military presence in Lagos State because he should have known that the soldiers were coming. Fashola is in his last tenure and does not have much to lose. Maybe that’s why he warned PENGASSAN. There was no need for him to deliver a speech on the ‘militarization’ of Lagos State after ‘dining’ with the devil without a long spoon.
He should have telephoned President Jonathan, asked for another presidential plane to take him back to Aso Rock Presidential Villa and engage Mr President in a war of words, rather than use his speech as a PR gimmick to wash himself clean of any presidential dung. The speech was nothing but spin. We couldn’t be fooled.
It is up to the audience to decide if Fashola was right or wrong for his stance on fuel subsidy. Such foolery was practiced during the 2011 presidential election when Mallam Nuhu Ribadu lost votes as sections of ACN 'sold out' to the PDP. Like Fashola, a presidential jet was sent to take the leader of ACN to the glorious villa. Coincidentally, it was the same aircraft.
Fashola Warns PENGASSAN over Strike
Jonathan summons Fashola and Amaechi to Abuja as talks heat up
Fashola asks Jonathan to withdraw soldiers from Lagos streets
36 govs endorsed fuel subsidy removal -Lamido reveals
Labour strike: Fashola summoned to Abuja
Tinubu flown to Abuja in presidential jet
