*Workers express disappointment on Organised Labour leaderships
*Accuse them of selfishness, not protecting workers’ welfare, interests
Today (Wednesday’s) nationwide strike earlier announced last week by the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has suffered sudden death as the strike is now shifted to next week Tuesday, November 14.
The leadership of the two union had reached the resolution to postpone the strike after an extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.
But it was gathered that majority of Nigerian workers are not in agreement with the labour leaders, accusing them of serving their selfish interests over and above what they were elected for, promoting and protecting the overall interest of workers.
The two major labour unions at the end of their Abuja meeting instructed their affiliates to embark on nationwide mobilisation of members and allies immediately.
The action by the Organised Labour followed the brutalisation of NLC National President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, last week in Imo State.
There had been widespread outrage by the leadership of the Organised Labour who accused the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Mohammed Barde, of complicity in the attack on Ajaero, in Owerri, Imo State.
The Organised Labour last Friday handed the Federal Government a five-day ultimatum to replace the police commissioner, while also blaming Gov. Hope Uzodimma, who is seeking re-election of masterminding the attack on Ajaero, but the governor had since vehemently denied having a hand in the attack.
The Organised Labour also demanded the arrest and prosecution of named governor’s aide and threatened to embark on a nationwide industrial action if their demands were not carried out.
Already, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Sunday, announced the redeployment of Barde for “neutrality sake” ahead of the November 11, 2023 governorship election in Imo State.
However, a cross section of workers interviewed by The AUTHORITY stated that they would not be part of the November 14 strike.
They accused Ajaero and the TUC president of allegedly all along pursuing their selfish and personal agenda, stressing that “it is only now that Ajaero was attacked that they want us to go on strike which exposed them the more”.
Alhaji Mohammed Inuwa Kadarko, a senior civil servant, said “the Organised Labour leadership have failed to act all the while Nigerians were gradually and steadily being smoked like fish, up until now our salary cannot even pay for our transport fares to work.
“Can you imagine that The NLC and TUC leadership looked the other way while ASUU members were owed several months for demanding better conditions in our universities?”
Abdbakar Mogadishu, whose office is at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja added: “These selfish NLC and TUC leaders are not minded that government had been introducing anti-workers policies and embarking of steady string of public funds and budgeting to satisfy their profligacy.
“The labour leaders saw nothing with the legislators purchasing luxurious foreign vehicles for themselves, the Presidency and the executive generally budgeting to satisfy their greed?
“Ajaero and Co didn’t see anything wrong with the continued hike in petroleum price which has frustrated the workers, turning all of us to executive beggers?
“They didn’t see anything wrong that workers can no longer put food on their table for their families and it is only now that Ajaero got bitten up, probably where he was seeking something for them-them that they want to drag us out for a strike?”
“They think we are fools who would always be dragged by the nose to do their bidding. We have learnt so much. Let them bring out their children to the the streets to protest.
When INEC and security agencies embarked on the violation of our constitution and Electoral Act the NLC leadership saw nothing wrong with that, they didn’t call out the Chairman of INEC and the heads of security agencies for the shame of the 2023 general elections which outcomes put us where we are now and now they want us to go on strike because one of them was bitten up. We can’t do that,” Okoro Ejiofor stated.
Mariam Kolo, a parastatal worker advised Ajaero and the TUC president to go back to the Labour House, do better research and decide to henceforth work in the interest of Nigerian workers, which she accuse them of lacking.
Ndagaso Barde, a trader from Borno State accused the NLC/TUC leadership of lacking in capacity to properly dissect government actions and policies, advising them against asking for wage increases but to use worker to expose corruption and better the wellbeing of everybody and improve on the value of the Naira which will ultimately make the take home pay of workers to become.e reasonable eve without a kobo increase.
