By Gbenga Abulude (Politics and General desk)
The proposed nationwide industrial action by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union of Nigeria (TUC) received the support of of Banks and other financial institutions Wednesday, as the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) has threatened to join the strike. NUBIFIE is the union body for all financial institutions. In a statement issued and signed by the General Secretary of NUBIFIE, Mr Muhammed Sheikh, the body urged its members to comply with the directive on the proposed strike.
The New Diplomat, had reported that the Labour Union said it decided to embark on its planned nationwide protest with effect from Monday Sept. 28 over Federal Government’s reported indisposition towards reversing hikes in electricity tariff and fuel pump price. NLC President, Mr Ayubba Wabba in his address to newsmen at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the NLC held on Tuesday in Abuja, said the union would go ahead with its planned strike should government and Labour fail to arrive at a common ground on the matter.
The statement reads; “The National Executive Council (NEC) of Nigeria Labour Congress in their meeting held on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 resolved to embark on nationwide as from Monday, 28th September, 2020 over hike in the pump price of petrol and Electricity tariff. In this regard, you are therefore, directed by this letter to ensure total compliance of this directive by your organization/ Zonal Council. We promise to keep you posted as events unfold.”
Recall that the NLC’s Central Working Committee (CWC) had on Sept. 17 issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to reverse hike in electricity tariff and pump price of petrol. According to the NLC, failure to do so, it would have no choice than to embark on a nationwide strike on Sept. 28.
According to Wabba, the NEC after its extensive deliberations resolved to reject hike in electricity tariff by almost 100 per cent. He also noted that the NLC NEC similarly rejected the fuel price increase. “This decision, alongside other decisions of the government including the increase of VAT by 7.5 per cent, other numerous charges by commercial banks on depositors, without any explanation will further impoverish Nigerian workers and citizenry, including their families. Therefore, this is coming in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and this is not only ill-timed, but it is also counterproductive,” he added. But the federal government maintains that deregulation is the best option for in view of realities.
