Connect with us

Trending news

Why we’ll shutdown the country if petrol price rises again — Labour

Published

on

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday threatened to shut down the economy without giving notice to the government, if the petrol pump price was increased again.

It also raised alarm over the alleged hijack of the duties of the Ministry of Labour and Employment by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, and the Federal Ministry of Justice.

But the Presidency in a swift reaction, said President Bola Tinubu is concerned about economic hardship in the country and is working hard to ameliorate the situation.

This is even as oil marketers yesterday in Abuja, urged the Federal Government to act urgently to halt the consistent slide in the value of the naira against the dollar, saying the development had significantly impacted the pump price of petrol.

NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero, issued the threat while responding to the advice of the Director, Trade Union Services, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Emmanuel Igbinosun, that Labour should explore due process in its agitations before embarking on strike.

Igbinosun gave the advice in his remarks at the on-going African Trade Union Alliance meeting holding in Abuja.

Ajaero warned that Nigerians had suffered enough from the policies of government and will not take kindly any increase in petroleum pump price that would worsen the situation.

He said: “I commend the Director of Trade Union Services for his labour-friendly disposition and for finding out time to be here. We need to commend you. But I was feeling uncomfortable when you had legions of advice to the Labour movement. In actual fact, the centrality of your office is to advise government on some of these issues.

“Maybe I will advise that we engage you as adviser of labour, adviser of trade union services, since you appear to be closer to us than the Nigerian state who you are employed to serve, that we should concern ourselves with issues of wages, issues of employment relations but you didn’t say anything about those issues that depreciate our wage, those policies of government that reduce our wages to nothing.

“For you, those are exclusive preserve of the Nigerian state to take decisions probably to increase pump price of petroleum product and our wages will be next to nothing. You didn’t speak on it and maybe we should concern ourselves with those issues.

“But I want to plead with you that those bad economic policies by the state that make our wages next to nothing should be checked. If you check those policies that lead to inflation and the devaluation of the currency, even where we are, we will be comfortable.

“If naira is at par with dollar today, we will ask you to leave the minimum wage at N30,000, it will make sense. If inflation is checked to zero, we will ask you to leave it where we are but if inflation is flying, if even by the admittance of the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, we have over 130 million Nigerians that are multi-dimensionally poor. I think you should address those issues.

If we go for even wage increase tomorrow, the inflation that will come up will destroy it.

“As we are here now, they are contemplating increasing the pump price of petrol and the Ministry of Labour for sometime now, will only go to Ministry of Justice to come up with so-called injunction to hold the hands of Labour not to respond.

“But I want to plead with you that those bad economic policies by the state that make our wages next to nothing should be checked. If you check those policies that lead to inflation and the devaluation of the currency, even where we are, we will be comfortable.

“If naira is at par with dollar today, we will ask you to leave the minimum wage at N30,000, it will make sense. If inflation is checked to zero, we will ask you to leave it where we are but if inflation is flying, if even by the admittance of the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, we have over 130 million Nigerians that are multi-dimensionally poor. I think you should address those issues.

If we go for even wage increase tomorrow, the inflation that will come up will destroy it.

“As we are here now, they are contemplating increasing the pump price of petrol and the Ministry of Labour for sometime now, will only go to Ministry of Justice to come up with so-called injunction to hold the hands of Labour not to respond.

“I didn’t want to say some of those things you will not be comfortable with because probably if they ask you to represent them tomorrow, you will not be around.

“But let me say this, Nigerian workers will not give any notice if we have not addressed the consequences of the last two increases and we wake up from our sleep to hear that they have tampered with the prices again. They have started floating ideas of a likely increase in the pump price of petrol.

“Lastly, the Inspector General of Police is now performing the duty of the Ministry of Labour. The duties of the Ministry of Labour includes addressing the issues, both inter and intra-union disputes. They’re not within the purview of the Inspector-General of Police.

‘’I think there is the need for the Ministry of Labour to know that they don’t have the right to usurp your function. If they do that, the Ministry of Labour will go into extinction and there will be no basis for the ministry to remain.

“I say it’s illegal, we demand an apology from the IGP to have arrested or even contemplated to arrest the President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers for whatever reason, on the eve of an election. It’s unheard of in the history of this country and never again should that be entertained.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

MC Oluomo Elected NURTW National President

Published

on

Musiliu Akinsanya, better known as MC Oluomo, has been elected as the new National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) following a unanimous decision at the Union’s Quadrennial Delegate Conference on Saturday.

Akinsanya, who was the only candidate for the position, was chosen during the election held at the NURTW Zonal Secretariat along the Osogbo/Ikirun road.

Delegates from the Southwest states—Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, and Ekiti—participated in the election process.

The conference, observed by the acting National President of the NURTW, Aliyu Issa-Ore, was an important moment for the Union.

In his address, Issa-Ore clarified that the Union’s constitution grants the zone responsible for filling the national president’s role the authority to elect their candidate and submit them to the national body.

Represented by Mrs. Adedamola Salam, Head of Finance at the Union’s National Headquarters in Abuja, Issa-Ore added, “The Southwest zone has fully complied with the Constitution in electing Oluomo as President.”

Akinsanya, in his remarks, extended a message of reconciliation, saying, “I have forgiven everyone who has offended me, and I hope those I have offended will forgive me as well.

This is our union, and we must be committed to preserving it. We will not allow anyone to destroy our means of livelihood.”

Additionally, Tajudeen Agbede was elected as Vice President for the Southwest, and Akeem Adeosun was chosen as a Trustee from the zone.

After taking the oath of office, Akinsanya, surrounded by family and supporters, called for unity and peace among members, pledging to work tirelessly to strengthen the Union.

ROAMAN NEWS

Continue Reading

Sports

Brighton Shock Man City with 2-1 Comeback Win

Published

on

Manchester City were stunned on Saturday night as Brighton mounted a thrilling 2-1 comeback to defeat the reigning Premier League champions.

Erling Haaland put City in the driver’s seat with an early goal in the 26th minute, giving Pep Guardiola’s side a 1-0 lead and setting the stage for what many expected to be a routine win. But Brighton had other ideas.

The Seagulls, showing resilience and tactical savvy, turned the match around in the second half.

Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi made key substitutions that proved decisive.

Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley, both introduced after the break, were the game-changers.

Pedro’s calm finish in the 65th minute leveled the score, sending the home fans into a frenzy.

Just minutes later, O’Riley’s precise strike in the 79th minute completed the turnaround, sealing a memorable victory for Brighton.

The win not only left Manchester City reeling but also handed Guardiola his fourth consecutive defeat as City manager—something he has never experienced before in his career.

According to BBC, it marks the first time since 2006 that City have lost four matches in a row.

Brighton’s dramatic comeback handed them all three points, while City are left to reflect on a difficult stretch.

ROAMAN NEWS

Continue Reading

Latest News

Copyright © 2017 RoamanNews