Friday, January 13, 2012

Nigeria News Bulletin: Labour, Allies Suspend Strike For Two Days Pending Talks With Government

Labour, allies suspend strike for two days

On January 14, 2012 · In News ..
BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG & FAVOUR NWABOWU, Lagos
Nigerian Vanguard

ORGANISED labour and its civil society allies, yesterday advised Nigerians to use today and tomorrow to restock and re-energise for the next phase of the nationwide strike and mass protest to force the Federal Government to revert the pump price of Petrol to pre-January 1, 2012 price of N65 per litre.

Under the umbrella of Labour and Civil Society Coalition, LASCO, the group said unless the government between now and Sunday, reverted to the old price, the second phase of the strike, would commence on Monday, January 16, with greater fury.

In a joint statement by Acting General Secretary of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, Comrade Owei Lakemfa and Chief John Kolawole, respectively, on behalf of LASCO, commended Nigerians for turning out in their millions since Monday January 9, 2012, to protest the astronomical increase in the price of PMS (Petrol), saying their resolute stand and insistence in struggling for a better country.

According to the statement “The Labour Movement and its civil society allies after nationwide consultations has decided that this weekend, Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th January, 2012, will be observed as strike, protest and rally-free days. We ask Nigerians to utilize these days to rest, restock and get re-energized for the continuation of the strikes, rallies and protests from Monday 16th January, 2012.”

Discussions with Government

“The NLC, TUC and their allies in the Civil Society Movement on Thursday 12th January, 2012 met with the Senate leadership, Nigeria Governors Forum and the Executive Arm.


Labour May Adopt New Petrol Price Today .

Saturday, 14 January 2012 00:00 From Collins Olayinka, Abuja News
Nigerian Guardian

Suspends Protests Till Monday Labour May Ask For N80 With Conditions

Okonjo-Iwealla Hopeful Of Peaceful Resolution

THE National Executive Council (NEC) of both Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its Trade Union Congress (TUC) is set meet today to endorse a new price proposal by the Federal Government.

Though labour suspended its protests, The Guardian learnt that the step was aimed at allowing members of their NEC to move into Abuja for the NLC and TUC meetings.
In confirming The Gaurdian findings, a joint statement by both the NLC and TUC, issued yesterday in Abuja said: "At the meeting, labour asked the Presidency to suspend the new petrol (PMS) price increases announced on January 1, 2012. In return, we offered to suspend forthwith, the strikes, mass rallies and street protests.

“We also suggested that an expanded committee be set up which would discuss the fuel subsidy issue and pricing for petrol. The government’s side presented a counter proposal asking labour to negotiate new fuel prices. Since we had no such mandate, labour declined and decided to return to its National Executive Council meetings which will be held on Saturday 14th January, 2012 for a possible expanded mandate.”

It is expected that Labour will meet government team this evening to relay the endorsement to them and for a possible joint press briefing where the new petrol price would be announced.

Sources told The Guardian yesterday evening that labour was going to propose N80 a litre with the proviso that NNPC must be immediately restructured; immediate review of the template for importation by the PPRA; new refineries must be built and old ones properly maintained and the PIB bill passed into law.

In a telephone interview with The Guardian, Finance Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iwealla would not say how much ground government was prepared to shift but expressed optimism that the crisis would end soon.

“We are all Nigerians with the same objective, which is to take steps to end the current crisis and find ways to move the country forward.

The fact that labour has agreed to come back tomorrow (today) to continue the discussion with government is a sign that we are all prepared to find a common ground in the interest of the country and all its citizens,” she said.

This trend follows a familiar historical antecedent of petrol price increments in Nigeria and how ensuing labour-government face-off has always been responded to.

Announcing the suspension of the protests at the popular Berger Junction in Wuse zone 6 in Abuja yesterday, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Abdulwaheed Omar said in Abuja yesterday that the two-day repriev was meant to afford protesters take a rest and also gather again on Monday if no middle ground was found on the negotiation table.

Omar restated that the labour movement and civil society groups that were part of the negotiation with government have no backed down on total reversal to N65 per litre of petrol as insinuated in some quarters even though the agenda of today's meeting suggest otherwise.

Labour had in the wake of an announcement on the commencement of deregulation by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) on behalf of the government, called for a nationwide industrial action and mass protest against the policy, asking that government should revert back to the former N65 per litre pump price for petrol and engage in a dialogue on the policy.

The nationwide strike and mass protest which entered its 5th successive day yesterday, has grounded Nigeria’s economy; banks, commercial activities, airspaces and government businesses have been completely shut down except in some parts of the country where commercial activities are at its lowest ebb.

Omar, in his address to the crowd at the popular Berger Junction in Wuse 6 in Abuja said: “We started this on Monday without giving you a dime, you have shown your resoluteness to this cause and we commend all of you for your insistence in struggling for a better country.

“The labour movement and its civil society allies after nationwide consultations has decided that this weekend should be observed as strike, protest and rally-free days. This is to allow Nigerians to utilise these days to rest, restock and get re-energised for the continuation of the strikes, rallies and protests from Monday if the government refuses to our demands.”
The NLC chief also debunked popularly held opinion that members of opposition parties have hijacked the protests processes for personal ambition and tools for scoring cheap political points.
He stated: “They said we have collected money and have been compromised but how can we repay you who have shown so much faith in the struggle this way?”

“We urge you to ignore their insinuations and text messages telling you lie about our stance; it is N65 per litre or nothing and that is what we told them that you whom we represent asked us to tell them,” he surmised.


David-West Cautions Ijaw Over Fuel Subsidy Crisis .

Saturday, 14 January 2012 00:00
From Kelvin Ebiri, Port Harcourt News
Nigerian Guardian

FORMER Minister of Petroleum Resources, Prof. Tam David-West has cautioned the Ijaw against giving ethnic coloration to the fuel subsidy removal crisis.

He told The Guardian in Port Harcourt yesterday that it was wrong for some Ijaw leaders and persons from the Niger Delta to conclude that resistance against fuel subsidy removal was aimed at frustrating and possibly ousting of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The former minister, an Ijaw, who described the fuel subsidy issue as a national one, reminded those who are ascribing ethnic meaning to the ongoing nationwide strike, to recall that the president did not win the April 2011 election with only the votes from the Niger Delta and the Ijaw.

David-West said: “What they are doing is not good for the image of the president. Those protesting on the basis of ethnicity are merely interested in the money they can make from the president and also seeking relevance. Jonathan is the president of Nigeria and not the Ijaw.”

He warned those trying to wipe up ethnic sentiments not to compound the president’s problem by alienating him from other nationalities in the country.

“Jonathan only got 24 per cent of his votes from the South-South. He is able to occupy Aso Rock because of the votes from other parts of Nigeria. There is a serious need for people to be circumspect at this critical moment,“ he said.

David-West who has maintained that petrol should not be sold for more than N40 in the country, said it was inhumane for the Federal Government to plunge Nigeria into the present political and economic crisis.


BREAKING NEWS: TUC, NLC Summon NEC Meetings

13 Jan 2012
BREAKING NEWS
Nigeria ThisDay

The two labour centres - Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) - have summoned emergency executive committee meetings for Saturday to brief them on the meeting with government Thursday and the way forward.

Having held discussions with government officials on Thursday, the union leaders said they needed to consult with their excos before coming with a possible final position for the Saturday evening meeting.

If the excos reach a consensus with the government, the strike and demonstrations may be called off Saturday.


FUEL SUBSIDY STRIKE DAY 5

13 Jan 2012
Nigeria ThisDay
LIVE UPDATES:

KANO: 16.48…Thousands troop out of various mosques after attending Friday Jumaat prayers where they had gone to seek divine intervention in the current face-off with government over the removal of fuel subsidy.

One noticeable thing of today’s service was the large turn out of women.

LAGOS: 13.43…Conference of Islamic Organisations in Lagos State led by National Imam of the Ansar-ar-Deen Society, Alhaji Abdulrahman Ahmad leads the prayers as the Jumat Service continues at the Gani Fawehinmi Square.

One of the most intriguing things is that non Muslims at the square are allowing the Jumat Service go on without any rancour.

KADUNA: 12.47…Although the 24-hour curfew in the city has been relaxed to commence from 5pm to 8am, the city has still remained like a ghost town with residents opting to stay indoors apparently for fear of the unknown

LAGOS: 12.44…Friday Jumat Service is underway at the Gani Fawehinmi Square with various Muslim clerics telling Muslim faithful that the ongoing protest is not about religion, insisting that what is happening in the country affects all the masses irrespective of their religious beliefs.

A Muslim women leader also played the feminine card by appealing to the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience to appeal to her husband to listen to the people and reverse government’s position on fuel subsidy.

ENUGU. 12.40…No protests are going on in Enugu following government’s refusal to allow such on the grounds of security concerns. While banks are rendering skeletal services many schools, especially public ones, are shut. However, commercial activities carried out by individuals and petty trading is going on.

Police are out in force at likely rally points in order to enforce government’s position.

AKURE: 12.24…No protest in the Ondo State capital following the withdrawal of NLC and TUC from the anti-fuel subsidy protest on the grounds that they fear it might be hijacked by hoodlums. Civil Society groups in the state have condemned the labour organisations’ position.

However, banks are not opened and commercial activities are not in full swing

Police have also asked civil society groups to get a permit before they will be allowed to hold any rally in the state capital.

LOKOJA: 12.20…Police in Kogi have denied being the ones to have shot a protester earlier in the day. The protester, who is said to have died, was part of a larger group of protesters taking part in a rally against the hike in fuel price

KANO: 12.04…Thousands of protesters march to various mosques in the city to pray over the issue of fuel subsidy removal. A large number of women are also part of those trooping to the mosques for Friday jumat prayers

ABUJA: 12NOON…Organisers bring the Abuja rally holding at the popular Julius Berger Junction to end with prayers by both Christian and Muslim clerics. They also appeal to the crowd to return to their home peacefully and get ready to re-convene on Monday if no agreement is reached.

ABUJA: 11.50AM…Labour and Civil Society leaders are addressing a huge crowd at the federal capital as commercial activities and most offices still remain shut

ASABA: 11.11AM …Reports from the Delta State capital indicate that a mammoth crowd has turned out to protest the removal of fuel subsidy.

LAGOS: 11.00AM…Organisers of Save Nigeria Group have announced that the mass rally taking place the past five days at the Gani Fawehinmi Square, Ojota as part of the protest against the hike in fuel price, will go on recess until next week Monday depending on the outcome of the consultations between organised labour and government.

According to the organisers should an agreement be reached then there will be no rally at the park next Monday but should the talks fail then they implored the crowd to turn out once again next week.

LAGOS: 10.55AM …Pastor Tunde Bakare announces that the rally will end early today in order to allow Muslims hold their jumat prayers. He also said that Muslims would be allowed to pray at the Gani Fawehinmi Square, Ojota with Christians surrounding them to give them protection.

KANO: 10.44AM …Rallies have been suspended in the ancient city in order to allow people go to mosques later in the day.

LAGOS: 10.34AM … Convener of the Save Nigeria Group, Pastor Tunde Bakare is giving the mammoth crowd at the Gani Fawehinmi Square, Ojota a break down of how much government is spending on subsidy and other things.

ABUJA: 10.14AM…Abuja and its environs remain calm and peaceful even though crowds have begun to gather at the Julius Bergeer Junction, which has been renamed ‘Freedom Junction’ by protesters.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Abuja, Jimoh Moshood confirmed that there have been no reports of violence in the federal capital

LAGOS: 10.10AM …Crowd has begun to converge at the Gani Fawehinmi Square, Ojota as the nationwide strike enters Day 5


Fuel Subsidy: FG, Labour Negotiation Deadlocked

13 Jan 2012
By Ahamefula Ogbu
Nigeria ThisDay

What appeared to be a promising rapprochement between labour and government over the fuel subsidy crisis broke down last night as both parties could not reach an agreement.

As a result, the strike continues today – its fifth day – while the negotiation will resume tomorrow instead of today reportedly because Fridays are generally half-working days in Abuja.

The unions had earlier agreed with Senate President David Mark over lowering the price and had even supported the idea that deregulation could be moved to March from the April date they were proposing initially.

But while supporting deregulation “in principle”, they said the price of petrol should first revert to N65 per litre while a committee should be set up to take a comprehensive look at the entire subsidy regime with a view to working out the “most feasible way forward”.

Also, the unions wanted government to reduce the cost of governance through a drastic cut in overheads.

But the Federal Government proposed a three-tiered phased approach in the deregulation programme, with a caveat that a drastic cut in recurrent expenditure would entail pay cuts and retrenchment across board.

However, the negotiation ended last night without a conclusive outcome, even though labour leaders said they had made progress and both parties were ready to shift ground.

THISDAY learnt that the government was proposing N120 per litre, which labour rejected.

When they came out from the meeting at 9.45pm, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Abdulwaheed Omar, who was with the President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Peter Esele, said they had a “fruitful deliberation”.

"The outcome is that we have not concluded discussions yet, but we have had fruitful discussion and we are to continue on Saturday. It is not conclusive yet," Omar said.

On labour shifting ground on its demands, he replied: "Yes, that was part of the discussions. Of course, all of us are trying to shift grounds. That is why I told you that we have had fruitful discussions."

Esele said they were going back to the people “that sent us” but insisted that until there was a total agreement on the essentials of the dispute, they would continue with the strike.

Mark said he was speaking as a mediator and that both sides were shifting ground but that they had to do whatever they would in the interest of Nigerians while further meeting at the instance of Labour would be fixed to finalise on what had been agreed.

Asked if the meeting was agreeing to return to N65 per litre, he replied that Nigerians should expect the best outcome.

“My responsibility was to get government and labour to talk and we are on the right track. The light at the end of the tunnel is even much brighter now. The meeting is very fruitful. Everybody shifted ground to the level that we will take a decision that will be in the best interest of Nigerians. That will be any moment from now. Nigerians should expect best decision," Mark replied.

When Governor Babatunde Fashola emerged from the meeting earlier and was asked the outcome, he put a finger on his lips, meaning “no comment”.

Liyel Imoke of Cross River State said: "We are on break… we have not finished".

In attendance were President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, and Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Governors Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, Fashola of Lagos State, Adams Oshiomhole of Edo and Imoke of Cross River, Peter Obi of Anambra, Gabriel Suswam of Benue, and Babangida Aliyu of Niger were also in attendance.

Also present were Mark, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and Senator Victor Ndoma Egba.

Labour was led by Esele, Omar, NLC acting Secretary General, Owei Lakemfa, and 14 others who entered the meeting from a waiting room at the residence of the president.

They waited for the meeting between the president, senate leaders, governors and ministers for about two hours before they were called in.

Barely 17 minutes after the labour leaders entered, Jonathan and Sambo left the meeting. Jonathan did not come back. After about four hours of meeting, the government team went to brief the president on the outcome.

Aliyu, meanwhile, was said to have argued that governors should be allowed to handle the subsidy within their domains, but the payment formula should be based on consumption per state.

This means Lagos, which consumes an estimated 60 per cent of petrol in Nigeria, would pay most of the subsidy, even though its share from deregulation savings is estimated at N10 billion.

Earlier, President Jonathan met with the leadership of the Senate in what State House sources said was to look for a way out of the protests which had locked down the country for the past four days.

Alison-Madueke, who spoke to State House correspondents, said reversal or reduction from current deregulated price was only possible when there was dialogue and regretted that the strike called by labour had already been “hijacked and politicised”.

She said the government was open to dialogue and had never closed its doors to it, adding that the government had been harping on the gains of the policy.

She explained that if not that the government was convinced about the gains of the policy and the fact that it would change a lot of things positively for the country, it would not have been taking the bashing at the level Nigerians had taken it and still be pressing ahead with it, insisting that it was the best thing to do for the people.

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