Ahead of the Coalition of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) nationwide protest against the hardship in the land scheduled to hold on February 27 and 28, the Nigeria Civil Society Forum has alleged that the union was using the threat of protest and strike to collect gratification from the government.
Checks revealed that the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has already backed out of the planned two-day nationwide protest because the decision was not taken collectively by both unions.
But the Convener of the Coalition, Dr. Godwin Abutu while addressing a press conference on Thursday said while it’s a known fact that Nigerians are going through difficult times at the moment, the government has given assurances on a daily basis of rallying round the clock to ameliorate the sufferings of the people with different incentives.
The group, however, lamented that the efforts of the federal government had been sabotaged by even state governors who instead of standing with the people are busy embezzling the palliatives meant for the masses.
It stressed that the NLC chapters in those States as usual have played the toothless bulldog scenario they are known for, and Nigerians keep suffering under their watchful eyes.
It added: “While we are not worried over the empty and baseless threats to drag the government through the strike, we are once again concerned that this groups has always used these threats to collect gratifications from government and betray the people, a situation we are out to arrest this time as spokespersons of the masses of this country.
“Even though the NLC further contradicted itself by abandoning the wage negotiation table set up by the government to improve the wages of workers to go and embark on this macabre dance that has no head or tail. We expected the leadership of these trade unions to have contributed their opinions of how we would come out of this quagmire with such a privilege rather than embarking on this wild goose chase.”
The group emphasised that it was common knowledge that embarking on strike actions has not resolved any problem faced by the Nigerian masses recently.
The group, therefore, wishes to give the NLC 24 hrs to drop their idea of a warning strike and come to the round table where patriotic Nigerians are concerned and are doing everything humanly possible to make sure they curb hunger, stabilise currency and secure the people.
“We do not expect the leadership of NLC to pretend not to be aware that the warning strike won’t proffer any solution to our present predicament but rather satisfy only their ego and cash out from their sponsors and co-travelers,” it said.