Suspension of strike is a betrayal of Nigerian People, says Balarabe Musa
Newsdiaryonline  Mon Jan 16,2012

 
Musa

Malam Balarabe Musa, one of those who led the protests  and rallies in Kaduna and former Governor of the  state,  says the decision of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to suspend the nationwide protests against the removal fuel subsidy is betrayal of the Nigerian people.

Speaking today in Kaduna, Musa said that the NLC tricked civil society groups to join the strike and insisted that he would raise another platform to continue the protests until the Federal Government reverses the pump price of fuel to N65 per litre.

Musa said, “the amount announced by the President is not acceptable. We are urging him to reverse back to N65, to show that he cares for Nigerians. If he fails, we will continue to mobilize other Nigerians to ensure that he reverses it.

“We will continue with the struggle from here in Kaduna and will link up with other Nigerians mainly in Abuja, Lagos and Kano; we are determined to give Nigerians another platform to exercise their freedom after all, the organized l

Labour is only 10 per cent of aggrieved Nigerians over fuel subsidy, the rest of us will continue.

“Labour has always been with the civil society organizations because right from the beginning when they announced the strike action, Labour said it was doing it with civil society organizations but we noticed that since the beginning of negotiations with government, they schemed civil society organizations out of the whole show.

“Now they have decided to accept N97 per liter and to suspend the strike without consulting with civil society organizations and it is unfortunate. 

Nigerians who are old enough know that NLC has always adopted a wrong policy on strike, they always call on civil society organizations and Nigerians to support them in strike but they have the habit of abandoning the strike half way.”

But Mr Festus Okoye, executive director , Human Rights Monitor  hailed the suspension of the protests. Okoye however said  that “it is clear that government is not interested in a holistic resolution of the rot and decay in the petroleum sub-sector.

“It also shows that the Nigerian people cannot trust this government even with its new price regime of N97.

“The decision of the Nigerian Labour Congress and its civil society allies to suspend the strike action, rallies and demonstrations called in response to the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government is a courageous and bold decision.

“It shows that the NLC and its civil society allies are patriotic, nationalistic and in tune with the dynamics of the Nigerian situation and the Nigerian condition.

“Labour and civil society groups remained focused on the core issues of corruption in governance. They conducted their rallies and demonstrations with a high level of civility and decorum and in accordance with national and international standards.

“From the beginning of consultations and negotiations, the government and its town criers showed tremendous bad faith.

“The government was still negotiating with civil society groups, the NLC, professional associations and religious groups when it unilaterally announced a new price regime of N141.

“The government was still consulting and negotiating with Labour and civil society groups and unilaterally announced a new price regime of N97. The Labour movement and the Nigerian people have shown and demonstrated that sovereignty belongs to them and not to the government.

“They have shown that they have the capacity and the courage to rise and fight bad governance and corruption. Based on this, Nigeria can never be the same again. “The Nigerian people will continue to demand for accountability in governance and they will continue to fight waste and leakages in governance.

“This will take place at the federal, states and local government levels. The Labour movement and its civil society allies will throw searchlight in all the ministries, departments and agencies of government. We will use legal and constitutional means to demand for accountability.

“The Labour movement provided principled and courageous leadership to the subsidy movement. It is time to go back to the drawing board, map out new strategies and tactics of guaranteeing freedom and development for the Nigerian people.”