MURIC Faults Planned NLC Strike

A faith-based group, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has faulted the decision of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to embark on strike over the removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government, describing the move as “rash, irrational, confrontational, provocative and unpatriotic.”

The group’s executive director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, accused NLC of abusing civil liberty and urged it to allow the new administration to settle down.

The NLC has declared a nationwide strike billed for Wednesday.

AMURIC said the planned industrial action is a counter move by Nigeria’s umbrella workers’ association against the withdrawal of subsidy by the federal government.

It considered NLC’s declaration of strike at this particular time as an abuse of civic liberty, saying “To declare a strike within four days of the inauguration of a new administration is rash, confrontational, provocative and unpatriotic. NLC is impatient. Its leaders have failed to demonstrate responsible leadership.

“A union can be radical but it must also be rational. NLC leadership has exhibited acute desertification of rationalism and responsible leadership. There must be a human face in activism.

“NLC leadership has behaved as if it has an axe to grind with the new administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Neither has the union convinced Nigerians that its strike is based on informed opinion.”