Strike: CSOs Beg Labour Unions To Shelve Plan, Says Action Will Hurt Economy

A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) yesterday implored the organisedlabour to shelve its planned indefinite strike billed to start on Oct. 3 over unresolved issues with the Federal Government.

The group, in a statement jointly signed by its members in Lagos, said such action would further hurt national economy.

The statement was signed by Hameed Balogun, Convener; Alex Omotehinse, Secretary and Olawale Omotaje, Executive Director.

The statement reads in part: “The well-publicised plan of the organisedlabour to embark on an industrial action would inevitably be an ill wind that would blow no one, no good.

“As a strategic, civil trenches social stakeholders, we are deeply disturbed with the challenges of socio-economic quagmire confronting Nigerians and the government at this perilous juncture in our history.

“We strongly advise the leadership of trade unions bureaucracy in the country to reconsider its decisions for strike action and mass protests over the attendant hardships that occasioned the Federal Government’s removal of fuel subsidy.

“As much as we sympathise with our compatriots on the prevailing, harsh economic conditions in the country.

“We call for fortitude and forbearance for the nation and citizens to be able to enjoy the imminent benefits of the new reform policies.”

The CSOs recalled that the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had resolved to mount further pressure on the Federal Government to take palpable, affirmative social intervention measure to ameliorate the sufferings of citizens.

They added that labour was agitating against the slow pace, almost foot dragging attitudes of the government to implement promised social relief  intervention, “Subsidy Palliatives”, for the workers.

According to the CSOs, the labour is disturbed that despite government’s admission to have made trillions of  Naira savings from the removal of fuel subsidy policy, it is seemingly reluctant to carry out its promised incremental renumeration awards for workers.

However, the statement said: “As crucial as the wage workers may be in the society, it is neither the sole, social force nor, the majority in our society.