CNG expresses disappointment on suspension of strike, mass protest

Abdul-Azeez Suleiman

...threatens mass action against fuel, electricity tariff hike 

The Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG,  and its affiliates has threatened mass action against hike in pump price of petrol  and electricity tariff.

CNG, at a briefing in Kaduna, expressed disappointment on Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC;  after mobilizing Nigerians,  “surprisingly announced a two-week suspension following an agreement at a meeting with government officials on the eve of the planned action.”

Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, CNG Spokesperson, said the group joined the majority of Nigerians whose interests were not reflected or protected in the Labour/ government agreement, saying  “The agreement reflected the concentration of negotiation on only the electricity tariff which was just one demand out of many concerns raised by Nigerians such as exploitative taxation, insecurity, infrastructural decay, massive unemployment and poverty. Even at that, no representation was made about the existing wide discrepancy between the electricity tariff obtainable in the North, and those in the southern parts. The agreement did not bind the Federal Government to a definite time frame within which to revive the capacities of the national petrochemical refining assets.    

“The entire palliative package does not reflect the overall interest of the mass of suffering Nigerians outside the fold of the NLC and TUC which collectively accounts for only about 0.5% of the total national population. The package merely offers temporary relief to a minor section of the population with the vast majority condemned to suffer the harsh realities perpetually, as prohibitive fuel prices inadvertently reflect on other commodities.''

'' The capitulation by the labour leadership signals the need for the formation of an alternative unified, more confident, and consistent national front for undertaking further autonomous actions outside the workers’ unions.”