Telcos tariff hike: Why labour shelves protest as FG sets up 10-member c’ttee to trash issues

 

THE Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, last night shelved its planned protest against the proposed 50% in telecomunications’ tariff hike.

Recall that the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, led government’s delegation to the meeting with labour.

Rising from a meeting between the federal government and NLC, the Minister of Informtion, Mohammed Idris, said the trouble-shooting parley was to help stave off the protest slated for today by the labour movement.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, the minister said the hike was not ill-thought, but a product of a study conducted by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC. He said a committee of 10 members, comprising five each from both parties, was set up to study the document from the NCC and revert in two weeks.

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, on his part, said the outcome of the committee’s work would determine labour’s next line of action.

Idris said: “We have deliberated at length. The crux of the matter is that there is already a study that was conducted by the NCC that led them to arrive at this 50% increase.

“Now, we are discussing this with Labour. Labour has agreed that they will look at that study and then a small committee has been set up to look at that study once again and come up with a final resolution for the consideration of government and Labour in about two weeks time.

“So, the summary of it is that labour and the Nigerian Labour Congress specifically, and the delegation of the federal government have set up a committee of five each.

“We are going to meet here continuously for the next two weeks and at the end of the second week, we will now come up with a recommendation we will give to government and organized labour for final consideration.

“Now, I think what has happened here has effectively taken out that position (protest). Both of us have agreed. In fact, it is an attempt to put a stop to that (protest) that led us to make this meeting happen today (yesterday). 

‘’So, this meeting has happened. Both organised Labour, the NLC particularly, and the government have sat down here and have agreed on this position. 

‘’So, there won’t be any protest on Tuesday by the Nigerian Labour Congress and there will be some form of report that will come up in about two weeks from now to consider the study and other considerations by both parties.’’

Labour reacts

Apparently reacting to a meeting by some federal officials with some civil society organizations which announced a cancellation of the protest earlier in the day, Comrade Ajaero said any consultation without orgnaized labour would not stand.

“We emphasized to them that the NLC is the largest organization in the whole of Africa and there is no consultation of stakeholders that does not include us that will stand. 

‘’It was on that premise that they agreed to have a larger committee to look at the entire tariff structure and model and to come out with a realistic and an all-inclusive agreement.

“So the committee will be made up of five, five from both sides and expected to come out with a result after two weeks.

“That will determine the next line of action and the process of engagement.  The symbolic action of submitting the letters Tuesday (today) will be put on hold until the outcome of such committee. The outcome of such committee is what will determine our next line of action in terms of protest, in terms of boycott, in terms of even withdrawal of services, which are the three issues we put on line.

“But I will use the opportunity of this meeting to put in our displeasure on the electricity tariff and the tax that is killing the workers now, the tax regime which is unbearable. So, those are actions that are still on course, you know, until they are addressed,” Ajaero added.

Those at the meeting included the SGF, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Minister of Budget, the Minister of Communication, Minister of Labour, the Minister of Information and the Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC.

On labour’s side were the NLC president, Secretary and other members of the executive council.

Culled from Vanguard