The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) said they were not disturbed by the Federal Government’s threat to invoke the “no-work-no-pay” rule on public servants.
Mr Joe Ajaero, deputy president of the NLC, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos that such threats were not new to labour leaders.
The organised labour called for an indefinite strike from Jan. 9 to protest the removal of subsidy on petrol, and had been able to sustain the strike for the third day running.
“We are familiar with the threats”, he said, adding that the average worker would not be deterred by such.
“What Nigerians need to hear today is the return of petrol subsidy and the reduction in the price of fuel to ensure that everybody goes about his or her business once again,’’ Ajaero said.
He said the injury inflicted on Nigerians due to the increase in the price of petrol since Jan. 1, was felt by everyone, as shown by the heavy turnout of protesters in many towns of the federation.
The NLC big-wig also urged the government to resolve the issue and end the protest soon, to avoid hoodlums using the situation to attack innocent citizens.
“This strike is organised by labour, but it is the reaction of the people because of government’s policy that is not favourable to the people,’’ Ajaero said.
He said more and more people were joining the protests, and urged the government to find solutions to the problem at hand, instead of issuing threats.
In the same vein, Mr John Kolawole, secretary-general of TUC, said the threat would not do anybody any good.
According to Kolawole, the effect of the strike has shown that people are now aware of the policies that are not favourable to them and are ready to react.