Labour Resolute on Planned Strike, Protest March

The organized Labour and Civil Society have unveiled a detailed schedule for the indefinite strike and mass action to commence next week.

In a media briefing in Lagos, Saturday, the group stated that the timetable became necessary as a result of the refusal of the President Goodluck Jonathan-led federal government’s refusal to back down on removal of oil subsidy.

“The position of Labour and Civil Society is unconditional reversal of the wicked hike of petrol from the official price of N65 per litre as enjoyed by Nigerians throughout the country since June 24, 2007,” said Abiodun Aremu, the joint secretary of Labour and Civil Society Coalition (LASCO).

According to the group, enforcement of the strike and mass action commences at midnight, January 9.

“Enforcement of strike with mass action in work places, markets, schools, neighbourhoods, major and link roads,” said Mr. Aremu.

“Street protests and procession from 8 a.m in all cities across the country,” he added.

In Lagos the protest is expected to start at the Nigerian Labour Congress Secretariat, Yaba, with the first termination at the Ikeja Roundabout.

Thereafter, a motorcade procession will proceed to all other centres to ensure enforcement and compliance, the group stated.

Asides the central location at Yaba, other locations include the Trade Union Congress Secretariat at Maryland; the office of the Agric and Allied Workers Union, Iyana Ipaja; the Textile Union, Ikeja; and the Ojo campus of the Lagos State University.

“We have also directed Nigerians to move to a focal point which is at the Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota,” stated Mr. Aremu.

“It is the focal point where other Nigerians can always move to throughout the duration of the indefinite strike and mass action,” Mr. Aremu added.

After the protest march on Monday, the group said it would continue with enforcement and monitoring for compliance at work places, schools, banks, and other places; on Tuesday.

Another protest march would be repeated on Wednesday while enforcement and monitoring would continue on both Thursday and Friday.

“While we recognize that we largely operate an informal sector economy where, likely in the evenings at some neighbourhoods, there may be community exchanges. Let it be reiterated that all petrol stations will remain shut throughout the duration of the strike,” said Mr. Aremu.

“Any petrol station that attempts to sell fuel any time in the midnight, their operators will have themselves to blame,” he said.

Various leaders and representatives of both Labour and Civil Society were present at the briefing including Idowu Adelakun, the Lagos State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress.