ADVERTISEMENT
  • The Membership Club
  • #EndSARS Dashboard
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • Gender
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • COVID-19
    • News Reports
    • Special Reports and Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • #EndSARS Dashboard
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • #PandoraPapers
  • AUN-PT Data Hub
  • Home
  • Gender
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • COVID-19
    • News Reports
    • Special Reports and Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • #EndSARS Dashboard
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • #PandoraPapers
  • AUN-PT Data Hub
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Civil society groups say labour sold out, vow to continue protests

Civil society groups say labour sold out, vow to continue protests

byPremium Times
January 17, 2012
3 min read

A coalition of civil society groups in Nigeria on Tuesday accused organised labour of selliing out and betraying Nigerians by accepting the government’s N97 fuel pump price and calling off the nationwide strike protesting the removal of fuel subsidies.

Convening the groups, Dino Melaye, a former federal legislator, at a press conference held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, faulted the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) for failing to consult with Nigerians before calling off the 6-day nationwide strike.

“We challenge the leadership of organized labour to tell Nigerians who they consulted with before calling off the strike,” Mr. Melaye said. “Until they do, we believe that this was a well orchestrated charade. We completely dissociate ourselves from the NLC decision to call off the protests which they did not initiate.”

Nigerians in their thousands, and possibly millions, had taken to the streets to protest the government’s sudden removal of fuel subsidy on New Year’s Day, which resulted in the hike of premium motor spirit (petrol) from N65 to between N138 and N250. Nigerians, civil society and Nigeria’s main labour unions had remained resolute that an end to the protests was predicated on the government reverting to N65 per litre of petrol.

Following mass demonstrations across the country crippling the Nigerian economy, President Goodluck Jonathan in a nationwide address in the early hours of January 16 announced a reduction of petrol to N97. Hours later, Nigeria’s main labour unions called off its nationwide industrial action and sit-home order accepting the new pump price which they insist was “unilaterally” fixed by government.

In unison, the civil society groups presented a written petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), along with the forensic report on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation undertaken by international auditing firm, KPMG.

While asking the anti-graft agency to prosecute all person the report indicted for wrongdoing, the group said the Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, should not be allowed to play any role in the investigation because, as minister, she presided over the fraud and corruption in the sector.

“A probe of the Petroleum Industry is a probe on her. We call on the minister to step aside during the period of probe so as not to influence the exercise knowingly or otherwise,” Mr. Melaye said. “In the same vein, we call on the Group Managing Director of NNPC to step aside and also for the Executive Secretary of PPRA to do the same.”

 

Protests continue

Also at the briefing, members of Occupy Nigeria, a movement of Nigerian youth opposing government corruption, human rights abuse and highhandedness, while calling for a N65 reversal, said Nigerians had already begun protests before organised labour announced their strike. He wanted the agreement between the government and organised labour made public.

1X Bet AD

Despite threats of arrests by government officials, they also announced a continuation of protests on Wednesday, while demanding the replacement of Gordon Oboh, the Chief Security Officer of President Jonathan, and his trial for “his involvement in unprovoked attacks” on them on January 9. They also called for an enquiry into “the killing and human right abuses by security agencies” during the nationwide protests.

“We dare them to arrest us,” said Azeenarh Mohammed referring to recent statements credited to the Inspector-General of Police over the protests. “Section 39 and 40 of the constitution is pretty straight unless they want to turn the constitution into dust. But we will protest peacefully, singing the national anthem, saying the pledge and telling the world what we are about.”

Part of the demands of the youth movement is that government, through the National Salaries and Wages Commission “should effect a 50% cut in the salaries and allowances” of legislators and members of the Executive; as well as amend the constitution to ensure “at least 60%” of budgetary allocations cover capital projects.

Signatories to the EFCC petition include Dino Melaye (Anti Corruption League); Ezenwa Nwagwu (Joint Action Front); Pastor Sarah Omakwu (Family Worship Centre); Azeenarh Mohammed, Olaonikpekun Adeyemi, Kate Pam (Occupy Nigeria); Willy Ezugwu (CNPP); Hon. Oyetakin Ebenezer (Nigeria Advance Party); Dr. Yunusa Tanko and Roz Ben-Okagbue (Save Nigeria Group).

  • WhatsApp
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Telegram
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket

CITIZEN-FM AD


Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate



TEXT AD: To place an advert here . Call Willie - +2348098788999


JOIN THE CONVERSATION

  • Disqus (1)
premiumtimes





PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

Police arraign 51 over fuel subsidy strike in Lagos

Next Post

Customs fingers Obasanjo, Ciroma in fuel subsidy scam

Premium Times

Premium Times

More News

Mr Mustapha said he would bring “new ideas” as governor of Lagos State. (PHOTO CREDIT: Official Facebook Page)

Why I’m running for governor – APC guber aspirant

May 18, 2022
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya [PHOTO CREDIT: @NigerianArmy]

Nigerian Army speaks on alleged corruption against top officers

May 18, 2022
Two former Senate Presidents, Anyim Pius Anyim and Bukola Saraki

2023: Anyim, Saraki woo South-west, Oyo delegates, promise to address nation’s challenges

May 18, 2022
Picture used to illustrate Bandits

Bandits abduct motorists on Abuja – Kaduna highway

May 18, 2022
FILE: Court and justice symbols used to illustrate the story

Court dissolves marriage over child’s doubtful paternity

May 18, 2022
Plenary session of the House or Representatives [PHOTO CREDIT: @HouseNGR]

EXCLUSIVE: Former Speaker of the House of Reps arrested, detained

May 17, 2022
Next Post
Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo

Customs fingers Obasanjo, Ciroma in fuel subsidy scam

Gowon endorses Jonathan’s handling of Boko Haram, security

Gowon endorses Jonathan's handling of Boko Haram, security

Read All Comment

Search

AUN-PT Ad





Transport-Technology


Stanbic Ad


Access Bank Ad





Glo Ad


Subscribe to News via Email

Enter your email address and receive notifications of news by email.

Join 1,839,349 other subscribers.

Advertisement






netherland biz school Advert



Zenith Advert

ADVERTISEMENT

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps in Nigeria
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • #PandoraPapers
  • Gender
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Health
    • COVID-19
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • #EndSARS Dashboard
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • AUN-PT Data Hub
  • Opinion
  • The Membership Club
  • Dubawa
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.