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NLC Commends House Motion Says, "The Strikes And Protests Must Go On" Tomorrow

The Labour Movement and its allies have commended the House of Representatives for its extraordinary resolution adopted today in which it demanded suspension of the astronomical increase in the price of fuel imposed by the Goodluck Jonathan government.

The Labour Movement and its allies have commended the House of Representatives for its extraordinary resolution adopted today in which it demanded suspension of the astronomical increase in the price of fuel imposed by the Goodluck Jonathan government.

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In a statement signed by the Acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Owei Lakemfa, and the Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress, Mr. John Kolawole, the Labour Movement observed that the motion, if adopted by the Executive, will immediately douse the explosive tension in the country and restore it to its pre-January 1, 2012 normalcy.

The Labour Movement pointed out, however, that the indefinite strikes, rallies and mass protests will commence across the country as scheduled on Monday morning. 

“We ask Nigerians to disregard the disinformation by the Jonathan administration and its surrogates claiming that Labour has had a rethink on the strike,” the statement said.  .

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The Movement praised the House of Representatives for displaying exemplary leadership not just in cutting short its break, but also meeting on a Sunday. 

“If other arms of governance work with the exemplary speed, seriousness, sensitivity and patriotic zeal as the House of Representatives did today; our country would be a far better place to live,” it said, calling on the Senate to also rise up to the expectations of Nigerians by concurring with the House motion. 

It then urged President Goodluck Jonathan to “listen to the loud voice of the Nigerian people” which the Representatives have further expressed by immediately suspending the fuel price hikes and allowing dialogue and consultation on the issue of fuel subsidy removal.

The Labour Movement also commended Nigerians in the Diaspora for their support and protests, drawing particular attention to those in the United States who plan to protest on Monday morning in front of the World Bank headquarters in Washington. 

“The Breton Wood Institutions which include the IMF and the World Bank will not be allowed to dictate anti-people policies such as fuel subsidy removal to the Nigerians,” the statement insisted.

An analyst who spoke to SaharaReporters today, however, called for caution in over-praising the House, stressing that the same Representatives form part of the exploitation of ordinary Nigerians through their bloated salaries and allowances. 

“It would have been an even more extraordinary day, on the eve of the people’s rallies, if the House had demonstrated deeper goodwill, for a start, by voting to cut their salaries and allowances by 50% across the board.”

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