The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) Vanguard has said the resistance of the people amid hardship must be to conquer all fears, noting that past betrayal by labour leaders had made the call imperative.
It proceeded to ask the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress TUC (TUC) what would happen if President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government failed to give a positive response to their demands.
Reacting to the indefinite strike declared by the organised labour in a statement jointly signed by the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero and the TUC President, Comrade Festus Osifo, the PRP Vanguard faulted the labour unions' approach to their demands. It noted that how demands are packaged matters but how those making the demands fight matters more.
The labour leaders had in a joint statement announced that the NLC and TUC NEC-in-Session resolved to “in the spirit of the Independence Day celebration and to demonstrate our resolve for a truly independent Nigeria to take our destinies in our own hands and rescue our nation.
"To embark on an indefinite and total shutdown of the nation beginning on zero hours Tuesday, the 3rd day of October, 2023.
"To direct all workers in Nigeria to withdraw their services from their respective workplaces commencing from the 3rd of October.
"To direct all affiliates and state councils to immediately start mobilizing accordingly for action to organize street protests and rallies until Government responds positively to our demands.
"To enjoin all patriotic Nigerians to join hands across the nation to assist this government put the people back at the centre of its policies and programmes."
But PRP Vanguard in a statement issued on Wednesday said, "There is a popular impression amongst the masses that workers are only interested in their pay packs, and not the welfare of the generality of the people, including hard-pressed retired seniors who deserve automatic increase in their pensions as salaries rise. A global standard, isn't it?"
It further stated: "On the front burner of a nationwide strike must be the issue of cost of living, cost of governance, grand corruption, and petrol price strangulation of the economy. You know that as well as we do.
"These issues are interrelated. Salary and pension increases are corollaries. Inseparable. Inescapable.
"We now ask: What is the end game if the government does not respond positively to our demands after three to seven days? Or more . . .?"
It noted that the question has become imperative because "a people under such intense daily hardship can hardly afford prolonged job and market shut down without the prospects of overwhelming victory against the regime in their just cause for a life-giving economy. A satisfactory result this time around is a must.
"Past betrayal makes this call imperative."
The PRP Vanguard further asked, "Are we going to Call for the Regime to Fall? Are we going to push for Regime Change?
"Are we truly organised for that kind of scenario? Or is this just another baby cry for palliatives from the regime as misery in the nation escalates?"
It dissociated itself from the labour unions' demands saying, "Please do not refer us to your official demands. We saw your documents before crafting this message.
"We must understand that confronting a regime that has chosen to dig its heels is confronting a regime that deserves to be defeated.
"Regime Intransigence, we must understand, is a sign of fear of and contempt for the people. Our resistance must be to conquer all fears, restore our collective dignity, and win our legitimate rights.
"If Tinubu does not listen to our cry, we must drown his regime in our tears."