Adewale said the latest 21-day ultimatum given to the government by the NLC over the current cost of living crisis expired on March 13.
The Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) has called for a 48-hour general strike and nationwide protest as the next line of action if the Nigerian government fails to meet the demands of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) after the expiration of its 21-day ultimatum.
The Movement made the call on Wednesday in a statement issued by its National Organising Secretary, Peluola Adewale, while reacting to the 21-day ultimatum the NLC gave to the Nigerian government over the current high cost of living in the country.
Adewale said the latest 21-day ultimatum given to the government by the NLC over the current cost of living crisis expired on March 13.
He said, “Unfortunately, as of Tuesday, March 19, the NLC leadership has not issued any statement or disclosed anything to indicate its next course of action.”
He continued, “In this time of grave social and economic crisis, we of the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) hold that the NLC leadership needs to show a serious approach by declaring and mobilizing for a 48-hour general strike and nationwide protest as the next step in the struggle.
“We find the current silence of the NLC leadership disturbing especially against the backdrop of the two reasons they gave for the suspension of the nationwide protest on February 27 after one day of action.
“First, according to its communique released on February 27, the NLC NEC-in-session resolved ‘to suspend street action for the second day of the Protest having achieved overwhelming success thus attained the key objectives of the 2-day protest on the first day’.
“Yes, the communique also expected the government to ‘implement all the earlier agreements of October 2, 2023, and other demands presented in labour’s letter during the first day of protest’.
“But we hope that the NLC has not truly come to the conclusion that the February 26 protest has attained “the key objectives of the 2-day protest on the first day”, and therefore to them there is no need for any serious action.
“In other words, we hope that the NLC leadership is not now in agreement with President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Festus Osifo who, while speaking to journalists in Abuja on February 26, appeared to suggest that there was no need again for further action because, ‘we gave ultimatum earlier because we didn’t see any level of demonstrations but as at today, they have started doing some work on the agreements.’ (Nigerian Tribune February 27).”
Adewale recalled that both the NLC and the TUC originally issued a joint ultimatum to the government to demand the implementation of the ‘16-point agreements’ of October 2, 2023.
He said, “It was the same joint ultimatum that the NLC independently extended by seven days and which has elapsed since March 13. The TUC did not take part in the February protest.
“As we stated in our last statement following the suspension of the protest, the crises of fuel price hike, the naira devaluation, hunger and inflation with devastating consequences on living standards, incomes and jobs for which the two-day nationwide protests were called are still very much unresolved.
“The current prevarication by the NLC leadership may not be unconnected to its having ab initio accepted the neo-liberal policies of the Tinubu government as fait accompli and thereby limiting themselves to only fighting for the so-called palliatives.
“The fact is that the October 2 agreements whose implementation is the official reason for the ultimatum are about palliatives and no demands for the reversal of the criminal fuel price hike and other neo-liberal policies which are the immediate causes of the current excruciating economic hardship.
“The second reason for the suspension of the February protest is also worrisome. And, it would set a bad precedent for the labour movement if for the same reason, the NLC leadership retreated from marching on with the struggle over the cost-of-living crisis.
“It should be recalled that at a press conference on Wednesday, 28 February, NLC President Joe Ajaero, said the government intimidated and harassed the Congress to suspend the February mass action. ‘We were threatened with all manners of consequences that would be meted on us if we went ahead’ (Guardian, February 29, 2024).
“As we held in our last statement, the issue of intimidation and threat is a serious one, especially considering how Ajaero was brutally assaulted in Imo State last year during a strike action.
“Indeed, President Bola Tinubu in a bellicose speech openly attempted to intimidate the NLC leadership during his official visit to Lagos. Besides, the sacking of Ayodele Akele and other labour activists by Tinubu when he was Lagos State Governor is a testimony to the anti-Labour character of Tinubu.
“Yet, we do not agree that such a threat is enough reason to suspend action. Rather, the NLC leadership should make do with its pledge of ‘unwavering commitment to championing the interests of Nigerian workers and the broader populace’, as contained in its official response to Tinubu’s Lagos speech.”