Wabba leading a protest march in Abuja
With the suspension of the nationwide
strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) after five days of protest
and negotiations with government, Paul Obi writes on the divisions and
forces that browbeat labour into submission
The Hostilities
The President Muhammadu Buhari
administration was ushered in, in a critical time with slogan of
‘change’ that was in dire need of policy redirection from the past
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government. Insecurity triggered by the
Boko Haram insurgency in the north, dwindling global oil price, falling
Nigeria’s oil output, corruption and perceived marginalisation of
sections of the country stood on the government’s path to Eldorado. All
these socio-economic headaches had to be tackled headlong. But not
without hostilities, especially, between government and the organised
labour. The increase of electricity tariff was the first shot aimed at
Nigerians and labour. The hike of petroleum pump price and removal of
subsidy by whatever name it is called was the climax. It is this
increase that propelled the organised labour to take to the streets
notwithstanding the cracks within its ranks.
The Negotiation Table
At the negotiation table, government was
very skeptical and dreadful of the impact a unified organised labour
would have, should they have their way. A probable strategy was
immediately conceived to persuade labour to tow government’s line. It
was at this juncture that drafting in Edo State Governor, Adams
Oshiomhole, as the chief negotiator became apparent. The belief was that
with Oshiomhole as one of labour’s own, labour will not pose too
unyielding in submitting to government deregulation of the downstream
oil sector. Also, ministers linked to the deregulation policy were
giving marching orders to fall in line with the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, in ensuring that
government had its way. Thus, Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen.
Chris Ngige, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe
Kachikwu, Minister of Information and Cultural Orientation, Lai
Muhammed, Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi, and Senior
Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Sen.
Ita Enang, all fell into line.
At the negotiations, it was not
surprising to spot the superimposing stature of Lawal, even likened to a
Commanding Officer by close watchers of events. In one of the events at
the Presidential Villa, Lawal was reported to have scolded Kachikwu who
was busy exchanging pleasantries before the arrival of the president
for cabinet meeting, stating that, “Kachikwu, there is no fuel, and you
are there shaking hands.” Getting to real business, divisions between
the President of National Association of Electricity Employees (NAEE),
Comrade Joe Ajaero, who also led a faction of labour, and NLC President
Comrade Ayuba Wabba, provided a leeway for the government to sail
through without much hitches.
Buhari and His Lieutenants
All through the negotiations and talks
for petroleum pump price increment and deregulation of the downstream
oil sector, President Buhari kept aloof from the controversies that
bedeviled the policy and its announcement. From the strategies on
display during the talks, the policy was consummated by the
Commander-in-Chief, while his lieutenants were tasked to deliver results
without any obstacles. Throughout the initiation of the fuel price hike
and removal of subsidy, this pattern became obvious. First, President
Buhari jetted out of the country; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was to
initiate the policy. Then, the SGF meant to pacify warring parties along
with the ministers. Till date, no one has heard a clear-cut policy
statement from Mr. President on the hike and deregulation.
WAjaero as Favoured Bride
Since the tussle for leadership between
Ajaero and Wabba, Ajaero, with his men, Igwe Achese of NUPENG and
Francis Johnson of PENGASSAN headed to Lagos, while Wabba took hold of
the Labour House in Abuja as the substantive and recognised NLC
President. Since the Buhari administration came on board, government had
clearly pitched its tent with the Wabba group. At the commencement of
what NLC called ‘anti-people’ policies by the government; no muscle was
moved until the increase of fuel price. Sensing that Wabba may be a
thorn in the flesh to persuade to support the hike and subsidy removal,
government quickly jump-ship and courted the Ajaero faction, who with
open arms embraced government to spite the Wabba group, a move that is
now seen as a pay-back for Wabba in leadership tussle. Even when Wabba
group staged a walkout from the talks, government continued with the
Ajaero group, setting up committees for social palliatives, minimum wage
and harmonisation of petroleum pump price hike. Ajaero’s support to
government will forever hunt labour which has now left itself more
fractured, unprecedented in its history.
Kaigama and TUC’s In-house Warfare
If Ajaero had in cap-in hand approach
supported government position on petroleum pump price hike and
deregulation, that was not a surprise to organised labour stakeholders.
But the most astonishing and dumbfounding was Trade Union Congress (TUC)
nocturnal back stepping of other labour unions. TUC, headed by Bobboi
Kaigama, was already holding consultations with NLC on how to present a
common front, before the start of negotiations. During the talks, they
supported all that they had earlier opposed in conjunction with NLC.
Till date, no one knows when and where TUC decided to fly another kite
different from the one it had with NLC. That shock is yet to disappear.
It is one that will stay with labour for many years to come, including
leaving a sour taste.
Wabba and Labour Sour Grapes
No doubt, Wabba has goodwill among many
the organised labour stakeholders. His tactics to confronting government
in several of its policies that have precipitated economic hardship
have been that of carrot and stick. That is not surprising. Even before
the petroleum pump price hike, NLC had acted as if it was too close to
the government to bite. Yet, on the 11th of May, 2016, Wabba was left
with no choice than to confront government officials. Observers opined
that the support for his ambition of being number one labour officer by
some political heavy weights may have hampered a rather strong
opposition expected of labour. Former Lagos State governor and Chieftain
of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit
to Wabba and his team at Labour House confirmed this fated romance.
Tinubu told labour that “I am here to appeal to you to understand that
whatever you are doing, whatever this government is doing, whatever the
President is doing which involved myself and yourself is for the good of
all.”
“You brought this government on board,
without you, without your support, without your participation, we could
not have won the election. Now that we have won the election, we can now
look at ourselves and ask ourselves how best we can manage the victory?
How can we use the success to make a change?“ Tinubu asked.
NLC’s declaration of protest and strike,
according to Wabba, was imperative to stop government from annihilating
the masses. In one of the meetings with government, Wabba said: “All of
us are aware of the fact that NLC since the coming of this
administration, we have been very proactive. First in the fight against
corruption, in the area of good governance, and we have contributed
immensely to ensure that this critical area that needed the support of
all of us that we have driven together on this specific policy issue on
the increase in the pump price of petroleum, which have resulted to
about 67.8 per cent increase, it is an issue that we have issued an
ultimatum since last week and we have been invited for meeting with
government yesterday to take time to go and discuss; we had our national
executive council meeting and we came back to still look at the issue
and the mandate that we have to the effect that majority of the Nigerian
workers feel like the pump price of N145 per litre is too outrageous
and out of proportion and therefore with the hard economic situation, it
is very difficult for them to go by especially in context of the
increase.” That notwithstanding, even though Wabba put up a good fight,
many expressed reservation on the future of labour in the country. Some
are of the opinion that labour has lost its unified voice and fierce
force. Of a truth, NLC had so many forces to contend with: one was that
Ajaero group was always going to fight back in a dangerous manner. He
did and had his way. Two, was that labour was too close to APC
government both outside government when they were in opposition and when
they eventually formed government. Therefore, organised labour was too
shy to confront government vigorously on many fronts. With these
shortcomings, observers are watching how labour will bounce back with a
new force. Otherwise, under Wabba’s watch, labour will be left to bleed
alone with its sour grapes.
The Last Man Standing
Of all the familiar faces now chanting
slogans in support of removal of subsidy, from Tinubu, Lai Muhammed,
Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, SAN, Pastor
Tunde Bakare, the APC as a party and its leaders, only Femi Falana, SAN
has remained adamant. He still opposes fuel pump price hike and
deregulation.
The rest of them have shifted their goal
posts even without apologies to the masses they coercively propel to
oppose the Jonathan administration on deregulation. Since government
started initiating the new policies, Falana has not minced words in
opposing such actions. Many who are close to the organised labour are
also aware that Falana has continued to play his advisory role in
shaping labour decisions and steps and how to stand for the Nigerian
masses. According to him, “the Federal High Court declared illegal and
unconstitutional the policy decision of the federal government to
deregulate the downstream sector of the petroleum industry contrary to
the combined effect of the provisions of the Price Control Act and the
Petroleum Act.
In total defiance to the said order of
the federal high court, the federal government has deregulated the
downstream sector of the petroleum industry. In justifying the policy,
Dr. Kachukwu claimed that “PPPRA has informed me that it will be
announcing a new price band effective today, 11th May, 2016 and that the
new price for PMS will not be above N145 per litre.”
Others who had opposed the 2012 subsidy
removal and still held the same position include Sen. Dino Melaye, Sen.
Shehu Sani; Sani was even threatened with expulsion from APC, his party.
What Lies Ahead
Though negotiations have continued
between labour and government, it is still not certain what would come
out of those talks. Rather, what is certain is that labour has left
itself fractured and dislocated from all corners. Government, on the
other side, had its way.
There also appears to be confusion over
which side government will bow to. Will it be Ajaero or Wabba? Ajaero
has subserviently embraced government overtures to hit back at his
opponents, as Wabba withdrew from the talks. Will government discard all
agreements reached with the Ajaero group and rewrite a new one with
Wabba? These are the many questions lying ahead. Nothing is clear yet;
the future is still uncertain, where Nigerians would have to face new
prices in defiant of their wishes.
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