….Blasts ‘LP’ Abia Governor for anti-labour policies.
The National President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Olatunji Ambali, has advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to come out strong and provide leadership to avert an indefinite strike to be embarked upon by the organised labour comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress as from October 3.
Ambali gave the advice in Akure, the Ondo State Capital during the State Elective Conference where Comrade Frederick Akinrinlola was elected the new Ondo State President of NULGE, and he will take over from Comrade Bola Taiwo.
The Conference was attended by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu represented by his Special Adviser on Union matters & Special Duties, Mr Dare Aragbaiye; the State Head of Service, Pastor Kayode Ogundele as well as Labour Leaders in the state.
Speaking with newsmen, the NULGE National President said the federal government under President Tinubu must be sincere in addressing suffering confronting citizens and workers as a result of the fuel subsidy removal.
Ambali also chided the Governor of Abia state, Alex Otti who was elected on the Labour Party, (LP) platform for his administration’s anti-workers policies since he assumed office in May, 2023.
He insisted that local government workers in Nigeria are fully mobilised to join the nationwide indefinite strike as directed by the NLC.
Ambali said, “the way to avert the Labour strike by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is to offer leadership, all these dancing round the corner would not be the solution, Mr President brought this hardship to Nigerians by his proclamation on May 29 (fuel subsidy removal) without due diligence to study the economic indices.
“We know that the outgone Government misled him, any policy that is bringing hardship to the people must be mitigated, we are not contradicting withdrawal of fuel subsidy but there must be structures to mitigate the effects on the masses.
“Because of our corruption and inefficiency, we cannot maintain our Refineries, Nigeria is the only nation in the world that is oil producing, that cannot Refine crude oil, must we suffer that, why should we bare that burden, why can’t we bring those modular Refineries in Niger Delta together, sharpen their skills, license them and also collect tax from them.
“NLC has seen that Government is not addressing our issues, why can’t we license every state to create their refinery, you can not blame the marketers who hike pump price, because to import, you go to black market to exchange naira for dollars and you sell at the market you buy.
“Where is the palliative, what to do to cushion this effect is to go back to the local government, give Local Governments support, equipment support, infrastructural intervention, give them Graders that can open farm roads, give them things that would ease their farms product.
“The palliative has even been turned to a political thing, it is now being given to political men, the government should sit with the labour (unions), you cannot just announce wage award, it must be an agreement, it should be a collective bargaining, and sign agreement which should be binding on everybody, I appeal to the President (Bola Tinubu) to sit with the Labour and discuss (for final resolution) without that, we would follow suit (NULGE will follow the strike directive),” he noted.
On Governor Otti’s anti-labour policies, Comrade Ambali said, “NULGE is cautioning the Governor of Abia state, Alex Otti, for his undue meddlesome into the affairs of NULGE and attempt to hijack the leadership of the union (in the state) and we reject this, that he has no right to annul our election and impose his brothers and cronies to take over the leadership of the union.
“We were disappointed that after the conduct of our election before the inauguration of the present administration in Abia state of Governor Otti of Labour Party. He assumed office and the first thing he was to go after industrial unions and made attempt to seize the leadership of the NURTW which was rebuffed by the NLC.
“He moved to NULGE and decided he had to take over the union, hijacked the leadership in a gestapo manner and we were surprised that someone that was elected (LP platform) and have democratic mandate could turn to a dictator by hijacking the leadership of our union.
“His attempt to administer our union for us is condemnable, and unacceptable. We therefore call on the leadership of Labour Party to call governor Otti to order,” NULGE President said.
