All set for strike today

THE stage seemed set last night for today’s petrol prices strike.
A senators’ last-minute effort to stave off the strike failed. Labour mapped out details of its action and the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) called on lawyers to join the strike.
Besides, the House of Representatives advised the Executive to roll back the prices. But the Presidency described the resolution as inciting.
Petrol now costs between N138 and N200 per litre, up from N65 before the New Year’s Eve’s sudden withdrawal of subsidy.
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Acting Secretary General Owei Lakemfa issued a directive on the protest in Abuja. 
He said: “The NLC and TUC have directed that Abuja residents converge on Berger Roundabout daily by 8.00am from Monday January 9. Please pass on information to others by means.” 
Some would-be protesters arrived at the Eagle Square yesterday, carrying mattresses, blankets and tents – ready for the action.
The Lagos State council of the congress will begin its protest from the Labour House in Tejuosho. 
NLC Deputy President Promise Adewusi said he was not aware of any official invitation to a meeting with senators. 
Said Adewusi: “I am not aware of any formal invitation by the National Assembly. So, I will not attend a meeting without an invitation as that will be tantamount to gate crashing. We are not likely to go for any negotiation now without PMS pump price being firstly reverted to N65 per litre as that will amount to negotiating under duress. Nigerians have been fully mobilised by hunger, poverty, anger and angst and are primed for the start of the strike tomorrow. Like our President ordered, ‘no retreat, no surrender’.
NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) leaders shunned the Senate’s invitation for a meeting over the planned strike.
The Senator Wilson Ake-led Senate Committee on Labour and Productivity scheduled the meeting for 3p.m. yesterday. It was not to be.
A source said: “Members of the committee were actually at the Senate, expecting the labour leaders who did not turn up. After some time, the senators went to the Labour House to meet with the leaders but they were not there. Efforts to reach them on phone did not yield positive results as the phones were switched off.”
The Nation learnt that most of the labour leaders were in Lagos to perfect plans for today’s action when members of the Senate Committee on Labour and Productivity were waiting for them in Abuja. 
Labour leaders could not also be reached for comments.
Senator Ake had in a statement expressed worry over the consequences of a nationwide industrial action proposed by labour, civil society organisations and professionals against the federal government’s removal of fuel subsidy.
He called for restraint, warning that an industrial action could be catastrophic. 
Ake dismissed the notion that the government was deliberately punishing Nigerians, saying all parties should cooperate in the collective interest of the nation.”
The nationwide indefinite strike begins today.
In Lagos, officials of Labour and Civil Societies Coalition (LASCO) met to put finishing touches to their plan for the strike. 
NLC Deputy President, Joe Ajaero said after the meeting that nothing has happened to change Labour’s position. The strike and protests will begin today, he stressed.
His words: “Nothing has happened to change our position, not even the House of Representatives session. The President’s speech was also empty; it did not address the issue. We are not intimidated. It is a challenge to the Nigerian people, not only Labour. Therefore, the strike begins tomorrow (today) as scheduled. If Government is ready to listen to the people, the president should invite us. We will meet with him.”
LASCO Secretary Abiodun Aremu named the co-ordinating centres for the peaceful street protests to include NLC Lagos Secretariat, Yaba, TUC Secretariat, Ikorodu Road, Textile Union House, Acme Road, Lagos State University, Ojo, and Agric Union House, Alaguntan, Iyana Ipaja.NLC is the central coordinating centre.
Protesters will converge on NLC office and set out from there for the street rally at 8am.
They will enter neighbourhoods to sensitise people on the action.
Ahead of the protests, the body enjoins security agencies not to provoke protesters, as the marches are meant to be peaceful. 
Aremu said: “The declaration of the indefinite strike/mass action has become necessary in view of the current hike in the prices of petroleum products, especially the PMS from N65 to N141, which the Jonathan presidency has said ‘there is no going back’, and the Nigerian people are also insisting their will, not to pay more than N65 for a litre of petrol, must prevail.
“The position of the Labour and Civil Society Coalition (LASCO) – the broad platform of Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and Joint Action Front is unconditional reversal of the wicked hike in petrol to the official price of N65 per litre as enjoyed by Nigerians throughout the country since June 24 2007, following the struggle of June 20 – 24
He recalled that fuel prices were reverted then from N75 for petrol to N65, diesel to N70 and kerosene to N50; and VAT from 10 per cent to 5 per cent.
The Action Plan for the strike is as follows:
Today, Monday, January 9 – Enforcement of strike with mass action in workplaces, markets, schools, neighbourhoods and major link roads.    Street protests/ procession from 8am. Lagos take off point is the NLC Secretariat, Yaba, while Abuja’s will be Berger Round About.     The procession will occupy focal points in all centres across the country. Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota is the focal point in Lagos.
The community sensitisation and street rally will hold everyday since the action is indefinite. Enforcement and monitoring for compliance is an everyday affair.

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