NANS says Nigeria’s security and Economy may never recover if the planned NLC Strike goes on

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has said that while the association is aware of the intentions behind the planned strike by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), including the hardship being faced by Nigerian Youths and students, the action will only make the economic situation worse rather than produce an immediate solution. This was disclosed by the President of NANS, Comrade Pedro Chibuzo Obi (GCNS), during a press conference in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital on Saturday 10th February 2024.

Comrade Perdo warned that the situation may be hijacked and end up fracturing the fragile nature of Nigeria, which he said  was yet to recover the #EndSARS protest which saw the disruption of social and economic activities in many cities, stressing that the country may never recover if the planned protest is allowed.

“While we share in the pains of Nigerians, especially the youths and the student community over the current hardship, we are of the strong belief that the planned strike, if embarked on will further worsen the economic crisis in the country”.

“Nigeria is fragile and hanging by a thread and a nationwide strike at this period may lead to partial or total collapse of the country and set the nation on fire. The scars of the #Endsars protest are yet to heal and Nigeria may never recover if such an incident ever happen again.”

Comrade Perdo appealed to NLC to reconsider their decision in the interest of Nigeria, while also exploring other means of resolving the genuine issues they have raised. “We know it is within the rights of the labour unions to make demands and embark on strike to drive home their points, but we want to appeal to the esteemed labour unions to reconsider the decision, taking into consideration the potential impact on insecurity, economy and more importantly, the academic progress of students across the nation.”

Comrade Pedro called on the Federal Government to do the needful, by fast tracking interventions that will ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians, and also resolving the demands of the union.

“Consequently, we call on the Federal government to fast track the process of implementing the new minimum wage as this will go a long way in assuaging the organized labour and also addressing the plights of the people. We appeal to the government to urgently address the demands of the workers to avert impending crisis.”

He used the opportunity to appreciate the management of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation LTD for not adding salt to injury by announcing that there were no plans to increase pump price of premium motor spirit (PMS) also known as petrol. “We also want to commend the management of the NNPC led by the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mele Kyari, for not adding to the pressure in the country by not only refuting the rumoured increment in pump price, and resisting the pressure to further increase pump price, but also making petroleum products available to Nigerians.”

The full press text is presented below;

BEING THE TEXT OF PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF NANS, COMRADE PEDRO CHIBUZO OBI, GCNS, ON SATURDAY 10TH FEBRUARY IN ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE.

PROTOCOLS

Gentlemen of the press, I warmly welcome you all to this press briefing to address the state of the nation.

It is no longer news that the organized labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has issued a 14-day nationwide strike notice to the Federal Government over the failure of the President Bola Tinubu-led government to implement the agreements reached on October 2, 2023, following the removal of the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit known as petrol.

Nigerians in the past few years have been experiencing economic hardship which has gotten worse in the last few months. The free fall of naira, increase in fuel pump price, skyrocketing prices of food and other commodities, among others have contributed to the economic woes of the people.

While we share in the pains of Nigerians, especially the youths and the student community over the current hardship, we are of the strong belief that the planned strike, if embarked on will further worsen the economic crisis in the country.

Nigeria is fragile and hanging by a thread and a nationwide strike at this period may lead to partial or total collapse of the country and set the nation on fire. The scars of the #Endsars protest are yet to heal and Nigeria may never recover if such an incident ever happen again.

We know it is within the rights of the labour unions to make demands and embark on strike to drive home their points, but we want to appeal to the esteemed labour unions to reconsider the decision, taking into consideration the potential impact on insecurity, economy and more importantly, the academic progress of students across the nation.

While recognizing the importance of addressing labor-related concerns and advocating for workers’ rights, we kindly urge the labour unions to explore alternative means of dialogue and negotiation with the relevant authorities. A strike, though a powerful tool, can lead to civil unrest and further worsen the security and economic situation of the country.

We believe that constructive dialogue and engagement can lead to mutually beneficial solutions without causing nationwide unrest. Our plea is not to undermine the legitimacy of the concerns raised by the labour unions, but to emphasize the potential adverse effects a strike could have on all sectors of our fragile economy.

NANS is committed to fostering a collaborative environment where the concerns of both students and workers are heard and addressed. We encourage all parties involved to prioritize dialogue and explore avenues that allow for the resolution of issues without resorting to actions that may negatively impact the country.

We remain hopeful that a consensus can be reached through meaningful discussions, ensuring that the rights and well-being of both workers and students are considered in the pursuit of fair and just solutions.

Consequently, we call on the Federal government to fast track the process of implementing the new minimum wage as this will go a long way in assuaging the organized labour and also addressing the plights of the people.

We appeal to the government to urgently address the demands of the workers to avert impending crisis.

We also want to commend the management of the NNPC led by the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mele Kyari, for not adding to the pressure in the country by not only refuting the rumoured increment in pump price, and resisting the pressure to further increase pump price, but also making petroleum products available to Nigerians.

We pray and hope that Nigeria recovers fast from the current economic crisis so that Nigerians can reap the dividends of democracy and the fruits of this administration.

Thank you all for listening.

ALUTA CONTINUA!!! VICTORIA ASCERTA!!!

Pedro Obi,
President, NANS.