By Daniel Idonor, Asst. News Editor
WHEN on January 9, 2012, the Organised Labour made up of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and  Trade Union Congress (TUC) backed by  Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), made good their threat to shut down socio-economic life in Nigeria over the New Year Day shocking removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government, very few people, especially government officials including those in Aso Rock, gave them a chance.

But after five days of what has become an emerging power of the street in global history such as the Arab Spring, it is now clear that occupy-Nigeria is possible. And it had become noticeable to the Nigerian government that unless something was urgently done to take over the control of the labour movement against government then in the hands of the opposition, a decline in the popularity of the President Goodluck Jonathan-led eight months old government was imminent.

Indeed, Aso Rock reading of the scenario was that the opposition led by Pastor Tunde Bakare, the Presidential running mate of Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, in the last April presidential election, under the auspices of the Save Nigeria Group, SNG, and another chieftain of the party, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, was on hand to take maximum advantage of an emerging industrial dispute between government and labour.

At this point, there were growing indications that unless something dramatic was done to contain the mass protests embarked upon by Nigerians in the wake of New Year Day fuel price hike, on one side, and the threat of a jihad by Islamic fundamentalist group, Boko Haram, on another hand, the nation might be plunged into anarchy reminiscent of what preceded the 1967-70 Nigerian Civil War. Aso Rock became bombarded with calls by eminent clerics to listen to the voice of reason, especially coming from elder statesmen like former Head of State, General Yakubu (rtd) and former President Shehu Shagari, both of whom canvassed reversal of fuel price to N65 per litre to avoid what they referred to as avoidable anarchy in the nation.

Besides, many other Nigerians warned that enough damage had already been done to the nation’s economy, stressing that it was doubtful if it would be able to withstand any further disruptions symbolised by another round of nationwide strikes, rallies and protests at this crucial moment of the nation’s political history.

Concern in Aso Rock

Aso Rock became more disturbed when Labour and Red Cross  alleged that about 50 protesters had been killed while many others were being treated for gunshot wounds after police clashed with protesters in parts of the country.

In the northern city of Kano, seven were wounded during the strike. “We now have 14 casualties,” said Red Cross official, Musa Abdullahi. “Seven of them have gunshots wounds while the rest sustained injuries from beating and falling down in the confusion.”

Anti and pro-subsidy protests

While labour and pro-fuel subsidy groups protested in Abuja, some groups that supported President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to end fuel subsidy also staged their own protests. A group of people penultimate Monday gathered at the National Stadium, Abuja and chanted pro-government songs and presented several addresses supporting the government’s decision. The protesters said those opposed to the removal of fuel subsidy were not being realistic.

Protests ground Nigeria

In parts of the country, commercial and business activities were grounded by thousands of protesters who stormed the streets of various cities daily to kick against the deregulation policy of the Federal Government and the increase of the pump price of fuel to between N138 to N250.

The placard-carrying protesters made up of students, market women, civil society groups commercial vehicle and motorcycle operators, civil servants, business men and women poured into the streets every morning rallying behind leadership of the organised labour and civil society. They chanted anti government songs calling on  President  Jonathan to revert the pump price of fuel to N65 per litre in the interest of the suffering masses of the country. Addressing the protesters intermittently as the march went on under the close watch of armed security operatives, were labour leaders and opposition politicians.

Govt, Labour differ

While labour and civil society alleged that proper consultations were not carried out by government prior to the removal, and that the policy was ill- timed, Aso Rock had a different view, accusing political opponents of hijacking the protests.

President Jonathan had on October, 4, 2011 sent the 2012-2015 medium-term Fiscal Framework (MTFF) and the 2012 Fiscal Strategy paper (FSP) to the Senate and intimated the lawmakers of his plans to begin withdrawal of fuel subsidy with effect from the 2012 fiscal year-January 2012. And since then, hell had been let loose on the Nigerian political firmament. While some threatened fire and brimstone others prophesied the disintegration of country.

How govt managed crisis

While the threats by labour to shut down Nigeria were hitting Aso Rock, President  Jonathan, who would not want to see the implementation of an economic policy targeted at growing the economy turn into and economic waste, didn’t fold his hands.

On Wednesday, January 4, an emergency session of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, was held, where an approval for the procurement of 1,600 mass transit buses, as part of the long term plans to cushion the harsh effects of the removal of fuel subsidy, was got. FEC also directed all Ministries, Departments and agencies, MDAs, to pay the monthly salaries of workers by January 20 to ameliorate the harsh effect. Consequently, FAAC meeting was also slated for January 15 to deliberate on the revenue sharing for the month.

Addressing State House correspondents, at the end of the emergency FEC, meeting, Olusegun Aganga, minister of Trade and Investment, who was joined by Labaran Maku, minister of Information and Idris Umar, minister of Transportation, said the 1,600 mass transit buses formed part of the N10 billion revolving loan set aside by the government to address transport infrastructure in the country.

The revolving loan according to him was payable over a five-year period and would attract a 5 -per cent interest rate under the Urban Mass Transit Programme and would be made available to credible transporters, labour unions and other Nigerians involved in transport business.

He disclosed that the government had placed order for massive supply of decent diesel buses to solve transportation problem, assuring “in the next couple of weeks, there will be sufficient mass transit buses. It will go on for two years.”

Stressing the need for full deregulation, Maku regretted that since “previous governments had postponed deregulation, the intended benefits did not come true because for as long as government continues to monopolise the sector, no private sector will come in and invest.”

Urging Labour not to go on strike, the minister said “there is no way a country will survive with N5 trillion debt and uses N500 billion to service debt. The entire capital budget is completely borrowed and if it continuous, the economy will collapse and companies will be forced to cut work force”.

However, Organised Labour  insisted on going in strike because government removed subsidy with discussing with Labour.

Last efforts to stop strike

On January 7, two days to the strike, President Jonathan, in a national broadcast announced new policy measures to ameliorate the hardship the policy would have on Nigerians.

He said that some of the measures include: cutting basic salaries of all political office holders by 25 percent; directive that all ministries, departments and agencies(MDAs)  to reduce their overheads; and reduction of overseas’ travels by government officials in 2012.

He also promised to sanitise the oil industry and to launch a robust mass transit programme, in partnership with states, LGs, transport owners and banking institutions with zero percent interest rate. “To save Nigeria, we must all be prepared to make sacrifices. On the part of Government, we are taking several measures aimed at cutting the size and cost of governance, including on-going and continuous effort to reduce the size of our recurrent expenditure and increase capital spending. In this regard, I have directed that overseas travels by all political office holders, including the President, should be reduced to the barest minimum. The size of delegations on foreign trips will also be drastically reduced; only trips that are absolutely necessary will be approved.” For the year 2012, the basic salaries of all political office holders in the Executive arm of government will be reduced by 25 per cent. Government is also currently reviewing the number of committees, commissions and parastatals with overlapping responsibilities. The Report on this will be submitted shortly and the recommendations will be promptly implemented. In the meantime, all Ministries, Departments and Agencies must reduce their overhead expenses,” he promised.

Court option

When it became very clear that labour was not relenting in its move to close down Nigeria, the government headed to the court to halt the planned strike. A  motion on notice was filed by office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF. Mr. Mohammed Adoke, Minister of Justice, on behalf of the Federal Government before the Justice Babatunde Adejumo-led National Industrial Court asking it to grant an injunction stopping NLC and TUC from embarking on the strike. The court granted the order to stop Labour from embarking on strike.

But Labour dismissed the court order with a wave of the hand and went on strike, which lasted for a week.

Jonathan under pressure

On day four of the strike, following widespread calls for a truce between government and labour by prominent Nigerians and an earlier resolution of the House of Representatives, as well as that of the Senate, asking Aso Rock to save Nigeria from a looming political quagmire, President Jonathan came under enormous pressure, which led to his acceptance to allow Aso Rock be the venue of all future negotiations with Labour, which had earlier maintained that there would be no negotiation until outright reversal of the policy.

One of such meetings took place on Thursday in the office of the First Lady. Though inconclusive, the meeting was adjourned till the following day. However, the NLC president, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar told State House correspondents that the Federal Government and NLC were prepared to shift grounds.

President Jonathan, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark, seven state governors, ministers, leaders of the NLC, Trade Union Congress (TUC) and members of the Federal Government negotiation team, attended the meeting at the State House.

However, moments after the labour leaders were led into the room where they were to hold discussion, President Jonathan and Vice President Sambo left the venue to allow the negotiation team to continue the talks with labour but were expected to join the talks later.

Sambo returned for the meeting at about 8.15pm just before the participants went for break.

Surprisingly, when the truce talks resumed the following day it ended in deadlock, as labour insisted on maintaining the status quo regarding fuel pump price. The meeting, which started behind schedule, exactly at about 8:15pm at the First Lady Wing of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, in sharp contrast to the previous Thursday meeting where parties agreed to shift ground, a clear indication that labour was no longer in charge of the strike, as some wounded political elements had cashed-in, which created more worries for Aso Rock.

Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar and the labour delegation had at about 11.40pm  stormed out of the meeting, insisting  that the Federal Government must revert to N65 per litre. Omar said: “We are going to continue our deliberation at our organisations’ level and then maybe we will see the way forward.” Asked whether the meeting was deadlocked, the NLC boss  said: “Not deadlocked, but we have not reached a compromise. We are going to meet with our organs, then we inform Nigerians. Like we said the other time, it means the status quo remains. Let’s go back to N65, then we agree on a new line of action.”

But at about 12:15am, the federal government delegation came out and told journalists that the discussion was fruitful. Commenting on what transpired at the meeting, the Senate President, David Mark,  said: “We had very fruitful discussion. We are veering on the right path to find amicable solutions that Nigerians will appreciate”. He assured that very soon, there would be an agreement on a new price to be fixed, adding that, “we are working on it.”

Government and Labour were to go for more rounds of negotiations. As security reports of alleged hijack of the protests were flashed on the faces of Labour leaders, they, in  a joint statement by the Acting General Secretary of NLC and General Secretary of TUC, Comrade Owei Lakemfa and Chief John Kolawole categorically dissociated organised labour from any plot to change the present regime in the country through the mass action spearheaded by it and assured that whenever the government was ready and called labour for further meeting, it would attend without conditions.

On its part, President Jonathan, not unaware of the high-level of corruption in the oil industry, one of the bases of the strike; and the overwhelming desire not to allow protesters return to the streets on Monday, directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to immediately commence a probe of the utilization of the more than N1.3 trillion subsidy fund. The decision to probe the management of the subsidy funds followed a request to the EFCC by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Dizeanni Allison-Madueke.

The Minister said: “With presidential approval, I have written to invite the EFCC to immediately review all payments made in respect of subsidies on fuel and kerosene and to take all necessary steps to prosecute any incidence of malfeasance, fraud, over-invoicing, and related illegalities in an open and transparent manner.”

She also set up a unit in her office to be headed by an independent auditor to review the report of KPMG and other audit reports of NNPC and other parastatals, and immediately begin implementation of their findings, ensuring, at all times, full probity and value for money. “I am em-paneling another unit in my office to begin a comprehensive review of the management and controls within all parastatals in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, including but not limited to NNPC, PPPRA, and DPR. Accordingly, I expect a report in 30 days to enable us take further action in reforming management, personnel, and other practices and procedures in parastatals within the ministry.”

While these were going on, the government was also warning that if the organised labour was to continue with protests and rallies last Monday, hoodlums must stay away from the protests or else they would  be dealt with ruthlessly. The Federal government said it had become imperative for it to take that decisive action of crushing the hoodlums because hijacking the strike and turning it into a riot was not the intention of NLC, TUC and CSOs.

The N97 offer

And in what can be said to be close to a relief, after a week-long of strikes, rallies, street protests and weekend’s failed talks with labour, President Jonathan in a nationwide broadcast Monday morning, announced new pump price for petrol, saying the product would now sell at N97 per litre. The new price is N44 less than the N141 announced by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, on January 1; and N32 higher than the former price of N65, demanded by labour and the civil society for the strike to be called off.

Jonathan, however, said that his government was working hard to reduce recurrent expenditure in line with current realities and to cut down on the cost of governance.

Labour ceases fire

And finally an end to what was almost turning Nigeria into a war zone came when Labour suspended the week-long strike and promised to collaborate with the Justice Alfa Belgore to achieve better petrol pricing and good governance in the country.

In his review of the events of the past week, a relieved President Jonathan, at the annual presidential honours for highly performed members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa on Monday declared that the Tunde Bakare and Nasir el-Rufai led protest in Lagos and Abuja respectively, as well as other parts of the country, were “political riots”.