By Dele Sobowale

“No minimum wage;  no election”.
Nigerian Labour Congress, March 2011.

If your gen-set is off, it must have been turned off on account of overwork or because you can no longer afford the N170+ price of diesel – when you can find it. And if your wife is missing, have no fear. She has not abandoned the home. She is probably out there in search of elusive kerosene. Welcome to fresh air. We asked for it –including  the NLC.

Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, is now headed for the graveyard to rest in the bosom of the greatest of the great labour leaders –Pa Michael Imoudu who hailed from Oke-Ora in Edo State. After him came people like Adebola until Oshiomhole left and forgot to lock the gates permanently. When great labour leaders talk tough, Presidents and Prime Ministers tremble.

Today,  NLC is led by people who are more comedians than comrade; they talk tough and leaders laugh in their faces. So when in March 2011,  NLC issued another one of its empty threats to bring the elections to a halt, it was not only Jonathan and the governors who guffawed, at UniJankara we were rolling on the floor. These guys are giving Ali Baba and Basketmouth a run for their money. We knew there would be no minimum wage paid and the elections would proceed as scheduled anyway. Jonathan and PDP were set to rope another set of dopes.

So, one afternoon in April, the NLC jesters were invited to an “important” event in Aso Rock – the signing of the Minimum Wage Bill by President Jonathan. The event was well-publicised and the NLC “mugus” immediately advised their members to go out and vote massively for “ a listening President”.

Again, we were wildly amused; this was comedy of the highest rank. It is quite possible that the delegation was also offered the “statutory” $50,000 “fuel money” which Pastor Bakare and co. rejected ( I wonder if Jonathan can pass the brown envelope presented to Bakare & Co to UniJankara; we are running out of Gulder money). UniJankara staff and students thought the whole show hilarious because we can spot a con game in progress. AND THIS WAS IT!!!

Why you are probably asking? Come for a free summer course at UniJankara; and bring an NLC mugu with you. We laughed chiefly for three reasons – none of which could have escaped the notice of Imoudu, Adebola and Oshiomhole. First, a “Minimum Wage Bill” was rumoured to have been passed June last year with announcement that payments would start in July.

One top budget officer, when asked how the Federal Government would pay, responded that “government already “captured” it in the 2010 budget –which was produced in 2009. I laughed. Till today, the money still remained imprisoned –probably in somebody’s fixed deposit account. Second, the bill signed by Jonathan in April this year was probably not gazetted. And, a bill does not become law until it is gazetted. Third, and, as if to prove that NLC had been conned, the Wednesday after the National Assembly elections this year, the Deputy Senate President presided over a Senate session in which the Minimum Wage Bill was up for discussion. I remember Senator(Prof) Jubril Aminu and Senator Olorunmimbe Mamora being among those contributing to the discussion. Is it possible that a bill which had become law could again be debated?

Right there and then I knew that the leaders of  NLC had sold their members down the river. Can anyone show us an authentic Minimum Wage Law signed? Already, some state governors, after being re-elected, have declared their intention not to pay. Will NLC disrupt the election of 2015? They certainly have failed in 2011. And why is NLC silent over kerosene? Don’t their wives cook? Mugu goes mugu comes. Sorry, Baba Imoudu. Your labours, no pun intended, have been rendered useless by “What’s-his-name?” and Co. Pity.

AKWA IBOM: VICTIMS OF OIL WELLS’ INJUSTICE –2
“The Supreme Court was created for us; not us for the Supreme Court”.

Dele Sobowale, June 2011.
Because they are human, they are individually and sometimes collectively fallible. That explains why in some countries; the United States being a notable example, the Supreme Court had reversed itself in some instances. The Supreme Court of Nigeria should get ready to reverse itself on this matter. Am I a lawyer? Definitely not.

But, there are a few facts in my possession which might not have been presented before the court at the material time which should be considered. Last week, I ended the first part of this series by asserting that I took a ring side seat in anticipation of this issue which, to me, would end in a brawl. Even my senior brother and friend, Obong Victor Attah, who set the ball rolling with his book on ATTAH ON RESOURCE CONTROL had no idea that he was starting an oil revenue war.

But, at UniJankara, we know too well that once someone requests for cake slices to be adjusted in his favour, he would need to put on his battle gear. The 25 per cent minimum allocation which Attah asked for on behalf of mineral, not just oil-producing states would have to come from the Federal Government and non-mineral-producing states. The battle line was immediately drawn.

By the way, this is one issue which should unite all Ibomites, irrespective of political or ethnic affiliations. The revenue they stand to lose will impact all of their lives. To begin with, 172 oil wells were involved. You don’t have to be a student of UniJankara to know that 86 is half of 172. While the controversy is on the 86 supposedly misappropriated by Akwa Ibom, nobody has asked the question: “What happened to the other 86 oil wells?”

PIB: THANK GOD FOR GREAT MERCIES !!!

The Sixth National Assembly passed into history without passing, at least openly, the PIB. That enormously important bill will now have to be re-presented to the Seventh Assembly which will have four years to educate themselves and us on the provisions of the bill before handing our commonwealth to IOCs and persons unknown to us.

As the coach of a US baseball team once said” “You win some; you lose some. That is the game of life”. I am happy all Nigerians won this one. It is even more important than the Presidency. After all, presidents come and go. Our collective interests remain forever.

When my days are done on this page, this will rank side by side with the defeat of the Third Term bid by Obasanjo as the happiest trophies to claim.

JONATHAN NEEDS HELP
“We and the government I will lead owe Nigerians good performance based on the fear of God…
President Jonathan during a pre-inauguration thanksgiving service at the National Christian Centre, Abuja.

Only the President knows who his speech writers are. Every President in the world engages people to prepare the draft before making amendments. But, invariably they should be well crafted. With all due respects to our President, statements such as these could be improved upon. He needs better speech writers. Words, carefully chosen, can achieve half of what a President has in mind to achieve.