The news that the FG might proceed with the sale of some national assets to salvage the failing economy has been met with stiff resistance by many organized labour bodies in Nigeria.
The bodies which include: Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) have threatened industrial action against the government. While reacting to the news of the likely sale, PENGASSAN said; “Any attempt to sell these national assets will be met with stiff resistance from the Association, as PENGASSAN will galvanize every support, including that of our sister union and labour centres, to shut down this country by ensuring that every activity in the oil and gas sector is brought to a complete halt.” If these bodies make good on this threat and embark on an industrial action, then these are the likely consequences:
1. Education
If there is one thing history has taught us, it is that a NLC strike will always cripple educational institutions throughout the country, especially tertiary educational institutions. This is because the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) are usually quick to join in the strike. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Nigerian universities are on the verge of closing down an academic session However, the Nigerian educational system has been plagued by several problems ranging from incompetence to setbacks for students usually caused by these frequent strikes. It would be especially harmful to students as most tertiary institutions are writing their final exams for the current 2016/2017 session. An industrial action in the educational sector would drastically affect examination timetables, resumption times, and even the ability of the students to do as expected in their examination throughout the country.
READ ALSO: Unpaid salaries: SEE what these teachers decided to do to government (photos)
.
2 Fuel price hike
While a strike by NLC is to be feared, if NUPENG and PENGASSAN carry out their threat and join in the strike, the Nigerian economy that is already battling a recession will surely grind to a halt. During the strike in July 2016, the chairman of NUPENG, Lagos zone, Tokunbo Korodo, said: “The strike is having its toll on us because PENGASSAN members are in charge of loading of tankers. Since they are not working, the depots authorities are only making use of some contract or casual workers so that the impact of the strike will not be much felt.” Share on Facebook Share on Twitter A fuel price hike is the most likely result if NUPENG makes good on its threat to strike Yet, despite those measures, the entire country felt the negative impact of that strike, because as soon as fuel tankers stop loading, fuel stations either close up to hoard the available fuel or hike the price to maintain their profit margin. Both options are not ones that Nigerians are ready to face with the current skyrocketing prices of foodstuff in the country.
3. Riots and unrest
Four months ago, a strike by NLC led to a riot on Ikorodu road Lagos, with thankfully no casualties. Fuel price hikes in Nigeria usually lead to one thing protests and riots. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter With the many security challenges currently facing Nigeria, riots would be deadly. In any other time, this might be managed, but Nigeria is currently in an economic recession, in the north, Shekau and his men continue to threaten, in the east, the IPOB is agitating for the release of Nnamdi Kanu and in the Niger Delta, the Avengers are bombing and threatening. Adding civil unrest and riots to this volatile mix might be likened to striking a match a close to a keg of gunpowder, the repercussions might be catastrophic. It is therefore very vital for the Federal government either to look at reasons why the assets should not be sold, or bring the threatening parties of NLC, TUC and PENGASSAN to a table to convince them of the benefits of the sale.
READ ALSO: Fuel scarcity looms as oil workers vow to shut down operations
It is important to note that these bodies are not expressly against the sale, but are insisting that the sale be of benefit to the country, PENGASSAN has said: “The proponents of the sale of national assets are those who have been actively involved in the operations of the nation’s economy in the past. They were part of those responsible for the country’s current economic situation. “Moreover, such sales in the past, including the power and steel sectors privatization, were just a shift from public to private monopoly which has further worsened those sectors. “It is, therefore, the candid position of PENGASSAN that such plan should be thrown into the trash bin. Government should continue to seek better ways to address the present economic challenges and reduce areas of wastages.”
The bodies which include: Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) have threatened industrial action against the government. While reacting to the news of the likely sale, PENGASSAN said; “Any attempt to sell these national assets will be met with stiff resistance from the Association, as PENGASSAN will galvanize every support, including that of our sister union and labour centres, to shut down this country by ensuring that every activity in the oil and gas sector is brought to a complete halt.” If these bodies make good on this threat and embark on an industrial action, then these are the likely consequences:
1. Education
If there is one thing history has taught us, it is that a NLC strike will always cripple educational institutions throughout the country, especially tertiary educational institutions. This is because the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) are usually quick to join in the strike. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Nigerian universities are on the verge of closing down an academic session However, the Nigerian educational system has been plagued by several problems ranging from incompetence to setbacks for students usually caused by these frequent strikes. It would be especially harmful to students as most tertiary institutions are writing their final exams for the current 2016/2017 session. An industrial action in the educational sector would drastically affect examination timetables, resumption times, and even the ability of the students to do as expected in their examination throughout the country.
READ ALSO: Unpaid salaries: SEE what these teachers decided to do to government (photos)
.
2 Fuel price hike
While a strike by NLC is to be feared, if NUPENG and PENGASSAN carry out their threat and join in the strike, the Nigerian economy that is already battling a recession will surely grind to a halt. During the strike in July 2016, the chairman of NUPENG, Lagos zone, Tokunbo Korodo, said: “The strike is having its toll on us because PENGASSAN members are in charge of loading of tankers. Since they are not working, the depots authorities are only making use of some contract or casual workers so that the impact of the strike will not be much felt.” Share on Facebook Share on Twitter A fuel price hike is the most likely result if NUPENG makes good on its threat to strike Yet, despite those measures, the entire country felt the negative impact of that strike, because as soon as fuel tankers stop loading, fuel stations either close up to hoard the available fuel or hike the price to maintain their profit margin. Both options are not ones that Nigerians are ready to face with the current skyrocketing prices of foodstuff in the country.
3. Riots and unrest
Four months ago, a strike by NLC led to a riot on Ikorodu road Lagos, with thankfully no casualties. Fuel price hikes in Nigeria usually lead to one thing protests and riots. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter With the many security challenges currently facing Nigeria, riots would be deadly. In any other time, this might be managed, but Nigeria is currently in an economic recession, in the north, Shekau and his men continue to threaten, in the east, the IPOB is agitating for the release of Nnamdi Kanu and in the Niger Delta, the Avengers are bombing and threatening. Adding civil unrest and riots to this volatile mix might be likened to striking a match a close to a keg of gunpowder, the repercussions might be catastrophic. It is therefore very vital for the Federal government either to look at reasons why the assets should not be sold, or bring the threatening parties of NLC, TUC and PENGASSAN to a table to convince them of the benefits of the sale.
READ ALSO: Fuel scarcity looms as oil workers vow to shut down operations
It is important to note that these bodies are not expressly against the sale, but are insisting that the sale be of benefit to the country, PENGASSAN has said: “The proponents of the sale of national assets are those who have been actively involved in the operations of the nation’s economy in the past. They were part of those responsible for the country’s current economic situation. “Moreover, such sales in the past, including the power and steel sectors privatization, were just a shift from public to private monopoly which has further worsened those sectors. “It is, therefore, the candid position of PENGASSAN that such plan should be thrown into the trash bin. Government should continue to seek better ways to address the present economic challenges and reduce areas of wastages.”
Post A Comment:
0 comments: