The predictable suspension of the nationwide strike on Wednesday by NLC/TUC, didn’t come to me as a surprise.
But what is surprising me, is the seriousness some members of the Labour Movement (sympathizers of the plight of workers although they are not unionists or staff of NLC/TUC or their affiliate) attached to this call.
Some even opined and issued statements encouraging NLC/TUC to hold on to the flag of resistance and use this latest call, to address other anti workers and peoples policies of this Tinubu led administration.
True to form, NLC/TUC went into meeting with Federal Government and capitulated without carrying the Civil Society component of the Labour Movement along. Like a child caught with oily fingers near his mother’s akara tray, the CSOs cannot explain what went down.
What last night has shown, is that there is no mass based masses interest movement. The Nigerian masses easily and willing follow NLC/TUC despite series of betrayals because there is no alternative(s) on ground to champion their course.
NLC/TUC leadership knows this and has been exploiting it.
It is high time, the Civil Society, Leftist, components of the Labour Movement, started sheepishly following NLC/TUC whenever they call strike.
They should make sure that strikes called by NLC/TUC must not only have interest of Nigerian workers but inclusive of Nigerians beyond unionized workers and strikes should not be suspended because workers interests had been met without that of other Nigerians.Against this tall order, there is need to build a mass based masses interest movement that will not be a second fiddle to NLC/TUC but a co-pilot in the affairs of getting best deal for Nigerians, unionized workers inclusive. The era of being part of the flag waving crowd for NLC/TUC is over. Alternative must emerge bro break this monopoly of the “strike space” by NLC/TUC or Nigerian masses will run amok and heads will roll, including the heads of the leadership of NLC/TUC as the masses are seeing them as serial betrayals, who are not interested in their plight.
No Revolution is headless or without structure. The time to build is now, NLC/TUC, do not have the capacity to lead the masses, they only lead workers into strike and suspend same once 20% of their demands had been met, they are not interested in using strike to cause political upheaval that will birth a new Nigeria the suffering and oppressed Nigerian daily cry for.
NLC/TUC Suspends Strike: Bitter Truth
