By Williams Anuku, Abuja
The Presidency has criticized some Nigerians who scorned on the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) for not actualising their planned strike on September 28.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina on Sunday, rose in defence of the labour movement when he alleged that some unscrupulous elements who were bent on capitalizing on the strike to cause anarchy must have been disappointed.
Recall that the organised labour after settling for an indefinite strike on the 28th of September, following the approval of their respective National Executive Council NEC, had jettisoned the plan after the Federal Government intervened by announcing a reduction in electricity tariff for two weeks.
But the Presidential Spokesman said rather than for them to see reasons for opening of dialogue, some Nigerians were hatching plans for revolution.
Adesina said in a statement made available to State House Correspondents on Sunday, that since Organized Labour toed the path of sense and sensibility last week, seeing reason with the imperatives of fuel price adjustment, and opening a further window of dialogue on the service based electricity tariff, some groups of Nigerians have been dolorous, disgruntled, and disconsolate.
“They had apparently perfected plans to use the strike by the labour unions as a smokescreen to unleash anarchy on the land, fomenting mayhem and civil disobedience. But the plan blew up in their faces, and they have been in severe pains since then. They have launched a series of tirades against Organized Labour.
“For some interest groups, their intention was to use the umbrella of the strike to further their whimsical and pie-in-the-sky dream of a revolution in the country. It went bust in their faces.
“For some others, Bitter-Enders, who have remained entrenched in pre-2015 and 2019 elections mode, it was an opportunity to avenge the 2012 Occupy Nigeria protests, which they believe largely devalued the government of the day, and led to its eventual ouster in 2015.
“The strike that was to have come up last week, they wanted to use as opportunity for a pound of flesh, which they calculated would weaken the government so much, and influence the 2023 elections. For them, it was all about hanker for power, its trappings and appurtenances. Nothing about love of country. They have since then been calling Organized Labour all sorts of names, claiming they deceived Nigerians.
“The times in which we live-with severe security, economic and social challenges-call for all hands to be on deck, and goodwill and support for government, as it strives to put the nation on an even keel. We commend Organized Labour for putting the country first.
“Those sponsoring and encouraging discord and anarchy, either for selfish ends, or as revenge for perceived injuries, are enemies of the country. Nigerians are urged to beware of them, as the Muhammadu Buhari government is only interested in engendering better quality of life for the citizenry. Nothing more, “he stated .
