I believe the only way that an abuser can truly understand the experience of the victims, is to have that experience themselves. Previous administrations undertook actions regarded as unpalatable to the system, confronted by voice of reasoning, those actions constituted basis of judgment and points of reference that either confers honour or disrepute to actors of those administrations.
If we respect our rights to certain modest actions at times of disagreement, resolutions of conflicts will be attainable without recording casualties, but lack of sense of tolerance by humans at times of challenges bring out the monsters in humans, ugly traits such as hatred, incursions, persecutions and selfishness becomes the hallmark. People with sharp memories will recall that, most government eventually dubbed with ugly remarks started with high confidence reposed in them by the general public, missed the link with the masses out of intolerance for opposing views against their thoughts and actions.
There is no doubt that this present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari inherited several liabilities, topical among them is the economic crises threatening the polity from all facets of governance. This administration has enjoyed unprecedented tolerance from the general public convinced that adequate time is necessity to heal wounds; this privilege is gradually becoming an albatross to government’s inclinations to participatory governance where interest groups are properly consulted before overbearing policies affecting people’s earnings and survival are pronounced by government.
The Federal Government might be correct with certain decisions on the path to end subsidy regime and fully deregulate the downstream sector of the economy, one particular fact we must acknowledge is that government gravely erred by failing to properly consult extremely important interest groups like Labour Unions and Civil Society Organisations in their quest for resolutions of challenges confronting the oil sector. A layman could be brainwashed or carried away by government pretense of being stranded and compelled by empirical facts to arbitrarily increase the petrol pump price, the reasoning and conducts of a layman sharply differs from the reasoning of experts and direct victims of government actions of this magnitude.
To sustain a vibrant economy, the generality of workforce has overwhelming responsibilities and must be well remunerated by their employers for optimal productivities. Most employees on the payroll of State Government suffers series of deprivations which has affected the standards of services rendered at different levels, only Federal employees enjoys better treats which still falls far below living wage expected to motivate workers.
Out of respect for this administration, the Nigeria Labour Congress have engaged in dialogues with government over all sundry issues affecting the welfares of their members, NLC has supported most of policy thrust of President Muhammadu Buhari, the support is based on considerations of critical challenges confronting the economy and trust in the policy direction of government towards economic revival, especially the much echoed preference for home grown economy and diversifications.
Many Nigerians have voiced against the new petrol pump price of #145 announced by the Federal Government, regarded as a policy at variance with realities of deregulations, where government actions have geared towards authoritarianism, oppositions to the policy is regarded as either an affront or unhealthy. Several interest groups have called for a review of the policy, yet government has refused all entreaties to appropriately weigh and promptly consider opposing views which translates to sufficient ground for Industrial Strike Action and Mass Protest to force government towards necessary compliance.
The Federal Government frontiers must either be suffering memory loss or deficient in ideal strategies to resolve the impasse with Labour Unions and Civil Societies on this matter. This government was given the mandate to solve problems confronting the masses and not to complicate the problems, but the realities of the last few days of labour opposition to government policy has reeled out several odds in the dispositions of government to the rights of citizens and undermine the good image of his administration.
When Public Holidays are announced, government rarely complains of economic shutdown but when Industrial Strike Actions are pronounced by Labour Unions, government becomes restless and seek every means both lawful and other wise, to thwart the Strike Action without immediate consideration for genuine demands of the people under labours’ representation. It is really sad to observe several underhand methods in tune with the condemned strategies of last administration coming to fore in the attempt to coarse people to subject to the whims and caprices of government, and the worst of all scenarios is the riot actions against workers and threat of security professed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Is it appropriate for the government to descend to issuance of threats against workers over notice to undertake civil actions to press home their demands, or why is government very adamant to their self-made policy without an appropriate check on the correctness of the demands of Labour. I thought government has complained seriously of the rot in the Judiciary as setback for the fight against corruption in Nigeria, now that the Industrial Court is either refraining or has refrained NLC from embarking on Industrial Strike Action after observing due process by NLC in calling for the action, I hope the Judiciary is no longer an impediment to the administration’s fight against corruption.
The Attorney General summoned the courage to approach the Court to thwart Labours’ opposition to government policy, but lacks the will to seek arrest and prosecution of oil dealers violating government directives on compliance with price regulation. Government can continue to protect themselves and their allies can continue to mobilize structures to support government, take note, in the next few days we will celebrate one year in office, as government compiles one year achievement of this administration, we should bear it in mind that the masses are keeping records of actions and policies at variance with their aspirations.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation can disengage Labour from embarking on Industrial Actions, but can never deny people the rights to protest and mass actions. I hope the handlers of government’s Anti-Protests Crusade will not attempt to confront protesters anywhere to avoid recording more odds for the government. The moment a government refuses to protect citizens against exploitation, that moment the government should be called to account for its basic responsibilities to citizens. How many oil marketers have complied with the #145 pump price, they have violated the regulation by selling comfortably between #150 and #180 up till this moment, how will government explain this non-compliance and expect our happiness.
Against all threats and government antics to suppress all voice of dissents, the Leadership of NLC led by Comrade Aliyu Wabba in solidarity with Civil Society Organisations have dared all odds to sustain protests actions against the hike in Petrol Pump Price, even though the Strike Action Directives suffers some setbacks, the Labour resistance is seriously forcing the government to seek appropriate caution and toll path of truce in resolving he fundamental issues at stake. All polarization ventures to force the Labour Union into outright submission to government interest was defeated by the resilient members of NLC which is a pointer towards independence of thoughts and actions by leaders of Nigeria Workers.
Even if the Federal Government of Nigeria is certain of solidarity of overwhelming numbers among masses and stakeholders on this policy, the rights to oppose and caution government by other citizens and stakeholders must be well respected, that is the spirit of democratic governance. The Federal Government should continue to enjoy the honeymoon with all the brides applauding the new petrol price policy without demanding prompt address of the deficiencies inherent in the policy, but should bear it in mind that there is a limit to Nigerians tolerance for any government that doesn’t satisfy their aspirations at any point in time. Intelligent people admire puzzle, love sarcasm, appreciates broken words, fancy riddles and proverbs but the unintelligent fancy complete words.
. Agboola is the National Coordinator of the Mass Action for Good Governance and Grassroots Development in Nigeria. massaction4gg@gmail.com. 08032813279.
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