There is so much anger in the land, and of course, as against suggesting a way forward to collectively build a better nation for all and sundry, it’s always easier to take action(s) that could make the situation worse. For everything that’s not working as expected, the government is usually to blame.
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), is in the news this time, has it vowed to “down tools,” establishing that citizens are “feeding from hand to mouth” as the impact of the recent hike in telecom tariff.
President of the Trade Union Congress, Festus Osifo, made this known on Thursday, during his appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today. Osifo blamed the hike on mismanagement of foreign exchange, which he posited could be better managed by the government.
He said the TUC is not begrudging the telcos, knowing very well that the socio-economic landscape they operate in has changed dramatically, but insisted that the government has the responsibility to ensure that the economic outlook of the country is stable for businesses to thrive.
Furthering is expression, Osifo holds that, “Government has the tools and wherewithal to be able to manage the landscape to ensure the cost of doing business is relatively pocket friendly. And according to him, one major trigger that inflates everything is the exchange rate, deducing that it’s the root cause the problem.”
Questioned about any agreement with the Union on ultimatum to the Nigerian government, he added, “The NAC, (TUC, which is like the National Working Committee) has met today, Thursday. After that, we’ll have the Central Working Committee meeting, and then, the NEC.
“So at the NEC, we’ll take the final decision. NAC has met today.
“All we are saying is that if you allow your currency to slide, it will affect all of us.”
He added, “We are completely apolitical. For one, I don’t belong to any political party; I’ve said that severally, so we can maintain a neutral ground to look for what is in the best interest of the Nigerian workers and Nigerians in general.
“We started shouting about this early last year; if our exchange rate is better managed, at the end you are going to see that there is no need for that increment.”
On whether the TUC is proceeding with an industrial action, Osifo said, “Absolutely!” adding that they will “down tools and go to the streets.”
He said the NEC of TUC has the responsibility to give a date for the strike.
The Trade Union Congress are in charge of the oil sector and other sectors crucial to the running of the economy.
