By Abdulwahed Ibrahim Omar-- As the year 2012 dawns, we in the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) are convinced that unless Government changes its mindset and adopts patriotic and pro-people policies and programmes, Nigerians are in for a tough year. A year of hyper inflation, more job losses, insecurity, growing government intolerance and deepening poverty. On the other hand, we are quite confident that a united people that takes its destiny into its hands and asserts its sovereignty, can overcome all obstacles and reclaim their country.

The Philosophy And Policy Direction Of The Jonathan Administration

The NLC has fundamental disagreements with the policies and philosophy of the Jonathan administration; we do not subscribe to the methods of a government that takes a decision like the withdrawal of fuel subsidy before deciding to “consult” the citizenry. We do not agree with the tactics of a government that is not inclined to, or refuses to implement agreements it freely enters into with its people and their institutions. The NLC holds that there is something fundamentally wrong in government allowing the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) agents to run the economy and co-ordinate ministers. The Congress believes that if the dictates of Breton Woods Institutions run the entire economy and determine the policy direction of government, there is little initiative left to those elected to govern the country in the interest of Nigerians.

Congress recalls that the World Bank which is primarily run by the United States was partly responsible for the underdevelopment of Africa. Over the decades, it decided on development models for the continent and provided loans to execute projects it imposed on Africa most of which ended in the pockets of its consultants and the creditors. In the late 1980s the World Bank had a policy that Nigeria needs technical schools not universities. This was in line with the neo- colonial division of the world in which Africa was condemned to produce raw materials, and the West ordained to be manufacturers.

Similarly, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which is mainly run by Europeans, forced on Nigeria and other African countries, crippling Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAP) under which drastic cuts in social spending, currency devaluation, high fuel prices and trade liberalization were imposed.

The unfolding tragedy in our country today is that years after the world had discarded these ruinous policies and programmes of the World Bank and IMF, the Jonathan administration decided to embrace them as its abiding religion to the extent of employing and relying on their priests to run the entire economy. This is the fact behind the cuts in social spending, deliberate currency devaluation, deregulation, privatization and attempts to astronomically increase electricity tariff and withdraw oil subsidy. It is this uncritical and subservient acceptance of the worn out World Bank and IMF policies that is responsible for the on- going divorce of the Jonathan administration from the Nigerian people, and that has created the yawning gap with the populace which had largely supported the administration’s emergence.

Attempts To Remove Fuel Subsidy

Fuel subsidy is simply opportunity cost, but rather than come out to impose huge sales tax on Nigerians in its determination to wrest more money from the populace which it can share with the governors, Government claims it wants to withdraw fuel subsidy. In the guise of its diversionary debate on fuel subsidy removal, Government has diverted huge sums of money to fictitious groups who produce colourful and expensive adverts published by faceless persons who cannot openly identify with the gambit. Apart from this mindless diversion of public funds, government is also promising to use the proceeds of the subsidy to build or complete projects like the East-West Road for which money had been appropriated and spent since the Obasanjo administration.

Also, while government claims to be “consulting” on the fuel subsidy removal, its Commissioners of Police in a number of states are boasting that they are armed and battle ready to smash Nigerians who may publicly protest their feelings against the removal.

Since the concept of “consultations” is nebulous, and there are no objective criteria to determine its outcome, the NLC challenges the Government to conduct a referendum on the issue to determine the WILL of the Nigerian people. If it does not, but rather elects to impose its will on the citizenry, the Nigerian people have the fundamental right to resist. Since the fuel subsidy removal is a war foretold, Nigerians must begin preparations to meet this challenge in the new year. The NLC is working with other mass organizations in the country including professional bodies, pro-people civil society organizations, market associations and other sections of the populace to organize a peaceful and orderly resistance including rallies, strikes and mass protests. Congress asks the populace to support and attend the mass meetings, rallies and sensitization campaigns which are on-going.

If the IMF and World Bank whose agents are strategically placed in government and are running the economy, will not get tired carrying out the anti-Nigeria programmes of their mother organizations, we Nigerians cannot get tired resisting them and reclaiming our country.

The Security Challenges

As a people, we scored a measure of success in the Amnesty programme that brought a large measure of peace to the Niger Delta. On the other hand, armed robbers hold sway in many parts of the East and the West, sectarian strife is still common in the Central areas while Boko Haram terrorists hold parts of the North in a vice grip. Government treats the terrorists as a mere religious sect rather than an urban guerrilla movement that can be defeated if the people are focused, united and mobilized to provide vital information and support to the government.

The Congress calls on government to redirect the country’s attention from the so called fuel subsidy debate to a united action against an increasingly sophisticated terrorist group that wears the garb of religion. Also to meet the security challenge, the country needs to provide mass employment for the large army of the unemployed; provide unemployment benefits so that every Nigerian citizen can be guaranteed at least a meal a day; increase, rather than reduce social spending and provide mass education and enlightenment for the citizenry. Government also needs to motivate the security forces who along with the populace have borne the brunt of the terrorist attacks, and promote the use of the intellect and intelligence rather than a reliance on arms and “show of strength”

The State Of Industrial Relations

The NLC relies on dialogue, negotiations and using peaceful means in the industrial relations system. This tradition we will continue in 2012. However, a peaceful industrial relations system in the new year can be jeopardized if public and private employers do not obey labour laws including the Minimum Wage Act, the Pension Act, the fundamental rights to Collective Bargaining, unionization, job security and the implementation of freely signed agreements.

Conclusion

The NLC appeals to state governors in matters that affect the welfare of the populace, to side with the people and not with the Presidency which is promising them more money to spend. We call on the National Assembly to remain steadfast in its probe of corrupt practices especially in the oil sector and the privatization scam, and in its patriotic stand against the removal of oil subsidy. Congress once again appeals to the Jonathan administration to rethink its anti-people policies such as its decision to remove oil subsidy and rather, provide the dividends of democracy.

As a people, numerous challenges confront Nigerians in 2012; we therefore need to roll up our sleeves to take on the challenges in our collective interests, and in those of our children.

* Omar is NLC President