TO STRIKE OR NOT

After several dinlindalis *in Frank Donga's voice* over strike or no strike. Finally the Wabba Led faction insisted on embarking on the strike despite the court injunction not to. The Ajaero Faction saw reason with the Federal government and the strike was cancelled on their part. The Bible is so complete. It stated that a house divide against itself cannot stand.This clearly shows in this case.The strike is not functional because of this reason.How on earth am i supposed to listen to people who saying "come and be going" (forgive my English).Am I supposed to adhere to a strike that is not even co-ordinated? Nigerian workers woke up today and headed straight to work just like any other day despite the proposed strike action threatened by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) over the federal government’s removal of fuel subsidy and consequent rise in pump price from N86 to N145. Social commentators and our ever ready social media influencers have reflected the citizens’ apathy towards a stay at home action noting that the NLC has since lost its credibility and moral justification to call for a stay at home action.After feeling the people’s pulse about the ‘strike’ over the last few hours, we give you five (5) reasons why Nigerians are not moved by the NLC:

They bailed out on civil society: This is a function of trust. Nobody trusts the NLC leadership anymore. Not after abandoning thousands of protesters at Ojota Park in 2012 during the ‪#‎OccupyNigeria‬protests. Rumour has it that the then NLC leadership had secretly struck a deal with former president, Goodluck Jonathan to abandon the cause and move on. And move on they did.

They have internal crises – 2 factions: The NLC is not operating a united front. While the Joe Ajaero faction of the Labour organisation is striking an agreement with the Buhari government, the Ayuba Wabba faction keeps insisting on a total strike. This incoherent approach has effectively weakened Labour’s resolve, making nonsense of their threat.

The government is trusted: Unlike what it was during the nationwide #OccupyNigeria protest, the tables appear to have been turned. Citizens did not trust Jonathan’s government to come through on its promise to activate palliative measures meant to alleviate the problems of the ordinary man and deploy money saved through the removal on massive infrastructural projects. On the other hand, President Muhammadu Buhari is currently riding on a wave of goodwill with an approval rating that shows no signs of abating. The NLC is playing itself if it believes it’s in a position to win this integrity war. It is not.

The legislators agree: For the first time in a while, several members of the National Assembly are in agreement with the decision of the federal government to yank of the subsidy. Yes, there was a rowdy session on Monday in the House during Emmanuel Kachikwu’s appearance at the Lower Chambers to defend the government’s decision to remove fuel subsidy but majority of the legislators have thrown their weight behind the removal.

Citizens are strike weary: Nigerians just want to give the NLC a taste of what they got in 2012 by ignore a strike action and moving on with their lives. Pres. Buhari’s administration has not delivered on its campaign promises as regard revamping the economy and more, but citizens are willing to see how far he can go – especially as the 2016 Budget has just been passed. The NLC may mean well, but we believe this is a good time for them – and Dino Melaye – to wake up and smell the coffee.

#LETUSSAVENIGERIA