Barring any last minute pact between Labour and the Federal Government, the nationwide indefinite strike is to begin tomorrow.
The Labour and Civil Societies Coalition (LASCO) said at a briefing yesterday that the strike and protests will go on.
LASCO Secretary, Comrade Abiodun Aremu named the coordinating centres for the peaceful street protests to include NLC Lagos secretariat, Yaba, TUC Secretariat, Ikorodu Road, Textile Union House, Acme Road, and Agric Union House, Alaguntan, Iyana Ipaja.
Protesters will converge at NLC Secretariat at 8am and set out from there for the street rally. They will enter neighbourhoods to sensitize people.
Ahead of the protests, the body enjoins security agencies not to provoke protesters, as the protests are meant to be peaceful.
Aremu said “the declaration of the indefinite strike/mass action has become necessary in view of the current hike in the price of petroleum products, especially the pms from N65 to N141, which the Jonathan presidency has said ‘there is no going back’, and the Nigerian people are also insisting their will not to pay more than N65 for a litre of petrol must prevail.
“The position of the Labour and LASCO – the broad platform of NLC, TUC and JAF is unconditional reversal of the wicked hike in petrol price to the official price of N65 per litre as enjoyed by Nigerians throughout the country since June 24 2007, following the struggle of June 20 – 24”
Meanwhile, Governors elected on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday met in Lagos over the recent removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.
The meeting resolved that “the responsibility for managing the nation’s petroleum resources is that of the Federal Government.” And that the preoccupation of the party and its governors is the welfare of and security of the people.
According to them, “Our party has already expressed its reservation about the recent policy of the Federal Government regarding fuel subsidy, particularly its sudden implementation. We fully associate ourselves with the position of our party.”
The meeting which was attended by four of the six CAN described the debate on fuel subsidy as “narrow” adding, “Subsidy is a financial and economic tool, not an end in itself. We are more concerned about the totality of the economy. For this reason, it is imperative to immediately implement the long-standing demand for fiscal federalism. The first step in this direction is the immediate review of the lopsided revenue allocation formula.”
The meeting was attended by Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), Lagos, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, (Ekiti), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, (Osun) and Senator Ibikunle Amosun ,( Ogun). The Edo State Governor Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Senator Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo) were absent.
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Labour, civil groups insist on strike