Strike: NLC Is Sold Out – Ex-NLC Vice President

From Magnus Eze, Abuja
CRITICISMS have continued to trail the nationwide strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as its former Vice President, Comrade Fidelis Edeh yesterday tackled the congress for its insincerity in the on-going industrial action against increase in fuel price.
The former labour leader who said the strike cannot work out because it does not enjoy the popular support of Nigerians also blamed Edo state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for the fractionalisation of the NLC.
To him, what is happening in the NLC is a self-fulfilled prophecy. He traced the fractionalisation to the 2007 National Delegates Congress where the immediate past National President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Umar, whom he described as an outsider was foisted on the Congress, adding that it was the repeat of history last year that led to the emergence of Comrade Joe Ajaero faction.
Edeh, who was also former President of the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) opined that the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba was using the “smokescreen tagged strike” as payback for Oshiomhole for the role the latter played in installing him.
He reasoned that it was high time the NLC was unfastened from the apron strings of Oshiomhole, saying that the governor as a leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was brought in to destabilize the congress.
Edeh accused NLC of conspiratorial silence during the process leading to the recent hike in electricity tariff only to begin picketing the DISCOs when the harm had been done.
“NLC kept quiet when the increase in the electricity tariff was made. I don’t know how NLC could have kept quiet; the law passed, tariff increased. That tariff increase was first muted under President Goodluck Jonathan, but the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria visited the then President and raised some concerns and he said they should keep it on hold. One would have expected that, that was when the NLC should have done something, but they waited until after the increment, and they started picketing the DISCOs. What is the role of DISCOs in fixing the tariff when you know that it’s the business of the regulatory agency?
“I tell you there is no sincerity; what they are doing is rigmarole. How do you define sincerity when even the leadership lacks legitimacy? Again there is this issue which has to be said; at what point would the NLC stand on its own? We all know that Adams (Oshiomhole) has paid his price for labour, but Adams is a clear politician.
“Mind you, while this crisis was on, some veterans including Adams were brought in to resolve it. So, can you not now read politics that it is in the interest of the APC that NLC would not be allowed to be united? Is it that Adams perpetually will continue to oversee the NLC despite any interest he has to canvass? So, NLC is sold out,” he said.