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FULL TEXT: NLC’s Response to Jonathan’s Speech

By on January 7, 2012

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) listened to President Goodluck Jonathan’s broadcast to the nation  tonight.

The speech is undoubtedly due to the resistance of  Nigerians to the unreasonable increase in PMS (petrol) prices and the planned national strikes  scheduled to begin on Monday January 9, 2012.  So the Presiden having to  address Nigerians, is the first gain of the planned protests.

But the President’s address follows the pattern of other documents( like the SURE Programme) by his administration; long in rhetorics and short on basic issues.  For instance, the major anchor of the broadcast is that salaries of political office holders are to be cut by 25 per cent.  But he failed to tell us how much this will amount to. Is this a mere symbolic gesture or a fundamental contribution to economic recovery?

He also talked about his administration holding meetings with transporters to reduce fares.  We see this as a populist statement that has no foundation in reality.  If a transporter who used to buy petrol at N65 per litre now buys it between N141 and N220, what appeal can be made to him not to increase his fares by a high percentage?  How do you “deregulate” the economy and hope to regulate transport fares by private operators?

 In any case, transport fare is just one of the items that shot up. Prices of basic commodities like food have also increased, and there is a fuel price hike-engineered hyper inflation in the country.

The President should have reversed the price of PMS to N65 which would have automatically reduced rising tension in the country.

The President also promised the completion   of rail lines and infusion of buses in to the transport system.  It is like putting the chart before the horse; these measures should have been put in place before the astronomical increase in petrol price.
We reiterate that Nigerians cannot afford the high fuel prices and will not accept the hyper inflation this misguided policy has created.

President Jonathan lost a great opportunity in his broadcast by sticking to his guns; that the unreasonable increase in fuel prices will remain.

The Labour Movement and its allies on behalf of the Nigerian populace  reiterate that the broadcast has changed nothing and that the indefinite strikes, rallies and mass protests scheduled to commence nationwide on Monday 9th January, 2012 will go on.
The will of the Nigerian people must prevail over that of any government in power.

Owei Lakemfa                                                    John Kolawole
NLC Acting General Secretary                 TUC Secretary  General

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  • http://twitter.com/oginnidipo Dipo Oginni

    Too many typos

  • Riches5k

    is not only fuel subsidy we should be fighting at this time .is an opportunity for us to fight corruption

  • Demerciful5293

    Pls TUC shut up and allow Mr President concentrate on his administration..also dnt 4get that d Court has given a restraining order unless you now want to breach the law..go back to work and stop all thi scandals..God bless the Fed Rep of Nigeria

    • Mumu

      Dame Jonathan, is that you? Who’s proof read this comment you just made though

    • Dee

      Now I know that its not only GEJ that is retarded, obviously nigerians like U̶̲̥̅̊ who benefit frm d bribes and corruption r also in d same institution. Clueless fool.

    • Charlesriggs23

      @Demerciful5293 You must be an enemy of the state, or daft- clueless… You are a BASTARD.

    • Fkaojedanmusa

      Common! idiot like you,are you really a nigerian? Instead of you to thank God for an oppurtunity like this to deal with government that don’t have respect for a commom man, you are here telling nonesense,are u seeking for an appointment in the government?may all the nigeran hunger and porverty strike your family forever and ever,coward!!!

    • zolfist

      Why should TUC shut up? So as to allow GEJ to concentrate on plundering our collective resources. Any Nigerian who trust the PDP government does so at their own risk. If Mr. president wishes to earn the trust and confidence of over 80% of Nigerians who voted for him including my good self, then let him fulfill just three of his election campaign promises to Nigerians first and see what will happen.

  • Tbabe78

    I see it as foolshness.

  • Dr Kunle

    @Demerciful5293…..u must be a south-south idiot or specifically one of the evil,blind,senseless and shamelessly retarded Bayelsan to come up here and say this bollocks….and u are a bastard like this brainless president Jonathan…a dishonest and insensitive spendthrift who has been cursed to ruin this country…

  • Ibraheem Khaleel Abdul

    Thumbs Up To The NLC And The TUC, We Are Proud Of You For Such Selfishless Leadership And We Will Not Relinquish To Answer To Your Call At Anytime!!

  • Jifelani

    Thank you Dr. Kunle and God bless you. That’s all I got to say

  • Mbabahussaini

    I just hope and that the NLC and TUC won’t sell us off as per the nigerian attitude, its high time we nigerians fight for our children. Kudoos to NLC and TUC.

  • Emsernee4u

    I can’t imagine a so-called democratic president doin this,dictating that nothing ll change his decisions,its time 4 Nigerians 2react nomatter what it ll cause them.
    ABDULRASHEED MUHD SANI

  • Frankoforever

    @Demerciful5293 if you eat fat from the purse government pls just keep quite and allow real nigerians talk , one thing I’m sure of is that people like you are blinded with corruption , wickedness and foolishness. Well we all are suffering it today because of our sympathy vote given to this WEAK president .this is a lession to nigerians never vote for someone because you like this name (GOODLUCK) a name is just a name and can never change the person .

  • F.Umar

    This is the right time to impeach the drunkard president

  • farida

    Nigeria a nation full of liars the best thing that will help us right nw is coupe,what do u think?

  • Waleola02

    Let come out and inform the whole world we are not happy with the gov. Policy

  • Jamalu

    GEJ IS COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM REALITIY.THE DULLEST PRESIDENT NIGERIA EVER HAD

    • zolfist

      I WONDER HOW HE GOT HIS PHD, MAY BE BY DECEPTION

  • NIGERIAN FOR REAL

    GEJ PRESIDENCY IS WORST THAN ANY BOKO HARAM,EX-MILITANT AND OIL BUNKRER.

  • victor

    the best thing is to nigeria divied or military will take over

  • Victordear51

    the best thing is for nigeria to divide or military to over