As you read this Nigeria is now under total lockdown, whereby major economic activities in the organized public and private sectors have been completely crippled.
Labour has made good its threat to commence an indefinite nationwide strike to protest government insensitivity to its plight and clamour for wage review.
This moment has been long coming, taking into account recent federal government economic policies which impacts have been skewed againts the suffering mass of Nigerians.
From the withdrawal of fuel subsidy, liberalization of the foreign exchange to the recent hike in electricity tariff and and aborted cybersecurity levy. Most of these reforms are mass focused and have had acute impact on the social and economic wellbeing of poor Nigerians.
This has pitched labour unions against the government as organized labour agitate for wage increases and better welfare for their members.
But I am one of a few who do not think that the labour is going about its agitations correctly. The protests and strikes so far have been kneejerk reactions that have been largely ineffectual.
Put simply, I DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS CALL FOR NATIONWIDE INDEFINITE STRIKE.
My reasons are simple.
1. As already stated, this strike and others before it are largely kneejerk reactions to a fundamental error of policy choice, planning and implementation by government.
2. The strikes are one too many and have a tendency of seeming like one repeating a process and expecting a different outcome.
3. Some are of the opinion that most of the recent strike actions have been about bread and butter issues and nothing about the very important subject of better governance of the society.
Here are a few alternatives that labour may want to contemplate if they are desirous of thinking outside the box.
1. Formulate proper critical engagement with the government on sincere cost cutting measures that affect the highest echelons of the public service and governmental agencies.
2. Collaborate with the executive to instigate a downward review of the cost of governance.
3. Encourage the president to prune the size of the cabinet or you partner with the mass public to achieve the same purpose.
4. Let you labour strike not be always about your interests but the wellbeing of the Nigerian masses.
These strategies shall assist to endear the labour movement to the Nigerian public and win their confidence and trust.
Labour can leverage on such goodwill to escalate activities to achieve desired changes in the political arena.
