Human rights activist and lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, in this interview with PAUL DADA, x-rays the recent nationwide strike by the organised labour and vouches for the integrity of labour leaders just as he explains the wider implications of the fuel hike protests. Excerpts.
DO YOU AGREE WITH THE REASONS GIVEN BY LABOUR FOR THE SUSPENSION OF THE STRIKE?
With respect to the labour leaders, I thought they should not have called off the strike at the time they did. . But it was not a case of betrayal .I can vouch for the integrity of the labour leaders. I don’t believe they were bought. I learnt government painted some dangerous scenarios including the possibility of a coup and threats of Boko Haram hijacking the public protests. Of course, some politicians were also accused of taking over the strike, it was a serious case of blackmail.
DO YOU AGREE THAT SOME GAINS WERE RECORDED WITH THE STRIKE?
Thanks to labour and its civil society allies, Nigerians took advantage of the strike to protest official impunity, gross incompetence, grand corruption, fuel importation scam, prodigality and wastages in government, jumbo pay of public officers etc. A strike against fuel price became a general protest to demand good governance and accountability. The manipulation of the economy by International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank was challenged.
The government was forced to cut salaries of the executive, reduce wasteful official trips, roll out palliative measures, ask for Senate confirmation of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) acting chair, order probe of the untouchable cartel and implementation of audit report of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), direct the immediate passage of Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and reduce the price Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from N141 to N97 per litre. Most importantly, Nigerians were woken up from their lethargy to occupy their fatherland.
WHAT IS THE WAY OUT?
EFCC has begun the investigations of the rot in the oil industry, House of Reps is probing the cartel of importers, a task force has been set up on the Petroleum Industry Bill. The media is publishing the earth-shaking revelations in the probes. Labour and civil society groups have to monitor the probes. Illegal deployment of troops is being condemned. We are challenging the illegal fuel hike and violations of our rights in court. Occupy Nigeria has sent out letters to demand information on the illegal payment of N1.4 trillion to importers by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under the Freedom of Information Bill (FOI) law. I believe we are making some progress. But Nigerians have to get organised.
Some civil soceity groups said labour did not consult them before calling off the strike. Infact, the Joint Action Forum was part of the negotiations. Labour had never worked with many of the groups that emerged or woke up to take part in the protests. I was in Abuja on the eve of the strike. Labour’s concern was how to ensure the success of the strike. No Nigerian reckoned with the mass protests that brought out millions to the streets. So labour never prepared for the demands made by the people.
LABOUR HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF BETRAYAL BY MANY NIGERIANS. DO YOU THINK THIS IS TRUE?
Who was betrayed by labour? Please let Nigerians understand that labour is not a political party. It is set up to protect the interests of workers simpliciter. Under the neo-colonial legal system it cannot agitate outside issues of economism. By fighting against unjust economic policies labour has been dragged to court a couple of times. So we need to understand the limitations of the labour movement. In Nigeria today, only the Academic Staff Union of Universities can wage a serious strike. Other unions are weak. For the past decade? or so, labour has fought for improved conditions of service for workers-national minimum wage, pension reforms law etc. But labour decided to expand its mandate by leading the struggle against anti-people’s economic policies. Yes, it could have continued the strike. But apart from the progressive political parties like the Peoples’ Redemtion Party, National Conscience Party and some civil society groups, labour had to contend with opposition from the federal government, state governors apart from Rauf Aregbesola, the military and other oppressive state apparatus. Ethnic champions and militant groups from a section of the country were mobilised to break the rank of labour. Imperialism was fully behind the Federal Government of Nigeria in forcing the policy down the dry throats of Nigerians. Or was there? any condemnation of the fascistic attacks on the people by the so called international? community? In fact, the IMF boss, Christine Lagarde, rushed in here to lend a helping hand to the government.
In the propaganda unleashed on labour by media houses, apart from the Punch and The Nation, the media houses made millions of naira. Yet, journalists who made fortunes from the illegal publication of unsigned adverts have the temerity to accuse labour of betrayal.?
Instead of blaming labour, I am happy that the genuine forces of change have gone back to the drawing table? to draw the necessary lessons from the strike.
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