Chances/Impact of Strikes over Fuel Prices

As some of you may know my father lives and works in Nigeria, he is somewhat concerned about the emerging possibilities of strikes related to the increased fuel costs.

This could mean that he is unable to return home for an extended period of time (as they say there's no place like home) due to threats of planes being grounded because of a lack of fuel (which is kind of stupid considering modern jet liners burn kerosene not the petrol you put in your car)

So what's likely to happen and more importantly when.

Not sure Nigerians can get away without this increase this time. The fact is that people are already buying it. And think about it, this is not a nigerian issue, but global. I now buy petrol for 1.5euro/litre (roughly N250/l), from 1.05euro/l a few weeks back.

Also, note fuel pricing is not limited to petrol people put in cars, it relates to all petroleum products. The hype over petrol is that its the most comonly know due to its impact on ground transportation.

Moreso, Nigerians love sensationalism and will drop anything for sweet sensation and you know what, OBJ introduced the Atiku issue right at the height of the petrol palavar and right now, everyone is talking OBJ/Atiku and no more petrol increase. Simply put, Nigerians have quietly accepted the increase and I really dont see any meaningfull strike this time. I think instead of continuos battle over petrol prices, the people/ NLC should press strongly for a sustainable mass transportation system.

I don't see any strike happening. Even if it will. It wont have any impact because it'll be too late. Its weeks now and nothing from the NLC. Thats says it all. We can't do anything about the increase this time around. Every1 is buying it.

Sufferin and Smilin . I'll never forget Fela

Whatever strike will fail. The very nature of our people will ensure that.

NLC has not been quiet over the issue and OBJ/Atiku's case has not overshadowed it. The NLC has been meeting with the other labour affiliates to decide on when the strike would commence.

What i think should have been the thrust of this thread should not be the likelihood of a strike, but the likelihood of it effecting any meaningful reversal (if any at all) on the pump prices. That to me is the real issue!

Lets face it, the strike option is totally played out, its now taking on tragic-comic proportions, it has become a knee-jerk response to government. Can the NLC please be a little bit more constructive in their thinking

An offensive rally has now been fixed for Wednesday 14th of Sept. 2005 to start up in Lagos and then proceed to other parts of the country but if this rallies don't achieve the desired result, then the strike would take place.

Fixing a rally after giving people 2-3 weeks to get used to the new fuel prices! NLC give me a break.

Chxta I think you have a point there. Nigerians are already getting used to it and forfeiting their means of livelihood for a day might cause more harm than good. But I would have still wanted the strike to be carried out.

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the coalition of civil society groups yesterday in Lagos held the first in the series of the rallies to protest the recent hike in prices of petroleum products. The rally drew out a large crowd of protesters from all works of life.

The Federal Government has however, commended the NLC and other organisers for holding a peaceful rally to drive home their point rather than the strike option. It also gave indications of a possible downward review in the pump prices of petroleum products following noticeable drop in the cost of refined crude in the international market.

http://thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=28238

That''s what I call a civilized protest and a civilized response, rather than previous confrontational and mostly destructive approach. Its noteworthy that Labour worked with the police to stage a peaceful rally. The old IG would have said NO WAY and display the normal confrontational stand, the new IG was rather "ok, lets work out the modality of the rally". Labour, Police and the Government seems to be getting more civilized. Who says Nigeria is not getting better?