Senator Shehu Sani of Kaduna Central
District has cautioned the federal
government against intimidating the
Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, and its
leaders, for protesting the recent increase
in petrol price.
Mr. Sani condemned the government’s
“campaign of calumny and blackmail”
against the unionists, and said Nigerians
must appreciate the NLC for standing by
the masses over the years and for making
contributions to the realization of political
change in Nigeria.
A nationwide called by the NLC in protest
of fuel price hike and electricity tariff raise
began Wednesday after talks with the
government failed on Tuesday night.
The government has vowed to implement
a no-work-no-pay policy, and has
threatened “appropriate response by the
law enforcement agencies” against union
leaders who attempt to barricade gates or
lock up offices to enforce the strike.
In a statement issued on Wednesday , Mr.
Sani said as the umbrella body
responsible for the welfare of Nigerian
workers, NLC has the right to protest or to
opt for dialogue or not.
“Campaign of calumny and blackmail
against the NLC and Labour leaders
simply for speaking out and standing up
for their traditional constituents must
stop,” Mr. Sani said.
“We joined and applauded the NLC for
leading a mass protest against increase in
pump prices of petroleum products in the
past.
“It’s hypocritical to condemn them now
for their principled stand on same issue.
Our quests for justice and equity must not
depend upon the Government or persons
in power but must depend upon the
matters of principles at hand,” the
lawmaker said.

Mr. Sani added: “The cloud of intimidation
and blackmail against people for
expressing their objections must end. We
are now in a state where dissident is
equated to disloyalty.
“We must learn to tolerate views and
positions different from our own no
matter how unpopular. If we must all
agree on all issues at all times, democracy
couldn’t have been ‘invented’.
“Democracy guarantees every citizen the
fundamental right to free speech and to
objection and this must be respected.”
He said those in support of the
government’s decision to increase petrol
price have no right greater than those
opposed to it.
He said detaching the masses from the
Labour movement through orchestrated
campaign by some is defanging the power
of the masses.
“It’s imperative for our people to
understand that the political class define
and view social justice in the colours of
their personal interest.
“Those who stood against increase in
price of petroleum products yesterday
and stood for it today have betrayed the
very principle which they claimed to
represent.
“If for political convenience we choose to
divide or destroy the Labour unions
today, we will be harming the very organ
that stands as the guardian of democracy.
“Increase in pump price of petroleum
products does nothing other than add to
the suffering of Nigerians but those in
support of it have the constitutional rights
to revere their chains.
“Unjust policies must not be beclouded by
political interests and political
convenience,” he added.
He called on the Labour movement to
continue to dialogue, but “unambiguously
condemn all acts of treacherous
intimidation against the leaders of
Nigerian workers”.
www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/203614-shehu-sani-lambasts-nigerian-govts-hypocrisy-warns-intimidating-labour-leaders.html

I like this Man.

This government is destroying the country gradually...they shld continue

God bless u sir.

Sunnymatey:
God bless u sir.

Amen

The most active and sensitive senator in Nigeria

Do they have any Principle? They are only after their Pockets.