₦airaland Forum

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has condemned today’s invasion of its Secretariat in Abuja by about 70 thugs who were hired by agents of the government.
It also alerted the nation to what it called the “militarization” of Abuja.



“As part of its desperate moves to abort the peoples mass protests and intimidate Nigerians, the Presidency this morning turned out heavily armed units of the Presidential guards,” NLC Acting Secretary General Owei Lakemfa said in a statement. “The troops blocked roads, condoned off parts of the city, harassed and frisked passersby.”

He condemned the misuse of the army and a “show of force” it said was designed to intimidate peace loving Nigerians, warning that members of the police and the armed forces are equally affected by the negative impacts of the fuel price hike.

On the presence of the thugs at Labour House, Mr. Lakemfa said the aim was to cause a fracas which would lead to claims that workers are divided over the issue of fuel price increase. He said the thugs later apologized, claiming they had not been told they were being taken to the NLC.

“They revealed that they were promised One Thousand Naira (N1,000) each to carry out the invasion,” he said. “Subsequently, they forced the agents that brought them to pay the N1,000 fee right in the presence of the cameras.”

He regretted that during the invasion, the FCT Police Command ignored calls by NLC officers to come and deal with the situation, and that the heavily armed security men who had condoned off parts of the area also did nothing to stop the invaders.

“The NLC views this incident as another desperate attempt by the increasingly isolated and unpopular Jonathan administration to stop the mass movement against its insensitive and ridiculous fuel price increases of between 120-220 per cent,” Mr. Lakemfa said
The NLC also noted that fraudulent text messages were sent around earlier in the morning, containing the fiction that the government had reversed the price of petrol back to N65, on the strength of which it was said that the Labour Movement had called off the action scheduled for next Monday.

“The NLC informs Nigerians that on this issue of strikes and protests, only statements or messages from the Labour Movement should be taken as authentic,” the statement said.
It reaffirmed the right of Nigerians to peaceful assembly and protest as a fundamental one which no government can abridge, and vowed that the NLC will work with the Nigeria Bar Association to bring those who brutalize Nigerians, and their bosses who issue the orders, to justice.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has condemned today’s invasion of its Secretariat in Abuja by about 70 thugs who were hired by agents of the government.
It also alerted the nation to what it called the “militarization” of Abuja.



“As part of its desperate moves to abort the peoples mass protests and intimidate Nigerians, the Presidency this morning turned out heavily armed units of the Presidential guards,” NLC Acting Secretary General Owei Lakemfa said in a statement. “The troops blocked roads, condoned off parts of the city, harassed and frisked passersby.”

He condemned the misuse of the army and a “show of force” it said was designed to intimidate peace loving Nigerians, warning that members of the police and the armed forces are equally affected by the negative impacts of the fuel price hike.

On the presence of the thugs at Labour House, Mr. Lakemfa said the aim was to cause a fracas which would lead to claims that workers are divided over the issue of fuel price increase. He said the thugs later apologized, claiming they had not been told they were being taken to the NLC.

“They revealed that they were promised One Thousand Naira (N1,000) each to carry out the invasion,” he said. “Subsequently, they forced the agents that brought them to pay the N1,000 fee right in the presence of the cameras.”

He regretted that during the invasion, the FCT Police Command ignored calls by NLC officers to come and deal with the situation, and that the heavily armed security men who had condoned off parts of the area also did nothing to stop the invaders.

“The NLC views this incident as another desperate attempt by the increasingly isolated and unpopular Jonathan administration to stop the mass movement against its insensitive and ridiculous fuel price increases of between 120-220 per cent,” Mr. Lakemfa said
The NLC also noted that fraudulent text messages were sent around earlier in the morning, containing the fiction that the government had reversed the price of petrol back to N65, on the strength of which it was said that the Labour Movement had called off the action scheduled for next Monday.

“The NLC informs Nigerians that on this issue of strikes and protests, only statements or messages from the Labour Movement should be taken as authentic,” the statement said.
It reaffirmed the right of Nigerians to peaceful assembly and protest as a fundamental one which no government can abridge, and vowed that the NLC will work with the Nigeria Bar Association to bring those who brutalize Nigerians, and their bosses who issue the orders, to justice.

And so what? Are they GOD? If they are so smart the should get Europe out of their financial mess latest by tomorrow morning!

Kx:
[b]One eye only [/b]pix of the trio?
How is this pix different from Lady Gaga's and Jay zee's illumi one eye pix?

Smart Guy. I have always said what we lack is not the enlightened but purely a dearth of quality leadership. . Notice Christine's grin? I shall share with you soon full details of the prism of world domination. Money, Women, Power and Pride. Notice that most of the fallen public figures (Evangelists, Business leaders, Countries etc) pass thru these cardinal points. The common knowledge are the first three but the last, Pride is the middle "dot" in the triangle! Connect these points and you arrive @ the Pyramid of Domination.

If you doubt me, ask yourself how Dominic Strauss Kahn (DSK) the last IMF chief was fallen to make way for Christine Lagarde! If you doubt me still connect the line between their eyes what geometric shape do you see?

NB: Lest I forget, Ngozi is just an usher in the WCW of which Lagarde is Prime Chancellor

This Jang is obviously a slowpoke. The minimum wage for the average [/b]American is $1,257 (N201,067) per month while that of the [b]average Nigerian is $129(N20,573) per month!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_minimum_wages_by_country

This Jang is obviously a slowpoke. The minimum wage for the average American is $1,257 per month while that of the average Nigerian is $129 per month!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_minimum_wages_by_country

Find below a voodoo session by the evil trinity of Sanusi, Ngozi and Christine Lagarde of the IMF.
Does this lay credence to the Illuminati Conspiracy to Subsidize Europe from Africa?

Maple:
He deserved to be lynched, so as make example of him to other traitors out there!

To those of you supporting the removal of fuel subsidy, I wonder how many of you are even aware of the fact that the monthly salary of a Federal legislator in Nigeria is more than that of US President Barack Obama.  And 25% of the Nigerian annual budget is spent on salaries, benefits and other expenditures accrued by our so-called Federal Executive council. Considering this senseless misplacement of priorities plus the cantankerous corruption in the govt, why should there be adequate money to finance social development project in the country in the first place? As if this gross injustice is not enough, they are blaming the lack of funds on the only last govt subsidy (fuel) left for the poor masses.

Some educated illiterates in support of fuel subsidy removal often try to relate our situation with other developed countries, not knowing that the minimum monthly wages in many of those countries are even more than the annual salary of most Nigerians, how silly can one be to compare "apples" with not even oranges, but with "kulikuli" .

What the sensible masses are saying is that the problem (lack of fund for social projects) is due to the rotten system of governance.   Removing fuel subsidy and even increasing fuel cost 500 fold would not bring social development as long as GEJ's "chop I chop" system remains . An old wine may be put in a new bottle, but its still an old wine.

GEJ and his FEC should lead by example by first removing/cutting the incessant "chop I chop" subsidies they enjoy, before having the audacity to debate whether or not to  remove fuel subsidy for the masses. Saying fuel subsidy is the reason why there's no enough money to finance social projects is treasonable and a great affront on the sensibility of Nigerian masses.

Brilliant! I'm pleased that some Nigerians are still in control of their grey matter. Some have been hypnotized by the voodoo economics of "Sanungozi". Isn't it yet obvious that there is no moral structure in government to support the judicious use of proceeds even if PMS cost is hiked to N500/liter? As long as institutional corruption holds sway, it will be the same old story 10 years from now.

Spot On !

We the Bishops of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, Ibadan Province comprising of Ibadan, Ondo, Oyo, Ilorin, Ekiti, and Osogbo dioceses, having carefully examined the political and economic reasons advanced by the federal government to justify the removal of petroleum subsidy, wish to express our regrets and reservations at the unpopular decision. We deplore the fact that economic considerations were prioritized over moral implications and immediate public interests in the timing of this subsidy removal.

Before removing the subsidy, the Federal Government alluded to huge irregularities and corruption associated with the provision of petroleum products in Nigeria. It took no action to prosecute anyone as a consequence of its discovery. It did not allay palpable fears of harsher economic effects on the average Nigerian nor did it take any action to protect or support the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians. The harsh consequences of the eventual removal of subsidy, as has been seen, have been instantaneous. Many Nigerians who went to their hometowns and villages to celebrate Christmas and the New Year could not even afford the cost of returning to their places of work.

Government argued that the removal of subsidy on fuel would open the sector to private investors. This might be at best, speculative. We note that government’s many policy somersaults and failure to provide security for life and property have created an unfriendly business environment which the mere removal of subsidy cannot reverse. This situation has in fact scared away many foreign and even indigenous investors not only from the petroleum sector but also from other sectors in this country.

The first duty of government is to guarantee the security of life and property. Therefore, to simply allude to fraudulent practices in the petroleum sector without any serious effort to sanction its perpetrators, and to go on instead to remove subsidy as a way of forestalling fraud is to punish the already vulnerable and victimized Nigerian consumer. This action, taken at this most inauspicious period of national grief and emergency is tantamount to what we have referred to in the past as “governance by ambush”. It merely penalizes the ordinary Nigerian for the sins of those who practice fraud and for government’s abdication of its most fundamental responsibilities. We note with deep regret that this country now has a tradition of making the poor suffer in the selfish interest of a few who have fraudulently enriched themselves in collusion with those in the corridors of power. Must the poor suffer to make the rich smile? It may not be fair to blame the Jonathan government alone for all the woes of Nigeria but this government must take full responsibility for the insensitive timing and execution of this policy on fuel subsidy. Government seems to have already decided on it anyway long before the so-called consultations were begun or does it not matter at all that scores of Nigerians were gruesomely murdered only days earlier in the very vicinity of our Federal Capital?

We cannot ignore the fact that in the build-up to the removal of subsidy, this government simply recycled promises made by previous governments to use proceeds accruing from such measures to improve infrastructure and raise the standard of living of the citizens. But Nigerians know that in the past, such promises have only been fulfilled in the breach. To them, therefore, it would be unwise to believe government this time when it offers no guarantees whatsoever.

We have spoken in the past about the unwieldy cost of governance as other voices of reason have. At federal, state and local levels, there are too many political appointees, too many ministries and too many committees. Government’s direct action to slim down in this area would have been one guarantee of its credibility for judicious spending of fuel subsidy savings. As things stand, we consider it immoral to remove petroleum subsidy while we run a government of such dysfunctional dimension and cost. We declare that it is immoral to impose removal of petroleum subsidy on economically weakened Nigerians while political office holders continue to live in embarrassing opulence.

It is therefore our strong opinion that the debate on subsidy was simplistically presented, a fait accompli to veil the fact that the issues involved are far more complex. The powers of state should never have been used to impose removal of petroleum subsidy without putting in place concrete definable measures to cushion the emasculating effects of such an action on the most vulnerable segments of the Nigerian population.



Most Reverend Felix Alaba Job Most Reverend Emmanuel Ade Badejo
Chairman of Catholic Bishops Conference, Ibadan Province Chairman, Communications Department Metropolitan of Ibadan Province and Catholic Bishops Conference
Ibadan Province
Archbishop of Ibadan

Cheap and shoddy PROPAGANDA. They should have sought professional help from North Korea

Let the government name them immediately if this is not PROPAGANDA. Another failure, just like the attempt to tie Boko Haram to fuel subsidy. What a clueless government.

Their spin doctors are so pickle brained that they cannot even put together something convincing. These are clear antics of a drowning administration. I pray they don't resort to planting bombs in nursery schools and other heart rendering places to cause distraction.

The recent Maiduguri bombings "with no casualties" is very SUSPECT.

I stumbled on a post from Citizen [b]@talknafree [/b]some where on the nairaland borders that I thot is should share. Below are the excerpts. Food for thot indeed.


[b]"The General believe during the Obasanjo Administration was that it was through the influence of Ngozi Okonjo Iweala Nigeria's foreign debt was drastically reduced, but what they failed to tell us was on what terms and conditions IMF and World Bank Cancelled the supposed debt. Afterall, like the saying goes, Nothing goes for Nothing.

Ngozi's brother was acted as the mediator/consultant between the federal government of Nigeria and IMF/World Bank got paid a whooping $10million as his "consultant fee". For a job he neither started nor ended.

Ngozi Okonjo Iweala currently earns a salary of $600,000 monthly excluding her allowances, and has a free hand policy. Which means a larger percentage she makes concerning the Economy and Finances of Nigeria need not pass through the Federal Executive Council Meeting or the President himself. She has been given the trust and responsibility to handle most international dealing bothering on Nigeria's Economy.

Reason? That was the condition she gave the Federal Government before she accepted to take over the Finance Ministry.

If we all can remember vividly, the same Okonjo Iweala Resigned from Obasanjo's cabinet when he reshuffled his cabinet and transferred her from Ministry of Finance to Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Rumors had it OBJ couldn't stand her overbearing attitudes and indirect insults at both Private and Public Executive meetings.

If Ngozi Iwela really loved and wanted to serve her father land as she makes us believe, She wouldn't think of putting policies to affect her fellow Nigerians at the expense of satisfying IMF and World Bank".[/b]

If she loves her father land so much why did she reject the less lucrative Foreign Affairs Ministry?

Thanks @ Iskoki (Mr 19 posts). I can see you just registered to propagate propaganda. How much did they pay you. I can see the government is really dull to have hired you.

This strategy smells like the struggle of a drowning man holding on to a straw! You have indeed betrayed your employers. Please try consulting with your pet parrot, may it can come up with something more sell-able.

In case you don't know. My contacts eavesdropped on Mr Reno Omokri Special Assistant on New Media at a bar in Sheraton when they were planning this propaganda. They intend to pass it as a CIA report. Believe this you will believe anything!

Please Compare

Please Compare

Please Compare

What blind peeps are yet to realize is that the #occupynigeria movement is not under the umbrella of any of these established unions etc. They are united in one cause. The NLC & TUC have their own important role to play in the realization of these common objectives.

Thank you. The first demand borders on subsidy. The demand for prosecution of all those involved in the subsidy windfall aka "SubsidyGate" will follow. The demands for a drastic cut in the pay check of all legislators is also in the pipeline.

[quote author=alj_harem link=topic=838928.msg9896477#msg9896477 date=1325709915]No sir

Stop comparing Nigeria with other countries BECAUSE WE HAVE DIFFERENT EXCHANGE RATES AND YOU CANNOT BE CONVERTING OUR MONEY TO DOLLARS OR POUNDS TO PROVE A POINT.

ALSO THE STANDARD OF LIVING IN THOSE COUNTRIES YOU MENTIONED ARE WAY HIGHER THAN Nigeria so people since we are not Illiterate can you stop the comparison already.[/quote]Thanks. They keep coming up with all this basic arithmetic currency conversions without mentioning "per capita income", "minimum wage" and "social security". They keep thinking in one dimensional rather than multi-dimensional. You cant just pick one index devoid of other key indices and expect us to swallow them hook line and sinker like the zombie generation of the 80s and 90s. I think that lost generation is finding it hard to come to terms or keep up with the fast changing pace of things in addition to the ubiquitous impact of new media.

Please wake. The age of the gullible is long past! Enough of the voodoo economics

With all this "e-Lynching" I guess Beaf will be made "Roasted Beaf" or Burnt @ Stake if his identity and address is ever revealed?

I already smell dead meat oops! Sorry dead beaf

Dear Seun, Thanks for clarifying.
It appears "Subsidy" is about the hottest topic now, but with all these debate for and against subsidy don't you think its time you set up a NAIRALAND SUBSIDY OPINION POLL and lets see on which side the Majority is?

[quote author=Bandit C. link=topic=838928.msg9895884#msg9895884 date=1325703519]Do you even know what the multiplier effect denotes, when and how it takes place? People would be making use of economic jargon they have no idea what it actually means or how it is applied all in the name of sounding smart. Na wao.[/quote]Please tell us. Help us. Please explain. What is Multiplier Effect?
Thanks in Advance Mr Professor.


PS: No "Googling" Please. We can easily spot plagiarism

Bliss4Lyfe:
OK, exactly how much time do u need? 60-70years?  

As soon as you check out from your drain pipe accommodation in the UK.

Good Riddance to Voodoo Economics

Another Thread by Apologists on GEJ Payroll!