NECA backs FG on deregulation, says protests unnecessary

Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) says deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry is a crucial first step towards resolving the crisis in the sector.

Segun Oshinowo, director-general of NACA, who spoke at the weekend, said the decision to free the sector had been long awaited.

Oshinowo praised the Federal Government for the courage demonstrated, which past administrations had unwittingly shied away from, by embracing a policy option that would jump start significant reform in the downstream sector that would impact positively on the economy, both in the short and long terms.

The employers’ body’s position came as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) reiterated at the weekend they were expecting the government to summon a stakeholders’ meeting to discuss the fuel price increase before Wednesday.

Joe Ajaero, president of one of the flanks of the NLC, said the increase would bring untold hardship on Nigerians, and this was why the government must listen to Nigerians to revert to the status quo while discussions were on.

But NECA is opposed to the labour’s position, as Oshinowo said as a key actor in the economy and participant at various committees of the government in the past on the subject at stake, NECA deplored the usual resort to threat of strike to impose its position even when such would be to the long-term detriment of the economy as we have seen over the year with the subsidy regime.

“One stakeholder’s interest should not loom larger than several other stakeholders’ and should not be pushed through an illegal strike on an issue outside the primary mandate of the custodian of the interest,” Oshinowo said.

He noted government’s policy on oil and gas was not an employment and labour issue, and should not be a basis for a national strike, saying, “Organised labour should instead focus on how to improve the welfare of its members through wage discussion and related matters.”

Speaking on the planned protest, Oshinowo enjoined, “employees in the private sector to ignore any directive from NLC/ TUC and should go about their normal duties.”

He reminded workers to understand that” it is in the interest of both the employer and workers to ensure and sustain business survival as their wages are not dependent on government’s budgetary appropriation or monthly allocation as any involvement in such a strike will certainly imperil their job and income security, particularly at a very difficult times like this.

“Beyond applying the law of ‘no work … no pay, employers will take strong exception at any employee that fails to report for work as from Wednesday.”

Oshinowo appealed to the Federal Government and heads of the various security agencies to ensure that adequate security is put in place for workers to commute between their homes and different places of work.

“We appeal to the generality of Nigerians to shun any call by organised labour to shut down our economy. This is one strike we can least afford,” he said.