If the problem of fuel scarcity across the country remains for the next few days, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) may shortly instruct its members to boycott work.
Workers in statutory businesses and government-owned institutions are among those to whom the TUC plans to distribute the order in the coming days.
The Congress is also uneasy with President Muhammadu Buhari, and they have urged that he be more proactive in finding and prosecuting those responsible for the scarcity that has caused tremendous pain for Nigerians.
Mohammad Yunusa, the TUC’s National Treasurer, made the threat during an interview with Labour Correspondents in Abuja over the weekend during the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies’ delegate conference (SSASCGOC).
Yunusa, who was also the immediate past President-General of SSASCGOC, revealed that members of his organization have already been told to stay at home until a consistent supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), better known as Petrol, becomes available.
“The union’s position is pretty clear,” he stated. Those responsible for the scarcity should be recognized and severely punished. The attitude of SSASCGOC is also that, as you know, we are linked with TUC, and we have informed TUC that workers should not go to work until enough gasoline is available to transport them to work.
“This is how you do it.” We’re waiting for our center to respond to our request, but SSASCGOC believes there’s no need to go to work. Stay in your residence for a while. When the fuel arrives, which they say will be billions of litres of gasoline, and there is a consistent supply, we will resume work.”
The TUC head chastised the Federal Government for what he termed as a nonchalant attitude toward education systems at Nigeria’s higher institutions in response to the month-long protest by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.
He stressed that the Federal Government had on many occasions signed Memorandum of Understanding with many unions without fulfilling its promises at the end of the day.
According to him, ”The major problem unionism has in Nigeria is that the governments do not listen. You can’t have constructive engagements with the government in Nigeria.
”Let’s look at the case of ASUU, they are talking about the agreement they entered with the Federal Government many years back, and up till now, the government has not fulfilled it.
”So, over the years, because there is no constructive engagements, it is when you call out your members for strike that government will listen to you.”
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