The former chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress from 1999 to 2007, Adams Oshiomhole, criticized the ongoing nationwide strike by the Labour Unions, stating that it does not prioritize the interests of Nigerian workers. He expressed his belief that the rationale behind the strike is misplaced and argued that the Organised Labour should focus on monitoring the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Federal Government on October 2, 2023.
Oshiomhole emphasized that the issues confronting workers are numerous and should take precedence. He pointed out that the Federal Government had agreed to meet several demands of the Organised Labour, including the payment of N35,000 as Wage Awards to all federal workers for the next six months and the provision of Compressed Natural Gas-enabled vehicles and conversion kits for commuting nationwide.
However, the Labour Centres announced the nationwide strike to protest the assault on the NLC President and some other executives of the congress in Owerri, Imo State, as well as pending labour issues in Imo State. Oshiomhole, while acknowledging the importance of addressing violence against individuals, urged the Labour Union to engage all 36 state governments to ensure the fulfillment of the promises made by the Federal Government to improve the living conditions of Nigerians. He emphasized that the focus should be on robustly engaging with state governments to ensure the implementation of the agreed N35,000 wage across the board.
During the visit to the State House, Oshiomhole, accompanied by two former members of the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress, congratulated the Vice President on the APC’s success in the Imo and Kogi elections on November 11. He also commented on the off-cycle elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states, stating that they demonstrate the power held by the people over influential elements who express opinions on regional politics without firsthand experience.
Oshiomhole stressed that the forgotten majority of voiceless people have the power of the ballot, indicating that their judgments are formed by the actions of their governors rather than the opinions of vocal commentators. He cautioned against relying on the viewpoints of certain individuals in the capital and emphasized the potency of the voiceless electorate in influencing election outcomes.