Removal of oil subsidy Nigeria - The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) has expressed total support for the proposed strike by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), scheduled to start on Monday, against the removal of oil subsidy by the Nigerian Government. Mr. Benjamin Okewu, the acting secretary general of the Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN), gave this indication Friday at a joint news conference at the National Union of Air Traffic Employees (NUATE) secretariat on the proposed strike.

The news conference, which was addressed by the officials of the ATTSAN, NUATE and NAAPE, respectively, advised the Federal Government to revert the pump price to 65 naira as against the present 141 naira and above (150 naira = US$ 1).

The unions also said that they had written to all embassies and high commissions on the directive that all the nation’s 22 Airports would be shut throughout the strike in line with the directives of NLC and TUC.

Hence all international flights to Nigeria should land in neighbouring countries, they said. 

Okewu said that the international support was contained in a statement issued by the secretariat of the WTFU from its headquarters in Athens, Greece.

The statement stated that ”on behalf of its 82 million members from 120 countries', the WTFU denounces the decision of the Nigerian government to end the fuel subsidy for the people which will bring the further increase in the petrol price up 50 percent until 130 percent.

``In addition to the existing living conditions of the Nigerian people, the poverty and the high prices for the daily essentials that are already a huge burden for the popular family.

“Nigeria is the biggest oil producer in the sub-Saharan Africa. The wealth-producing resources of the country are exploited and monopolised by multinationals and leaving only hunger and poverty to the majority of the population while the capitalists are gaining huge profits.

“The World Federation of Trade Unions(WFTU) demands from the government of Nigeria to immediately take back this anti-labour decision.

“We express our support to our brothers, the working people of Nigeria, and we express our international solidarity to the strikes and their struggles,” the statement said.

Also speaking, Mr Abdulkareem Motajo, the acting secretary general, National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), said that the aviation unions had written to all embassies and high commissions about there decisions that all the airports would be shut from 0.00hrs Sunday in compliance with the directives from the NLC and TUC

'We have directed that all international flights scheduled for Nigeria during that period should arrange to land in other neighbouring countries when the strike is on.

'For those that are airborne and arrive Nigeria on Monday morning, the Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) would assist  them to land and depart at the same time while those already on ground would not be allowed to take off from any of the nation’s 22 airports, he said.

'This is because all the pilots and engineers trained to fly commercial flights would also be observing the strike and we would not want to endanger the lives of our passengers,’’ he said

Motajo added: ``With the present prices after the removal, the FG is inflicting pains on the average Nigerians. Nigerians should  bear with us until the pump price is reverted to the old rate of 65 naira per litre.

``We have resolved to abide by the NLC and TUC directives and we will ensure total compliance by engaging in peaceful protest to make our intentions known to the federal government,’’ he said   

Mr. Ofonimeh Umanah of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, (NAAPE) implored passengers not to risk travelling by air during the strike, saying that fire service officials and control tower operators would be off duty then.

Also, weather forecasters from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) would not be available to supply the weather situation for the pilots and we all know the weather  situation of the country now, Umanah said. 

Pana 06/01/2012