Labour protests cause traffic in Lagos

The demonstrators are said to be marching to Ikeja from the Yaba office of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

A protest organized by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has caused a traffic jam on Ikorodu Road in Lagos State, reports say.

The NLC went ahead with the strike today, May 18, 2016, and protesters are said to have flooded the streets to register their displeasure at the recent fuel price increase, Daily Sun reports.

The demonstrators are said to be marching to Ikeja from the Yaba office of the NLC.

The Ayuba Wabba-led faction of the NLC had said that it would go ahead with the strike after peace talks with the government fell through.

The Wabba faction also vowed to defy an order of the National Industrial Court suspending the strike.

The Joe Ajaero-faction of the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have withdrawn from the strike.

Meanwhile, some officials of the NLC in Jos, Plateau State were said to have been stoned while trying to mobilize protesters for today's strike.

I regret not privatising NNPC – Ex President says

OBJ said this at a maritime stakeholders’ conference organised by the ministry of transportation in Lagos state, on Monday, May 16, 2016.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for the privatisation of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), National Inland Waterways Authority and the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA).

OBJ also said he regretted not privatising the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

He said this at a maritime stakeholders’ conference organised by the ministry of transportation in Lagos state, on Monday, May 16, 2016.

The former President said “I was instrumental to the reform and establishment of the NNPC from the Nigerian National Oil Corporation. Had I known that it would be mismanaged, I would have done something better. I would have privatised it and put it on the stock Exchange.

“The NLNG didn’t go the way of the NNPC because of the way it was organised. Fifty-one per cent is owned by private investors, both foreign and indigenous, while 49 per cent is owned by the government. In fact, the NLNG has been making money ever since the initial capital investment. From three trains, we are going to seven trains.”

OBJ also added that “The institutions that are important in the country, which have not worked, we have to make them work. We can use the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas company as a model.

“We should look into these areas and think outside of the box. Until the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency became a place where people stole money, nobody knew much about it. Now, everybody wants to work there. Look at the National Inland Waterways Authority, the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron and the Nigeria Ports Authority, which we tried to privatise. These are institutions we can make to work.”

A former Governor of Abia state, Orji Uzor Kalu accused former President Obasanjo of using anti-corruption agencies to settle political scores.

Reps ask labour to call-off strike

The resolution was moved by Hon. Nicholas Ossai, during a meeting with the minister of state for petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu on Monday, May 16, 2016.

The House of Representatives have called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to shelve their planned protest against the recent increment in the pump price of fuel.

The Federal Government announced the removal of subsidy and a subsequent increase in price of petrol to N145 on Wednesday, May 11, 2016.

The resolution was moved by Hon. Nicholas Ossai, during a meeting with the minister of state for petroleum, Ibe Kachikwuon Monday, May 16, 2016.

The lawmakers also set up a committee to meet with labour and government to reach an agreement so the strike can be averted.

The ad hoc committee is headed by the House Whip, Alhassan Doguwa.

Meanwhile, negotiations between the Federal Government and labour ended in a deadlock.

According to reports, labour insisted that the government should increase the minimum wage of workers.

The government on the other hand, argued that the call for an increase in minimum wage was ill timed.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) announced that it will embark on a nationwide strike on Wednesday, May 18, 2016, to protest the increase in the fuel pump price from N86 and N86.50k to N145 per litre by the Federal Government.