FG adopts divide-and-rule, negotiates with Ajaero-led faction of NLC

The federal government on Tuesday moved closer to decimating organized labour, particularly the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), as it foreclosed further parley with the Ayuba Wabba-led group for the Ajaero-led faction of the NLC.

Representatives of government, led by Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, addressed the media saying that the Buhari-led administration had reached an agreement with the Joe Ajaero-led faction of the NLC to set up a committee to resolve agitations over the new pump price.

Ajaero is the Executive Secretary of the Electricity Workers Union, and had earlier dissociated his members from the proposed NLC strike.

Oshiomhole in his address noted that the joint committee is expected to review the price of petrol, determine a new minimum wage and consult with the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) for effective price regulation of petroleum products.

The emergence of Ajaero as a preferred partner may not be unconnected with government’s long term plan to disunite organized labour permanently, and push aggressively ahead with its ‘change’ agenda. Sources close to the Presidency say that the federal government may have relied heavily on Governor Oshiomhole’s experience as a former leader of NLC to destabilize the once virile labour family.

The adoption of Ajaero took many watchers by surprise as his faction appeared the weaker of two factions with only the Electricity Workers Union and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers Union (NUPENG) under his care.

The Wabba-led faction has vowed to go ahead with the planned nation-wide strike slated for Wednesday.

Ripples Nigeria had earlier reported that the federal government may have begun a massive deployment of police personnel to avert any threat to peace, having gotten the National Industrial Court to stop the proposed NLC strike.

 

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