10th January, 2012
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Cross River have threatened to sanction members who failed to join the ongoing strike to protest fuel subsidy removal.
The Chairman of the State NLC, Mr. Nyambi Njom, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) shortly after monitoring compliance in Calabar on Monday that market union, taxi drivers and owners of petrol stations failed to join in the strike.
“We want to use this opportunity to tell the market unions, taxis drivers and owners of petrol stations to stop work with immediate effect. They should take whatever happens in good fate if they don’t join.
“I want to tell the chairman of the market union to go and tell his people to close down all the markets and take their commodities away.
“If we enter the market, anything that happens they will take it in good fate. I need police clearance to do what I like, so any member who does not comply is warned,” he said.
The two unions also commended the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Samson Wudah, for providing security throughout the peaceful rally.
The state Chairman of TUC, Mr. Loius Usang, commended members of the union for coming out in large number for the procession.
Usang said that the strike was a continuous one and urged them to meet at the secretariat today for another procession.
“I have been directed to advise you that we should come out 7 a.m. each day until the strike is called off. We will be meeting at the secretariat and be taking a similar procession.”
In his reaction, Wudah, said that 7,000 personnel were deployed to monitor the rally in Cross River and commended labour leaders for their maturity in the conduct of the peaceful protests.
Mr. Ndabo Okon Kuthman , Chairman, National Union of Shops Cross River Chapter, said the market unions would join the strike today.