Three days to the International Workers' Day, observed every May 1, the Federal Capital Territory, Administration, FCT, declined to allow the organized labour to use the Eagle Square in Abuja for the Mayday celebration.
The FCTA had initially granted the organized labour the permission to use the Eagle Square for the celebration on May 1, but later revoked the authorization it had granted to them.
But the organized labour has decided hold the May Day Celebration on the streets of Abuja, starting from the Labour House from 8 am on Monday.
The organized labour also said that the sudden decision to withdraw the permit may be laden with mischief and a sign of what is to come in the near future, adding that it is a call to all to be prepared.
A statement by the General Secretary of NLC, Comrade Emmanuel Ugbaja on the change of venue for the Workers Day Celebration read:
"Dear Comrades, as you must have been aware of the last minute questionable action of the Government at the centre to deny us the use of the Eagle Square for this year’s May -Day celebrations three days to the event despite having granted us the permit months ago.
"Do remember that this is a venue we have been using in the past decades for our May Day celebrations. The sudden decision to withdraw the permit may be laden with mischief and actually a sign of what is to come in the near future. It is a call to all of us to be prepared.
"As a result of this unfortunate development, we want to inform you that we have decided to shift the venue for the celebration to the Streets of Abuja so that we can deepen our reconnection with the people who are our true partners in the struggle for a free society.
"Take-off point shall be at the National Headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) by 8:00 AM.
"All affiliates are to assemble on the grounds of the Paschal Bafyau Labour House on Monday the 1st of May from where we shall proceed on a rally around Abuja.
Do remain assured of our continued commitment to our traditions and values!"
Recall that the General Secretary of the NLC, had on Friday disclosed to journalists during a pre-May Day lecture held at Labour House, Abuja that the government had withdrawn the permission granted to labour for the use of Eagle Square for the celebration.
Comrade Ugbaja stated that the withdrawal was contained in a letter sent to the labour centre on Thursday by the FCT minister, explaining that the reasons for the withdrawal borders on preparations at Eagle Square ahead of the May 29 inauguration of the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He described the reason as utra-lame and noted that the development was a pointer towards a no rosy future for the struggle of Nigerian working class.
He said, even though the withdrawal has no implication on workers, they should brace up for war cry on Mayday and prepare for the worst.
According to him, "They have withdrawn the permission and they don't want to talk to us, the Minister of FCT has withdrawn our permission to use Eagle Square for the Mayday and clearly he is speaking for his government, it means the government doesn't want to address the workers, so they don't appreciate the work the workers have put over the years and we will not fair to appreciate ourselves.
"The withdrawal has no implication on workers, the Mayday will hold but not in Eagle Square but the workers will mark their day from the NLC to every nook and cranny of nigeria".
"The reason they gave was that they were renovating the Eagle Square for usage on May 29 and we'll find it to be ultra lame this is not the first time there will be an inauguration we have had more than five to seven inaugurations in the past two decades and we have always held Mayday in the Eagle Square.
“The minister of FCT through his agency sent us a letter yesterday, It's a workers day, we have sought the permission to use a venue and it was granted to us and later withdrawn, so it has nothing to do with the minister of labour If the withdrawal of our permission to use the Eagle Square is a snippet of what they (workers) should expect, we are ready the way we have adjusted to it will prove to them that we are ready for whatever they are going to throw at us", he added.
Speaking further, he said, "Workers should be prepare for the worst, the indicators don't point towards any rosy future if we don't struggle. So it's going to be a war cry on May 1st, just for us to brace up to take the challenges we see coming forward".
TUC condemns action
In the same vein, the Trade Union Congress, TUC, also condemned withdrawal of permission for use of eagle square for the Workers Day Celebrations by the Federal Capital Territory Authorities (FCTA)
The TUC President, Comrade Festus Osifo, while briefing the press after the Union’s Central Working Committee (CWC) and National Executive Council (NEC) in Abuja on Friday night, said it received a letter conveying the message of withdrawal, stating the it would respond appropriately at the right time.
According to Osifo, “We received a letter from the Abuja investment company it is one of the agencies under the FCTA and they communicated to us that the Eagles square will not be available for our Mayday Parade on Monday. It suffice to note that May 29 has been there. Since 1999,
"We have always had a way of carrying out our parade before they go ahead with their preparations results for the handover. May 1st is four weeks away from handover but our government is telling us that political considerations are much more important than the issues of workers. You can see the kind of country that we are that the people that are behind those GDP numbers, the people that toil day and night to ensure that Nigeria as a country is not a failed state as predicted by so many international agencies are being relegated to the background.
"We wish to inform them that we reject this completely. We have asked us to go to the old parade ground. we are not going if they are not afforded laws, the place that we have been using for this event, then they should go away with it at the the appropriate time we will answer them.
"This is not right. This is not correct. The issues of workers should be prioritised. four weeks is sufficient for them to do whatsoever evaluation or preparations that are required for the presidential inauguration”
No comments:
Post a Comment