With 24 hours to go, feelers reaching YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine are pointing to the fact that the proposed nation-wide strike by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) billed to commence tomorrow, Wednesday, May 18, 2016, may not likely achieve the desired results.
NLC, it would be recalled, had given the Federal Government of Nigeria up to Wednesday to revert to the old fuel price of N86.50 (from the new price of N145) or risk having the country shut down via a strike action.
However, with the handwriting now on the wall, here are 5 reasons NLC may not likely carry the day:
1. NUPENG and PENGASSEN, who hitherto have always united forces with NLC, will not be part of the strike, having publicly pledged their support for deregulation of the oil sector.
2. Subtly, NLC’s rank is being penetrated and weakened by the Federal Government, which explains why some of their members are supporting deregulation and others are not.
3. In spite of the fact that the Federal Government sneaked in the new price on the people and without adequate consultations, more and more Nigerians are now aware of the merits of deregulation.
4. Unlike under former President Goodluck Jonathan when renowned voices like Pastor Tunde Bakare, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Dr. Joei Odumakin, etc joined in the condemnation, the reverse is the case now.
5. Though unconfirmed, the tale flying all over the place is that people are being compromised in different quarters, currying their favour and getting them to advocate why this deregulation must be accepted.