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Text of a National Broadcast by
President Olusegun Obasanjo
October 8, 2003
Fellow Nigerians.
It was only after very painful consideration and reflections on the state of
affairs in our dear country today, that I decided to address you all. This
national broadcast, the second in the last eight days, is evidence of my deep
concern over the conduct of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the
Government’s resolve to ensure that the ongoing reform agenda remains on course.
Let me reiterate my unwavering commitment to the full democratisation of all
aspects of our political life, including free and open dissent and constructive
criticisms of the government within the limits of the law. That is, in fact, why
my government has allowed sometimes protracted labour strikes not embarked upon
legally and other aspects of opposition to government policies. This government
has always considered labour as important and therefore consulted with it on
many national and international issues. It is no wonder that in the last four
years, the NLC has not organised a single strike over wage or salary issues
because we have been very productive in the interest of the workers.
It is worthy to note that between 1999 when this government came in and 2003,
the salary of some workers have been increased eight fold, including the recent
increase in the civil service that would take effect this October.
I remain committed to these ideals of an open society. However, no government
would tolerate lawlessness or the attempt by any group of people under any guise
to use illegal means to take over government or make the country ungovernable as
the labour leader has promised. I will be failing in my constitutional duties to
the people of Nigeria to allow that to happen.
As you are aware, my government has embarked on fundamental reforms designed to
depart from the waste and unproductive exercises of the past and leave lasting
legacies for the prosperity and improved welfare and well-being of all
Nigerians. Since 1999, we have gradually but steadily embarked on the programme
of liberalisation and deregulation of the Nigerian economy to promote efficiency
and effectiveness of service delivery. Most Nigerians and certainly all
organised key stakeholders in the Nigerian economy, including the Nigeria
Labour Congress, have endorsed the deregulation programme of government.
It is as a fitting symbol of our administration’s commitment to the welfare of
workers and in an effort to cushion the effects of deregulation that the
government provided 80 buses to the NLC in 2002. The transliner buses were
delivered to the Congress for management without government interference. It is
noteworthy that every step taken to deregulate the downstream oil sector has
been dogged by, sometimes, irresponsible opposition by the Labour Congress. The
result has been that we took too little steps to achieve no meaningful and
satisfactory progress. We have tolerated all of these in the interest of
promoting popular dialogue and informed dissent.
Let me inform Nigerians that when government first came up with the deregulation
programme, it was endorsed by the NLC and other stakeholders. In fact, the NLC
had requested that we call it a “liberalisation” programme. It was thus more a
matter of label than of substance. If we had been successful in implementing the
deregulation or liberalisation of the downstream oil sector as earlier agreed by
all stakeholders, including labour, we would not have been worrying about the
periodic and unsatisfactory price-fixing which has led no where expect to
frustration. The failure to fully deregulate or liberalise has also cost
Nigerians billions of naira which are currently wasted on millions of man-hours
in queues at the petrol stations.
The tens of billions of naira currently being lost in money that could have been
used to increase capital spending in the universities, fund agriculture, repair
and rehabilitate our roads, invest in education and health, improve security
with extra police for security of lives and property. Realising that the
investment of well over $400 million (excluding pipelines and depots) in the
last six years mostly on Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) and repairs had not
improved the performance of the refineries significantly, government had decided
that it was unwise to put additional money into the repair of the Kaduna and
Port Harcourt refineries before privatising them.
What most Nigerians must know is that the contracts for the Turn Around
Maintenance for the Kaduna and Port Harcourt refineries were awarded with 50% of
the cost paid upfront before the advent of this administration in 1999. Allow me
to add that two of the three refinery locations in the country today, were built
by my administration as military head of state. This means that if for no other
reason, I should be interested in keeping them working. Already, 18 private
firms have been licensed to build refineries but they have been reluctant to go
into the industry because of Government’s price control in the sector.
If only 30% of these firms had been able to establish and operate private
refineries, thousands of jobs would have been created and Nigeria would have
been in a position to even export refined oil products. All these benefits and
more have been denied to Nigerians by the stop-go approach to the deregulation
or liberalisation programme, and only a few Nigerians are benefiting from the
prevailing government controlled system. In fact, the NLC ‘s approach has been
counter-productive, and inflicted more pains on Nigerian workers. Each time
there is a small increase of three naira or more, transporters have used the
opportunity to jerk up transportation cost thereby making the ordinary worker
poorer.
A once-and-for-all total deregulation would have meant a once-and-for-all
increase in transport cost and the pump price for petroleum products. Without
doubt, a once-and-for-all total deregulation would have resolved the problem of
availability and thus bring down prices for those outside Abuja, Lagos, Port
Harcourt and their environs who have always paid much more than the official
posted price. Pump prices arising from the present total deregulation would, in
reality, amount to a reduction in prices of majority of Nigerians.
Let me add, that before the marketers have the signal that they were fully ready
for liberalisation, they sought and received government’s assurance to repair
all necessary infrastructure for importing and discharging products. These
infrastructure were substantially repaired and made available by the 28th of
September, 2003.
Fellow Nigerians, we must move forward in the interest of this country. In
recent times, especially since the new administration was sworn-in in May this
year, the NLC has constituted itself into an opposition political movement
rather than a labour organisation to advance the interest of its members
contrary to the provisions of the law establishing it. The tactical move by the
NLC to mislead and recruit some opposition political parties is evidence of an
attempt not only to politicise what otherwise is an economic issue, but also to
promote its avowed objective of bringing down a democratically elected
government.
This new alliance appears designed to attain power through undemocratic means.
The leadership of the NLC has engaged in series of subversive activities,
deliberately misrepresenting government policies to the public and its members,
and using every opportunity to blackmail the government and others who hold
contrary opinions or views. Of more serious concern is the fact that the NLC
leadership is conducting itself as a parallel government in Nigeria, and
brazenly breaks the law of Nigeria regarding the conduct of strikes which
stipulates a mandatory 15-day notice before embarking on any legitimate strike
in the interest of the conditions of service of workers.
During the last strike in June, which a Lagos court declared illegal and a
contempt of court, the NLC threatened the police and threw tear gas at policemen
on legitimate duties. Even now, in its arrogance and disrespect for law and
order, it continues to warn and threaten the police. It not only enlists the
services of other political parties, but also the services of hoodlums and drug
addicts who are used to harass, intimidate, disrupt and destroy the lives and
properties of innocent Nigerians. Government has sufficient evidence that the
NLC has provided cash to hoodlums to distribute subversive materials and act
against the Nigerian state. This cannot be the way that a responsible labour
leadership should act. Government has thus far tolerated these nefarious and
criminal activities as a demonstration of goodwill and also as part of the
nurturing of our nascent democracy. It seems, however, that the Government’s
hands of friendship, tolerance and statesmanship are being misinterpreted as
indication of weakness. This must now stop.
The time has come when this government must decide whether it was elected by the
people to serve the interests of all Nigerians and establish a firm foundation
for growth, stability, development and democracy, or whether it would succumb to
the clearly misguided and irresponsible leadership of the NLC.
What the NLC leadership must realise is that it has no mandate from whatever
source to mobilise, much less call for anti-government action, the Nigerians who
are not dues-paying members of its affiliate unions. No self-respecting
government would abdicate its responsibility to the people who elected it. And
this government will not be distracted from the overwhelming mandate of the
people of Nigeria.
Let me therefore use this opportunity to remind the NLC that there is an
existing law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria requiring that labour serves a
15-day notice of intention to go on strike, and that this has not been followed
in the current threats.
So far, the NLC has shown a total disdain for our traditional institutions and
neither consulted with the traditional rulers nor with the major organs of our
society. Before fully exploring the avenues for dialogue, it is already
threatening innocent Nigerians to stay at home or be visited with mayhem.
Nothing can further demonstrate the unpatriotic and sinister motives of the NLC
than the contents of the communique at the end of its meeting of 4th October in
which it not only sought to mobilise ‘all Nigerians’ and not just financial
members of the NLC to join the strike, but also issued threats and warnings to
several agencies, including the police, bank workers, air travellers and
aviation workers.
Unbelievably, the NLC betrayed its hidden agenda by calling on all Nigerians to
boycott the on-going 8th All Africa Games holding in Abuja. These unpatriotic
acts and attempts to make true the NLC leadership’s all-time boast to make the
country ungovernable cannot be allowed to stand. The NLC must recognise that it
is not a parallel government in Nigeria. Such a position constitutes security
threats for which government cannot fold its hand. I only hope that the
leadership of NLC would be wise to retrace its steps and take back the Congress
to the path of legality and patriotism. Deregulation or liberalisation of the
downstream sector means that everyone can participate.
If the NLC decides to run its own transport company or engage in petroleum
importation or refining, it is free to do so and sell to its members and whoever
it pleases and at whatever price it deems fit.
For the millions of law abiding citizens of Nigeria, let me assure you of the
government’s readiness to ensure full protection of lives and property. The
marketers, I understand, have had a very engaging dialogue with the NLC and with
the men and women of good will as umpires. I will expect that this golden
opportunity of dialogue will not be lost.
It is my hope that in spite of everything, the NLC can still allow reason to
prevail and enter into productive dialogue with the marketers as midwifed by
mediators.
I appeal to all Nigerians to remain calm and go about their normal businesses
without let or hindrance. The Nigeria Police and other law-enforcement agents
are ready to provide maximum protection and security. No one should attempt to
disrupt the normal transportation either by land, sea or air, or try to force
the closure of markets, banks and shops. Let me also assure all banks and all
public and private institutions of maximum police protection and security.
No one ever said that fundamental and sustainable reforms would be easy.
Incessant strikes as a way of derailing the reforms serve no one any good. Given
our bitter experiences in the not too distant past, we must not do anything that
would erode the values and worth of our achievements so far. A strike that would
disrupt economic, social and other activities while imposing heavy costs on the
ordinary Nigerian and worker in discomfort and inconvenience negate the very
essence of labour movement. A strike that would cause avoidable deaths, prevent
our children from getting to school, workers from earning a living, and
essential services from working in the interest of all cannot be justified.
A strike that plans to rely on intimidation, blackmail, deceit, thuggery,
violence and other coercive methods cannot be an expression of democratic
practice. A strike that seeks to humiliate a nation in the presence of august
visitors and compromise the dignity of our great country in the eyes of the
international community is a direct attack on the new patriotic spirit that
binds the Nigerian people. It will not be allowed. Our brothers and sisters from
the rest of Africa who are participating in the 8th All Africa Games are guests
within our gates. As Africans, we must protect them as we protect ourselves. The
NLC obviously does not think this way. I want to assure our brothers and sisters
of maximum protection and security for as long they are within our gates.
While this statement is an appeal, it is also a warning that anyone who embarks
on an illegal strike or who connives, encourages and instigates others to embark
on strike, intimidate other citizens, disrupt businesses or engage in acts of
lawlessness and violence would have himself or herself to blame. Under no
circumstances would this democratic government accommodate or tolerate
undemocratic conducts that would compromise the integrity of our democratic
values or derogate the liberties of our peoples. The full weight of the law
would be brought to bear on such persons for the maintenance of order and
discipline.
Finally, fellow Nigerians, let me assure you that our reform programmes are on
course. We thank the millions of Nigerians who have signed on to the reforms and
rejected the cynicism and unpatriotic conduct of the minority. To move our
economy and country forward, I have promised Nigerians that it will not be
business as usual. We are already implementing reforms, and invest heavily in
infrastructure, agriculture, education, health, and industry. To do all of
these, we must change our ways of thinking and doing business, and the
deregulation and privatisation of the downstream oil sector are important
aspects of these reforms.
Although the private sector will now be the driving force of the downstream
sector of the petroleum industry, government would continue to monitor and
ensure quality control and to help the sector develop in an orderly manner.
Government regrets some of the short-term pains especially for the minority who
had been buying fuel at 34 per litre, even though we all know that majority of
our people would gladly buy for N40 per litre if only it is made regularly
available. I am confident that the medium to long-term benefits would more than
offset those pains for the generality of Nigerians. Liberalisation and
deregulation is the answer for availability of products at competitive prices as
our experience in the telecommunications sector shows.
I will continue to count on your understanding and support as we build a new and
prosperous Nigeria. I particularly appeal to your patriotism with hospitality,
especially at this time when we are hosting all of Africa. Let us all join hands
as good hosts.
Thank you and may God bless Nigeria.
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