*NMA, NBA says Labour sold out
Daud Olatunji
17 January 2012, Sweetcrude, ABEOKUTA — OGUN state chapters of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) have condemned organised labour’s suspension of the indefinite strike and mass protest declared by labour and its civil society allies, over the hike in pump price of petrol, describing the suspension as a sell- out.
At a briefing, Monday, in Abeokuta after the national leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) suspended the strike called to force government to revert the pump price of petrol to N65 per litre, chairmen of NMA and NBA, Dr Adewunmi Alayaki and Dr. Femi Jolaoso, respectively expressed shock and displeasure over the manner the strike was suspended.
According to Alayaki, labour erred by its action when the pump price was yet to be reversed to the former price as demanded by Nigerians.
He said: “The people are supposed to be consulted by labour before it called off the strike.
“The people stood behind them during the strike and courtesy demands that labour consults them before calling off the strike.
The people are really disappointed. I don’t think labour will again get such unprecedented support from the masses. The NMA in Ogun state is disappointed.”
Speaking, Chairman of NBA, Dr. Jolaoso described the suspension as a betrayal of the people’s trust, saying, despite the unprecedented support given to labour, it dashed the hope of the people.
He said with the new pump price announced by President Goodluck Jonathan, prices of most goods and services might not come down.
Meantime, Ogun State Government announced that all public schools in the state would resume today following the suspension of the strike.
