COVID 19: FG, NLC Disagree Over Lock-down

By Fola James

The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC and officials of the federal government, led by Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation have been meeting to decide whether to extend the lock down imposed on three states by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Free movement has been curtailed for four weeks in Lagos, Ogun and the federal capital territory, with the possibility of another extension, the FG has indicated.

More states are likely to be added as the pandemic spread into more states, the magazine has learnt.

But the NLC has not supported the plan.

The administration had during the week sought the understanding of the 36 state governors under the aegis of Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF to have a total lock down in the country.

In spite of this, the NLC and other civil society groups have kicked against the proposed extension, insisting that the federal government has no reason to extend the stay-at-home except Nigerians have been well taken care of.

The social policy set up by the government has been marred by controversy, with the ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, at the centre of it.

Several billions of naira and food items were said to have been shared by the ministry to most vulnerable and poor Nigerians across the country, but critics of the governments say there’s nothing to show for the palliatives.

This must not be allowed to continue, the only way out, the Ayuba Waba-led body said, is to ensure that the palliatives get to many Nigerians before any extension could be contemplated.

In a letter to President Buhari, the NLC boss warned of possible breakdown of law and order if the ongoing lockdown is extended, raising concerns over the plight of many Nigerians.

But the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha said the administration is looking into the matter, with a view to assuaging the fears of organize labour and other groups that have raised concerns.

Mustapha who is also the chairman of the Presidential Task Force, PTF on COVID 19, said the NLC is on the same page with the government to keep Nigerian safe.

He said governments all over the world are in agreement with workers that the virus must be contained from spreading further.

Mustapha said: “I believe that he’s consulting all over the world; listening to his workers in different countries and also taking experiences of how other nations are dealing with the lock-down because the entire world is on a lockdown.

Some, who had the infection earlier, are beginning to ease out the lockdown as they have succeeded in flattening the curve and they begin to move into bringing their nations back into productive sessions and also getting their systems back into life.

So, there’s no threat from Labour; we are consulting with them.

They have opinions that they share with us and at every step of what we have done thus far, we have kept contact with the working class, to ensure that at least, their views are adequately taken.”

He said the NLC has agreed with government that gains made against the novel virus should not be rolled back as a result of any civil unrest.

The NLC, in a letter dated April 14, to the SGF frowned at the method employed by the FG in the distribution of the palliative measure, calling for the expansion of the initiative to all Nigerians affected by the pandemic.

NLC had warned in the letter that destitution and hunger pose more danger to the country, adding that the federal government must ensure that Nigerian are fed while trying to stop the virus from spreading.

NLC said, “While we understand the public health imperatives for extending the lockdown in some parts of the country, it is also very important to underscore the fact that the states currently under total lockdown are the economic and administrative nerve centres of Nigeria.

This is very dicey. As much as it is important to keep many Nigerians from dying in the hands of coronavirus, loss of income and the accompanying destitution can also be a pathfinder for numerous other sicknesses and deaths.

This is the time to play the balancing game.”