US embassy cable - 04ABUJA1054

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 001054 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, ELAB, EPET, NI 
SUBJECT: LABOR SUSPENDED THE NATIONAL STRIKE 
 
REF: A. CAMPBELL-AF/W E-MAIL 6/11/2004 
 
     B. ABUJA 1050 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: ADCM CLAUDIA ANYASO FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D). 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY:  The National Labour Congress (NLC) strike 
that began June 9 was "suspended" in the evening of June 11 
when the NLC announced that the GON had substantially 
complied with the demand to reduce fuel prices.  The NLC 
called its strike a success, while some of the opposition 
felt the strike should have continued.  We believe the return 
to somewhat lower fuel prices will be temporary, as the GON 
intends to continue slow deregulation of gasoline prices 
(septel) and has returned to allowing prices to rise again a 
few months after previous NLC actions.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (U) On Friday, June 11, the NLC "suspended" the fuel 
strike, giving the GON seven days to force the marketers who 
have not already done so to revert to February's fuel prices. 
 Many have.  NLC Chairman Adams Oshiomhole claimed the NLC 
had not been seeking a specific price of 38 Naira per liter 
(about 28 cents), but had instead sought a return to pre-May 
gasoline price of 40-42 Naira/liter.  He warned, however, 
that the NLC would resume the strike in seven days if prices 
did not stay low or if the marketers refused to sell. 
 
3. (SBU) After the suspension poloffs observed all sorts of 
gasoline regimes.  Some gasoline stations were selling at the 
pre-strike price of 50-55, some at 42-43, and many were 
closed.  Those that were open had lines several blocks long, 
and black marketers were out in force selling from plastic 
bottles at even higher prices.  GON inspectors shut down many 
pumps where they said gasoline was being sold above 42-43 
Naira/liter.  Oshiomhole acknowledged that some areas "are 
yet to enjoy the benefit of the judicial verdict." 
 
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THE NLC VIEW 
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4. (SBU) Bension Ukpah of NLC headquarters in Abuja told us 
that the impact of the strike was both tangible and 
non-tangible.  According to him, the 3-day nation-wide strike 
has forced the GON to reduce the prices of petroleum 
products.  "If you visit gas stations today, at least 2 out 
of 3 stations must have adjusted their prices.  This is 
indeed a victory for NLC and the generality (sic) of 
Nigerians that supported us."  Ukpah said the NLC suspended 
the strike to allow enough time for GON to effectively 
enforce the downward price adjustment, and to enable the NLC 
to determine the GON's seriousness in keeping prices low. 
"Failure of the government to fulfill its own side of the 
court's order would force us to roll out our tanks one more 
time," he emphasized. 
 
5. (SBU) Ukpah said the other major victory for the NLC was 
that both Nigerian people and Government know the NLC is 
serious and means business.  "People now believe we are not 
the toothless bulldog that can only bark but not bite."  He 
said this was particularly important for the credibility of 
the NLC after several unsuccessful strike attempts were made 
in the past. 
 
6. (SBU) Ukpah, and other NLC leaders, are still angry over 
the violence at the NLC building June 10.  "It is so absurd 
that after one of them was confirmed dead, a survivor is now 
nursing his wounds in a police cell instead of the in the 
hospital," Ukpah furiously complained, adding that even under 
military regimes the wounded were normally taken to hospital. 
  He called on all democratic forces to check the excesses of 
the regime. 
 
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A VIEW FROM THE POLITICAL OPPOSITION 
------------------------------------ 
 
7. (C) Some wanted the strike to last longer, to "check the 
excesses of the regime" or otherwise.  Poloff spoke with Buba 
Galadima of the opposition Conference of Nigerian Political 
Parties (CNPP), which had thrown its support behind the 
strike.  Galadima said the CNPP issued a statement expressing 
its unhappiness with the decision of the NLC leadership to 
call off the strike.  He said the CNPP had never believed 
Oshiomhole was capable of carrying out a real battle against 
the GON, accusing him of "always dancing to the tune of the 
government."  He said Oshiomhole had been forced to go along 
with the strike in the first place because others in the NLC 
believed he was becoming too soft on the regime. 
 
8. (C) According to Galadima, Oshiomhole wanted to call off 
the strike as early as Thursday anyway.  Galadima said the 
strike was suspended in haste before it ever really 
threatened the GON, but it had sent a message: "Nigerians 
have now discovered their strength as provided by the 
Nigerian constitution.  We can strike or effect a mass action 
peacefully despite the intimidations of the regime."  (Note: 
A CNPP "Mass Action" in Abuja in May against the GON fizzled 
when security forces arrested many of the demonstrators, and 
kept those remaining on the edge of town and separated from 
the Mass Action leaders.  End Note.)  Galadima also contended 
that the strike would send a strong message to the 
international community that things were not as rosy in 
Nigeria as Obasanjo paints them. 
CAMPBELL