The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has said that it may direct workers in statutory corporations and government-owned companies to stop going to work following the prolonged fuel scarcity in many parts of the country.

Already, an affiliate union of the TUC, the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), has already directed its members to stay at home pending the resumption of regular supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called Petrol.

However, the National Treasurer of the TUC, Mohammad Yunusa, while speaking over the weekend at the delegate conference of SSASCGOC held in Abuja, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately sanction all those involved in the supply of contaminated fuel which resulted to the scarcity and brought about untold hardship on Nigerians.

Yunusa said: “The union’s position is very clear. Those who caused this scarcity should be identified and punished very well. The position of SSASCGOC also is that, you know we are affiliate to TUC, and we have made it known to TUC that let the workers stop going to work until there is enough fuel to take them to work.

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“This is the way to do it. We are waiting for our centre to respond to our position but our position in SSASCGOC is that, there is no need to go to work. Hang around in your house. When the fuel, the one they are saying billion of litres of petrol is coming, when it comes, and there is regular supply, then we will start going to work.”

While speaking on the industrial action embarked upon by the members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Yunusa accused the Federal Government for its “lackadaisical attitude towards education system which was reason behind its failure to fulfill promises contained in the many Memorandum of Understanding signed with unions.”

“The major problem unionism has in Nigeria is that, the governments do not listen. You can’t have constructive engagements with government in Nigeria.

“’Let’s look at the case of ASUU, they are talking about the agreement they entered with Federal Government many years back, and up till now, government has not fulfilled it over the years because there is no constructive engagement. It is when you call out your members for strike that government will listen to you,” the National Treasurer added.

TheStar