The convener of the Save Nigeria Group, Tunde Bakare, formally announced yesterday at the rally in Ojota (on behalf of protesters across the country I want to believe) that the protests will be suspended for the weekend to allow labour and the federal government continue their dialogue. He was quick to add though that if labour came back with anything short of the wishes of the people, the protests will continue. This was on Day-5 of record protests that had swept across the face of Africa's most populous nation and largest exporter of crude oil. If I was superstitious, I would have made a correlation between the date (Friday the 13th) and the "end" of the industrial actions and protests. But I will not...at least not just yet.


Several media, institutions, individuals have said a lot concerning the protests, the rallies and strike. Experts, civil group leaders (some of who's organisations were incorporated overnight) and "concerned" individuals have all contributed to the debate on the effects of the federal government's unpopular decision to remove a popular subsidy on premium motor spirit. A lot of facts, figures, revelations and threats have gone into the public domain in these few days of the year. To say the least, it's been the most interesting start to a new year in my entire life!


Well, the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress will continue their deliberations with the Federal Executives today. News from previous meetings suggests that both sides are willing to shift from their previous adamant positions. Labour Unions went into the meetings saying they won't accept anything besides a reversal to the norm. They argue that an increase in fuel prices won't automatically turn around the fortunes of Nigeria over night. Good point. But how about in six months as promised by the president?


Several opinions have been shared by several people. Professor Pat Utomi just yesterday removed some of the blame being heaped on the president and his economic finance team and placed it on the governors. He said most of them, who are his friends, do next to nothing with their monthly FAAC allocations especially in terms of producing a wealth-creating environment for the people and perhaps foreign investment. I think the Local Government Chairman shouldn't be left out of the loop-of-blame as well. Pastor Tunde Bakare said they've already shared the expected savings from the subsidy removal even before the money was made. According to him, they continue in their mode by putting the cart before the house. One BBC reporter calls it a "carrot without a stick".

On the pro Subsidy removal side, some said Nigerians are just postponing the evil day. They argue that there is no "best" time to remove the unsustainable subsidy in the light of all the under-development and infrastructural decay in the system. The CBN governor said the subsidy has only succeeded in being a means to fund a group of people, some of who he believes are just dummy or briefcase corporations. The Finance Minister said the country is heading for the rocks (paraphrase) if we continue to fund this unsutainable welfare package which in the short and long run has never benefited the ordinary Nigerian but the oil marketers. Several words have been added to the vocabulary of Nigerians in this period. Words like palliatives, ameliorate, even subsidy has had a whole new meaning.


As we await the outcome of the meeting between the labour unions and the Federal Government, this is my guess as to how it will all go down:


1. Labour/TUC meets with FGN.

2. Agrees to price other than N65/lit

3. Asks union staff to return to work.

4. Civil society groups are vexed but can't do anything about it.

5. Monday, everyone goes back to work. Life continues. Suffering and Smiling continues.

Cabals continue "cabaling".

NNPC continues "monopolising".

Customs and border patrol continue conniving.

No electricity still.

No roads still.

No health care still.

No potable water still.

Cost of living and inflation rises while wages and salary remain constant...&c.

In short, Life, in Nigeria as we know it, continues.