By Joseph Akahome
Speaking exclusively with NET reporters during a town hall meeting of stakeholders in the Nigerian movie industry, which held at the National Theatre yesterday, they urged organised labour not to embark on the strike which, according to them, ‘could result in dire consequences for the masses they claim to be fighting for’.
‘NLC should not embark on the strike but should rather engage the government on proactive measures to make sure that all their intended policies, which are very good, I can tell you, are monitored and implemented’ stated Orji.
He further added that labour should instead be part of an’ implementation monitoring committee’ that will ensure the fruition of those policies. He further advised labour ‘not to heat up the polity with what can result in un-imaginable and uncontrollable chaos that could result in a state of anarchy’.
Zeb Ejiro, supporting the opinion of his colleague, also added that ‘the only result of a sustained labour action that will grind all commercial activities to a halt is the continued suffering of the down-trodden masses’.
‘Instead what they should do is organize an occupy protest in a place like Ojuelegba while commercial activities can go on for those who need to get the necessities.
He also spoke on the controversial issue of fuel subsidy removal by calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to scrape off all executive allowances as well as the reduction in half of executive salaries as a way of showing that government empathises with the masses on the hardship being faced by their action.
Speaking further on the issue of the removal of the fuel subsidy by the government, actor Segun Arinze stated that ‘we as a body, (AGN), have nothing against the removal of fuel subsidy. However we demand that government should put in effect palliative measures to deal with the challenges that will inevitably follow’.
He also decried the dearth of essential amenities in the polity like stable electricity, transportation, education, healthcare and the virtually non-existent security.
Speaker after speaker, from producer Charles Novia, Zik Zulu Okafor to Zack Orji, who also moderated the event, lauded the move as a means to check corruption but lamented its apparent ‘bad timing’.
However, producer Charles Inoje, felt that the action was in bad taste and expressed fears it could lead to untold woes.
‘My people in Edo state where I hail from have a saying that it is only those who make it to December that can celebrate Christmas. If someone is leading us in the wrong direction we are not obliged to follow and I am against the position of government regarding this issue.’
The town hall meeting which began at about 4pm and ended at 6:30PM at ‘The Little Theatre’ of the Artiste’s Village of the National Theatre, was attended by Nollywood personalities such as Zik Zulu Okafor, president of the national association of film producers, Chike Brian, president of the screenwriters guild, as well as actors Paul Obazele, Monalisa Chinda, and a cross section of dignitaries from the movie industry and members of the press.
A communiqué on the official position of the movie industry is expected to be issued soon.
Fuel Subsidy: Zack Orji, Zeb Ejiro Urge Labour Not To Embark On Strike
12 comments
How much have they collected from the government! Shameless people.
We have our right to protest and even go on strike.so either you remain voiceless or you go to hell.
U na father
U people are rich and do not know what d masses are facing. Imagine someone that earn #18,000 and has 2 transport him/herself 2 work, feed and pay house rent. What do u think will b left 4 clothing and other expenses
Selfishness and greed has killed nigerians, yeye actors. Igbo people they are never dowell. Idiots
Una no try. In dis case d poor pple’s hv d final sayin cos its dem dat is goin to affect.
ina situation like this everybody will talk to favor himself based on what they gain from d badluck called Gudluck but my point is that every person contributing to the evil happenin in this country will die like mosquito and be buried like cassava stem in Jesus name.
They masses should b duely considered, in such cases please.
all fingera re nt eqal;d gov should try n consida d poor;bcos no 1 knws 2moroooo;n tink d protesting can help a litle
These guys are good at speaking with both sides of their mouth, they are actors, remember? They have fed fat endorsing Jonathan during his campaign now they want us to believe they are on our side. They have promised Jonathan that they will use their position to lure the masses to their side. These guys are not even Nollywood, just a bunch of washed up money grabbing eye servicemen!
Ds people hv chop govt moni full belle!
No goin back i support gudlok