8/6/2023 0 Comments General strike news![]() The strike was successful as most of the workers’ demand for an increase in cost of living allowance were met in 1946 and backdated to 1945. Troop movements were frequent and every artifice was tried by the government to break the workers morale, but these failed.” Akintola and other leaders of the NYM were hired by the government to cajole the strikers back to work but the men would not budge an inch without definite guarantees which of course the quixotic emissaries could not give, if they ever thought of the matter before hand. Historian, Mokwugo Okoye wrote: “After two weeks of the strike, a committee of gentlemen comprising Dr. Bankole, the president of the All Nigeria Trade Union Congress, was temporarily deposed for listening to the Acting Governor and trying to call off the strike. The Daily Service, the NYM’s newspaper not only tried to rubbish the strike but unprofessionally omitted any mention of lmoudu’s role in the strike.ĭuring the strike, T.A. While many nationalists led by Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Madam Adunni Oluwole and Obafemi Awolowo supported the strike, some, particularly members of the Nigeria Youth Movement tried to sabotage it. The general strike started on June 22, 1945. On June 16, a meeting reiterated the strike ultimatum while leaving a window open for possible negotiations. The Railway workers followed with their own notice. On June 14, the African LOCO Drivers Union placed their management on strike notice with effect from midnight, June 21. They hoped to divert attention with Imoudu’s release, but it backfired as labour historian, Wogu Ananaba noted, “There is little doubt that but for Imoudu’s activities there might have been no General Strike on June 22.” Prior to sending the letter, on June 2, the colonial government set free Michael Imoudu, of the Railway Workers Union. On June 11 the government sent a letter restating its old position, but offering an increase of three pence on COLA for workers in Lagos and 20 percent for workers in the provinces. Ogunyemi of the Committee of Africans Holding Superior Appointments. ![]() Oshosanwo of the Union of Railwaymen and A. Ojo and Osmond Osadebo of the Civil Service Union C.O. The colonial government replied on May 2, and while it agreed that inflation was on the rise, it argued that “Unless the public is willing to do without, or reduce the consumption of commodities which are scarce, or to substitute other commodities for them, instead of taking the least line of resistance and buying in the black market, no benefit will result from increasing cost of living allowance.”Ī workers’ meeting called to respond deplored “the callous attitude of Government to the sufferings of the masses of African Workers”, and gave a one month ultimatum emphasising that “not later than Thursday, June 21, 1945, the workers of Nigeria shall proceed to seek their own remedy with due regard to law and order on the one hand and starvation on the other” unless their demands are met. ![]() On Mathe Joint Executive of Government Technical Workers sent a letter to the colonial regime demanding a new minimum wage of two shillings, sixpence, and a 50 percent increase in the Cost of Living Allowance. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |