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“Your planned strike action illegal, against court order” – FG to Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC

Published

2 years ago

July 27, 2023

BONA NAIJA

NLC Mobilizes Workers, CSOs for Nationwide Strike by August 2

The Federal Government has asked the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, to shelve its planned nationwide strike action.

Federal government, in a statement it issued through the Federal Ministry of Justice, said it had earlier secured an order from the National Industrial Court in Abuja, which it said restrained the labour union from embarking on any strike action over issues bordering on “removal of fuel subsidy, hike in prices of petrol and consequential increase in cost of living,” pending the determination of the suit.

It, therefore, urged the NLC to withdraw the 7-day notice it issued on its plan to commence a nationwide industrial action from August 2, if demands of labour unions were not met.

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According to FG, such strike action would amount to a resort to self-help since the matter is already pending in court.

The statement, which was signed by the Solicitor-General of the Federation & Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. B.E. Jedy-Agba, and made available to newsmen late on Wednesday night, read: “The attention of the Federal Ministry of Justice has been drawn to media reports indicating that the National President (Joe Ajaero) and Secretary- General (Emmanuel Ugboaja, mni) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) endorsed a 7-day notice of their intention to embark on a nationwide strike action from 2nd August 2023 if the demands of the labour unions are not met.

“It is pertinent to alert members of the NLC and the general public to the pendency of SUIT NO: NICN/ABJ/158/2023 – FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA & ANOR V. NIGERIAN LABOUR CONGRESS & ANOR before the National Industrial Court, wherein His Lordship, Anuwe, J., on 5th June 2023 granted an injunctive order restraining Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress from embarking on the planned industrial action/or strike of any nature, pending the hearing and determination of the pending Motion on Notice, which is also praying for an order of interlocutory injunction for parties to maintain status quo pending the determination of the dispute or issues submitted to the court.

“The said Motion on Notice is still pending.

“It is noted that the issues (removal of fuel subsidy, hike in prices of petrol and consequential increase in cost of living, etc) which precipitated the above court action are the very same issues over which NLC has now issued another strike notice.

“The NLC has submitted to the jurisdiction of the court and is being represented by the reputable law firm of Femi Falana, SAN.

“It is therefore our minimum expectation that NLC will allow the courts perform their constitutional roles rather than resorting to self-help and undermining the orders of the court.

“We note with dismay that this latest strike notice is consistent with the inexplicable disdain which the NLC leadership has visited on the authority of the court in recent times following earlier inciting and derogatory remarks made by the NLC President against the court.

“Indeed, the avowed penchant of the leadership of the union for casting aspersions on the Judiciary is quite worrisome and concerning.

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“Aside the above legal inhibition against any strike action of any nature, we also note that both the Federal and State Governments are engaging with stakeholders to cushion the collateral effect of the removal of fuel subsidy and increment in fuel price.

“It would be a great act of service to Nigerian workers and the nation’s economy for NLC to explore negotiations rather than embark on any strike action.

“We therefore urge NLC to allow good reason to prevail by adhering to the time-tested principles of lis pendis and rule of law to avert adverse consequences.”

NLC Mobilizes Workers, CSOs for Nationwide Strike by August 2

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said it has commenced mobilization of all its affiliates, state councils and civil society organisations to hold mass protest rallies across the nation begining from Wednesday, August 2 in protest against the hardship imposed on workers and the masses by the removal fuel subsidy and government’s anti-poor policies.

It said the move is to compel government to reverse the harsh policies including the hike in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

The labour movement accused the Federal Government of abandoning its own committee, which was a product of social dialogue between the government and workers’ organisations in the country.

However, the Federal Government has responded to NLC’s threat, saying that it is determined to pursue dialogue as a means of resolving the concerns raised by organised labour.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday at the sidelines of the Registrar of Trade Unions Workshop on the challenges facing trade union administration in the country, the Permanent Secretary of Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Kachollum Daju said: “I think for now, I will just say that the Federal Government has been doing its best dialoguing with labour unions and stakeholders to resolve the issues and this dialogue will continue.”

On the nationwide strike embarked upon by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), the permanent secretary said it was rather unfortunate that the doctors did not have patience for the new government to settle down and address their grievances.

She said that the ministry had taken their case to the highest level and that the Federal Government has assured the doctors that their demands will be looked into.

“It’s rather unfortunate that NARD is on strike because we have been having consultations over the demands they raised and we have met quite a number of times and government has assured them that the issues raised are being looked into. We all know that in transition, there is a process and until the process is completed, there is nothing we can do but unfortunately they decided to go on strike.”

Rising from a meeting of its Central Working Committee (CWC), the labour movement gave the Federal Government a seven-day ultimatum to reverse its decision on fuel price hike and other anti-poor and anti- workers policies, or it will embark on a nation-wide strike.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the CWC meeting in Abuja Tuesday night, NLC said it has directed all affiliates and state branches “to begin immediate mobilization and closely work with associations, individuals and other entities including the ones already on the streets to ensure that government listens to the people”.

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It said: “The NLC has resolved to give the Federal Government a seven-day ultimatum within which to meet all our demands and to embark on a nation-wide action beginning Wednesday, the 2nd of August, 2023 to compel the government to reverse its anti-poor and anti-workers policies.

The communiqué jointly signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero and General Secretary Emmanuel Ugboaja, said the Federal Government has shown enormous disdain and contempt for Nigerian people and workers having acted and continued to act without regard to the welfare and cries of the citizenry.

NLC also accused the government of declaring a war of attrition on Nigerian workers and masses without any care, thereby “leaving them to the throes of hopelessness and helplessness”.

In addition, the NLC accused the Federal Government of refusing to put in place safeguards to protect Nigerians from the harsh economic situation that its policies have inflicted on the people.

Rather, it said the government has decided to insult the sensibilities of the Nigerian masses by offering us N8,000 per family and offering themselves N70 billion.In the communiqué, NLC demanded an

immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of the Federal Government including the recent hike in PMS price, increase in public universities’ school fees, the release of the eight months withheld salary of university lecturers and workers and increase in VAT.

It also demanded the immediate inauguration of the Presidential Steering Committee as agreed in the earlier consequential dialogues.

The union urged all civil society organisations and Nigerians wherever they may be to begin mobilization to take action on their own to save the country.

It said the CSOs should be prepared to lead and organize mass protest rallies across the nation to demonstrate outrage against the inhuman actions and policies of the government.