The presidency has described the insistence of the Nigeria
Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) to proceed
with the proposed nationwide strike as an “abuse of privilege”.
The labour unions had announced the planned nationwide
strike to protest the alleged brutality of Joe Ajaero, president of the NLC in
Imo state.
The strike is scheduled to commence at midnight on November
14.
However, on November 5, the national industrial court in
Owerri, capital of Imo, issued a restraining order to labour unions from
embarking on strike in the state.
The federal government also secured an order stopping the
unions and their affiliates from embarking on the strike.
But on Monday, Festus Osifo, TUC president, said the labour
unions would continue with the planned industrial action despite the court
order.
He added that the strike would remain until “government at
all levels wake up to their responsibilities”.
Reacting to the labour unions’ unyielding position, Bayo
Onanuga, presidential aide, described the decision as “an ego-tripping move”
and “clearly unwarranted”.
He accused the unions of trying to “blackmail the
government” and “punish a whole country of over 200 million people over a
personal matter”.
Onanuga added that the planned strike is a “flagrant
disobedience to court order and lack of respect for the judiciary”.
“We notice with dismay the decision by the Nigerian Labour
Congress and Trade Union Congress to call out workers to commence a strike from
midnight, despite a restraining order issued last week by Justice Benedict
Backwash Kanyip of the National Industrial Court,” the statement reads.
“This decision by the
NLC and TUC, other than being an ego-tripping move, is clearly unwarranted. It
is an attempt to blackmail the government by the leadership of the NLC.
“We are still at a loss as to why the NLC and TUC decided to
punish a whole country of over 200million people over a personal matter
involving the NLC President, Mr. Joe Ajaero, whose error of judgment led to
assault on him in Owerri while he was planning to incite the workers in Imo
State into a needless strike.
“Calling out workers on a national strike over a personal
issue of a labour leader despite a clear court order against any industrial
action amounts to an abuse of privilege.
“Power at any level should never be used to settle personal
scores. Rather, it should be used to promote collective progress and advance
national interest.
“This flagrant
disobedience to court order and lack of respect for the judiciary should not be
what the organised Labour would champion.
“The labour movement has always been a champion of rule of
law and respect for the judiciary. It is a sad irony that the current labour
leaders have shown disdain and utter disregard for court order.
“We reiterate that
this strike action is illegal, immoral, unjustifiable and irresponsible. What
the strike notice issued Monday night after official hours suggests is it’s
designed for a sinister and hidden agenda to cause undue hardship and cause
civil disturbance in our country. This is unacceptable.”
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Beating up a whole President of nation s workforce is unjustifiable, illegal, immoral and unacceptable. Those who have perpetrated this wicked act are power drunken and should be brought to book.
ReplyDeleteYou have spoken very well. Imo government and the NPF did bad by the manhandling of the NLC President, beside our politicians are busy buying cars for theirselves while the poor masses wallows under the quagmire of excruciating impecuniouity.
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