The leadership of the Labour Party (LP) has formally
petitioned key government institutions, including the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation, the Attorney General of the Federation, the
Ministry of Labour and Employment, and the Registrar of Trade Unions,
requesting urgent intervention to protect the party from further aggression by
the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
In the petition, the LP called for disciplinary action against
NLC President Joe Ajaero and other union leaders who allegedly spearheaded the
vandalization of LP property during a recent picketing of the party’s
secretariats across the country.
The conflict between the NLC and LP escalated when NLC
members picketed LP secretariats demanding the resignation of LP’s National
Chairman, Julius Abure.
The picketing reportedly led to the destruction of LP
properties and the loss of some staff salaries.
LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, in a
statement, debunked claims that the NLC owns the LP, stating that the LP is
open to all Nigerians who accept its ideology, programs, and constitution,
irrespective of their background.
The LP called on the government to define the NLC’s role,
particularly regarding its alleged claim of owning the LP, which the LP
believes has led to harassment and interference in its activities.
The LP described the NLC’s actions as an abuse of office and
called for the NLC to be properly sanctioned.
The LP stated the need to address the situation to prevent
further aggression and maintain law and order, especially during the current
harsh economic climate in the country.
The statement reads in part: “Ajaero has overreached himself
by using workers’ funds to picket and sponsor insurrection in the Labour Party
headquarters, an action which amounts to an abuse of office and should
therefore be called to order and properly sanctioned.
“It has become unavoidably necessary to request your urgent
intervention, being the regulatory agency for trade unions, including the NLC.
“It is our argument that using workers’ funds to picket and
sponsor insurrection in the Labour Party headquarters and its legitimate
leadership is an abuse of office by the Presidents of the NLC, Joe Ajaero and
should therefore be called to order and properly sanctioned.
“Similarly, the NLC has no right to picket an organisation
where there is no trade dispute. The Labour Party has no staff members who are
members of the NLC.
“The action of the NLC is a clear violation of the 1999
Constitution, the Electoral Act, the Trade Union Act, and other relevant laws.
“NLC members are not card-carrying members of the Labour
Party. The Labour Party cannot be owned by any association.
“Membership of the party is on an individual basis. The
Labour Party’s Constitution says the party is open to all Nigerians who accept
its ideology, programmes, and the constitution, irrespective of their religion,
ethnic, gender, social, and economic status.
“As lawful citizens, we didn’t want to confront them in an
uncivilised manner in order to avoid breakdown of law and order. We had the
option of also mobilising party faithful to confront them.
“Doing that at this point where the harsh economic climate
is having its toll on the Nigerian people will result in anarchy.
“Thus, the urgent need to call the NLC and its leadership
led by Joe Ajaero to order, educate them on the limit of their power, condemn
their rascality, abuse of office and discipline them as appropriate.”
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