Organised Labour ignores Court order, proceeds with nationwide strike
The Organised Labour in Nigeria comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have ordered workers nationwide to commence an indefinite strike today despite a subsisting court order.
Recall that the National Industrial Court in Abuja last week issued an order restraining NLC and TUC from proceeding with their planned November 14 nationwide strike.
The court made the order following an ex-parte application the Federal Government filed through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
The ruling was delivered by its President, Justice Benedict Kanyip.
The court anchored its order on the provision of Sections 17 and 19 of its Act, saying it was within its powers to intervene in the dispute between the labour unions and FG.
However, the Organised Labour has chosen to ignore the Court order following an extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held yesterday in Abuja.
President of the TUC, Festus Osifo, who spoke on behalf of the Organized Labour, disclosed that the strike would remain until “government at all levels wake up to their responsibilities.”
According to him, “We demanded that the Area Commander that led the Police to carry out the brutalisation should be relieved of his duties and prosecuted.”
“We also asked that Governor Hope Uzodinma’s Special Adviser, SA, on Special Duties, Chinasa Nwaneri, who everyone knew led the touts, should also be arrested and prosecuted.
“Our list of demands is in the public domain.We gave an ultimatum that initially expired Wednesday last week. But on the eve of that expiration, we had a joint session of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria.
“We looked at the time we gave and felt as responsible pan Nigeria organisations, that we should give additional one week to see if the government would be responsive.
“And to further draw the attention of the government we had the picketing session last week Thursday but instead of government to come out strongly to condemn this criminality, instead of government to speak and stand on the side of justice, some people in government were rather running their mouths and making all kinds of statements.
“So the two labour centres have resolved to stand firmly by the decision of the joint National Executive Council meeting that was held last week Tuesday, that effective from 12 midnight on the 14th of November, we shall declare a nationwide strike.
“So effective midnight today, a nationwide strike is going to commence. All affiliates of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria and Nigeria Labour Congress, all State Councils of the two labour centres have been mobilised adequately. And this is going to be indefinite until governments at all levels wake up to their responsibility.
“This is the decision of the joint NEC of NLC and TUC and we are to carry it out to the later.”
Nigerian NewsDirect reports that the Labour is embarking on the strike to protest the battering of the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and others in Owerri, Imo State, on November 1, as well as the pending labour issues in the state.
Besides the brutalisation of the NLC President, other labour leaders, journalists, other grievances of Organised Labour include outstanding salary arrears, unjust declaration of 11,000 workers as ghost employees, unsettled gratuities, non-compliance of N30,000 minimum wage act, and declaration of 10,000 pensioners as ghost retirees.
Recall that an attempt to stage a protest on November 1 against alleged ill treatment of workers in the State, turned sour with attacks which reportedly has left Ajaero in critical condition, battling to save his right eye.
Suspected agents of the state and security operatives had descended on Ajaero alongside others, dispossessing them of handsets, money, ATM cards among other valuables.
The attack, brutalisation and the battering of Ajaero and others have continued to elicit outrage and condemnation across the country and beyond.
