The Presidency has described the nationwide strike action by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) as an “attempt to blackmail the government”, adding that the action is “clearly unwarranted”.
On Monday evening, the two industrial bodies called out their affiliates to withdraw their services nationwide from the midnight of Tuesday.
TUC President, Comrade Festus Osifo said in Abuja on Monday that the strike would remain until “government at all levels wake up to their responsibility”.
According to the bodies, the strike is also to protest the battering of NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, and some other executives of the congress in Owerri, Imo State, on 1st November, as well as the pending labour issues in Imo State.
Ajaero was arrested by the police ahead of a state-wide protest in Imo, as disclosed by the NLC’s Head of Information, Benson Upah.
Although the police denied arresting Ajaero, stating that he was merely taken into protective custody to prevent a mob attack, Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma accused the labour leader of meddling in the political affairs of the state.
In a statement on Monday night, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga reminded the NLC and TUC of a subsisting court order last week by Justice Benedict Backwash Kanyip of the National Industrial Court, which restrained the unions from strike action.
The judge issued the order following an ex-parte application brought before the court by the Federal Government through the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi.
On Monday, the Federal Government reminded the workers’ bodies that the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun had not only commenced investigations into Ajaero’s attack, but also redeployed the Commissioner of Police in Imo State.
Titled, ‘NLC/TUC strike action not in national interest’ the statement read: “We notice with dismay the decision by the Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress to call out workers to commence a strike action from midnight, despite a restraining order issued last week by Justice Benedict Backwash Kanyip of the National Industrial Court.
“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 200 million people over a personal matter involving the NLC President, Mr. Joe Ajaero, whose error of judgement led to assault on him in Owerri while he was planning to incite the workers in Imo State into a needless strike.
“While the Federal government does not condone any form of violence and assault on any citizen of Nigeria regardless of his or her social and economic status, it is on record that the Inspector General of Police has ordered investigation into what happened to Mr. Ajaero while the Commissioner of Police in Imo State under whose watch the incident happened has been transferred out of the state.
“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.
“Our national economy and social activities should not suffer because of the personal interest of any labour leader.
“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”.
