In a surprising turn of events, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have announced plans to commence a nationwide strike at midnight, defying a restraining order issued last week by Justice Benedict Backwash Kanyip of the National Industrial Court.
Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, strongly criticised the decision, labelling it as “clearly unwarranted” and an attempt to “blackmail the government” by the leadership of the NLC.
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.
The controversy stems from a personal matter involving the NLC President, Mr. Joe Ajaero, whose alleged error of judgement led to an assault on him in Owerri while planning to incite workers in Imo State into an unnecessary strike.
While condemning any form of violence or assault on citizens, regardless of their status, the Federal government emphasised its commitment to addressing the issue. The Inspector General of Police has ordered an investigation into the incident, and the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, under whose watch it occurred, has been transferred out of the state.
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.
The government expressed bewilderment over the decision by NLC and TUC to call for a national strike, considering the clear court order against any industrial action. The Federal government views this as an abuse of privilege, asserting that power should not be wielded to settle personal scores but rather to promote collective progress and national interest.
The government argued that the strike, if implemented, would be illegal, immoral, unjustifiable, and irresponsible. It highlighted the contradiction in the current labour leaders’ actions, noting that the labour movement has historically championed the rule of law and respect for the judiciary.
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.
The government further suggested that the timing of the strike notice, issued after official hours on Monday night, raises concerns about a potential hidden agenda to cause undue hardship and civil disturbance in the country, emphasising that such actions are unacceptable.
