Labour officials rose from a meeting last night to disclose why the NLC suspended its planned strike today, accusing government of bad faith.
NLC executives in a communique, accused government of weaponizing court injunctions to stop labour from exercising its rights. It deplored the “weaponization of the instrument of ex-parte injunctions in favour of the government against the interests of Nigerian workers.”
Government continues to do this “in defiance of the position of the Supreme Court on the use of this instrument,” NLC lamented in a communique issued after its meeting.
Enugu Metro, however gathered that Labour had to abort the planned strike because of the unorthodox methods employed by government to stem it. Among them was a sustained propaganda to politicize the move by Labour by projecting the workers movement as an opposition party.
Government also sponsored stories indicating that the northern and western branches of the union will not join the strike. This was an oblique reference to the partnership that was declared winner of the disputed 2023 general election.
NLC’s Executive Council was forced to meet yesterday in Abuja and finally resolved to obey the court injunction.
Labour President Joe Ajaero and Secretary Emma Ugboaja told the press that the shelved the strike because of the mood of the nation and the court order.
On its own, government officials widely circulated an agreement purportedly reached with labour leaders to suspend the strike and resort to negotiations.
Consequences of fuel price increase
The NLC last Friday drew attention to how the withdrawal of subsidy on fuel inflicts “huge suffering” on the nation. It also accused the government of hasty implementation considering that the budget made provisions for subsidy until June end.
The over 300 percent rise in the price of petrol immediately triggered exponential increases in the cost of necessaries.
Transportation costs hit the roof, forcing organisations and a state government to cut back on number of working days. Kwara State government, for instance, will have government workers report for duty for three days in a week.
Why we suspended strike, by NLC
The communique issued by NLC at the end of its meeting yesterday states as follows:
“Taking into account that the Federal Government has procured a court injunction restraining congress from proceeding with the proposed nationwide strike as the NEC-in-session had ordered to begin, Wednesday, June 7, 2023, and recognizing the willingness of government for continuous engagement through dialogue and to offer reasonable palliatives in due course to cushion the effect of its policies, some levels of understanding were reached
“Considering the mood of the socio-polity of the last elections and the need to pursue national stability and, the NEC-in-session also resolved to commend and applaud the diligence of the congress’ leadership in carrying out the assignment given to it by NEC.
‘’It demonstrated to the Federal Government the need to comply with the laws of the land, especially as it concerns obedience to the ruling of courts and their brazen disregard for the 2023 Appropriation Act.
“NEC-in session, therefore, supports and accepts the decision of the leadership of Congress to suspend the proposed strike in compliance with the flawed rulings of the NIC and also allow negotiations to flow freely and enable final agreement during or after June 19, 2023, negotiation round with the Federal Government.
“The NEC-in- Session, however, registers in strongest terms its disgust and disapproval of the ruling of the National Industrial Court, NIC, for its continuous weaponisation of the instrument of ex-parte injunctions in favour of government against the interests of Nigerian workers, in defiance of the position of the Supreme Court on the use of this instrument.
“All affiliates and state councils of Congress are, hereby, directed to suspend further action and mobilization until the outcome of the final negotiations.
‘’The NEC-in-Session commends all affiliates and state councils on their robust mobilization towards a successful nationwide strike and to also remain vigilant in case there is need to continue.”
TUC similarly backs out
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) took a different route, arguing that its members will back out because government accepted all its demands.
Among its demands is payment of a new minimum wage of N200,000, up from the current monthly minimum wage of N30,000.
“Sincerely, we went into the meetings or negotiations with the government and they accepted all our demands,” TUC Secretary, Nuhu Toro, said.
‘’In that case, there was no need to proceed with any industrial action. The essence of an ultimatum is to get the government’s attention to present our demands which we did.
“In any case, it is not over. We are meeting on June 19 to review the situation, he said”
Author
