The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have insisted on moving forward with the planned statewide strike, and the presidency has labelled this as a “abuse of privilege.”
In response to Joe Ajaero, the president of the NLC in Imo state, being accused of brutality, labour unions around the country had declared a planned statewide strike.
On November 14, the strike is set to start at midnight.
However, a restraining order prohibiting labour unions from going on strike in the state was issued on November 5 by the national industrial court in Owerri, the capital of Imo.
The federal government also secured an order stopping the unions and their affiliates from embarking on the strike.
But on Monday, Festus Osifo, TUC president, said the labour unions would continue with the planned industrial action despite the court order.
He added that the strike would remain until “government at all levels wake up to their responsibilities”.
Reacting to the labour unions’ unyielding position, Bayo Onanuga, presidential aide, described the decision as “an ego-tripping move” and “clearly unwarranted”.
He accused the unions of trying to “blackmail the government” and “punish a whole country of over 200 million people over a personal matter”.
Onanuga added that the planned strike is a “flagrant disobedience to court order and lack of respect for the judiciary”.
“We notice with dismay the decision by the Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress to call out workers to commence a strike from midnight, despite a restraining order issued last week by Justice Benedict Backwash Kanyip of the National Industrial Court,” the statement reads.
“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.
“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.
“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.”
