“We note with dismay that this latest strike notice is consistent with the inexplicable disdain which the NLC leadership has visited on the authority of the court in recent times following earlier inciting and derogatory remarks made by the NLC President against the court.”
Emma Ogbuehi
The President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government on Wednesday reminded the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) that it secured a substantive court order barring it from embarking on any industrial action over the removal of fuel subsidy.
The government said any attempt to embark on the planned strike will be illegal.
It therefore asked the NLC to shelve its planned nationwide strike.
Organised Labour threatened on Wednesday to go on strike on August 2 unless the government met reversed its anti-poor policies.
The body stated this in a communiqué issued on Wednesday at the end of its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting held on Tuesday.
The communiqué was signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero and General Secretary Emmanuel Ugboaja.
The union said it was demanding, among others, the reversal of fuel pump price hike, increase in public school fees and the payment of eight months withheld salary of university lecturers and workers and increase in VAT.
But the FG, in a statement it issued through the Federal Ministry of Justice late on Wednesday, said it had earlier secured an order from the National Industrial Court in Abuja, which it said restrained the labour union from embarking on any strike over issues bordering on “removal of fuel subsidy, hike in prices of petrol and consequential increase in cost of living,” pending the determination of the suit.
It, therefore, urged the NLC to withdraw the 7-day notice it issued on its plan to commence a nationwide industrial action from August 2, if demands of labour unions were not met.
According to FG, such action would amount to a resort to self-help since the matter is already pending in court.
READ ALSO: NLC issues FG 7-day ultimatum to reverse ‘anti-poor policies’
The statement, which was signed by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. B.E. Jedy-Agba, and made available to newsmen late on Wednesday night, read: “The attention of the Federal Ministry of Justice has been drawn to media reports indicating that the National President (Joe Ajaero) and Secretary- General (Emmanuel Ugboaja, mni) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) endorsed a 7-day notice of their intention to embark on a nationwide strike action from 2nd August 2023 if the demands of the labour unions are not met.
“It is pertinent to alert members of the NLC and the general public to the pendency of SUIT NO: NICN/ABJ/158/2023 – FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA & ANOR V. NIGERIAN LABOUR CONGRESS & ANOR before the National Industrial Court, wherein His Lordship, Anuwe, J., on 5th June 2023 granted an injunctive order restraining Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress from embarking on the planned industrial action/or strike of any nature, pending the hearing and determination of the pending Motion on Notice, which is also praying for an order of interlocutory injunction for parties to maintain status quo pending the determination of the dispute or issues submitted to the court.
“The said Motion on Notice is still pending.
“It is noted that the issues (removal of fuel subsidy, hike in prices of petrol and consequential increase in cost of living, etc) which precipitated the above court action are the very same issues over which NLC has now issued another strike notice.
“The NLC has submitted to the jurisdiction of the court and is being represented by the reputable law firm of Femi Falana, SAN.
“It is therefore our minimum expectation that NLC will allow the courts perform their constitutional roles rather than resorting to self-help and undermining the orders of the court.
“We note with dismay that this latest strike notice is consistent with the inexplicable disdain which the NLC leadership has visited on the authority of the court in recent times following earlier inciting and derogatory remarks made by the NLC President against the court.
“Indeed, the avowed penchant of the leadership of the union for casting aspersions on the Judiciary is quite worrisome and concerning.
“Aside the above legal inhibition against any strike action of any nature, we also note that both the Federal and State Governments are engaging with stakeholders to cushion the collateral effect of the removal of fuel subsidy and increment in fuel price.
“It would be a great act of service to Nigerian workers and the nation’s economy for NLC to explore negotiations rather than embark on any strike action.
“We therefore urge NLC to allow good reason to prevail by adhering to the time-tested principles of lis pendis and rule of law to avert adverse consequences.”