The Nigeria Labour Congress said on Saturday that its planned nationwide strike was not in violation of any court order as claimed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
The National President, NLC, Joe Ajaero, said in a statement that the AGF had displayed acts of partisanship, which should not be found in a holder of the office, who was expected to uphold the freedom and rights of the citizens to protest.
Ajaero stated, “We find it curious that Mr Lateef Fagbemi, a thorough-bred professional, could indulge in this kind of talk.
“We are shocked that Mr Lateef Fagbemi is referring to a restraining order issued on June 5 through a motion ex parte, which the Ministry of Justice in a formal statement had said lapsed due to non-diligent prosecution. Which order could Fagbemi be talking about here? We demand to know.
“We similarly, find it necessary to remind Fagbemi that equating a restraining order to a perpetual injunction will do no small damage to our legal/judicial system. For once, we find it appropriate to reveal to the world that the court refused to sit during the pendency of the order to take our response to that order.
“Even though we would not want to be drawn into details here, representatives of the Federal Government on the National Steering Committee are on record to have said in the Villa that their mandate did not extend to subsequent increments (of petrol pump price) after the one of N187-N537 thus differentiating between the issues for which the order (that has since run out of time) was issued.”
Meanwhile, the Sokoto State chapter of the NLC on Saturday expressed its readiness to join the nationwide strike as declared by the national headquarters of the union.
The State Secretary of the union, Hamisu Yanduna, who spoke with one of our correspondents, said workers in the state had been mobilised for the strike action.
Unions confirm participation
The National Union of Electricity Employers has urged its members to down tools from Tuesday in solidarity with the indefinite strike called by the NLC and TUC.
This was communicated in a letter titled, ‘Mobilisation for indefinite nationwide strike’ signed by the General Secretary of the union, Dominic Igwebike.
It read in part, “Further to the NLC’s National Executive Council meeting held on September 26 and the joint press conference of the NLC and TUC over the untold hardship being faced by Nigerians as a consequence of the high price of petrol resulting from the removal of subsidy as well as other anti-labour policies by the government, the NLC and TUC have declared an indefinite and total shutdown of the nation beginning from Tuesday.
“Hence, we are to totally withdraw our services and participate in street protests and rallies until the government responds to our demands.”
Also, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers also backed the strike.
In a letter titled, ‘Mobilisation for a nationwide industrial action’, the union said, “NUPENG as a responsible and responsive affiliate union of the NLC will fully comply with the resolution of the joint NEC meeting and we hereby direct the leaders in the four zonal councils of our union to mobilise all our members in the formal and informal sectors to shut down services effective October 3.”
The National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees, in a letter by its General Secretary, Mohammed Sheikh, pledged the union’s solidarity with the NLC and TUC.
“All managements of banks, insurance and other financial institutions are strongly advised not to inhibit, in any way or form, their workers from actively participating and complying with the directives of the two congresses. Let the people breathe.”
The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives also backed the strike action.
“I am directed to convey the decision of the NLC NEC meeting to commence nationwide indefinite industrial action with effect from Tuesday,” the National President of the union, Nnachi Ekuma, said in a letter directed to members.
Also, the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria in a letter by its General Secretary, Agugbue Ugochi, said its members would down tools come Tuesday.
The Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, in a letter on Friday, asked its members to join the strike.
The Senior Staff Association of Universities, in a letter by its Senior Assistant General Secretary, Kingsley Okayi, said, “All branch chairpersons are requested to commence full mobilisation of our members to actively participate in the strike that is being organised by the NLC.”
Similarly, the Nigeria Union of Public Service Reportorial, Secretarial, Data Processing and Allied Workers also announced that its members would join the strike.
On its part, the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics, in a letter by its National Secretary, Emmanuel Enyiegor, directed its leaders to “liaise with their state councils of the NLC and mobilise our members for total compliance with the directive.”
The Secretary of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, Dr Ahmed Lawan, urged members to join the strike and participate actively in all rallies and protests in their respective states.
The National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers also urged its members to participate in the industrial action.
The Secretary-General of the Nigeria Union of Railway Workers, Francis Igbokwe, urged the leaders to use their good offices to “mobilise the Nigeria Police and Nigeria Civil Defence Corps commands at the corporation to keep and protect all the fixed and movable assets of the corporation while the strike action lasts.”
The Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria directed its state council chairmen and secretaries to liaise with the NLC in their respective states for effective coordination.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, in a letter to its members asked them to join the nationwide strike to “ameliorate the economic hardship imposed on the workers and masses by the removal of fuel subsidy.”
