The Presidency has spit fire on the decision of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to embark on a nationwide strike beginning from midnight of November 13, 2023.
The special adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga saw the decision as an “ego tripping move” and an act of unwarranted blackmail against the government.
In a statement on Monday night, Onanuga asserted that calling workers to a national strike over an individual issue violates a subsisting court order and amounts to an abuse of privilege by the labour leadership.
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This is as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other affiliates have directed their members to join the nationwide strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, starting from Monday midnight.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to investigating the assault on the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, Onanuga emphasised that power at any level should not be wielded to settle personal scores but rather used to promote collective progress and national interest.
The Presidential aide criticised the labour leaders for what he perceived as a disregard for the judiciary and an erosion of the traditional championing of the rule of law by the labour movement.
“We notice with dismay the decision by the Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress to call out workers to commence a strike action from midnight, despite a restraining order issued last week by Justice Benedict Backwash Kanyip of the National Industrial Court.
“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 200 million 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.
“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.
“Our national economy and social activities should not suffer because of the personal interest of any labour leader.
“This flagrant disobedience to court order and lack of respect for the judiciary should not be what the organised Labour would champion.
“The labour movement has always been a champion of rule of law and respect for the judiciary. It is a sad irony that the current labour leaders have shown disdain and utter disregard for court order.
“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,” he stated.
Already, ASUU in a circular to its zonal coordinators and chairpersons, signed by Emmanuel Osodeke, ASUU President is set for the strike.
The academic union said, “As an affiliate of NLC, all members of our union are hereby directed to join this action of NLC to protect the interest of Nigerian workers and the leadership of the union.
“Zonal coordinators and branch chairpersons should immediately mobilise our members to participate in the action.”
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the NLC and the TUC wrote their affiliates ahead of the planned nationwide strike scheduled to begin midnight of Monday, November 13, 2023.
The organised labour had directed its members to commence a nationwide strike on Monday night (today) over the recent assault by the Nigerian police and the Imo State government on the NLC president, Joe Ajaero.
The President of TUC, Festus Osifo, who addressed reporters on Monday, November 13, had said the strike would remain until “government at all levels wake up to their responsibility.”
It is expected that the Organise Labour’s affiliates will swing into action.
The affiliates include the Academic Staff Union of Universities, National Union of Electricity Employees, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, and Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, among others.
