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November 16, 2023

November 16, 2023November 16, 2023 IFMNEWS

Labour Suspends Nationwide Strike After Meeting With FG

In a significant development, the leadership of organized labour has decided to suspend the ongoing nationwide indefinite strike initiated on Tuesday, November 14, 2023.

The announcement of the suspension came after a meeting between the National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, held on the evening of Wednesday, November 15, 2023. Commencing a few minutes past 7 p.m., the meeting lasted nearly an hour.

The National Deputy Vice President of the TUC, Tommy Etim, conveyed the decision to suspend the strike, citing the trust placed in the National Security Adviser. "The NEC of the NLC and the TUC have suspended the strike. We did this based on our trust in the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, who gave us his words," Etim stated. Similarly, the General Secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employee (AUPCTRE), Comrade Sikiru Waheed, confirmed the development to journalists, expressing gratitude for the commitment of all involved in the industrial action.

The organized labor had resorted to the nationwide strike to compel the federal government to take decisive action following an incident in Imo State where NLC president Joe Ajaero was assaulted. Ajaero and other labor leaders staged a protest in Owerri, the Imo State capital, on November 1, rallying workers against the state government's alleged violation of their rights. However, security operatives intervened, leading to Ajaero being allegedly handed over to thugs who assaulted him.

The decision to suspend the strike followed a joint NEC session of NLC and TUC, considering the plea of the Federal Government during a meeting at the office of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. As a result, the labor movement directed workers to resume their official functions on Thursday, November 16, 2023.

The labor movement had made several demands to the Federal Government, including a nationwide strike and the dismissal of the Area Commander implicated in the attack against Ajaero. Last week, the NLC and TUC picketed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, disrupting access and flights as a warning to the government. The strike, which began on Tuesday, paralyzed commercial activities nationwide.

The National Security Adviser later appealed to the labor leadership to de-escalate tensions, revealing that two suspects connected to the attack in Imo had been arrested.

November 15, 2023

November 15, 2023 IFMNEWS

NLC Strike Misplaced – Oshiomhole

A former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to focus on advancing workers’ rights rather than partisan politics.

Speaking to State House correspondents after a meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima, Oshiomhole acknowledged his enduring affinity for labour unions stemming from his background as a worker and union leader.

He, however, expressed concern that the NLC’s recent strike actions seemed politically motivated rather than driven by a concrete worker-focused agenda.

The former NLC president said the priority of the labour unions should have been centred on state governments not currently paying the national minimum wage of N30,000.

November 15, 2023

November 15, 2023 IFMNEWS

Partial Compliance In States As Organized Labour Commences Strike

Day two of the indefinite strike embarked upon by the Organised Labour over the assault on the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero as well as unmet demands by the federal government.

Nineteen unions have so far directed their workers to comply with the directive of the two labour centres, NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC. Though compliance on the first day of the industrial action around the country was poor.

Some of the unions fully on board are the Senior Staff Associations of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PASAN and the Nigeria Union of Railway Workers.

Also, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) wrote to its zonal coordinators and chairpersons to comply with the directives of the national secretariat of the NLC.

Inspiration FM visited the University of Lagos, UNILAG and a lecturer who preferred anonymity, said though they received the memo from ASUU, compliance was poor.

However, the Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA) has said that its members are not part of the ongoing nationwide strike as it was not consulted by the organizing bodies of NLC and TUC.

November 14, 2023

November 14, 2023 IFMNEWS

Presidency Says Organised Labour’s Strike Action Is Not In National Interest

The Presidency has described the decision by the NLC and TUC as an ego tripping move and clearly unwarranted, saying it is an attempt to blackmail the government by the leadership of the Organized Labour.

In a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said it is an attempt to punish a whole country over a personal matter involving the NLC President, Joe Ajaero.

It added that while the Federal government does not condone any form of violence and assault on any citizen regardless of his or her social and economic status.

The statement noted that the Inspector General of Police has ordered investigation into what happened to Ajaero while the Commissioner of Police in Imo State under whose watch the incident happened has been transferred out of the state.

In a separate statement, the Special Assistant to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice on Communication and Publicity, Kamarudeen Ogundele, warned the Unions that any action taken in violation of the court would amount to contempt.

To this end, it asked the Organized Labour to shelve its nationwide strike which commenced midnight.

The government reminded the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of a restraining order issued by the National Industrial Court (NIC), in Abuja, on Friday.

President of the NIC, Justice Benedict Kanyip, had restrained the labour centres and their affiliates from embarking on any form of strike.

The judge issued the order following an ex-parte application brought before the court by the Federal Government through the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).

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