NLC Gives FG Seven Days To Withdraw Court Summons Or Face Nationwide Strike

By CLEMENT NWOJI, Abuja

Against the backdrop of the contempt summons on the leaderships of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Wednesday, the NLC has given the federal government a week ultimatum within which to withdraw the suit before the National Industrial Court or face a nationwide comprehensive strike beginning Monday 14th of August, 2023.

OPTIMUM TIMES recalls that the federal government, had through the Ministry of Justice cautioned NLC and TUC against embarking on last Wednesday’s protest, citing an existing injunction by the NIC, baring labour from embarking on strike.

The Justice ministry further maintained that failure to shelve the protest would amount to running foul of contempt of court. But labour went ahead with protest, saying it was an inalienable right of every citizen to peacefully express discontent against inhumane policies such as the current situation in Nigeria.

The NLC gave the ultimatum as part of its resolutions during its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held Thursday.

In its communique, jointly signed by the NLC President and General Secretary, Comrade Joe Ajaero and Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, respectively, the union resolved among other things as follows:

“To commit to the terminal date of August 19th 2023 within which the issues around the Petroleum price hike will be agreed given the assurances of the President and the National Assembly.

“To go on total strike across the country any day labour leaders are summoned to Court by the government through the NICN.

“To demand the immediate withdrawal of this litigious terrorism by the Federal Ministry of Justice before the end of work Friday, the 11th of August, 2023.

“To embark on a nationwide comprehensive strike beginning Monday 14th of August, 2023 if this contemptuous Court summons are not withdrawn by whosoever initiated it.”

The full text of the communique reads:

COMMUNIQUE AT THE END OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (NEC) MEETING OF THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS (NLC) HELD ON THURSDAY, THE 3RD DAY OF AUGUST, 2023

NEC-in-session deliberated exhaustively the mood of the nation within the context of the massive suffering and deprivation pervading our people across all the states of the federation. It further reviewed the effectiveness of the execution of the Nationwide Mass Protest which it had ordered during the last session of the Council and which was undertaken yesterday, Wednesday, the 2nd day of August especially the consequential meetings with the President; Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the Leadership of the National Assembly and the action of the federal ministry of Justice through the National Industrial Court (NICN).

The NEC-in-session observed that:

1. Whereas Nigerians spoke loudly across Nigeria yesterday to express their outrage over the huge suffering and impoverishment pervading the landscape;
2. The President of the federation; Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu responded through a closed-door meeting with the leaders of the Congress and TUC
3. Whereas concrete agreements were reached and the President
   personally guaranteed action on the following areas: • Committed to an immediate restructuring of the framework for
   engaging the consequences of the PMS price hike in line with the input of the Labour leaders

.The assurance that the Portharcourt Refinery will commence production by December this year.

.The pledge to ensure that Agreement is reached on the Wage Award for Nigerian workers immediately.

.The promise to unveil a workable roadmap to the CNG alternative next week.

4. Whereas the federal ministry of Justice through the NICN has continued to allow itself to be used as a vehicle to truncate the dominance of the tenets of democracy and muzzle/silence the voices of Nigerian workers and;
5. Whereas it has served a summons on the leadership of the NLC and TUC to answer to contempt of court charges despite the provisions of the constitution to the contrary and the objective realities

Consequently, NEC-in-Session resolved as follows:

1. To support and affirm the decision to suspend further protest on the Nationwide Mass Protest
2. To commit to maintaining the required vigilance needed to hold
   government accountable on its assurances and governance in general
3. To commit to the terminal date of August 19th 2023 within which the issues around the Petroleum price hike will be agreed given the assurances of the President and the National Assembly.
4. To go on total strike across the country any day labour leaders are summoned to Court by the government through the NICN
5. To demand the immediate withdrawal of this litigious terrorism by the Federal Ministry of Justice before the end of work Friday, the 11th of August, 2023
6. To embark on a nationwide comprehensive strike beginning Monday 14th of August, 2023 if this contemptuous Court summons are not withdrawn by whosoever initiated it.

While commending the national leadership and all the state officers for the effective coordination of the Protest, it urged all affiliates and State Councils including our Civil society allies to stay further action but to remain focused and eternally vigilant.

Comrade Joe Ajaero,
President

Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, mni, General Secretary