By Ken Afor
The Presidency, Tuesday, accused the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) of trying to put pressure on the government by undertaking a national strike, which it deemed to be unnecessary.
Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy expressed disappointed that the strike went ahead, even though the National Industrial Court (NIC) had declared it an unlawful venture.
TheNewDiplomat had earlier reported that organised labour had insisted that the planned industrial action would go ahead.
On Monday, the organised labour had instructed its affiliate unions to cease their activities by midnight ahead of the planned strike from today, Tuesday, November 14 in view of the disagreement with the Imo State Government.
“In furtherance to the decision of the Joint National Executive Council (NEC) of NLC and TUC, all workers in Nigeria are hereby directed to withdraw their services effective 12:00 midnight today, 13th November 2023,” the unions said in a joint statement.
“Consequently, all affiliates and state councils of NLC/TUC are directed to issue circulars for maximum compliance and these circulars be made available to the National Secretariats or posted to the NEC and CWC Whatsapp Platforms.”
But Onanuga expressing his dissatisfaction in a statement shortly after the organised labour ordered its members to withdraw their services accused the unions particularly like the leadership of the NLC of an attempted blackmail of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said, “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,” the statement said.
“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.”
Reacting to the labour not obeying court order, the Presidency spokesperson said it is a show of lack of disrespect for the judiciary.
“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.”
