By Salihu Ali, Abuja
The Nigerian Government Urges Organized Labour to Respect National Industrial Court Order
The Nigerian Government has called on organized labour to refrain from engaging in the planned strike and instead respect the court order issued by the National Industrial Court on June 5. The court’s order restrains the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) from undertaking any industrial action relating to fuel subsidy removal and other pertinent issues.
This plea was conveyed through a letter written by Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, addressed to the labor unions.
In the letter, Fagbemi emphasized that the planned indefinite strike, scheduled to commence on October 3, 2023, constitutes a violation of the existing court order and a disregard for the court’s dignity and integrity. He further advised Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, to encourage his clients to respect the court order and allow ongoing negotiations between the concerned parties to address the challenges associated with fuel subsidy removal.
Fagbemi underscored the fact that the decision to proceed with the strike, as evident in the communiqué issued by the NLC after its National Executive Council meeting on August 31, and the joint communiqué by the Presidents of the NLC and TUC on September 26, primarily revolves around the fuel subsidy removal, hike in fuel price, and matters pertaining to the provision of palliatives and the welfare of workers.
The Attorney General further highlighted that a court order, irrespective of any party’s opinion, remains binding and enforceable until it is set aside.
“By respecting the court order, it would provide more opportunities for both parties to engage in further mutual discussions, in the overall interest of the nation, towards achieving a comprehensive and sustainable resolution of all outstanding issues on this matter,” said Fagbemi.
The Presidents of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo, announced on Tuesday, 26th September, that a nationwide indefinite strike action will commence on October 3, 2023. They cited exhaustion of all means to bring the government to the negotiation table to address the demands of workers as the reason for the action.
In a five-point communique issued after their meetings with their respective organs, they proclaimed that “the National Executive Councils (NEC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), in their various deliberations, extensively analyzed the current situation in the country, taking into account the extensive hardships and deprivation afflicting our citizens across all states of the federation, and unanimously condemned the apparent conscious lethargy and tardiness in handling the consequences of its petrol price hike on Nigerians.”
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