The Federal Government, on Thursday, asked the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, to shelve their plan to embark on a nationwide indefinite strike action on October 3.

Government maintained that the proposed industrial action by the labour unions would amount to a gross violation of a subsisting court injunction.

It stressed that issues bordering on fuel subsidy removal, which informed the decision of the NLC and the TUC to declare the strike action, are already pending before the National Industrial Court, NIC.

According to FG, it was due to the willingness of the unions to enter into a negotiation over the issue that it was persuaded to withdraw a contempt proceeding that it initially instituted against them.

Therefore, the government, through the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), wrote to the head of the legal team of the two unions, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), urging him to persuade his clients to abort the planned strike action.

The letter, dated September 26, a copy of which Vanguard obtained, read: “The attention of the Ministry has been drawn to media reports on the proposed nationwide strike action by the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, scheduled to commence on 3rd October 2023.

“You are kindly invited to recall the antecedence of previous steps/actions on this matter, particularly the exchange of correspondence between this office and your firm, before and after the nationwide ‘action/protest’ declared by the NLC on 2nd August 2023.

“Whilst your clients had maintained that the nationwide protest by NLC is in furtherance of its constitutional right to embark on protests, the Ministry has repeatedly advised on the need to advise your clients to refrain from resorting to self-help and taking actions capable of undermining subsisting orders of a court of competent jurisdiction.

“It is also to be recalled that based on the conduct of the said nationwide action/protest, this Office instituted contempt proceedings against the labour leaders.

“However, upon the intervention of the President and National Assembly, coupled with the decision of the labour unions to discontinue their action/protest, the contempt proceedings were not prosecuted further.

“This was advisedly done to enable the government and labour union engage in further negotiations without any form of encumbrances.

“However, in its Communique issued at the end of its National Executive Council meeting on 31st August 2023, NLC resolved to embark on a total and indefinite shutdown of the nation within 14 working days or 21 days from 31st August 2023.

“Also on 26th September 2023, the Presidents of NLC and TUC, jointly issued a communiqué stating that organised labour had resolved, ‘to embark on an indefinite and total shutdown of the nation beginning on zero hours Tuesday, the 3rd day of October, 2023.’

“From a review of the contents of the above communiques and available media reports, the proposed strike action is premised principally in furtherance of issues connected with the removal of fuel subsidy, hike in fuel price and consequential matters of making provisions for palliatives and workers welfare.

“These are undoubtedly issues that have been submitted to the National Industrial Court for adjudication.

“Therefore, the proposed strike action is in clear violation of the pending interim injunctive order granted on 5th June 2023 restraining both Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress from embarking on any industrial action/or strike of any nature, pending the hearing and determination of the pending Motion on Notice.

“We wish to reiterate that a court order, regardless of the opinion of any party on it, remains binding and enforceable until set aside.

“It is the expectation of the public that the labour unions would lead in obedience and observance of court orders and not in its breach.”

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chief of Staff to the President, National Security Adviser, Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General, State Security Services, DSS, were copied.

Recall that the labour unions had vowed to enforce an indefinite nationwide strike action from October 3, following Federal Government’s failure to address the economic hardship that Nigerians are currently facing owing to its unplanned removal of fuel subsidy.

yinkus6750:
So , what is government's plan for the masses ?
They should continue suffering and dieing for the elites to live ?

Ofunaofu:
Four months after subsidy was removed, no tangible thing has been done to ameliorate the sufferings of the people

richiemcgold:
Federal govt is just making an empty threat. If the workers eventually go on strike, will the Federal govt sack the entire work force?

Impossicant!

femisplash:
The FG wanted to distribute money and other food items but y'all shouted it down, so the President had to pass it to the State Governors the sum of 5billion per state and trailer loads of food palliatives. You should hold your State Governor responsible.

Ikaeniyan0:
The Labour Unions will be suspended and No work No pay rule will be strictly enforce. Nobody is above Nigerian laws. Before you argue, go and ask ASSU members who went on strike how far

Ofunaofu:


Can you listen to yourself, infact you have no shame

A government thoughtlessly removed subsidy from petrol, which of course increased the price of fuel by over 300% with it's attendant increase in prices of goods and services, the only palliative the government could think of is to share 100 grains of rice per household

Are you aware that Nigeria is the only oil producing country with no local refining capacity

Kukutente23:
NLC and TUC lost the plot by choosing to dine with the devil.
They should have declared strike immediately the subsidy was removed and negotiated based on that.
Right now, they have lost the trust of the masses they claim to represent while the govt has succeeded in putting handcuffs on them with a court injunction. If they go ahead with the strike, they lose in court, if they don't, they lose the people further

femisplash:
The FG wanted to distribute money and other food items but y'all shouted it down, so the President had to pass it to the State Governors the sum of 5billion per state and trailer loads of food palliatives. You should hold your State Governor responsible.

ambale:


So na the 8k be the solution your god have abi?

You are shameless and a disgrace to sane minds

ambale:


So na the 8k be the solution your god have abi?

You are shameless and a disgrace to sane minds

Ofunaofu:
Four months after subsidy was removed, no tangible thing has been done to ameliorate the sufferings of the people

Jlow2:
Where is the money saved from subsidy removal that is what labour asked and they have been running from pillar to post, apc lying machine will tell you that the money has not by appropriated so cannot be spent, show us we’re the money is , the trillions saved in the last 4months