Nigeria’s Federal government, which has flagrantly disobeyed court orders, Tuesday, sought and obtained an order from the court retraining the NLC from embarking on a nation wide strike.
Now, the APC led Federal Government has urged workers to comply willingly with the court directives or be ready for brute force.
Excerpt from a statement issued by Secretary to the government of federation, read; “ barricading of gates, locking up of offices, blocking of roads and preventing workers from carrying out their lawful duties will be met with appropriate response by the law enforcement agencies.”
Presidency Statement on NLC’s Nationwide Strike
The federal government of Nigeria has implored labour unions in the country not to go ahead with its planned strike for Wednesday, 18th May 2016.
Read Below:
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERATION
PRESS RELEASE
PROPOSED INDEFINITE STRIKE ACTION BY THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS
The attention of all Public Officers is drawn to the notice issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to embark on an indefinite strike from Wednesday, 18th May, 2016.
This notice is regrettably given in spite of an Order by the Industrial Court against the strike action.
Government, therefore, calls upon and advises all workers to respect the laws of the land and to desist from participating in an illegal strike action.
Government undertakes to guarantee the safety of workers and their work places, and expects that normal work will continue in the interest of the nation.
Accordingly, security agencies have been directed to ensure unimpeded access to offices, work places and markets. Acts of intimidation, harassment, including barricading of gates, locking up of offices, blocking of roads and preventing workers from carrying out their lawful duties will be met with appropriate response by the law enforcement agencies.
All workers, whether in public or private sector are further reminded of the Trade Dispute Act, 2004, which provides that ‘where any worker takes part in a strike, he shall not be entitled to any wages or remuneration for the period of the strike and any such period shall not count for the purpose of reckoning the period of continuous employment and all rights dependent on continuity of employment shall be prejudicially affected accordingly’.
Accordingly, all Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Government Agencies are hereby directed to invoke the provision of ‘no work no pay’ in respect of any staff who absents him or herself from work to join the strike action.
Attendance registers are required to be opened in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
Engineer Babachir David Lawal
Secretary to the Government of the Federation
Proposed Industrial Action By NLC: Lagos Vows To Apply Rule Of Law.
Similarly, the Executive Governor Of Lagos State Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode issued a statement urging Lagosians to go about their normal daily routine without fear, stating that the government will not tolerate any group trying to disturb public peace.
According to his statement:
“We have a duty to uphold the Rule of Law to ensure Lagosians go about their normal businesses in any part of the State without fear or molestation.
Threats from certain quarters to disturb public peace by forcing workers to stay at home against their wish and the law will not be tolerated.
We are aware of the ruling of the National Industrial Court today in Abuja barring the NLC from proceeding with the planned strike action. Therefore it is unlawful for any person or group to either disrupt free movement of people and vehicles or prevent normal business activities.
We assure Lagosians that adequate security measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of lives and property.
The Commissioner of Police and other heads of security agencies have been directed to maintain law and order in accordance with the Rule of Law.” He said
He however called on parents and guardians to advise their wards not be used by protesters.
“I wish to state our commitment to the protection of lives and property and the welfare of the people.
I call on all citizens to go about their normal businesses and report any threat or act of intimidation to the appropriate authorities.
I also appeal to parents to warn their children and wards, particularly the vulnerable ones, not to allow themselves to be used or manipulated.” The Governor stated.
Recall that the National Industrial Court presided over by Its’ President, Justice Babatunde Adejumo restrained the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) from going on its planned strike on Wednesday, pending the hearing and determination of a suit brought before it by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
The Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, had dragged the NLC to the Industrial Court, seeking an order of the court restraining the NLC from proceeding with the planned strike.
No counsel represented the Nigeria Labour Congress.
He had sought the order on the ground that the strike would paralyse the nation’s economy.
When asked by the presiding judge, how the AGF knew the NLC was planning to go on strike, Mr Malami said he saw a statement issued by the labour union on their website and that the statement had been published by the media.
Delivering his judgement, Justice Adejumo said, “The defendants (NLC) are hereby restrained from carrying out the threat contained in their communique issued on May 14, 2016 pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed on May 16.
“It is the order of this court that status quo be maintained as at May 17.”
The order, which is short-term, will last for seven days, but it is subject to renewal. The judge also ordered that the judgement be served on the respondents within 24 hours and that proof of service be filed in the court.
“It is the order of this court that none of the parties shall engage in any act, conduct, overtly, covertly on this matter pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice,” Justice Adejumo noted.
Continuing Justice Adejumo said,”I decided to take this case this morning because it is on an issue that will affect everybody. I don’t want people to be subjected to hardship. There will be scarcity of foods, people may die, students will engage in all sorts of activities. This is why I have to grant this order.”
The case was adjourned to May 24 for hearing of the motion on notice.
ASUU Mobilizes Members, Begins Nationwide Strike Tomorrow
However, the Academic Staff Union of Universities has borrowed a leaf from Federal Government `s play book and is ignoring the court order.
To this end, the National President of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Biodun Ogunyemi has mobilized members of the union for strike and mass action commencing tomorrow to force the Federal Government to revert the pump price from N145 to N86.
This was contained in a letter dispatched to members of the congress nationwide and read at the University of Ibadan Chapter on Tuesday where the Chairman, Dr Deji Omole addressed members.
Omole equally said that the chapter was ready for mass resistance to what he called obnoxious and callous policy of fuel price increment.
ASUU president in the letter entitled ‘Increase in Pump price of Premium Motor Spirit to N145 per litre: Proposal for Joint Action with NLC’ stated that
“ASUU members are called upon to according to our Union’s principles, fully respect Article 2 of the Constitution of ASUU; that our Union and members shall work for the protection and advancement of the socio-economic interests of the nation. Branch Chairpersons are to conduct emergency congress meetings on Tuesday 17 May 2016 to mobilise our members for the action commencing on Wednesday. All branches of ASUU nationwide are to comply.”
Ogunyemi anchored the position on “delayed, partially paid and in most cases unpaid salaries for a number of months by state, federal and local governments, disguised retrenchment of workers, especially by State Governments, in the name of verification exercise and endless hunt for ghost workers and heavy taxation”
The UI’s ASUU Boss, Dr. Omole described the policy of subsidy removal as the most criminal ambush from the Mohammadu Buhari-led federal government to empower the rich and cripple the poor.
Balarable Musa to Nigerians: Fuel Price Hike: Ignore Court Judgment and Protest
The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has reiterated its call on Nigerians masses and civil to ignore the Labour unions and protest against the increment of pump price of petrol despite jugdment of the Industrial Court stopping planned strike action by the unions.
The CNPP in a statement issued on Tuesday, which was jointly signed by its national Chairman, Alhaji Balarabe Musa and the Secretary General,
Chief Willy Ezugwu, also accused bothe the federal government and the labour unions of insincerity in the matter.
“We are taken aback that the federal government could hurridly obtain a judgment from the Industrial Court, with readiness to enforce same overnight while the government is yet to obey many other court orders against it.
“For instance, the PRP was deregistered as a political party by the Indepedent National Electoral commission (INEC) and a court of
competent jurisdiction ordered its re-registration but the INEC is yet to obey the order.
“Today, the federal government selects which court judgment to obey and the ones against it are discountenanced.
“We reiterate our call on all well meaning Nigerians and the civil society to ignore the Labour unions and protest against the unjustifiable pump price increment in their numbers.
“The CNPP suspects that the Industrial Court judgment was obtained the federal government in conivance with the labour unions to ambush the
Nigerian masses and deny them their constitutional rights to hold opinion, freedom of expression and association.
“Recall that the CNPP had earlier warned Nigerian people to ignore the Labour unions because our findings showed that they have been
compromised and would eventually betray Nigerians as they did in 2012.
“The orderof the Industrial Court stopping the unions’ planned strike puts a question mark on the sincerity of both the labour unions and
the feral government.
“But the government and the unions must be made aware that the Nigerian people are unstoppable despite their glaring conspiracy
against the wishes of the people”, the statement read.
