….FG Warns Civil Servants Against Joining Strike
…..Airspace to be shut as aviation unions back labour strike
….Governors’ Forum urges labour unions to exercise caution
Ibe Pascal Arogorn
The Nigeria Labour Congress on Friday insisted that it will go on with its planned mass action scheduled for Monday, September 28.
In a communique by its General Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, the NLC asked its members across the nation to come out in large numbers to protest the increase in fuel and electricity prices.
The order was given despite a fresh court order obtained by the Federal Government, barring the NLC and the Trade Union Congress from embarking on their planned strike scheduled to commence on Monday.
In the statement by Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, NLC asked all National Leadership of affiliates in Abuja to mobile at least 2000 of their members to Unity Fountain, Abuja for the mass rally which takes off at 7am.
Also, affiliates are expected to mobilise the same number of members to the NLC Sub-Secretariat, 29, Olajuwon Street, Yaba, Lagos, which is the take-off point for the Lagos action at 7am also.
The NLC Secretary also noted that all Presidents and General Secretaries are expected to lead and identify with their members at the take-off point.
Earlier in September, Organised Labour threatened to embark on a nationwide strike if the Federal Government refuses to reverse the recent increases in fuel and electricity tariff.
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Ayuba Wabba while making the announcement in Abuja said the NLC’s central working committee (CWC) has resolved to issue a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to reverse the increase.
He said workers and Nigerians are disappointed that the government decided to increase both the price of fuel and electricity tariff at a time “other countries across the world are giving palliatives to their citizens to cushion the effect of COVID-19.”
“NLC central committee will also mobilise its members, civic society allies, and other social partners to resist this policy because it has driven many into poverty,” Wabba added.
Ahead of the threat by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to resort to industrial action, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) held an emergency meeting of all the governors.
Following the meeting, the NGF cautioned NLC against the planned strike, arguing that any plan to down tools will worsen the currently deteriorating economic situation of the country brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Airspace to be shut as aviation unions back labour strike
Four aviation unions have backed the Organised Labour nationwide strike expected to commence on Monday .
The unions asked their members to withdraw services from all aerodromes nationwide indefinitely.
With this , airspace may not be open for operations from Monday .
This was confirmed to The PUNCH by the General Secretary of the National Union of Aviation Employees, Aba Ocheme .
He said , “ Sure . Airports will not operate from Monday . ”
The four aviation unions joining the strike are the National Union of Air Transport Employees, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers , Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals .
A statement from the unions on Friday read , “ As you are aware, the NLC and TUC have declared indefinite nationwide strike action with effect from Monday , September 28, 2020.
“ Our unions as above named are in full support of the strike action.
“ As such all workers in the aviation sector are hereby directed to withdraw their services at all aerodromes nationwide as from 00hrs of 28th September 2020 until otherwise communicated by the NLC /TUC or our unions . All workers shall comply .
FG Warns Civil Servants Against Joining Strike
The Federal Government has warned civil servants on Grade Level 12 and above and those on essential services not to join the industrial action declared by labour unions in the country.
The warning is coming on the heels of the deadlock in the meeting between the federal government and organised labour, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), which was adjourned till Monday after both sides failed to agree on terms for the resolution of the dispute over the increase in petrol price and electricity tariffs in the country.
In a circular issued by Head Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, the workers have also that the National Industrial Court on Thursday has restrained the unions from embarking on pending the hearing and determination of a Motion on Notice.
It has therefore advised them to be at work to perform their official duties.
The circular read: “Sequel to the call by the Labour Unions for workers to embark on industrial action from Monday, 28th September, 2020, the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), wishes to inform all public servants that the Federal Government team is currently engaging with the Labour Unions with a view to resolving all contentious issues and avert the planned industrial action.
“Furthermore, it is important to note that there is a court injunction granted by the National Industrial Court (Suit No. NICN/ABJ/253/2020) on 24th September, 2020 restraining the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria from embarking on any form of industrial action pending the hearing and determination of a Motion on Notice.
“Accordingly, all officers on Grade Level 12 and above and those on essential services are hereby strongly advised to be at work to perform their official duties.
“Permanent Secretaries and Chief Executive Officers are therefore enjoined to bring the contents of this circular to the attention of all concerned officers and ensure strict compliance.”
FG Obtains Fresh Order To Stop NLC, TUC’s Planned Strike
The Abuja Vacation Judge of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, His Lordship, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Galadima has again granted an order of interim injunction restraining the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, their agents, employees, workmen, servant or proxies from embarking on the planned industrial action of any nature pending the hearing and determination of the claimants motion of notice.
Justice Galadima gave the order today sequel to an ex-parte motion filed by the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Attorney General of the Federation through their counsel M. L. Shriu and T. A. Gazali Ashiri.
Delivering the ruling after careful perusal of the deposition contained in the affidavits, the presiding Judge, Justice Ibrahim Galadima found the said application meritorious.
Consequently, the Court also ordered that the NLC and TUC be served within 7 days from today Friday 25th September 2020 with the motion on notice as well as other processes.
Governors’ Forum urges labour unions to exercise caution
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), has called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), to exercise caution on its planned industrial action over increase in price of petroleum products and electricity tariff.
The 36 governors made the call in a communique issued on Friday in Abuja by the forum’s Vice Chairman and Governor of Sokoto, Aminu Tambuwal, after its 18th emergency teleconference meeting held on Friday.
The governors according to him, insisted that subsidy in the petroleum sector was promoting corruption in petroleum pricing and distribution, as well as loss of jobs and revenues to all tiers of government.
Tambuwal said that any strike action would worsen the currently deteriorating economic situation of the country brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said that the governors, while expressing concern over the call for a national strike, suggested the provision of a cushioning arrangement to ameliorate the effect of subsidy removal.
He said that the governors confirmed that an Industrial Court had barred labour from embarking on the planned strike, and nevertheless decided to use the intervening period to mediate between the stakeholders.
“The forum resolved to intercede with the labour unions, the Federal Government and other stakeholders.
“The forum especially calls labour to exercise caution in its plan to embark on indefinite strike.
“It notes that any such action will worsen the already deteriorating economic situation of the workers brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic;
“The forum set up a committee made up of the Governors of Jigawa, as Chairman, Nasarawa, Ogun, Kwara, Gombe, Abia and Bayelsa to interface with the National Economic Council, the labour Unions and relevant stakeholders for the overall interest of the nation. “
Tambuwal said that the NGF Secretariat would provide relevant support to the Committee on the details of the mechanism for deregulation put in place by the federal government.
“The forum resolved to call for an emergency NEC meeting as soon as the committee comes up with a common position on the deregulation of both the petroleum and power sectors and the figures laid bare for all to see.
“Finally, members advised that any position taken by the Forum should not be seen to be contrary or injurious to the position State Governors have always maintained in support of deregulation.”
Tambuwal expressed the governors concern over deductions from the Federation Allocation of the 774 local governments to construct and equip healthcare centres in each local government on behalf of the Association of Local Government Areas of Nigeria (ALGON).
“The Forum rejected the legality and the legitimacy of the contract including all financing arrangements.”
Tambuwal said that the forum resolved to call on the minister of finance and the accountant general of the federation not to disburse to receiving entities monies already deducted for the construction of the primary healthcare centres in each of the 774 LGAs.
“The governors also resolved that further deductions should be halted forthwith.
“The forum constitutes a committee comprising the Governors of Ekiti (chairman), Ebonyi, Delta, Gombe, Plateau, and Kano States to represent State and local governments on the matter.
“The committee will meet Mr President, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, the National Judicial Council and the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning to appeal against the judgment.”
Kano NLC directs workers to join indefinite nationwide strike
The Kano State Executive Council (SEC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) rose from it council meeting on Friday to direct it workers (members) to join the nationwide strike over the prevailing socio-economic hardship bedevilling the masses as a result of the sudden hike in electricity tariff and fuel price by the Federal government.
This was as it says it endorsed the decision of the National Central Working Committee, CWC and National Executive Council, NEC of NLC to embark on the strike to press home its demand for the reversal of the FG’s decision.
In the communique jointly signed by the state chairman of NLC, Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibir and it’s acting secretary, Comrade Hussaini Budah, SEC, they called on affiliated union’s to begin mass mobilization of all professional groups, religious organizations, market women, civil society allies to ensure total compliance of the indefinite strike action.
According to the union, “after careful consideration of the socio-economic realities especially in light of insufferable hardship they present to the working-class family and the masses of our people in Nigeria, the state executive council resolved to endorse the decision of the CWC, NEC of the Nigeria Labour Congress to embark on indefinite strike action and peaceful protest, to take effect from Monday, 28th September 2020, if the government fails to reverse the recent hike in the pump price and electricity tariff and accede to other ancillary demands by labour.
“Pursuant to this, the SEC directed all affiliated Union’s under the state NLC to begin mass mobilization of all professional groups, religious organizations, market women, civil society allies to ensure total compliance of the indefinite strike action,” the communique however reads.
The SEC of NLC in the state comprises of all the Chairmen and Secretaries of all NLC’s affiliated union, and members of the State Administrative Council, SAC.
Recall that the meeting between the National body of the labour congress and the Federal government held in Abuja on Thursday over the plan nationwide industrial action ended in deadlock hence the resolve of the NLC to proceed on the proposed industrial disharmony despite an ex-parte application filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Peace and Unity Ambassadors Association through their counsel, Mr Sunusi Musa and stopping it (NLC) from embarking on the strike action.
