Again, Labour Yields To FG’s Pleas, Suspends Nationwide Strike

BY EDMOND ODOK AND SEGUN ADEBAYO – Another round of pleadings from the Federal Government on Wednesday saw the leadership of Organised Labour suspending its nationwide indefinite strike to protest the brutal attack on the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero in Imo State on November 1, 2023.

After engaging with the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, the Labour Movement suspended the nationwide indefinite strike following an emergency joint National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Abuja last night.

An insider at the meeting hinted that the suspension was to pave the way for further negotiations on issues that caused the strike which leaders of the two Labour Centres had flagged off on Tuesday, November 14, 2023,

It was gathered that the Federal Government’s intervention through the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, played a major role in the Organised Labour backing down on the nationwide action as he personally apologized on behalf of the government for the attack and brutalisation of NLC President, during his meeting with the Labour leaders at Aso Rock Villa.

According to a competent source; “He, Ribadu, personally offered an apology on behalf of the government and also informed the Labour Leaders that some suspects have been arrested while detailed investigations would be conducted. For now, Labour does not have any reason to doubt Ribadu’s sincerity on the matter because without his initial intervention, probably Comrade Ajaero would have been killed. Again, the NSA gave assurances that such acts of violence and misconduct would no longer be tolerated.

“There is no denying the fact that the strike is biting the government very hard because today (Wednesday), was more effective than Tuesday and there were signs that by Thursday (tomorrow), things may take a turn for the worse with the action becoming more effective as other affiliate unions joined the train. So, given the hardship in the land and the already worsening economic and security situation, the government had no choice but to do the needful despite the initial bravado of some officials in the Presidency.

Offering further insight on the engagement with the Federal Government team led by Ribadu, one of the Labour Leaders said; “We did not mince words blaming the Labour Minister and Minister of State for Labour, for not apprehending the strike because for Labour, if they had intervened, probably the situation would not have degenerated to the stage of a countrywide strike.

“Additionally, we noted that no word or statement came from the Labour Ministry, condemning what happened in Imo when it was purely labour issues. His defence that Labour did not communicate to him officially could not hold water because our position is that once an ultimatum has been issued, it is the responsibility of the Minister to apprehend the strike because the issues are industrial relations matters.”

Maintaining that the strike has achieved its aim of making the point that no government can deny Labour the right to an industrial action, the official, who did not want his name in print, further said; “The government cannot hide under the cover of the National Industrial Court (NIC) to perpetuate all kinds of impunity and lawlessness. Nigeria is a signatory to the International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions and the right to strike is core. The NIC cannot just issue an injunction at any time without putting the other parties on notice. We have made that point.

“Industrial matters are better resolved through dialogue and not through cheap injunctions to blackmail the other party. The NIC ought to have advised the government to dialogue instead of dishing out injunctions that tend to ridicule itself and the government at all times.”

Meanwhile, Speaking officially on behalf of the Organised Labour, Trade Union Congress (TUC) President, Festus Osifo told reporters that; “We came here for a discussion. The NSA invited us in furtherance of a press release he issued disclosing that some persons have been arrested in connection with the brutality meted out on the NLC President.

”At the end of the day, he made several promises of what they were going to do and several appeals for the strike to be called off. We had a robust conversation and we told him our side of the issues. The strike was caused by something and the strike is a symptom of the problem. Every conversation we have had, we are taking back to our organs.

“The NSA promised to coordinate all the steps and issues involved. We will go back, and reappraise the conversations we have had, with all the assurances they have given us, before coming out with a decision.”

Also speaking on the meeting outcome, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr Simon Lalong, said labour and government representatives had very fruitful, genuine and frank discussions on the issues involved, adding that; “It is an ongoing discussion. We have not received any commitment on when the strike will be called off, we have appealed to them. We don’t expect the strike to take a long time.”

Interestingly, ahead of the meeting with the government team, the NLC National leadership had listed six conditions that must be complied with before the strike would be suspended.

In a post on its official X handle, formerly Twitter, the NLC listed the conditions as the arrest and prosecution of Chinasa Nwaneri, Special Adviser on Special Duties to the Imo Governor, who allegedly led the attack on the NLC President and other workers in the state; that all police officers as well as thugs involved in the attack on the Labour leader should be arrested, prosecuted and dismissed.

Other demands by the NLC include the arrest, prosecution and dismissal of the Chief Security Officer in Imo State Government House, simply identified as SP Shaba, alleging that “He led, participated and provided cover for thugs to brutalise workers in Imo State”.

Besides demanding the arrest, prosecution, and dismissal of an unnamed police area commander who, it claimed, oversaw the brutalization of the NLC president and other workers in the state, the NLC also said that Ahmed Barde, the former Commissioner of Police in Imo State, should be investigated and prosecuted for his alleged involvement in the assault on the NLC President. “Our demands are simple. We want justice,” NLC stated.