Contempt Charge: NLC Accuses FG Of ‘Litigious Terrorism’, Threatens Nationwide Strike August 14 If…

BY VICTOR BUORO – The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Thursday accused the Federal Government of ‘litigious terrorism’ and threatened to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike from August 14, if the contempt charge against it is not dropped by the close of work on Friday, August 11, 2023.

Rising from its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting to review Wednesday’s countrywide protest, the NLC demanded an immediate withdrawal of the contempt charge instituted against it and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) by the Federal Ministry of Justice for embarking on the action.

The NLC leaders, who also gave reasons for suspending the nationwide protest, warned in a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting that if the “contemptuous court summons” from Wednesday’s contempt charge filed against the Labour movement is not withdrawn by whosoever initiated it, the Congress would have no choice than “To embark on a nationwide comprehensive strike beginning Monday, August 14, 2023”.

Explaining that NEC members deliberated exhaustively on the mood of the nation, amid the suffering and deprivation across all the states of the federation, the NLC declared its commitment “to the terminal date of August 19, 2023, within which the issues around the petroleum price hike will be agreed, given the assurances of the President and the National Assembly.”

The communiqué stated that NEC reached the resolutions having reviewed the effectiveness of the nationwide protest, particularly the meetings with President Bola Tinubu, the leadership of the National Assembly and the contempt charge action of the Federal Government through the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN).

Signed by NLC President and General Secretary, Joe Ajaero and Emma Ugboaja, respectively, the communiqué read thus: “Whereas Nigerians spoke loudly across Nigeria yesterday (Wednesday) to express their outrage over the huge suffering and impoverishment pervading the landscape, the President, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu, responded through a closed-door meeting with the leaders of the Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC).

“Concrete agreements were reached and the President personally guaranteed action on the following areas: Commitment to an immediate restructuring of the framework for engaging the consequences of the PMS price hike, in line with the input of the labour leaders

‘’The assurance that the Port Harcourt Refinery will commence production by December this year; the pledge to ensure that agreement is reached on the wage award for Nigerian workers immediately; and the promise to unveil a workable roadmap to the CNG alternative next week.

“The Federal Ministry of Justice, through the NICN, has continued to allow itself to be used as a vehicle to truncate the dominance of the tenets of democracy and muzzle/silence the voices of Nigerian workers and, has served a summons on the leadership of the NLC and TUC to answer to contempt of court charges, despite the provisions of the constitution to the contrary and the objective realities.

“Consequently, NEC-in-Session resolved as follows: To support and affirm the decision to suspend further protest on the nationwide mass protest; “To commit to maintaining the required vigilance needed to hold government accountable on its assurances and governance in general; To commit to the terminal date of August 19, 2023, within which the issues around the petroleum price hike will be agreed, given the assurances of the President and the National Assembly; To go on total strike across the country any day labour leaders are summoned to court by the government through the NICN; To demand the immediate withdrawal of this litigious terrorism by the Federal Ministry of Justice before the end of work on Friday, August 11, 2023; and To embark on a nationwide comprehensive strike beginning Monday, August 14, 2023, if these contemptuous court summons are not withdrawn by whosoever initiated it.”

The NEC also commended “the national leadership and all the state officers for the effective coordination of the protest” even as “it urged all affiliates and state councils, including our civil society allies, to stay further action but remain focused and eternally vigilant.’”

Meanwhile, against the backdrop of the Labour Movement nationwide protest on August 2, 2023, the Federal Government, had through the Federal Ministry of Justice filed a contempt proceeding on Wednesday against the NLC, and the TUC for allegedly embarking on an industrial action, contrary to a June 5, 2023, ex parte order by the National Industrial Court (NIC).

In the process, a “notice of consequences of disobedience to order of court” filed before NIC in Abuja by the Federal Government was served on the NLC President, Joe Ajaero; Deputy Presidents, Audu Aruba, Prince Adeyanju Adewale and Kabiru Sani; General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja; TUC President, Engr Festus Usifo; and Secretary General, Nuhu Toro.

Signed by NIC’s Senior Registrar, Balogun Olajide, the contempt notice read thus; “Take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in the order of the National Industrial Court, Abuja, delivered by Honourable Justice Y. Anuwe on June 5, 2023, as per the attached enrolled order, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”

Additionally, a copy of the ex parte order made by Justice Anuwe on June 5, 2023, was attached to the notice of contempt proceeding addressed to the NLC and TUC officials.