‘Unwarranted Blackmail’ – Presidency Fires Organised Labour Over Nationwide Strike

The Presidency has condemned the decision of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to begin a nationwide strike beginning from midnight of Monday, November 13, 2023.

In a statement on Monday night, Presidential Spokesman, Bayo Onanuga described the decision of Organised Labour as an “ego tripping move” and an act of unwarranted blackmail against the government.

He stressed the government’s commitment to investigating the assault on the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, saying that power at any level should not be wielded to settle personal scores but rather used to promote collective progress and national interest.

The Presidential aide said the call on workers to embark on a national strike over a personal issue of a labour leader despite a court order against any industrial action amounts to an abuse of privilege.

Onanuga also criticised the labour leaders for the disregard for the judiciary and an erosion of the traditional championing of the rule of law by the labour movement.

The statement reads: “We notice with dismay the decision by the Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress to call out workers to commence a strike action from midnight, despite a restraining order issued last week by Justice Benedict Backwash Kanyip of the National Industrial Court.

“This decision by the NLC and TUC other than being an ego tripping move is clearly unwarranted. It is an attempt to blackmail the government by the leadership of the NLC.

“We are still at a loss as to why the NLC and TUC decided to punish a whole country of over 200million people over a personal matter involving the NLC President, Mr. Joe Ajaero, whose error of judgment led to assault on him in Owerri while he was planning to incite the workers in Imo State into a needless strike.

“While the Federal government does not condone any form of violence and assault on any citizen of Nigeria regardless of his or her social and economic status, it is on record that the Inspector General of Police has ordered investigation into what happened to Mr. Ajaero while the Commissioner of Police in Imo State under whose watch the incident happened has been transferred out of the state.

“Calling out workers on a national strike over a personal issue of a labour leader despite a clear court order against any industrial action amounts to an abuse of privilege. Power at any level should never be used to settle personal scores. Rather, it should be used to promote collective progress and advance national interest.”

The presidential aide stated that the nation’s economy and social activities should not suffer because of the personal interest of Ajaero or any labour leader.

It added: “Our national economy and social activities should not suffer because of the personal interest of any labour leader.

“This flagrant disobedience to court order and lack of respect for the judiciary should not be what the organised Labour would champion.

“The labour movement has always been a champion of rule of law and respect for the judiciary. It is a sad wirony that the current labour leaders have shown disdain and utter disregard for court orders.

“We reiterate that this strike action is illegal, immoral, unjustifiable and irresponsible. What the strike notice issued Monday night after official hours suggests is it’s designed for a sinister and hidden agenda to cause undue hardship and civil disturbance in our country. This is unacceptable.”