Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has given reasons for shelving its planned nationwide strike over petrol subsidy removal initially scheduled to begin today, Wednesday, June 7.
NLC said it decided to back down on the proposed industrial action because the Federal Government “demonstrated willingness to hold dialogue and provide reasonable palliatives to cushion the effect of its policies.”
This was contained in a communique issued at the end of NLC’s emergency National Executive Council on Tuesday, and signed by NLC, President, Comrade Joe Ajaero; and General Secretary, Emma Ugboaja.
The communique obtained by Ikengaonline read in part: “Considering the mood of the socio-polity, last elections and the need to pursue national stability and consequently, the NEC-in-session resolved as follows:
“To commend and applaud the diligence of the congress’ leadership in carrying out the assignment given to it by NEC; to demonstrate to the Federal Government the need to comply with the laws of the land, especially as it concerns obedience to the rulings of the courts and their brazen disregard for the 2023 Appropriation Act.”
It further read: “Taking into account that the Federal Government has procured a court injunction restraining congress from proceeding with the proposed nationwide strike as the NEC-in-session had ordered to begin, Wednesday, June 7, 2023, and recognising the willingness of government for continuous engagement through dialogue and to offer reasonable palliatives in due course to cushion the effect of its policies, some levels of understanding were reached.
“Considering the mood of the socio-polity of the last elections and the need to pursue national stability and, the NEC-in-session also resolved to commend and applaud the diligence of the congress’ leadership in carrying out the assignment given to it by NEC.
‘’It demonstrated to the Federal Government the need to comply with the laws of the land, especially as it concerns obedience to the ruling of courts and their brazen disregard for the 2023 Appropriation Act.
“NEC-in session, therefore, supports and accepts the decision of the leadership of Congress to suspend the proposed strike in compliance with the flawed rulings of the NIC and also allow negotiations to flow freely and enable final agreement during or after June 19, 2023, negotiation round with the Federal Government.”
The communiqué accused the NIC of continuous weaponisation of the instrument of ex-parte injunctions in favour of the government against the interests of Nigerian workers in defiance of the position of the Supreme Court on the use of this instrument.
