STATE HOUSE PRESS STATEMENT

NLC/TUC STRIKE ACTION NOT IN NATIONAL INTEREST

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.

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 irony that the current labour leaders have shown disdain and utter disregard for court order.

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 cause civil disturbance in our country. This is unacceptable.

Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy

November 13, 2023

God1000:
APC government is a joke

Jogs1900:
Ajaero wants to sabotage the APC government because Labourers lost. He turned what happened in the street of Owerri into a national issue.If them born am well, he should go to any state in the southwest or North to protest, they will beat him again and again. Thank God Ajaero is not the President of Nigeria, he would have done worse than Tinubu.NLC chairman's power is intoxicating him. When it's time, I know Tinubu will severely deal with him.

Nukilia:


Why are you like this.......

You mean the APC who have sabotaged Nigerians should be allowed to continue with the sabotage. The days of APC are numbered in this country.

Shameful lots

tuzle:
The punishment the current government is placing on us is more than any other punishment that nlc can place. They said renewed hope, but what form of renewed hope is this. In a country that when things rise, it never comes down again. 10k can't last someone 1week again

Nukilia:


Why are you like this.......

You mean the APC who have sabotaged Nigerians should be allowed to continue with the sabotage. The days of APC is numbered in this country.

Shameful lots

yarimo:
Joe ajaero is not happy his candidate was defeated by hope UZODIMMA. Unfortunately under joe ajaero NLC is now a disgrace union

kingsways:
Whoever issued that statement is a disgrace

Aldol:

Ask yourself,is your genuine reason the reason Nlc is going on strike?