You can’t go on strike, FG tells NLC, TUC

On Thursday, the Federal Government urged the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to cancel their plan for a nationwide indefinite strike scheduled for October 3.

The government argued that such a strike would violate a standing court order.

They emphasized that the issues related to fuel subsidy removal, which prompted the NLC and TUC’s decision to strike, are already being examined by the National Industrial Court.

The government withdrew a contempt proceeding against the unions due to their willingness to negotiate on the matter.

Consequently, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), wrote to Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), the legal team leader of both unions, requesting them to discourage their clients from proceeding with the planned strike.

The government stressed that the strike would defy the court’s interim injunction and urged the unions to respect court orders.

 “The attention of the Ministry has been drawn to media reports on the proposed nationwide strike action by the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, scheduled to commence on 3rd October 2023.

“You are kindly invited to recall the antecedence of previous steps/actions on this matter, particularly the exchange of correspondence between this office and your firm, before and after the nationwide ‘action/protest’ declared by the NLC on 2nd August 2023.

“Whilst your clients had maintained that the nationwide protest by NLC is in furtherance of its constitutional right to embark on protests, the Ministry has repeatedly advised on the need to advise your clients to refrain from resorting to self-help and taking actions capable of undermining subsisting orders of a court of competent jurisdiction.

• Nationwide Strike Starts from Oct. 3 – NLC , TCU
• Nigerian Doctors Reject Increment, Continue Nationwide Strike
• NLC Suspends Planned Strike After Presidential Intervention, Senate Talks
• Why NLC, TUC suspended protest – Presidency
• FG Files Contempt Case Against NLC, TUC Over Alleged Breach of Restriction Order

• National Strike Planned Over Attack on Labour Leader, Joe Ajaero

“It is also to be recalled that based on the conduct of the said nationwide action/protest, this Office instituted contempt proceedings against the labour leaders.

“However, upon the intervention of the President and National Assembly, coupled with the decision of the labour unions to discontinue their action/protest, the contempt proceedings were not prosecuted further.

“This was advisedly done to enable the government and labour union engage in further negotiations without any form of encumbrances.

“However, in its Communique issued at the end of its National Executive Council meeting on 31st August 2023, NLC resolved to embark on a total and indefinite shutdown of the nation within 14 working days or 21 days from 31st August 2023.

“Also on 26th September 2023, the Presidents of NLC and TUC, jointly issued a communiqué stating that organised labour had resolved, ‘to embark on an indefinite and total shutdown of the nation beginning on zero hours Tuesday, the 3rd day of October, 2023.’

“From a review of the contents of the above communiques and available media reports, the proposed strike action is premised principally in furtherance of issues connected with the removal of fuel subsidy, hike in fuel price and consequential matters of making provisions for palliatives and workers welfare,” the statement from Fagbemi read.