BREAKING: Presidency Reacts To NLC, TUC Nationwide Strike (FULL STATEMENT)

BREAKING: Presidency Reacts To NLC, TUC Nationwide Strike

The Presidency has expressed its disapproval of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) decision to initiate a strike in response to the assault on NLC President Joe Ajaero.

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According to a statement from Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, issued on Monday, the government considers the strike unwarranted and views it as an attempt to coerce or pressure the government.

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The statement conveyed the government’s bewilderment over the unions’ choice to disrupt the country’s operations, affecting over 200 million people, due to a personal matter involving the NLC President. Last Tuesday, the unions announced their intention to commence a nationwide strike on November 14 in protest of Mr. Ajaero’s brutalization in Owerri, the Imo State capital, the previous week.

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Mr. Onanuga emphasized the government’s stance against violence and assault on any Nigerian citizen. He pointed out that the Inspector General of Police, Kaode Egbetokun, has already initiated an investigation into the matter, demonstrating the government’s commitment to addressing the issue through proper legal channels.

“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,” the statement said.

The presidential aide said “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.”

Read the full statement

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.

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