Following a successful meeting between the Federal Government and the Organized Labour, the National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress on Wednesday night announced the suspension of its ongoing strike.
The Informant247 gathered that the unions decided to call off the 2-day strike which was demonstrated due to the brutalisation of the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, following the intervention of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The Informant247 had earlier reported that the organised labour had conveyed an extraordinary NEC meeting to decide on the next line of action, the meeting which commenced a few minutes past 7 pm lasted for close to one hour during which various affiliates and state chapters reviewed the outcome of the meeting held between the leaders of the organised labour and Ribadu.
The National Deputy Vice-President of the TUC, Tommy Etim, made this known in an interview with newsmen Abuja.
“The NEC of the NLC and the TUC have suspended the strike. We did this based on our trust for the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, who gave us his words,” he said.
The Informant247 had earlier reported that Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, on Wednesday apologised to the organised labour over the attack on Joe Ajaero, the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), in Owerri, Imo State capital, on November 1.
Ajaero, who stormed Owerri to lead a protest, was brutally assaulted and detained for hours.
Consequently, the labour gave the government an ultimatum to meet some demands, including arresting those behind the attack on Ajaero and threatening to begin a nationwide strike if the demands were not met.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government had gone to court to restrain labour, but the strike commenced on Tuesday, paralysing activities across the nation.
However, in a statement signed by the Head of Strategic Communications in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Zakari U Mijinyawa, on Wednesday, Ribadu urged the movement to rescind its decisions on the ongoing strike, adding that attackers of Ajaero have been arrested and investigations had commenced, adding that the federal government regrets the incident that happened in Imo and condemns it in its entirety, noting that it was against the rule of law and the principles of freedom of association and expression subscribed to by President Tinubu and his administration.
The statement read, “The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) is concerned by the declaration of a nationwide strike by the leadership of the Organised Labour led by the NLC and TUC.
“The NSA is particularly worried about the implications of the strike action on the livelihood of ordinary Nigerians and its potential impact on economic security and other strategic national interests.
“As attested by the NLC leadership, the NSA immediately intervened on learning about the travails of the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joseph Ajero who was assaulted in Owerri, Imo State.
“The NSA regrets the incident and condemns it in its entirety as it was against the rule of law and the principles of freedom of association and expression subscribed to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration.
“The Federal Government will never condone such an act.
“As a fallout of the incident relevant authorities were directed to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the assault and bring to book the culprits. An available update indicates that some arrests have already been made in this regard. The outcome of the investigation will be made public as soon as it is concluded.
“The Federal Government, through the Office of the NSA, therefore, appeals to the labour leadership to call off the current strike action and allow the dialogue process underway to be exhausted.”
The Informant247 had earlier reported that following the brutality of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, the organised labour on Monday, directed its members to commence a nationwide strike, starting from midnight of Tuesday, November 14, 2023.
The organised labour comprising Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria said all affiliate unions of the two labour centres had been directed to implement the resolutions of the joint National Executive Council of TUC and NLC.
President of TUC, Festus Osifo, who addressed reporters at Labour House, said the strike would remain until “governments at all levels wake up to their responsibility.”
The labour’s decision to embark on strike was against the National Industrial Court order, stopping it from embarking on strike.
The Informant247 gathered that the Federal Government and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice filed an ex-parte application praying the court to stop the unions from embarking on the planned strike, whereas, in the application, the FG and AGF told the court that the planned strike would inflict untold hardship on law-abiding citizens and their businesses.
However, counsel for the Federal Government and the AGF, Tijani Gazali, SAN, during the proceedings on Friday argued that many Nigerians suffered when the labour unions during their protest on Thursday blocked the entrances to the main airports in the country while pleading with the court that unless the planned strike action is stopped, there may be a likelihood of a breach of peace and tranquillity in the country.
In his ruling, the President of the court, Justice Benedict Kanyip, cited Sections 17 and 19 of the National Industrial Court Act and ordered the unions to stop their nationwide strike.
“It is within the power of the court to intervene by way of restraining order to ensure peace and tranquillity, ” he said.
Kanyip directed that the restraining order be pasted on the wall of the Labour House, which is the last known address of the two defendants, to draw their attention to the court’s position, adding that the order, along with the originating and other processes, be served on the defendants by publication in two major national dailies.
The Informant247 had reported that in a further measure to protest the brutality of Joe Ajaero, the President of Nigeria Labour Congress by the operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, the organised Labour comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress on Tuesday, ordered a shutdown of electricity and fuel supplies in Imo State, while also directing aviation workers to ensure that flights into and outside the state are suspended.
This is according to one of the decisions taken at the extraordinary National Executive Council meeting summoned by the TUC and NUC on Tuesday afternoon.
“The NEC-in-session orders the immediate withdrawal of services and shutdown of Imo State beginning midnight today. All workers and affiliates are expected to ensure compliance from wherever they are. All flights into and out of Imo state, fuel supplies and Electricity be stopped immediately as applicable. All Public and Private Sector workers are to immediately down tools indefinitely,” a communique released at the end of the meeting noted.
Attack on Ajaero: Labour declares nationwide strike effective from November 14
The Informant247 had on November 7, reported that in a solidarity move to protest the brutality of Joe Ajaero, the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the organised labour comprising of the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress on Tuesday, declared a nationwide strike effective Tuesday, November 14, 2023.
It was learned that the leadership of the two unions resolved after an extraordinary National Executive Council meeting in Abuja, as confirmed by an official who told the newsmen under the condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to disclose details ahead of a scheduled press release by the labour centres.
The Informant247 had earlier reported that the leadership of the labour unions had summoned an extraordinary National Executive Council meeting.
The National Vice-President of the TUC, Tommy Etim, while making this known on Tuesday in an interview with newsmen, said the meeting aims to review the modalities of the planned strike following the brutalisation of the National President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, review the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Federal Government and the Organized Labour on October 2, 2023, following the removal of the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit which the Labour centres said has caused “untold hardship” to Nigerians.
He stated, “We will be holding an extraordinary NEC meeting any moment from now. The modalities include the injustice meted upon comrade Ajaero, the planned strike and the MOU signed with the Federal Government. More details will be revealed after the meeting.”
The Informant247 reports that the organised labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, on Friday, issued a five-day ultimatum over the earlier arrest of the National President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, by the police in Owerri, Imo State, on Wednesday, the strike centred on the demand of the labour unions for the redeployment of the commissioner of police in the state and the arrest and prosecution of the aide of the government who was alleged to have perpetrated the attack.
The unions also threatened to embark on a nationwide industrial action if their demands were not met in five days from Friday.
Ajaero was arrested by the police ahead of the state-wide protest in Imo on Wednesday. This was disclosed by the NLC’s Head of Information, Benson Upah.
Although the police denied arresting Ajaero, stating that he was merely taken into protective custody to prevent a mob attack, the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, accused the labour leader of meddling in the political affairs of the state.
The attack on the labour leader has been condemned by many prominent Nigerians and civil society organisations, including the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, and human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN).