NLC and TUC Direct Workers to Begin Nationwide Indefinite Strike Despite Court Injunction
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have decided to forge ahead with their planned nationwide indefinite strike, scheduled to commence from midnight today.
This decision comes despite a recent injunction by the National Industrial Court in Abuja, which sought to restrain both labor unions from embarking on any industrial action.
The primary catalyst for this strike is the violent assault on NLC President Joe Ajaero and others in Owerri, Imo State, on November 1.
The labor unions also cite a range of other grievances, including outstanding salary arrears, the unjust declaration of 11,000 workers as ghost employees, unresolved gratuities, non-compliance with the N30,000 minimum wage act, and the declaration of 10,000 pensioners as ghost retirees.
The labor leaders had earlier given an ultimatum, and despite the court injunction, the decision to proceed with the strike was reached at an extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja.
The NLC and TUC expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s response to their demands and emphasised that the strike would persist until “government at all levels wake up to their responsibilities.”
This move is significant not only for its direct challenge to the court order but also for its broader implications for the ongoing labour issues in Nigeria.
The labour unions appear resolute in their quest for justice, signalling their commitment to addressing not just the immediate incident of violence against their leaders but also the systemic labour challenges facing the nation.
The court order, which restrained the NLC and TUC from proceeding with the strike, was based on Sections 17 and 19 of the National Industrial Court’s Act.
These sections grant the court the authority to intervene in disputes between labour unions and the government.
However, the labour unions have chosen to defy this legal restraint, underscoring their determination to pursue their demands through direct action.
As the strike takes effect, its impact on the nation’s economy and public services will be closely watched.
The labour unions have mobilised workers across the country, making it an indefinite and nationwide industrial action.
The broader implications of this strike on the ongoing dialogue between labour and the government, as well as its potential outcomes, remain uncertain.
Source: Vanguard News
