News
Labour Veterans Tackles NLC, TUC Leaders Over Shutdown Of National Grid
The organised labour comprising the NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) on June 3 embarked on the strike action “in response to the federal government’s refusal to conclude the national minimum wage negotiations, reverse electricity tariff hikes, and end discriminatory consumer classifications”.
The Labour Veterans and Trade Unionists’ Assembly on Friday express anger and dissatisfaction with the way the recent strike was conducted by the Nigerian Labour congress (NLC).
According to the NLC, the legally conducted strike reflects the frustration of Nigerian workers facing economic hardships and deteriorating working conditions.
However, the Labour Veterans and Trade Unionists’ Assembly in a statement jointly signed by Comrade Isa Tijjani, Interim Chairman, a former National Vice President, NLC, and former National Deputy President, National Union of Petroleum Workers (NUPENG) on Friday stated that the means and method used in undertaking the strike was not only unfair but criminal against rectified ILO conventions. He said it is aimed at protecting essential service sectors in any given economy from such disruption.
“Once again, we write to express our anger and grave dissatisfaction with the way the recent strike was conducted by the Nigerian Labour congress.
“In particular, we are miffed by the apparent treasonable felony committed by the striking Labour leaders in bringing down the National grid, stopping citizens from going about their legitimate businesses, forceful eviction of law abiding citizens from their offices and employment of force and arm twisting tactics on people to abide by the strike. All these should be investigated and appropriate actions taken.
“Agitations for minimum wage is a legitimate right however, the means and method used in undertaking the strike is not only unfair but criminal an against rectified ILO conventions which is aimed at protecting essential service sectors in any given economy from such disruption.
“Our earlier caution against using the congress as a platform for partisan politics has gone unheeded and the consequences are here for all to see.
“The penchant to opt for strike as the first option in settling labour disputes is inimical even to the interest of workers in whose name the strike was embarked upon in the first place. This demonstrates lack of seriousness and deep reflection on the side of congress leadership for always swinging into acting before they think. Such actions are inimical to well known norms and practices of the labour movement and should be stopped forthwith.”
“Finally, we want to highlight Ajaero’s actions which are aimed at dragging the congress into muddy waters of ethnicity, political partisanship and self-aggrandizement which has been there for long.
We had cause to highlight these issues since 2023 and will continue to do so,” the statement added.
