The Nigeria Labour Congress NLC has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the “litigious terrorism” by the Federal Ministry of Justice before the end of work Friday, the 11th of August, 2023.
This is contained in a communique issued at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) held on thursday, august 3, 2023.
In the communique signed by the National President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, and General Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, and made available to NIM, the NEC -in Session resolved to embark on a nationwide comprehensive strike beginning Monday 14th of August, 2023 if the “contemptuous Court summons are not withdrawn by whosoever initiated it.”
Nec-in Session also supported and affirmed the decision to suspend the Nationwide Mass Protest, but would embark on total strike across the country any day labour leaders are summoned to Court by the government through the NICN.
According to the communique, NEC-in Session resolved to commit to the terminal date of August 19th 2023, within which the issues around the Petroleum price hike will be agreed, given the assurances of the President and the National Assembly.
It reiterated the Commitment of the NLC leadership to maintaining the required vigilance needed to hold government accountable on its assurances and governance in general
While commending the national leadership and all the state officers for the effective coordination of the Protest, the NEC-in Session urged all affiliates and State Councils including the Civil society allies to stay further action, yet remain “focused and eternally vigilant.”
It would be recalled that the “Federal Ministry Of Justice through the National Industrial Court of Nigeria NICN,had served a summon on the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress NLC and Trade Union Congress TUC, to answer to contempt of court charges.
NEC-in-session had deliberated exhaustively on the summon, the mood of the nation within the context of the massive suffering and deprivation experienced by citizens across all the states of the federation, as well as the effectiveness of the execution of the Nationwide Mass Protest which it had ordered during the last session of the Council, and which was undertaken on Wednesday, the 2nd day of August, especially the consequential meetings with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the Leadership of the National Assembly and the action of the federal ministry of Justice through the National Industrial Court (NICN).
The NEC-in-session observed that Nigerians spoke loudly across Nigeria to express their outrage over the huge suffering and impoverishment pervading the landscape, and
President Tinubu responded through a closed-door meeting with the leaders of the Congress and TUC, where concrete agreements were reached.
The President personally guaranteed action on the following areas:
- Committed to an immediate restructuring of the framework for engaging the consequences of the PMS price hike in line with the input of the Labour leaders
- The assurance that the Portharcourt Refinery will commence production by December this year.
The pledge to ensure that Agreement is reached on the Wage Award for Nigerian workers immediately.
⚫ The promise to unveil a workable roadmap to the CNG alternative next week.
NIM. - Photo Credit: NLC