By Blessing Otobong-Gabriel
Labour Veterans and Trade Unionist’s Assembly has once again, we write to express anger and grave dissatisfaction with the way the recent strike was conducted by the Nigerian Labour congress.
This was contained in a statement jointly Signed by the Interim Chairman, Comrade Isa Tijjani mni, Former National Vice President Nigeria Labour Congress and former National Deputy President, National Union of Petroleum Workers, NUPENG, that in Particular, they 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.
According to the statement, “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 statement read, “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 demonstrate 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 know norms and practices of the labor movement and should be stopped forthwith”.
The statement highlighted Ajaero’s actions which is 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 this issues since 2023 and will continue to do so”.
