Concerns over impact of labour strike on Nigerian pilgrims airlifting, Sallah

*As MURIC urges postponement of industrial action

B BASHIR ADEFAKA

With the indefinite nationwide strike declared by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) activated on Monday, fear that shutdown of airports will cost remaining pilgrims on the ground their chances of being airlifted has gripped the Muslim Ummah.

READ ALSO STRIKE: Don’t be tired of negotiations, Sultan of Sokoto appeals to Labour leaders

The DEFENDER, whose reporter was among several Nigerian journalists that fell victim of the complete shutdown of both airport in Lagos and airspace cased by what many described as failure of government, received complaints that many Muslim Pilgrims yet to be airlifted for this year’s Hajj were already being stranded across the country due to the industrial action.

Recall that in a Sunday night statement by his Media Team, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, had urged the Organised Labour in Nigeria to shelve its strike action billed to commence on Monday June 3, 2024 across the country.

The Sultan said that, “The Labour leaders should consider the overbearing effects of the strike action they plan to embark upon in the wellbeing of the same Nigerians, whose interest they are fighting to protect, and therefore shelve the industrial action.”

According to him, the Organised Labour should not at any time be tired of negotiating with government.

“We appeal to Labour not to take the nation through another leg of hardship because that exactly is what will happen, if they make good their plan to go on this strike. They should try to listen to the government while the government should listen to them and both parties arrive at a conclusion that will be beneficial to all Nigerians with the working class inclusive,” he appealed.

Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar said, having been personally involved in such negotiations between the labour and government in the past, he was aware of the fact that the labour leaders were doing what is right making a case of better welfare for their class of fellow workers but that, they should do it in a way that will not plunge the nation into further hardship and difficult situation.

“You are doing what is right for your class of fellow workers but you should do it within the ambit of compassion and see strike always as the last option,” he said.

In tbe meantime, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has objected to this idea of strike at a time that preparations for celebration of the most important religious festival that is the Eid-ul-Adha of Muslims are in top gear. Eid-ul-Adha is festival of animal sacrifice celebrated worldwide the day after Arafat.

In a statement on Monday, titled “NO TO NLC STRIKE IN SALAH” and signed by its Executive Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) told the labour union that the strike would make life unbearable for Muslims preparing for Eid-ul-Adha (Salah) which is just a few days away.

The group therefore advised the NLC to postpone its strike until after the Muslim festival.

The full statement read, “The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) is set to begin its industrial action today Monday, 3rd June, 2024. But there is no scintilla of doubt that the strike will make life unbearable for Muslims preparing for Id al-kabiir (Salah) which is just a few days away.

“As expected, the workers unions of other service providing sectors like petroleum and electricity have offered to join (https://www.thecable.ng/oil-electricity-workers-to-join-planned-labour-strike/). This means the lives of Nigerians are likely to be thrown into a state of higgledy-piggledy in the next few days.

“But what does NLC think will happen to Muslims whose festival of Id al-kabiir is already knocking on the door? Transport fare to and fro their various destinations will skyrocket. Movements will be so adversely affected that the whole Salah period will become a horrendous experience. Is that what NLC wants?

“The notice of strike was too short. It was given from the negotiation table and it was 48 hours or less. The approach of the current crop of NLC leaders is aggressive, arrogant, fascist and partisan. The body language is unmistakable. It is directed at bringing government down. This NLC has no respect for the rule of law, not even an iota of decorum for democratic practices.

“If we cannot speak for government, what about Nigerian Muslims whose lives your strike could turn into sheer nightmare? Is this a deliberate attempt to make life uncomfortable for Muslims? Will NLC declare strike one week to Christmas? Or is this about bringing down our Muslim-Muslim ticket? Is this part of the ‘religious war’ of ‘Yes Daddy’?

“Are Muslim workers not part of your union? If we are, shouldn’t NLC consider our interest, particularly our fast-approaching festival before embarking on a strike? What happened to strategic planning? What happened to timing and logistics? What happened to psychological preparation of people’s minds?

“By the way, every civilized group checks the calendar when planning an event and every calendar shows festivals of the year, is there no calendar on the walls of NLC office or was it deliberately ignored because NLC leadership is more interested in inflicting pains on Nigerian Muslims?

“Who did NLC leadership consult before declaring strike and what did they advice? Are there no Muslims among members of NLC executive? Are there no Muslims among NLC’s advisers or are they all ‘Yes Daddy’? If there are, are they conscious Muslims or just Muslims by name? Are they not aware that Salah is next week?

“This strike is ill-timed. It is a recipe for a topsy-turvy Salah. We advise NLC to postpone it till after the Salah. If NLC rejects our advice and goes ahead with its satanic strike, we will ask all Muslim workers who know that they will meet Allah yaom al-Qiyaamah (The Last Day) not to cooperate with NLC. They should reject the strike because it is an assault on the religion of Islam.

“We call on all Muslim leaders and Islamic organisations in Nigeria to speak up now before it is too late. We must reject the tyranny of Muslim-haters thinly veiled in unionism. We say ‘No To Strike in Salah.’”