*Knock, kudos for Labour
*NLC, TUC ‘ve passed their clear message
*Takeaways from Labour’s 2-day strike
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
“If you now know that your reckless, official impunity towards the law and your people will always be met with stiff resistance, then, you will do things with sense next time. That is the message the Labour has passed.”
The Organised Labour has explained the reason behind suspension of its nationwide that started on Tuesday November 14, 2023.
It said it suspended the indefinite strike led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) due to a plea by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
NLC General Secretary, Emma Ugboaja, confirmed the suspension to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday November 15, day two of the industrial action after a total of 19 unions including Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) had joined the strike.
Ugboaja said the decision to suspend the action was reached at an emergency virtual joint National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of NLC and TUC.
He said that the NEC in session agreed to suspend the strike following a plea by the NSA.
The NLC scribe said they got a commitment from the Nuhu Ribadu-led meeting that those arrested for the physical assault on NLC President, Joe Ajaero, would be prosecuted.
It would be recalled that Organised Labour had, on Monday November 13, directed all affiliates to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike.
The strike was called especially dueol to what was described as “non-action by the Federal Government over the brutalization of NLC President, Joe Ajaero, by security agents and hoodlums in Imo”.
It would be recalled that the NLC had declared a protest in Imo, led by Ajaero on November 1, over alleged anti-workers’ policies by the Hope Uzodinma-led Imo State government.
Knock for Labour
The DEFENDER’s peep through the social media conversation on the matter picked a post whetein a Nigerian supporter of the ruling party (names withheld) tried to villify the labour unions for refusing to be held down by what TUC President Festus Osifo called “black market” order they called court order.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) government supporter wrote: “When you have Labour Leaders that do not respect Court Orders, what you have is not a Labour Union.”
Kudos to Labour
He was, however, swiftly countered by another Nigerian (also names withheld) who wrote: “Then when you have an Executive Leader that does not respect court order…. Complete that sentence.
“I mean, selective judgment is reason you will never be exonerated from being part of the problem.
“Did Labour fail in that strike or the Executive quickly ran to do what they failed to do in the first instance?
“If you now know that your reckless, official impunity towards the law and your people will always be met with stiff resistance, then, you will do things with sense next time.
“That is the message the Labour has passed,” he said.
Takeaways
A public affairs analyst said, “Takeaways from the two days labour strike have shown that government can no longer bully the labour with court order that is not considered to be genuinely and equally acceptable to both parties line the Monday order the Labour leadership called “black market” order.
“Another lesson being that government leaders and public officials owe responsibility of care for every Nigerian regardless of this status and that any time they fail in this responsibility, they autatically invite unrest.
“Another takeaway is that institution of labour is not one that any government or its official can mess with and nothing happens and once he now knows that his reckless, official impunity towards the law and the people will always be met with stiff resistance, he will do things with sense next time.”
