- * Sultan Also Begs For Understanding, Stay Of Action
- NLC Vows To Go Ahead With Strike, Insists Labour Did Not Violate Any Court Order As Claimed By FG
By Ahmed Ubandoma (Agency Reporter)
Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), has appealed to labour unions to shelve the nationwide strike slated to commence on Tuesday, Oct. 3.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the unions have fixed the date to embark on an indefinite strike following the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.
Abubakar, at a public lecture to mark the nation’s 63rd Independence Anniversary on Friday in Abuja, urged them to sheath their swords “in the interest of the masses”.
He emphasised the need for dialogue to find solutions to the issues “instead of embarking on a strike”.
”I am an advocate of dialogue because strikes don’t solve problems; they make them worse. Our leaders must tighten their belt, the common man is suffering. I don’t think this government will just decide to make life bad for the people; as leaders and elders, we will always call on stakeholders not to embark on journeys that will make life worse for the common man.
“I don’t think government can take it upon itself to make life unbearable for the common man, let’s give them chance and see what they can do,” he said.
According to him, strike will add more problems to the existing economic situation.
”If people are on strike, there wouldn’t be electricity, water, hospital and transportation system. Please, let’s reach out to our brothers and sisters who are clamouring to go on strike. They should have a rethink,” Sultan appealed.
On his part, the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Barau Jibrin, who represented President Bola Tinubu, also appealed to the unions to give government more time to address the issues.
Tinubu announced that the federal government is determined to address the socio-economic challenges facing Nigeria.
”I want to emphasise as well that this government is new and the government is doing all within its powers to make sure it brings succour to the entire people of this country. Government has already gone ahead to provide N500 billion to states to cushion the effects of subsidy removal.
The President enjoined members of the unions to consider dialogue as the best way to resolve the issues.
”The Sultan also talked about the issue of strike by the NLC. Please, on behalf of the President and the entire government, this is not the time for strike. It is too early. Please let’s dialogue, let’s get together, let’s understand ourselves and let us look at the prevailing situation in the country,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has vowed that unless government plays ball with its demands in the public interest considering the excruciating hard times affecting the Nigerian people, it must go ahead with the proposed indefinite strike starting from Tuesday next week, October 3, 2023.
The NLC in it's reaction to a letter by the Federal Government asking it to obey subsisting court orders, said in a statement . NLC in a statement by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, that it was shocked by the letter from the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
Fagbemi, on Thursday, signed FG’s letter to Femi Falana Chambers, labour’s legal firm, urging the unions not to embark on the proposed strike action.
Ajaero said Friday that, “We find it curious that Mr Lateef Fagbemi, a thorough-bred professional could indulge in this kind of talk. He added, “We are shocked that Mr Lateef Fagbemi is referring to a restraining order issued on June 5 through motion exparte which the Ministry of Justice in a formal statement had said lapsed due to non-diligent prosecution.
The NLC statement on Friday reads thus in full: “The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has been reported by most dailies of Friday, September 29 to have said that the proposed strike action slated for October 3rd “is in clear violation of the pending interim injunctive order granted on June 5, 2023, restraining both Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria from embarking on any industrial action or strike pending the hearing and determination of the pending motion on notice…”
“We find it curious that Mr Lateef Fagbemi, a thorough-bred professional could indulge in this kind of talk. We are shocked that Mr Lateef Fagbemi is referring to a restraining order issued on June 5 through motion exparte which the Ministry of Justice in a formal statement had said lapsed due to non-diligent prosecution.
“Which order could Fagbemi be talking about here, we demand to know. We similarly, find it necessary to remind Fagbemi that equating a restraining order to a perpetual injuction will do no small damage to our legal/judicial system. For once, we find it appropriate to reveal to the world that the court refused to sit during the pendency of the order to take our response to that order!
“Even though we would not want to be drawn into details here, representatives of the Federal Government on the National Steering Committee are on record to have said in the Villa that their mandate did not extend to subsequent increments after the one of N187–N537 thus differentiating between the issues for which the order (that has since run out of time) was issued.
“There are two ministerial portfolios whose offices constitutionally do not admit partisanship in the discharge of their duties. These are Minister of Labour and Employment, and Minister of Justice. In addition to their regular duties, they are expected to play the umpire role. But here we find a Minister of Justice whose first major outing is not only an open partisanship but has descended into the arena with his robe and wig, losing in the process the umpire status!
“To gag us, to bind us, to tie us to the pole for life without a chance to hear us out will constitute not just malicious conduct but grievous injury to our fundamental human rights as enshrined in the 1999 constitution (as amended). We refuse to be gagged. We also want to remind those in power of their own history when they were out of power !
“We find it pathetic that Mr Fafgbemi strives to operate from the high moral ground by advising “Labour Unions on the need to protect the integrity of courts and observe the sanctity of court orders”. Who is causing more injury to the sanctity of the courts? Those seeking to convert a restraining order obtained under the cover of the night to a perpetual injuction or the victims of this terrorism?
“Coupled with all this, the Attorney General is advised to note that the letter, spirit, principles and intendment of the National Industrial Court are quite different from those of the regular court to which he is accustomed! Let him hire experts on NICN.
“Our response will not be complete without reminding Mr Lateef Fagbemi that we are the foremost pan-Nigerian organisation with an unrivalled patriotism and an illustrious history of popular struggle pre-dating our national independence. Accordingly, we do not need a lecture from any one on national interest, national security or preservation of our sovereignty!”. (with reports from NAN and newsdiaryonline). NNL.
