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  • We’re not part of NLC nationwide strike action, doctors open to attend to clients – NMA

    We’re not part of NLC nationwide strike action, doctors open to attend to clients – NMA

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    The Nigeria Medical Association , NMA has distanced itself from the National Labour Congress,NLC, nationwide strike action which commenced on Monday, 3rd, 2024.

    In a press statement issued and signed by the NMA National Secretary General, Dr. Benjamin Egbo, made available to newsmen iñ Abuja today ,the NMA stated that the NMA is not an affiliate of the Organized labour in Nigeria and has not declared a strike action, hence doctors will be at their duty posts to attend to clients who desire to make use of health services.

    However, the NMA has called on the Federal Government and all stakeholders to consider the plight of the average Nigerian and do everything possible to address the issues that have led to the present impasse.

  • NLC strike grounds socio-economic activities in A’Ibom

    NLC strike grounds socio-economic activities in A’Ibom

    By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo

    Economic and social activities in Akwa Ibom were on Tuesday paralysed following a two-day warning strike embarked upon by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government.

    This is despite a last minute pull out of the strike by affiliate unions of the Trade Union Congress, TUC.

    The Idongesit Nkanga State Secretariat Complex, the Dakkada Secretariat Annex Complex and the Federal Secretariat Complex all in Uyo and other government offices were under lock.

    It was also gathered that only skeletal services were being carried out by key offices in Government House while commercial banks were closed except for their ATM outlets.

    Speaking in a radio station in Uyo, State Chairman of NLC, Comrade Sunny James confirmed that the strike in the state as ‘‘successful” adding that the body has mobilized all the units to observe the strike.

    On the non-participation of TUC, James said that, ‘‘I do not have business with them and I know that they do not have business with us.’’

    The chairman called on all NLC members to ensure strict compliance with the directive of the national body and the public to cooperate with NLC to finding lasing solutions to the economic hardship facing Nigerians based on the fuel subsidy removal.

    It would be recalled that the National Executive Committee of the NLC had last Thursday directed all affiliates to direct it’s members to commence two days’ withdrawal of services on Tuesday (today) and Wednesday.

    “The directive is imperative to get the needed attention of government and warn it of its newfound love of meddling in the internal affairs of unions rather than address the punishing economic circumstances we find ourselves.

    “We hereby direct all our organs to comply with this directive by ensuring all our members stay off-duty for the two days. Your cooperation in this regard will be appreciated.” It had said in a statement.

    President Bola Tinubu announced in his inaugural speech on May 29 that “fuel subsidy is gone“, which has since led to fuel prices as much as tripling nationwide and a rising cost of living.

    The labour union is accusing the Federal Government of abandoning the negotiations and failing to implement some of the resolutions from previous meetings with the government.

    Organised labour had earlier protested what it described as the anti-people policies of the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

    The union also demanded an upward review of the minimum wage from N30,000 to N200,000, saying that since the President’s “subsidy is gone” inauguration speech of May 29, 2023, the peace of mind of Nigerians has gone.

    Last month, NLC president Joe Ajaero argued that the N5 billion approved for each state and the FCT to cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal was inadequate to impact on the people.

  • NLC Threatens Nationawide Economic Shutdown If Petrol Price Increases

    NLC Threatens Nationawide Economic Shutdown If Petrol Price Increases

    The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday threatened to shut down the economy without giving notice to the government, if the petrol pump price was increased again.

    It also raised alarm over the alleged hijack of the duties of the Ministry of Labour and Employment by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, and the Federal Ministry of Justice.

    But the Presidency in a swift reaction, said President Bola Tinubu is concerned about economic hardship in the country and is working hard to ameliorate the situation.

    This is even as oil marketers yesterday in Abuja, urged the Federal Government to act urgently to halt the consistent slide in the value of the naira against the dollar, saying the development had significantly impacted the pump price of petrol.

    NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero, issued the threat while responding to the advice of the Director, Trade Union Services, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Emmanuel Igbinosun, that Labour should explore due process in its agitations before embarking on strike.

    Igbinosun gave the advice in his remarks at the on-going African Trade Union Alliance meeting holding in Abuja.

    Ajaero warned that Nigerians had suffered enough from the policies of government and will not take kindly any increase in petroleum pump price that would worsen the situation.

    He said: “I commend the Director of Trade Union Services for his labour-friendly disposition and for finding out time to be here. We need to commend you. But I was feeling uncomfortable when you had legions of advice to the Labour movement. In actual fact, the centrality of your office is to advise government on some of these issues.

    “Maybe I will advise that we engage you as adviser of labour, adviser of trade union services, since you appear to be closer to us than the Nigerian state who you are employed to serve, that we should concern ourselves with issues of wages, issues of employment relations but you didn’t say anything about those issues that depreciate our wage, those policies of government that reduce our wages to nothing.

    “For you, those are exclusive preserve of the Nigerian state to take decisions probably to increase pump price of petroleum product and our wages will be next to nothing. You didn’t speak on it and maybe we should concern ourselves with those issues.

    “But I want to plead with you that those bad economic policies by the state that make our wages next to nothing should be checked. If you check those policies that lead to inflation and the devaluation of the currency, even where we are, we will be comfortable.

    “If naira is at par with dollar today, we will ask you to leave the minimum wage at N30,000, it will make sense. If inflation is checked to zero, we will ask you to leave it where we are but if inflation is flying, if even by the admittance of the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, we have over 130 million Nigerians that are multi-dimensionally poor. I think you should address those issues.

    If we go for even wage increase tomorrow, the inflation that will come up will destroy it.

    “As we are here now, they are contemplating increasing the pump price of petrol and the Ministry of Labour for sometime now, will only go to Ministry of Justice to come up with so-called injunction to hold the hands of Labour not to respond.

    “I didn’t want to say some of those things you will not be comfortable with because probably if they ask you to represent them tomorrow, you will not be around.

    “But let me say this, Nigerian workers will not give any notice if we have not addressed the consequences of the last two increases and we wake up from our sleep to hear that they have tampered with the prices again. They have started floating ideas of a likely increase in the pump price of petrol.

    “Lastly, the Inspector General of Police is now performing the duty of the Ministry of Labour. The duties of the Ministry of Labour includes addressing the issues, both inter and intra-union disputes. They’re not within the purview of the Inspector-General of Police.

    ‘’I think there is the need for the Ministry of Labour to know that they don’t have the right to usurp your function. If they do that, the Ministry of Labour will go into extinction and there will be no basis for the ministry to remain.

    “I say it’s illegal, we demand an apology from the IGP to have arrested or even contemplated to arrest the President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers for whatever reason, on the eve of an election. It’s unheard of in the history of this country and never again should that be entertained.

    “The Nigerian Police are Nigerian workers and we will not waste time to march to their office. Let them use the same gun that was bought with workers’ salaries and tax to now engage us. So I felt I should balance.

    ‘’You have advised us, we have to advise you too. Go and collect your functions from Police and from the Ministry of Justice.

    “We can now see that even when there is a dispute, intra or inter, it’s your function to refer such to either Industrial Arbitration Panel, IAP, and in the most instances to National Industrial Court, NIC, but this doesn’t come from you again.

    “As Nigeria Labour Congress that relates with the Ministry of Labour so much, we are afraid that your work is going to extinction. Please I am not sure there is a routine change of Permanent Secretaries today but your Permanent Secretary has moved.

    ‘’Only God knows who will come there and the minister that will come there. But we are ready to cooperate with you, laugh with you and fight with you at the appropriate time.”

  • FG’s Response Will Determine Duration Of Protest — NLC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC has disclosed that response of the government and not the use of force will determine the duration of the ongoing protest.

    The NLC president Joe Ajaero disclosed this while speaking in an interview with Channels TV at Unity Fountain in the FCT on Wednesday.

    The NLC kicked off its protest on Wednesday morning against ‘anti-people’ policies in different states of the federation, such as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ogun, Imo, Ondo, and Edo, and other states of the federation.

    He said, “It’s in the interest of the NLC to determine based on the response of the state whether the protest should be for today, tomorrow, or next, or till thy kingdom come.

    “It is not by using forces to stop people from expressing their views.”

    Recall that President Bola Tinubu announced in his inaugural address as president to the nation on May 29 that “fuel subsidy is gone.”

    The fuel price per liter has since increased from N185 to N617 in different parts of the country.

    On the basis of the rising cost of living in the country, the union issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to reverse its ‘anti-people’ policies.

    The demands of the NLC include an increase to the current minimum wage, the release of the eight months withheld salary of university lecturers and workers, and a reversal in the increase of public school fees.

  • “NLC Protests in Ikeja”

    “NLC Protests in Ikeja”

    In a significant demonstration, members of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) from Lagos State gathered in Ikeja to protest against the policies of the Bola Tinubu administration. The NLC strongly believes that the current government is not taking adequate measures to address the pressing challenges faced by the Nigerian population. Accusations have been raised that the administration’s promises are superficial and lack substantial actions to improve the livelihoods of citizens.

    The protest in Ikeja served as a platform for NLC members to voice their concerns and dissatisfaction with the state of affairs. They are urging the authorities to implement more effective measures to address the pressing issues that are affecting the populace negatively. The protest garnered significant attention, with demonstrators stressing the urgency of finding viable solutions to the problems faced by the nation.

    read more:Esin emerges chairman of NASS committee on youths

    The NLC’s actions in Ikeja underscore the importance of addressing the socio-economic challenges that Nigerians are facing, and it reflects the growing dissatisfaction among citizens towards the government’s response to their needs and demands. As the protests continue to gain momentum, the administration may face mounting pressure to take concrete actions to meet the expectations of the people they govern.

  • No Going Back On Nationwide Protest – NLC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has debunked rumours purporting that it has called off the proposed nationwide protest scheduled for Wednesday.

    Reports had emerged online alleging that the union, after a meeting with government officials, decided to shelve the proposed protest.

    But the NLC, in a statement on Tuesday night by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, said it has “neither reconsidered nor suspended the nationwide mass protest”, urging Nigerians to ignore the rumour.

    Ajaero revealed that the union met with officials of the government on Tuesday to further press its demands as the effect of the fuel subsidy removal worsens hardship across the nation.

    According to him, the meeting ended in a deadlock as no agreement could be reached.

    Part of the statement reads, “We have to inform all Nigerians that we just rose from a meeting with the federal government where we sought to get them to listen to the demands of the people and workers of Nigeria.

    “The outcome of this meeting earlier today, however, did not change anything or the course which we have set for ourselves tomorrow as custodians of the interests and desires of the Nigerian workers and people.”

  • Subsidy Removal: NLC Legally Barred To Embark On Any Strike – FG

    The Federal Government has told the Nigeria Labour Congress that it is legally restrained from embarking on planned nationwide strike against the hike in the price of petrol and the high cost of living in the country.

    The PUNCH reported on Wednesday that the NLC had given the government a seven-day ultimatum to reverse all what it called anti-poor and insensitive policies or face a nationwide industrial action.

    However, reacting to the ultimatum, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice, B.E Jedy-Agba, in a statement on Wednesday, said the union was restrained by the order of the national industrial court from embarking on any strike regarding the removal of petrol subsidy.

    She said the court had on June 5 granted an injunctive order restraining the NLC and Trade Union Congress “from embarking on the planned industrial action/or strike of any nature, pending the hearing and determination of the pending motion on notice”.

    Jedy-Agba advised the union to explore other means of negotiations with the Federal Government rather than “resorting to self-help and undermining the orders of the court”.

    The statement added, “It is noted that the issues (removal of fuel subsidy, hike in prices of petrol and consequential increase in the cost of living, etc) which precipitated the above court action are the very same issues over which NLC has now issued another strike notice”

    “The NLC has submitted to the jurisdiction of the court and is being represented by the reputable law firm of Femi Falana, SAN. It is therefore our minimum expectation that the NLC will allow the courts to perform their constitutional roles rather than resorting to self-help and undermining the orders of the court.

    “We note with dismay that this latest strike notice is consistent with the inexplicable disdain which the NLC leadership has visited on the authority of the court in recent times following earlier inciting and derogatory remarks made by the NLC president against the court.

    “Aside from the above legal inhibition against any strike action of any nature, we also note that both the federal and state governments are engaging with stakeholders to cushion the collateral effect of the removal of fuel subsidy and increment in fuel price.

    “It would be a great act of service to Nigerian workers and the nation’s economy for NLC to explore negotiations rather than embark on any strike action.”

  • NLC Begins Mobilization For Nationwide Strike

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has given the Federal Government a seven-day ultimatum to reverse all perceived anti-poor policies including the recent hike in the pump price of petrol or face an indefinite nationwide strike from August 2.

    Reports have it that the NLC has directed all affiliates and state councils to immediately begin mobilisation of workers and other Nigerians, including civil society allies, for a long-lasting strike and mass protests should the government fail to meet its demands.

    The decision was reportedly reached at NLC’s Central Working Committee, CWC, meeting held Tuesday, July 25, at Abuja Labour House.

  • Court Reaffirms Order Halting NLC, TUC Protest

    Court Reaffirms Order Halting NLC, TUC Protest

    The National Industrial Court on Monday declared that the order barring the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress from embarking on their planned strike subsists.

    The court, as a result, ordered the parties to maintain the status quo and adjourned the matter until July 20, for a hearing.

    Recall that on June 7, the NLC and TUC had planned to embark on a nationwide strike in protest of the fuel subsidy removal.

    The Federal Government, in reaction, instituted a suit to stop both unions, stating that the proposed strike might gravely affect the larger society and the well-being of the nation at large.

    Justice O.Y. Anuwe, while ruling on an ex parte application filed before the court by the Federal Government, ordered the unions not to embark on their planned industrial action or strike of any nature pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice dated June 5, 2023.

    The court on Monday adjourned further proceedings till June 20.

  • NLC, TUC Explain Reasons Behind Suspension Of Planned Strike

    NLC, TUC Explain Reasons Behind Suspension Of Planned Strike

    The Nigeria Labour Congress has said that it decided to call off its strike over the removal of fuel subsidy partly in obedience to an order of the National Industrial Court (NICN).

    In a communique issued after an emergency National Executive Council meeting on Tuesday, June 6, the NLC faulted the court order, saying it amounted to an abuse of ex-parte injunction.

    The group directed all affiliates and state councils to suspend mobilisation until the outcome of the negotiations.

    The statement read;

    “An emergency National Executive Council (NEC) of the Congress which was called to discuss the outcome of the Dialogue between the NLC and the Federal Government on the petroleum products price hike after extensive deliberation observed that:

    “The previous NEC-in-session had ordered a nationwide withdrawal of services and mass protest over the petroleum price hike by the federal government;

    “Whereas the Federal Government was in breach of the 2023 Appropriation Act, the NLC will not encourage lawlessness on its part;

    “Taking into account that the Federal Government has procured a court injunction restraining Congress from proceeding with the proposed nationwide strike as the NEC-in-session had ordered to begin, Wednesday, the 7th of June, 2023;

    “Recognising the willingness of government for continuous engagement through dialogue and to offer reasonable palliatives in due course to cushion the effect of its policies and some levels of understanding reached;

    “Considering the mood of the socio-polity last elections and the need to pursue national stability;

    “Consequently, the NEC-in-session resolved as follows: to commend and applaud the diligence of the Congress’ leadership in carrying out the assignment given to it by NEC.

    “To demonstrate to the Federal Government the need to comply with the laws of the land especially as it concerns obedience to the rulings of the courts and their brazen disregard to the 2023 Appropriation Act

    “To, therefore, support and accept the decision of the leadership of Congress to suspend the proposed strike action in compliance with the flawed rulings of the NIC and also allow negotiations to flow freely and enable final agreement during or after the 19th June 2023 negotiation round with the federal government

    “To, however, register in strongest terms its disgust and disapproval with the ruling of the National Industrial Court (NIC) for its continuous weaponisation of the instrument of ex-parte injunction in favour of government against the interests of Nigerian workers in defiance of the position of the Supreme Court on the use of this instrument.

    “All Affiliates and State Councils of Congress are hereby directed to suspend further action and mobilisation until the outcome of the final negotiations.

    “To commend all affiliates and state councils on their robust mobilisation towards a successful nationwide strike action and to also remain vigilant in case there is a need to continue.”