BY TIMOTHY AGBOR
The Federal Government, on Wednesday, filed a contempt proceeding against the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress for allegedly embarking on an industrial action despite a June 5, 2023 exparte order by the National Industrial Court restraining them from doing so.
The notice of consequences of disobedience to order of court also called “Form 48″, was filed before NIC in Abuja, and addressed to the NLC President, Joe Ajaero; TUC President, Engr Festus Usifo, and others.
A copy of the exparte order made by Justice Anuwe on June 5, 2023 was attached to the notice of contempt proceeding forwarded to the NLC and TUC officials.
The contempt notice reads: “Take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in the order of the National Industrial Court, Abuja, delivered by Honourable Justice Y. Anuwe on June 5, 2023, as per the attached enrolled order, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to Prison.”
It was signed by signed by Senior Registrar, Balogun Olajide.
The order reads in part: “Having therefore considered the totality of this application, I make the following orders: The defendants/Respondents are hereby~ restrained from embarking on the planned Industrial Action/or strike of any nature pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice dated June 5, 2023.
“It is ordered that the defendant/Respondents be immediately served with the originating processes in this suit, the Motion on Notice and the order of this court hereby made.
“The Motion on Notice is hereby fixed for hearing for June 19, 2023. The Hearing Notices to that effect shall be served on the defendants/Respondent along with the other processes.”
Hundreds of citizens marched through major Nigerian cities on Wednesday on the first day of the Labour unions’ nationwide strike to protest the removal of petrol subsidy and demand a new minimum wage.
While the protests lasted, businesses remained open, though with reduced traffic in some places.
Also, President Bola Tinubu, met union leaders on Wednesday and made some commitments to them, Joe Ajaero, the head of the Nigeria Labour Congress said.
Ajaero did not disclose Tinubu’s commitments but said he would consult the NLC executive before calling off the strike.
“The issues we discussed with the President were the same issues that led to the protest today.
“He expressed his position and made some commitments … we will review the commitments and release a document on our next line of action,” Ajaero told reporters after the meeting.
The NLC and the Trade Union Congress, Nigeria’s two main federations, represent millions of workers across most sectors of Africa’s biggest economy, including parts of the oil industry.
The strike was the first major test for Tinubu, who scrapped the popular but expensive subsidy, which cost the government $10 billion last year, and lifted curbs on foreign exchange trading.
While the reforms have been welcomed by investors, unions say they have led to soaring costs at a time when Nigerians are already grappling with the highest inflation in about 20 years.
Placard-carrying protesters led by union leaders marched in Lagos, Bayelsa, Kano and Kaduna.
In Abuja, marchers broke down a gate to the National Assembly, expecting to be addressed by the Senate President, witnesses said. There were no reports of other incidents.
Union officials handed petitions to government officials in several states detailing their grievances.
While Tinubu has said the fuel subsidy benefited the country’s elites, unions say ending it was a hasty decision made without any plan to cushion the impact on the poor.
In Lagos, businesses were open, including the branches of supermarket chains Pick n Pay and Shoprite.
At a market in the Obalende neighbourhood, vegetable sellers went about their business, haggling with customers over prices.
In Ondo State, the Federal Government was called upon to immediately reduce the cost of governance to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal.
The organised labour unions in Ondo state; which included the NLC and TUC made the joint demand on Wednesday in Akure, at a peaceful demonstration to join the nationwide protest to demand better welfare for the Nigerian masses.
Speaking, the state NLC Chairman, Victor Amoko, welcomed the removal of the fuel subsidy but lamented how its effect had been biting hard on the Nigerian masses.
Amoko, who read the position of the National body of the union during the street demonstration, said every family household in the nation was feeling hardship due to the policies of the government.
He noted that the increment in the price of petrol had led to astronomical increases in transportation fares, food, goods and services, tuition fees and the cost of accessing quality healthcare services in the country.
“We are calling for the immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of the government including recent hikes in PMS prices, School fees and VAT. We also want all our local refineries both in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna to be fixed.
“We also want the Federal Government to release the eight-month withheld salaries of University lecturers and workers among several others. It’s like suffering and smiling. There must be an end to that. We are also calling for the need to urgently address the increasing cost of governance at all levels.
“We also reject plans by the National Assembly to spend N70 billion when Nigerian masses are facing hardship. The government should be sensitive to the plight of our people.
“You saved money from the subsidy. We agreed but what is the money saved from it meant for? We want to know. We also want to know those masquerades that had been hijacking our resources unmasked,” Amoko said.
The State Chairman of the TUC, Clement Fatuase, said the Federal Government should allow the “poor to breathe”, noting that the inhuman policies introduced by the government would not be tolerated.
He, however, urged the government to quickly implement people-centred agreements reached with organised labour unions to avoid further crippling the economy.
“The Federal Government should allow the poor to breathe because this is a warning signal that If they are determined to make life difficult for us, we are going to resist it even with the last drop of blood in our bodies.
“So, this is a march for the survival of Nigeria and Nigerians, we say no to anti-people policies. We want the President to listen to our plight,” Fatuase noted.
Addressing the labour leaders, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu appreciated organised labour for registering their grievances through a peaceful demonstration on the street.
Akeredolu, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Union Matters, Dare Aragbaye, said the decision of the unions would be conveyed to the President.
“We have received your letter and it will be conveyed to Mr. President. We don’t have any objection to your demands because we have seen your placards.
“There is no way he would know if you had not come out to articulate your demands. With this action, you have made the President know that there’s a need to be sensitive to the plight of the Nigerian workers.
“I can assure you that this letter would be conveyed to the president and these demands of the workers would be addressed,” he said.
Obaseki says workers’ wages must reflect current reality
However, the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has said his administration will disburse N500 million monthly to poor households in the state as palliative to cushion the effect of the economic hardship caused by the subsidy removal by the All Progressives Congress Federal Government.
Obaseki disclosed this while speaking to members of the Edo State Chapter of the NLC, led by the Chairman, Odion Olaye and other labour unions, who were at the Government House, Benin City, on a peaceful protest over the hardship faced by workers and Nigerians as a result of the subsidy removal.
Reaffirming his government’s commitment to the welfare and well-being of workers and all Edo people, Obaseki said his government would sustain efforts to reduce the suffering and hardship inflicted on the people by the APC-led Federal Government.
“The APC government has thrown us into this mess and we can’t ignore this fact but as Nigerians, we will do something about it. It may take time but we will prevail,” he said.
He added, “On May 1st this year, I warned Labour that we are likely to face the condition and situation we face today. I warned you in that speech not to wait but be proactive and plan ahead. Look at where we are today.
“We in Edo State will do our own bit and I have decided that every month, going forward, we will take N500 million from our money to give to the poorest of the poor in Edo State.
“I want to alert you to reject the palliative they want to give to you. It’s a continuation of the fraud that the Federal Government has always undertaken against the people of Nigeria. The so-called money for palliative care should be given to the local government which is closer to the people to take care of their people.
“You can’t buy grains from Abuja because the money to transport it alone is enough to take care of the people. We should stop this palliative fraud in Nigeria. I call on the Nigerian Labour Congress to reject the Federal Government’s palliative. Let them give local governments the money to give to the people as the Federal Government doesn’t have any business buying grains as palliative to be distributed across the 774 LGAs in Nigeria.”
FG sues NLC, TUC over protests
