The NLC National Executive Council (NEC) had, in June, declared that it will hold a national protest on July 26 and 27 to push for action by the Federal Government in resolving the over 5-months strike action by lecturers of public universities in the country.
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The Federal Government has appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) not to embark on its planned nationwide planned protest in solidarity with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other unions in Nigeria’s public universities.
The appeal was conveyed by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, at a meeting with the leadership of NLC in his office in Abuja on July 21, 2022, according to a statement signed by the Ministry’s Head, Press and Public Relations, Mr. Olajide Oshundun.
The NLC National Executive Council (NEC) had, in June, declared that it will hold a national protest on July 26 and 27 to push for action by the Federal Government in resolving the over 5-months strike action by lecturers of public universities in the country.
The statement said Ngige noted that the Federal Government had made a lot of efforts to resolve the impasse in the university system, while more efforts were still ongoing.
He further said that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) mandated him to notify them of the serious security implications of the planned protest.
According to him, a security report also sent to his office by the Department of State Services (DSS), strongly warned against holding the protest, slated for July 26 and 27.
He urged the NLC National Executive Council (NEC) to reconsider the planned rally as hoodlums might take advantage of it to cause breach of security, in addition to politicians taking advantage of the rally to wreak havoc in the country.
He was quoted thus: “The masses might wrongly interpret the rally as a ploy by the NLC to enhance the chances of the Labour Party (LP) Presidential candidate, a situation which could spur the supporters of the other political parties into violence.
“Section 40 of the Constitution is clear on Freedom of Association. One of the provisions is that people of like minds can organise themselves and form a political party.
“There is also a provision that people in work or employment can organise themselves into unions. They are two parallels. Parallels do not meet.
“I heard when you said you are mobilising for Labour Party. But, a trade union is not a political party. Look at the Trade Union Act.
“It does not allow trade unions to use their contributions to support any political party.”
Responding, both the Deputy President of NLC, Mr Najeem Usman, and General Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboajah, assured the government of a peaceful protest by the Congress,
They also said that infiltrators would not be allowed to participate in the protest.
Ugboajah said NLC appreciated all the efforts of the minister towards the resolution of the industrial actions in the university system and pleadd with him not to hands off the conciliation.
“We commend you for championing the harmonisation of salaries of workers in the country. We don’t understand why a messenger in NNPC or Central Bank should be earning more than a level 8 officer in the ministry,’’ he said.