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Protests: FG withdraws contempt proceedings against organised labour

by Editor August 7, 2023

written by Editor

The Federal Ministry of Justice has decided to withdraw the contempt proceedings it had initiated against the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) following the suspension of its nationwide protests.

The Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Mrs. B.E. Jedy-Agba, OON, mni, in a letter addressed to Messrs. Falana & Faiana’s Chambers, noted that this decision came after the NLC’s recent communique, in which it announced the halt of its protests and criticized the contempt summons issued by the National Industrial Court.

Jedy-Agba stressed that the Ministry’s move to withdraw the contempt proceedings is in line with the decision of the NLC to call off its industrial action, following interventions by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and constructive discussions with the President and the leadership of the National Assembly.

The correspondence between the Ministry and Messrs. Falana & Faiana’s Chambers revealed a prior exchange of letters highlighting the importance of complying with existing court orders that prohibit any form of industrial action by the NLC and Trade Union Congress.

“The Ministry’s position was rooted in the goal of preserving the court’s integrity and preventing disruptions to public services and facilities”, she added.

The letter reads: “Despite these earlier communications and attempts at intervention, the NLC proceeded with its industrial action on August 2nd, 2023, through public protests that resulted in significant disruptions, including the removal of the gate at the National Assembly.

“This prompted the Ministry to initiate contempt proceedings by filing Form 48 on the same day, as per the provisions of Section 72 of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act and Order 9 Rule 13 of the Judgment (Enforcement) Rules”.

However, with the subsequent decision by the NLC to suspend its protests and the involvement of high-level discussions with key stakeholders, the Ministry opted not to pursue the contempt proceedings any further.

The withdrawal of the proceedings was also influenced by the fact that the issuance of Form 49, which is crucial for the continuation of contempt proceedings, had not taken place by August 4th, 2023, rendering the entire process incomplete.

Jedy-Agba emphasized the significance of these developments and recommended that the NLC be informed of the withdrawal of the contempt proceedings, underscoring that the concerns raised by the NLC in its communique had become obsolete due to the events that had transpired.

This unexpected turn of events highlights the dynamic nature of legal proceedings and the importance of dialogue in resolving contentious issues. The withdrawal of the contempt proceedings serves as a testament to the power of negotiation and the impact of leadership in reaching constructive solutions.

Read the letter in full

Ministry-of-Justice-letter Download

August 7, 2023 0 comment 147 views

Governance News Politics

NLC threatens total strike if court summons not withdrawn

by Editor August 3, 2023

written by Editor

In a major development, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has decided to suspend the ongoing Nationwide Mass Protest following a closed-door meeting with President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

According to a communique signed by Comrade Joe Ajero and Emmanuel Ugboaja, the President and General Secretary of the Congress, the meeting with President Tinubu addressed the widespread suffering and deprivation experienced by Nigerians due to the recent increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

During the meeting, the President made concrete commitments, including an immediate restructuring of the framework for dealing with the PMS price hike, the commencement of production at the Portharcourt Refinery by December, an agreement on wage awards for Nigerian workers, and the unveiling of a workable roadmap to the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) alternative next week.

However, the NLC expressed concern over the federal ministry of Justice’s actions through the National Industrial Court (NICN), which have been seen as attempts to silence the voices of Nigerian workers.

The ministry has served summons on the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to answer to contempt of court charges, despite constitutional provisions and objective realities.

In response to these developments, the NEC-in-Session made several resolutions. They decided to suspend further protests on the Nationwide Mass Protest, committing instead to hold the government accountable and maintain vigilance on its promises.

The NEC also issued strong warnings, stating that if labour leaders are summoned to court through the NICN, a total strike will be initiated across the country.

They demanded an immediate withdrawal of the court summons by the Federal Ministry of Justice before August 11th, 2023. Failure to do so would lead to a nationwide comprehensive strike starting from August 14th, 2023.

The NLC commended the national leadership and state officers for effectively coordinating the Protest. However, they urged all affiliates, State Councils, and civil society allies to remain focused and vigilant.

The decision to suspend the Mass Protest came after a nationwide outcry from Nigerians, who expressed their outrage over the economic hardships facing the country.

The NLC’s actions and resolutions are expected to shape the future course of the ongoing crisis, as the government faces mounting pressure to address the concerns of the Nigerian people.

August 3, 2023 0 comment 58 views

Community Governance News Politics

Nigerians resonate their collective resolve in nationwide protest

by Editor August 2, 2023

written by Editor

In a resounding display of solidarity, Nigerians from all walks of life joined hands in a massive nationwide protest today to express their outrage at the government’s anti-poor and anti-people policies.

Undeterred by intimidation and blackmail attempts, citizens turned up in large numbers at various protest venues across the country, voicing their demands for change.

Organized by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), the protest saw a united front of patriots standing up for their rights and demanding to be heard by those in power.

The protest sent a strong and clear signal that the people are the true sovereign and hold the power to effect change. They emphasized the urgent need for the government to provide quick relief measures to mitigate the impact of the recent hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) on the citizens.

However, amidst the collective resolve of the protesters, a court summons was received by the NLC and TUC, accusing them of contempt of court. The leaders warned Nigerians to remain vigilant, as they believe that challenges lie ahead in the fight for the people’s interests and welfare.

As a further show of their determination, all Nigerian workers across public and private sectors announced their decision to appear in court wherever the contempt proceedings are scheduled against the trade union leaders. This move demonstrates their unwavering commitment to protect their nation and decisions.

Following the resounding success of the protest, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, requested a closed-door meeting with the NLC and TUC leadership.

The fruitful engagement resulted in significant progress on key issues, including an immediate restructuring of the framework for engagement in line with labour leaders’ input, a commitment to the revival of the Portharcourt Refinery for production by December, an agreement on the wage award for Nigerian workers, and a roadmap for the adoption of the CNG alternative.

In light of the President’s pledges and commitments, the NLC and TUC have agreed to resume a new and reinvigorated dialogue process to ensure full implementation of the agreements reached.

They expressed gratitude to all Nigerians for their support throughout the protest and urged everyone to remain steadfast in the struggle for freedom from oppression and poverty.

The protest has sent a powerful message to those in power that the people’s voices cannot be silenced. As the nation looks ahead to the government’s response, the NLC and TUC leaders remain hopeful that the desired changes will be achieved to uplift the lives of all citizens and build a united, inclusive nation where no one is left behind.

August 2, 2023 0 comment 137 views

News

Kwara NLC, NUJ mourn slain TUC Chairman

by Editor April 1, 2022

written by Editor

The Kwara State Council of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed shock over the death of the Chairman, state chapter of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Akinwumi Akinsola.

Akinsola was among those that lost their lives when unidentified bandits struck and attacked a moving Abuja-Kaduna train on Monday.

The state NLC Chairman, Comrade Issa Aliyu Ore, led other top officials of the organized labour during a condolence visit to the family of the slain state TUC Chairman in Ilorin.Ore described the bandits’ attack that led to the demise of Comrade Akinsola as saddening and unfortunate, adding that it called for urgent review of the nation’s security architecture.

While urging government and security agencies, particularly the military to nip the frequent attacks in the bud, the NLC Chairman commiserated with the bereaved family of his TUC counterpart over the tragic loss.

Similarly, the state Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has said the attack from bandits that claimed the life of the state TUC Chairman, Akinwumi Akinsola, is a pointer to the fact that Nigerians are now living in trepidation.

In a statement issued in Ilorin, the state NUJ Chairman and Secretary, Abdullateef ‘Lanre Ahmed and Omotayo Ayanda respectively said the incessant onslaughts of the hoodlums in parts of the country smacks of incompetence of our security infrastructure.

The statement added that the incident does not portray the country in good light before the international community.

The state NUJ also challenged the federal government to designate and gazette the bandits as terrorists in line with the recent order of the federal High Court so as to frontally tackle them.

It said the designation of the terror groups that take delight in spilling blood would embolden the government to match them with their sophisticated arms without any backlash of human rights violation as might be envisaged.

The state NUJ maintained that the government has a primary responsibility of securing the lives of the masses irrespective of social class and status against all forms of attack.The union, however, identified the slain TUC Chairman, Akinwumi Akinsola as a distinguished comrade, labour leader and model whose vacuum would be difficult to fill.

April 1, 2022 0 comment 392 views

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