BREAKING:Heavy Security As SSANU, NASU Members Gather In Abuja For Nationwide Protest

By Doris Isreal Ijeoma There is heavy security at the Unity Fountain in Abuja as a group of demonstrators from the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) gathered to participate in a nationwide protest. Several protesters have already arrived at the Unity Fountain, but some have been prevented from entering by security personnel. Following some commotion from the protesters, the gate has been opened, and the demonstrators have now used their trucks to block the entrance to the Unity Fountain. The protesters are calling for the release of their four months’ unpaid salaries and the reevaluation of the 2010 agreement with the Federal Government, among other requests. In 2022, both unions, along with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, went on a prolonged strike. While the SSANU and NASU strikes lasted four months, the ASUU strike continued for eight months. Despite President Bola Tinubu’s directive for the affected staff to receive their four-month salaries, SSANU and NASU members allege that they have not been paid, unlike ASUU members. Both unions have urged their members to participate in a nationwide protest on July 9 at all state chapters, with a subsequent national protest planned for Abuja today.

Minimum Wage: NLC threatens one-month shutdown as lawmakers target fresh decision

By Doris Isreal Ijeoma Ahead of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s planned Thursday meeting with leaders of organized labour, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened a one-month shutdown if the minimum wage is expunged from the Exclusive to Concurrent list in the Constitution by Nigerian lawmakers. NLC President, Joe Ajaero, gave the warning on Monday while addressing participants at the opening ceremony of the 2024 annual Rain School of the NLC in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Ajaero issued this warning against National Assembly members’ proposed decision to remove wages from the Exclusive to Concurrent list in the Constitution. He added that if National Assembly members proceed with the move to remove the minimum wage from the Exclusive list—a law that would allow each state governor to determine the minimum wage—he would mobilize labor and shut down Nigeria’s economy for a month. Although the National Assembly’s decision is yet to be made public, Ajaero said, “As we are here, a Joint Committee of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Judiciary are meeting. They have decided to remove section 34 from the Exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list so that the state governors can determine what to pay you and so that there will be no minimum wage again. “When they finish that meeting, they will collect minimum wage, I promise all of you that. The very moment the House of Representatives and the Senate come up with such a law that will not benefit Nigerian workers, they will be their drivers and gatemen, and there will be no movement for one month. “Comrades, I am putting you on standby. If that committee comes up with such a policy, for one month nobody should come out. They are the major threat to democracy in this country. Democracy is not all about starving and punishing people. That’s not the democracy we fought for. “They were not there when we fought for this democracy, and now they are trying to make laws to remove the minimum wage from the exclusive list. So, comrades, as I have talked to you here, I have talked to everybody. We are waiting for them to come up with such hypocritical laws. And from today, let them abolish the security vote,” he said. The development comes as the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, announced that President Tinubu will meet with organized labor leaders on Thursday to finalize a decision on the country’s minimum wage. This follows last Thursday’s decision on a harmonized minimum wage, which ended in a deadlock. Recall that the government had proposed a 62,000 naira minimum wage, while organized labor insisted on 250,000 naira. The National Minimum Wage Tripartite had earlier submitted the minimum wage proposal to the President. While the minimum wage impasse persists, Nigerians have continued to groan over hardship occasioned by the rising headline and food inflation, which stood at 34.19 percent and 40.87 percent, respectively, in June 2024.

Just In: NLC, TUC Suspend Nationwide Strike

The National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress on Wednesday night suspended the ongoing strike. The unions said the suspension followed the intervention of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. Our correspondent gathered that the meeting which commenced at a few minutes past 7 pm lasted for close to one hour during which various affiliates and state chapters reviewed the outcome of the meeting held between the leaders of the organised labour and Ribadu. The National Deputy Vice-President of the TUC, Tommy Etim, made this known in an interview in Abuja. “The NEC of the NLC and the TUC have suspended the strike. We did this based on our trust for the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, who gave us his words,” he said. The labour leaders met with Ribadu alongside the Minister of Labour, Simon Lalong, at the Office of the NSA on Wednesday afternoon. The NSA had announced that the individuals responsible for the brutalisation of Ajaero had been arrested. The organised labour is protesting against the alleged brutalisation of its National President, Joe Ajaero, and the failure of the government to implement some of the agreements reached on October 2, 2023 effectively.

NLC kicks off nationwide strike; says no overture from FG

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday began its nationwide strike, with its President Comrade Joe Ajaero saying that there has been no advances or promises from the Federal Government for them not to proceed with the industrial action. NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, who spoke on ChannelsTV which was monitored by NIGERIAN ANCHOR, said the protests have begun in earnest, but however regretted the Federal Government’s nonchalance in not making any overtures to stop it. “As you can see, the nationwide protest has started and we are moving on. There has been no overture or promise from the Federal Government concerning this planned protest which means we are going ahead with it” Ajaero said. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) had faced a tough decision on whether to proceed with their planned nationwide protest or cancel it, with the Federal Government making efforts to thwart the protest. Chief of Staff to the President, Bola Tinubu’s representative, Femi Gbajabiamila, had on Tuesday urged the labour unions to call off the proposed strike, citing palliative measures announced by the President on Monday night as reasons to shelve the protest. He said, “We have laid out the plans, the interventions of Mr. President, as you all heard in his broadcast yesterday, we made it clear that this was just Mr. President’s initial rollout and interventions and that conversations will be ongoing as we go along. “And we appealed to Labour, we did appeal to labour to call off the protests for tomorrow. We found listening ears here and they did agree that they all accepted that Mr. President’s broadcast was a welcome development and that they will go back home to talk to the other leaders that are not present today. So we’re hopeful that they will do the right thing and call off the strike tomorrow.” Adding to the complexity, a Coalition of Civil Society Organisations/Labour Centre has cautioned the NLC and TUC against proceeding with the strike. They expressed concerns about the potential consequences on the nation, fearing that the protest could be hijacked by disgruntled Nigerians benefiting from fuel subsidies, leading to loss of lives and property. This cautionary message was conveyed in a communique issued after a meeting at Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, attended by representatives of various civil society groups. It was attended by Razak Olokoba of Campaign for Dignity in Governance (CDG), Nelson Ekujumi (Centre for Social and Economic Rights), Titi Akosa (Centre for 21st Century Issues), Linus Okoroji (Humanity Services Project), Raji Rasheed Oyewunmi (Yoruba Citizen Action for Change), Gbenga Soloki (Campaign Against Impunity and Domestic Violence), Razaq Oladosu (Grassroots Democratic Initiatives), Ramat Abdulrazak (Women Grassroot Network), among others.  It awaits to be seen how the strike action will pan out after its first day (today).

NLC’s planned protest, strike according to law –Falana

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana has said the Nigeria Labour Congress and its affiliates can proceed on the August 2 strike and protest as planned, and that the exercise does not translate to any contempt of court. This is contained in a letter from the Falana Falana Chambers, solicitors to the NLC, by Sam Ogala, titled “Re- NLC in contemt of Court” and addressed to the Permanent Secretary/ Solicitor-General, Federal Ministry of Justice on July 28. According to the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, the decision of Nigerian workers to participate in peaceful rallies is for the interest of the masses and to protest the worsening economic crisis in the country. “You were reported to have accused the leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress of treating the order of the National Industrial Court with contempt. “Contrary to your unwarranted allegation, the Nigeria Labour Congress does not intend to disobey the ex parte order of the National Industrial Court. “And to the effect that “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.” Falana added that the National Industrial Court or any other Court had not granted an order of interim, interlocutory or perpetual injunction restraining Nigerian workers from participating in peaceful rallies convened by the NLC. He argued that it was the constitutional right of Nigerian workers to protest peacefully and cannot by any stretch of imagination be classified as an industrial action or strike of any nature. “It is pertinent to draw your attention to the case of Inspector- General of Polic vs Nigeria People Party (2008) of where the Court 12 WRN 65, where the Court upheld the fundamental right of Nigerians to protest without police permit in the leading judgment of the Court, Justice Adekeye. “This includes the right to demonstrate, and the right to protest on matters of public concern are rights which are in the public interest and that which individuals must possess, and which they should exercise without impediment as long as no wrongful act is done. “If as speculated by law enforcement agents, that breach of the peace will occur, our criminal code has made adequate provisions for sanctions against breakdown of law and order. “So that the requirement of permit as a conditionality to holding meetings and rallies can no longer be justified in a democratic society.” He added that, finally, freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are part of democratic rights of every citizen of the country. “Our legislature must guard these rights jealously as they are part of the foundation upon which the government itself rests. “Having advised the NLC and its allies to conduct the rallies peacefully, you may wish to advise the Nigeria Police Force to comply with section 83(4) of the Police Establishment Act 2020. “Where a person or organisation notifies the police of his or its intention to hold a public meeting, rally or procession on a public highway or such meetings in a place where the public has access to. “The police officer responsible for the area where the meeting rally or procession will take place shall mobilise personnel to provide security to provide security cover for the meeting, rally or the procession,” he said. The National Industrial Court in Abuja on June 5, restrained the NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, from embarking on their planned strike to protest the unilateral removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government. The court, in a ruling that was delivered by Justice O. Y. Anuwe, barred the two organizations from proceeding with the strike action, pending the determination of a suit that was brought before it by FG. The court held that the interim order, as well as the substantive suit, should be immediately served on both the NLC and the TUC, which were cited as defendants/respondents in the suit marked: NICN/ABJ/158/2023, even it fixed the matter for hearing on June 19. The court order followed an ex-parte application that FG filed through the Federal Ministry of Justice. FG’s lawyer, Mrs. Maimuna Lami Shiru, who moved the application, maintained that the proposed strike action was capable of disrupting economic activities, the health sector and the educational sector. FG further tendered Exhibits FGN 1, 2 and 3, which were notices from the NLC, TUC and the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, to their members, asking them to withdraw their services with effect from Wednesday, June 7. The court, in its ruling, held that it was empowered by section 7(b) of the NIC Act, 2006, with the exclusive jurisdiction in matters relating to the grant of any order to restrain any person or body from taking part in any strike, lockout or any industrial action. It held that sections 16 and 19(a) of the NIC Act 2006, also empowered it to grant urgent interim reliefs. The court held that the affidavit of urgency as well as the submission of FG’s lawyer revealed: “a scenario that may gravely affect the larger society and the well-being of the nation at large”. On July 27, the Federal Government said the planned strike by the NLC over the removal of fuel subsidy and its attendant hardship is in contempt of an order of the National Industrial Court. Solicitor-General of the Federation Beatrice Jeddy-Agba, in a statement on the issue, warned the NLC leadership to desist from threatening court orders with disdain. The NLC, on July 19, issued a notice to begin a nationwide strike on Aug. 2 to protest the removal of fuel subsidy amid an astronomical hike in the pump price of petrol resulting from the policy announced by President Bola Tinubu at his inauguration on May 29.