The Federal Government on Monday asked the organised Labour to shelve its planned strike slated to commence on Tuesday (today).

The government reminded the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of a restraining order issued by the National Industrial Court, Abuja, on Friday.

The TUC President, Festus Osifo, had announced at a press conference in Abuja on Monday that the labour action would commence on Tuesday (today) in protest against the alleged assault on the President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero by suspected thugs in Owerri, Imo State, on November 1.

President of the NIC, Justice Benedict Kanyip, had restrained the labour centres and their affiliates from embarking on any form of strike.

The judge issued the order following an ex-parte application brought before the court by the Federal Government through the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.

The Special Assistant to the AGF on Communication and Publicity, Kamarudeen Ogundele, in an interview with one of our correspondents warned the unions that any action taken in violation of the court would amount to contempt.

He said, “There is a subsisting court order stopping them from going on strike. Any action taken against the court order is tantamount to contempt of court. We wish to advise the labour unions and their affiliate unions on the need to respect the rule of law and the court.

“Nobody should take laws into their own hands. They should not resort to self-help, since the matter is before the court the appropriate thing to do is to allow it to adjudicate on the case.”

Speaking at the news conference, Osifo explained that all the affiliates of the NLC and TUC had been mobilised for the strike which might paralyse economic activities across the country.

Ajaero and other labour leaders had led a protest in Owerri, the Imo State capital, over the alleged failure of the state government to pay its workers, among other grievances.

But the demonstration had hardly started when the labour leaders were allegedly physically attacked by thugs who also disrupted the protest.

A strike declared in the state also failed to gain traction as the workers boycotted it while banks and other commercial centres opened for business.

Narrating his ordeal to journalists in Abuja on Friday, the NLC president explained that the police in Owerri handed him over to thugs who brutalised him.

Ajaero who wore a dark shade to cover his swollen eyes, said, “I can’t explain the beating I received. They tied my hands and dragged me on the floor like a common criminal. I am not even a card-carrying member of any political party as alleged.”

The state Governor, Hope Uzodimma, had accused the labour leader of meddling in the affairs of the state, hinting that Ajaero’s action was politically motivated.

The Imo State Police Command had claimed that the NLC president was taken into protective custody to save him from a mob attack.

The incident was widely condemned by prominent Nigerians and civil society organisations, including the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN.

In response to the alleged maltreatment of the union leader, the organised Labour directed the aviation workers to shut down the Owerri airport.

On Thursday, the labour leaders picketed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and grounded all Owerri-bound flights in Abuja and at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Ajaero’s attack

Stressing the imperative of the strike, the TUC president said, “We want the government to meet regarding the brutalization of the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress.

“So, we set some conditions and those conditions were very clear without ambiguity whatsoever. We said ‘Those people that brutalised our President must be arrested, and they must be prosecuted.’

“We also stated that the area commandant that led the police to carry out the brutalisation should be relieved of his duty and he should be prosecuted.’’

He added that a man who led the thugs was popular, adding that he should also be arrested and prosecuted,

The TUC president added, “So, the two Labour centres have resolved to stand firmly by the decision of the joint NEC that was held last week Tuesday. Effective 00:1 hours, on the 14th of November, we shall declare a nationwide strike.

“So, effective tomorrow, or midnight today, a nationwide strike is going to commence. All affiliates of TUC, all affiliates of NLC, and all state councils of the two centres have been mobilized adequately and this is going to be indefinite until governments at all levels wake up to their responsibilities. This is the decision of the joint NEC of NLC and TUC and we are going to carry out the latter.”