Tinubu Faults the Organised Labour Nationwide Strike, as It Calls It an Ego-Tripping Move

President Bola Tinubu has faulted the strike being embarked on by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) as going against the national interest.

It was reported that the Union has yet to embark on another strike after leaders of the NLC and TUC met with the FG on different occasions to implement measures for the removal of fuel subsidy which has led to hardship in the country.

The special adviser to the President on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said in his statement on Monday night as he disclosed that the Presidency is worried over the proposed strike by members of organised labour as it has called for all workers to resume a nationwide strike by midnight despite an order by Justice Benedict Backwash Kanyip of the National Industrial Court restraining members of organised labour from embarking on a nationwide strike.

Mr Onanuga said that the move by the NLC and TUC, other than being an ego-tripping move, is unwarranted. He further said that 200 million people should not suffer over selfish interests.

He said,

• It is an attempt to blackmail the government by the leadership of the NLC.

• We are still at a loss as to why the NLC and TUC decided to punish a whole country of over 200 million people over a personal matter involving the NLC President, Mr. Joe Ajaero, whose error of judgment led to assault on him in Owerri while he was planning to incite the workers in Imo State into a needless strike.

He said the government will not allow any form of violence or assault on any citizen of the country, regardless of their social status. It was reported that the inspector general of police has ordered a probe into what happened to Joe Ajaero, while the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, under whose watch the incident happened, has been transferred out of the state.

Onanuga also said he was dissatisfied with the act of organised labour calling for a nationwide strike over the personal issue of a labour leader despite a clear court order against any industrial action, which amounts to an abuse of privilege.

“Power at any level should never be used to settle personal scores. Rather, it should be used to promote collective progress and advance national interest,” he added.

He said that the leaders of organised labour should not allow personal interests to crumble the national economy and social activities.

He added,

• This flagrant disobedience to court order and lack of respect for the judiciary should not be what organised labour would champion.

• The labour movement has always been a champion of rule of law and respect for the judiciary. It is a sad irony that the current labour leaders have shown disdain and utter disregard for court order.

He described the strike action as illegal, immoral, unjustifiable, and irresponsible.

• What the strike notice issued Monday night after official hours suggests is it’s designed for a sinister and hidden agenda to cause undue hardship and cause civil disturbance in our country. This is unacceptable!

However, the strike is to protest the battering of the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and others in Owerri, Imo State, on November 1, as well as the pending labour issues involving the removal of fuel subsidy.