The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress have outlined conditions under which they would mandate their members to discontinue the ongoing weeklong industrial action in the Federal Capital Territory.
Both labour centres criticised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over his directive ordering striking workers to resume work with immediate effect, describing the move as an act of arrogance.
In a joint statement signed by the Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Benson Upah, and the General Secretary of the TUC, Nuhu Toro, and issued on Wednesday in Abuja, the unions accused Wike of securing what they described as a rubber-stamped ruling from the Abuja National Industrial Court in an attempt to end the strike and subjugate workers.
The labour centres maintained that workers must remain resolute in defending their rights and urged the FCT minister to engage in negotiations with the striking workers, warning that failure to do so could result in an indefinite stay-at-home action.
Upah and Toro stated, “Today, we (NLC and TUC) find it necessary to issue a joint statement of support in solidarity with the workers of Federal Capital Territory who have been shabbily treated by the Minister of FCT, Mr. Wike and rubber-stamped by an Abuja National Industrial Court in a one-sided ruling intended to break up the strike and make workers perpetual slaves.
“As patently skewed as the ruling was, we had thought Mr. Wike would use the window to reach out to organised labour for an amicable resolution of the issues, but he had boastfully resorted to threats against workers.
“The offences committed against the FCT workers are serious enough. To add intimidation, humiliation, insults and harassment to the menu is something we cannot watch from the sidelines.
“Workers cannot be made slaves in their country. We stand for the rule of law and its observance to the hilt, no matter the status of the parties to this dispute.
“Accordingly, we not only support the workers in this action, we urge them to maintain high morale in the face of relentless threats. Happily, Mr. Wike obtained an order of interlocutory injunction against the two individual union leaders and not against the striking trade unions. So the strike continues.
“Defend your rights with courage and dignity and not with fear.
“We use this opportunity to give unsolicited advice to the judiciary. While we commend the honest judges who have given their all in order to give hope to the weak and the poor, ensure law and order in our society as well as see to the protection of the rights of the citizenry, we put on notice, cash and carry judges who continue to constitute a smudge on the judiciary and whose conduct imperils our society, that they cannot be insulated from the consequences of the storms they create and they will be held accountable, if not by man, by God (Dele Giwa) for the destruction of their society or for accelerating the unraveling of their society.
“Finally, this strike continues until the Minister of FCT comes off his high horse and negotiates with the workers. Workers, keep fighting for your rights. It is safer to die on your feet than live on your knees!”
The statement followed the shutdown of administrative activities in the Federal Capital Territory over the past week by workers protesting alleged marginalisation of the FCT workforce.
Wike had on Tuesday issued public statements warning that sanctions would be imposed if workers failed to resume duties on Wednesday.
