CSOs caution Labour on strike action, urges consideration of social dialogue, national interest

A coalition of Civil Society Organization under the aegis of Frontline Socio – Economy Research Centre has urged the Labour Unions and Federal Government to jointly address the unwholesome treatment meted out on the Nigeria Labour Congress President Comrade Joe Ajaero, in a manner that punitive measure will be taken on the perpetrator of the heinous act, without holding the nation’s economy to ransom.

In a statement signed on Tuesday by the Convener of the coalition Comrade Balogun Hameed, the Secretary Comrade Alex Omotehinse in alignment with ten other CSOs, the coalition clearly condemned the bodily assault of the NLC President, who was in Owerri state capital of Imo State on the ill-fated day to demand for the rights of workers’ owed arrears of salaries and pensioners’ emoluments but contend the rationale behind the declaration of a nationwide strike on that basis, describing it as an aberration in relation to globally recognized industrial dispute resolution principles.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we aligned with all men of good conscience in condemning the heinous attack and bestial dehumanization of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero by obvious mercenary, fascist thugs in Imo State while on an assignment to demand for the rights of workers’ owed arrears of salaries and pensioners’ emoluments.

“However, the declaration of a National Industrial strike action by the two national Labour Centres, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC is in clear violations of globally recognized, industrial disputes resolution principles, extant laws, and would injure more our frail, ailing national economy.

“Thus, we unequivocally call on the leadership of the organized labour to put on their patriotic thinking caps and reconsider this clarion for strike action on a matter that can be satisfactorily resolved by parties in just, fair and equitable, social dialogue processes without adverse consequences on the economy.”

The group of CSOs jointly counseled that social dialogue mechanism rather than industrial strike action should be explored now, given the frail nature of the national economy.

“Our major concern, however, is the fragile state of our national economy, which is not only grasping for breadth but requires clinical stability to bring it back on its toes. We are aware that any disruption in our production processes which the labour holds key position in, would set socio-economic recovery initiatives back into duodenums.

“Macro-economic stability, which this strike action would distort is vital to the nation’s campaigns to woo direct foreign investment portfolios to shore up our nearly drowning national currency in exchange with peer foreign denominations.”

The Coalition however called on the Federal Government to deliberate with the Labour Unions in order to safe the country the needless economic embarrassment.
“We are of the strong view that the offence of insignificantly minute, dredges of society in a corner post of Owerri, Imo State should not hold the entire nation at ransom. The leprous fingers should be solely amputated for its crimes without becoming a cantankerous, spreading gangrene affecting the entire national body polity.

ALSO READ: TCN refutes false report on nationwide blackout, says no shutdown of National Grid

“The Federal Government must therefore, necessarily partner with the labour leadership to decisively punish the culprits within the ambits of the law.

“We call on both the Federal Government and the organized labour unions NLC / TUC to genuinely enlist social dialogue mechanism to find an amicable common ground panacea and avoid this national strike action in overriding interest of our ailing, national economy. Justice must be seen to be manifestly done, as the heavens would not fall.

Advertisement

Commenting on why in their view the nationwide strike action directive is not in tune with current realities the Coalition maintained that: “We are apt to note that this strike is predicated on a “dispute of rights” not, a “dispute of interest”, which in industrial relations practices cannot be a ground for declaration of strike action.

“More importantly, fact check shows that there is a subsisting court order preventing the Labour from embarking on this strike. To us, two wrongs has never made a right. The brutal violation of the dignity of persons of the labour leader by fascist storm troopers cannot be redressed by committing a counter-illegalities.

“Moreover, the Federal Government has demonstrated requisite will to deal with the perpetrators of the heinous attack on the NLC President. For instance, the Commissioner of Police under whose watch, the Police played a complicit role has since been redeployed out of the State while pertinent investigations to fish out culprits for disciplinary actions have been initiated.”