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From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have directed workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to maintain their strike, despite a ruling by the Abuja National Industrial Court ordering suspension of the action.
In a joint statement issued by NLC Acting General Secretary, Mr Benson Upah, and TUC General Secretary, Mr Nuhu Toro, on Tuesday, the unions described the court decision as one-sided and said it appeared intended to weaken workers’ ongoing struggle for fair treatment.
They accused the Minister of FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, of resorting to threats and intimidation instead of engaging in meaningful dialogue with organised labour.
The centres noted that the injunction obtained by the minister targeted only two individual union leaders, leaving the broader strike unaffected.
They urged FCTA staff to “defend your rights with courage and dignity, and not with fear,” declaring that workers cannot be treated as slaves in their own country.
The labour bodies also warned “cash-and-carry” judges whose rulings harm society that they will be held accountable. While commending honest judges who uphold the law and protect citizens’ rights, the congresses cautioned others that they cannot escape the consequences of unjust decisions.
The unions stressed that the strike will continue until the Minister of FCT comes off his “high horse” and negotiates with workers.
“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.
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“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.”
