From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Northern Obidients Youth Assembly (NOYA) has warned the Ajaero-led Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to desist from threatening the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha and other officials of the Ministry after they were cautioned from meddling into political parties affairs.
Recall that a recent letter signed by the Director/Registrar of Trade Unions Falonipe Amos on behalf of the Minister of State Labour and Employment had cautioned the NLC from meddling into the affairs of the Labour Party and other political parties and abide strictly by the Act that established the duo.
Uncomfortable with this development, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NLC in a communiqué issued at the end of its last meeting held on 7th of August, called on the federal government to caution the Minister of Labour and its officials to desist from interfering in their right of political participation.
But Coordinator of the Northern Obidients Youth Assembly, Hussaini Murkhtar warned the NLC to refrain from distracting the Minister and the Ministry’s officials and obey the laws of the land, he advised the Ajaero led NLC to take a cue from the exemplary leadership of the TUC, who has conducted itself in the most professional and productive manner.
He wondered why supposed respectable organisations like the NLC would be comfortable operating outside the Act that established them and also chose to be defiant when they are being corrected.
“I think at this point, what the NLC should focus on is to obey the laws of the land and acting in line with the Act that set them up instead of threatening a serving ministry.
“This is an act of hooliganism and thuggery and should be condemned by all well meaning Nigerians. The NLC have the mandate of protecting the welfare of workers but in recent times they have lost focus and become more interested in politics.
“No wonder Nigerian workers are impoverished in the recent past because the Ajaero-led NLC now spend more time meddling into the affairs of political parties than negotiating with government for better welfare for workers”, Murkhtar said.
He, however, said that they will resist any attempt by political jobbers to use the NLC to destabilise any political party in Nigeria especially the Labour Party.
Murkhtar noted the NLC had shown that they are willing to be used as a tool to silence opposition parties in Nigeria and pave way for a one-party state.
“We will not allow the NLC to be used as a tool to truncate democracy and foist one-party state. This will not be acceptable, we will mobilise Nigerians to resist this evil agenda.
“The NLC should allow the Minister of State for Labour and Employment and any other government agencies to do the job the President appointed them to do. We encourage NLC to learn from the exemplary leadership of the TUC and to act within the laws of the country and the Act establishing them”, Murkhtar said.
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