Labour unions vow to hold National protest in Rivers

Despite alleged court order, the organised labour have vowed to make true her promise to stage a National protest in Rivers state on Tuesday, despite claims by the state government to have secured an interim injunction from the court.

The Organised Labour under the auspices of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Thursday declared a showdown with Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, over what they described as ‘state sponsored violence and terrorism against workers’ in the state.

Reacting to a statement by the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice in Rivers, Zaccheus Adango, that the state government had obtained an Interim Injunction from the National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Lagos to stop the labour strike, the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, has denied being served any Court process to that effect.

Wabba explained that the Attorney General’s claim of court injunction might be that of a belated strike action the state Council wanted to embark upon but not the one scheduled for Tuesday by both NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC).

“In reaction to the statement issued to press by the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice in Rivers claiming that they have orders to stop a strike action. Let me make the point very clear, “NLC and TUC leadership have declared a national protest in Rivers”, it revering to a strike, possibly a belated strike action the state Council wanted to embark upon.

“What we have declared is a ‘National protest’ in line and tandem with the Constitution as well as UN Charter for Human and People’s right which is also in tandem with African Union Charter for Human and People’s Right. No Court can actually suspend the provision of the Constitution. Our Constitution provides that people can assemble freely and protest on issues that pattern to their welfare and wellbeing, and that’s what we are exercising.

“No where and no Court have serve us any process to the effect that a Judge can suspend the working or provision of the Constitution. So clearly speaking, I think he is on another board and clime, no where have we been served to say that the provision of our Constitution have been suspended. I don’t think that is possible. We are aware, there have been allegations severally where he boasted that he can procure any order of the court at will, and I think it’s most unfortunate. He has violated every law that is known to protect human a Trade Union Right in Rivers. Violated even the sanctity of government house because he has abducted and then detain labour leaders in the government house and then charge them to Court on trump-up charge. If anyone requires justice, then it’s that workers because justice is not for sale.” Said Wabba

Meanwhile, the government at the weekend accused the state chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) of conniving with its national leadership to force industrial action on workers in the state.

The State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, accused NLC of abandoning a subsisting court case reserved for judgment on September 29, 2020 to embark on its threatened strike.

Adangor explained that on the March 16, the Organised Labour issued seven days notice for an indefinite strike but failed as scheduled.

He said a suit was instituted by the Rivers State Government at the Port Harcourt Division of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria seeking interpretation to the enabling laws relating to the strike, adding that the originating summons was heard and instead of NLC to await the judgment that was reserved for September 29, 2020, they were calling for another strike.