NLC refutes Akpabio’s accusation, demands apology
Tuesday’s threat by the Senate to make provisions in a new minimum wage law against “extreme actions” of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) has generated a mixed bag of criticisms and approval among stakeholders, including lawyers and civil society.

However, NLC refuted the claim by President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, that the strike constituted economic sabotage. It described such accusations as baseless and deeply troubling for patriots and democracy advocates.

In separate interviews with The Guardian, yesterday, the stakeholders cautioned the Senate against taking actions that could worsen the relationship between the Federal Government and Labour.

Akpabio had in a motion seeking an end to the industrial action, specifically declared that the shutdown of the national grid was more of economic sabotage than agitation for a new minimum wage. He also decried the disruption of Hajj flights.

Consequently, the upper legislative chamber disclosed that such a situation would not be allowed to recur, as laws against it would be reflected in the new National Minimum Wage Act that would be enacted soon after submission of a bill to that effect by the executive.

Abuja-based legal practitioner, Ralph Agama, submitted that any attempt by the National Assembly to prevent labour unions from embarking on strike smacks of illegality.

He stressed, “It will be wrong because of international labour laws because it is the right of labour; a workman is entitled to his wages. And when he is treated unfairly, he has the right to complain. The only way they can get the attention of the government or the employer is by way of a strike. That will be injustice on the part of the National Assembly to stop organised labour from embarking on strike in the event of any unpopular government policy.”

Ondo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Kayode Ajulo (SAN), said, “It is unbelievable that the National Assembly and or any legislative house would seek to stifle the hallowed right of workers to engage in lawful industrial action.”

“This fundamental entitlement bestowed upon the labourers of our land is a sacred cornerstone of our social fabric. To subvert this legitimate process would constitute a most worrisome development, one that would grievously infringe upon the basic rights of our hardworking citizens.”

He advised the National Assembly to, instead, focus on addressing the underlying issues driving the justifiable demands of workers, including the provision of fair compensation, decent working environment and adequate social safeguards.

According to the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), the new law will amount to a nullity because it will imperil the constitutional rights of workers to seek collective bargaining through strike.

HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, claims that members of the National Assembly have, once again, demonstrated their aversion to democracy and the fundamental human rights of the citizens.

Onwubiko said, “Our best counsel for the legislature is to stop beating about the bush attempting to muzzle the rights of workers to embark on strike.

“Once strike is voted for by the majority of the organised labour unions at their properly constituted National Executive Committees (NECs) as the enabling Labour-related laws say, the workers are obliged to exercise this constitutional and democratic right to strike.”

The tasks ahead of the legislature, he added, are cumbersome, “and they need to stop shadow-boxing or presidential sycophancy.”

Another Abuja-based legal practitioner, Eseroghene Mudiaga-Erhueh, reviewed the matter and submitted: “There is an existing law that says that even in times of war, you do not interfere with security agencies and their protocols, basic human amenities, which include water, light, food supply and healthcare.

He asserted that “by shutting down power supply, it means that certain aspects of Nigeria could have faced security challenges and because of lack of power supply, such actions would have succeeded.”

NLC Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah, stated, yesterday, that organised labour would not be intimidated by such statements from the hallowed chambers of the Senate “and we expect due apologies if it was a slip. Any attempt to undermine legitimate labour actions will not be acceptable to us.”

He said the strike, initiated on June 3, was in response to the Federal Government’s refusal to conclude the national minimum wage negotiations, reverse electricity tariff hikes, and end discriminatory consumer classifications.

The legally conducted strike, he asserted, reflected the frustration of Nigerian workers facing economic hardships and deteriorating working conditions.

According to him, Akpabio’s statements undermine the democratic principles the Senate professes to uphold.

Upah said the National Assembly, being the closest arm of government to the people, should understand the people’s sentiments, stating that this ought to guide their actions and pronouncements accordingly.

The NLC chieftain maintained that the economic issues prompting the strike, like electricity tariff hikes and unfair consumer classification, were burdens that exacerbated poverty and inequality, but from which the political elite were insulated.

NLC, he insisted, remains committed to protecting workers’ rights and called on government representatives to address the underlying issues leading to the strike, through constructive dialogue and genuine efforts to improve living standards instead of indulging in eye-service criticism.