The Federal Government has charged the law firm of human rights lawyer Femi Falana with sponsoring the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)’s intended nationwide protest.
According to news reports, Beatrice Jedy-Agba, the Federation’s Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Justice, stated in a letter addressed to one Sam Ogala of Falana’s Chamber that the chamber should educate the labour union on such matters rather than assist them.
According to the letter, an interim order prohibiting the NLC from engaging in any form of industrial action is still in effect.
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The federal government’s reaction follows Ogala of the Falana’s Chamber’s stance on the NLC protest.
Ogala noted in a letter dated July 28, 2023 that the right to peaceful protest had not been eliminated from the constitution; thus, the NLC had the right to stage a peaceful protest to express its discontent with what it called the new Bola Tinubu administration’s unfavorable policies.
The FG in the letter said, “We reiterate that the interim order clearly restrained NLC from embarking on industrial action of any nature. It is common knowledge that a strike is only a form of industrial action. NLC has expressed intention to embark on nationwide action to force the government (employer) to agree to its demands.
“From the communique, it is apparent that the current move by NLC goes beyond peaceful protest by issuing a seven-day ultimatum for government to meet its demands and also embark on a nationwide action to compel the government to reverse alleged anti-worker policies.
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“Furthermore, uncontroverted media reports have established that NLC is not planning a peaceful protest but intends to ground the government by endangering public peace, instilling fear in the masses, and precipitating a further crisis.
“It is incumbent on your law firm to sensitise the labour unions that peaceful protests are no justification for disrupting or shutting down essential services, which is tantamount to strike action. Based on the foregoing, you may wish to advise your clients accordingly.”
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