As part of the matter arising from the invitation of the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero, to be questioned by the police for an alleged crime of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime, critical unions that are affiliates of the NLC have given strike notices to their members if the police arrest the president.
The union started insurance of the notices days after the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, ILWU, based in North Point, San Francisco, United States of America, had reportedly petitioned the Nigerian Embassy in Washington. They have frowned at the harassment of trade unions and leaders in the country.
Some of the unions who have given notice of strike to the federal government include the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT; the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, and the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE;
The notice of strike was issued to the government between Tuesday and Wednesday. Some of the other unions who have followed suit include the Iron and Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ISSAN; Fitters Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, FISSAN; Nigeria Union of Agriculture and Allied Employees, NUAAE; National Union of Railway Workers, NUR; Nigeria Civil Service Union, NCSU; and National Union of Postal and Telecommunication Employees, NUPTE.
A circular released by MWUN explained that all members working in the states of Lagos, Warri, Calabar, and Port Harcourt will comply with the notice of strike. The Deputy Secretary-General of the union, Oniha Erazua, noted that the indefinite strike will be extended to members working in terminals, jetties, dry ports, and oil export terminals.
The notice further explained that the decision was reached after the National Executive Council, NEC, of the NLC, which was held on Tuesday, August 20, 2024. The meeting was held to address the attacks on the union by the Nigerian Police Force.
The statement noted that as an affiliate union of the NLC, the compliance will be total as directed by the union’s leadership. The members have been charged with ensuring their total participation. They were also charged with being on red alert for an indefinite strike.
According to the notice, the strike is aimed at protesting the Nigerian Police, which has decided to investigate the leadership of the NLC.
They called all the union members to embrace the strike, as cooperation was important to actualizing the motive of the action, which would begin at midnight.
In a separate letter sent to the members of the NUT, the teachers-based union members were directed to implement a nationwide shutdown if the police did not arrest the NLC president.
In a letter sent to members nationwide, the president of NUT and Acting Secretary-General Audu Amba and Abdullahi Mohammed drew members’ attention to the NLC president’s ordeal at the hands of the police. The letter claimed that the interrogations were politically motivated.
It was explained the act by the police on the president has been seen as harassment and intimidation, which is an attempt to close the mouth of the president from speaking about issues that concern the workers in the country he serves and represents.
