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The Federal Government, yesterday, warned promoters of United
Labour Congress, ULC, that it would not fold its arms and allow an
unrecognised group to hold the country hostage.
The government in a statement signed by Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Labour and Employment, Bolaji Adebiyi, said the strike
threat issued by the group amounted to economic sabotage.
The ULC, a factionalised body of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, had
threatened to commence nationwide strike today unless government
addressed its demands, ranging from payment of salary arrears to
provision of infrastructure, especially roads.
The statement read: “The attention of the Federal Minister of
Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Nwabueze Ngige has been drawn to
several media publications and statements signed by Mr. Didi Adodo on
behalf of the association, the United Labour Congress, ULC, as its
Secretary General.
‘’The statements gave the false impression that this
association is a government recognised federation of trade union. The
statement and letters issued in the last few weeks include those that
gave the Federal Government a 14- day ultimatum stating that some trade
unions it “claims” as affiliates will go on strike over some issues,
which are of national importance.
‘’The Trade Unions Act, CAP T14, Laws of the Federation of
Nigeria (LFN) 2004, is explicitly clear on how a group of trade unions
can coalesce to form a Federation of Trade Unions.
“Section 35(1)(b) states inter alia: ‘A Federation of Trade
Unions may be registered by the Registrar if … it is made up of 12 or
more Trade Unions none of which SHALL have been a member of another
registered Federation of Trade Unions.”
“The promoters of ULC should fulfill this requirement to
qualify to be registered. To call out workers on ‘essential services’
for a national strike without any major trade dispute with their direct
employers will be tantamount to blatant violation of our extant labour
laws and international labour standards.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the government will not fold its
arms and allow any group of persons take the law into its hands by
brazenly threatening to commit economic sabotage by shutting down
essential services in the oil and gas, power, and aviation sectors as
threatened by the promoters of ULC.
“Members of the trade unions who are sympathetic to the ULC
mentioned in the press statement are advised to go about their duties in
the interest of peaceful industrial relations environment and for the
good of our national economy.”
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