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UNDEC Flays NLC For Violating Industrial Court Order
The United Niger Energy Commission (UNDEC), has criticised the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for declaring a nationwide strike in violation of a court order.
According to the General Secretary of the organisation, Mr Tony Uranta, NLC and all its affiliate organisations have no right anymore to talk of the rule of law and stressed the need for dialogue with the Federal Government.
Speaking at a special interview with Ray Power FM in Port Harcourt, yesterday, the UNDEC secretary while admitting that the timing of the subsidy removal was not perfect, however, said that reverting the pump price to N65 will spell doom for the country, stressing that what was needed at the moment was support to the federal government.
It will be recalled that the National Industrial Court had last Friday, restrained the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) from embarking on its planned nationwide strike to protest hike in fuel price billed for last Monday. President of the Court, Mr Babatunde Adejumo gave the ruling in Jos, Plateau State following an ex-parte appeal by the Federal Government.
But in a swift reaction, the NLC urged Nigerians to ignore the judgment which it described as a “black market injunction”, insisting that it was going ahead with the planned mass action.
In the statement titled: “Nigerians should ignore any black market injunction”, NLC scribe Comrade Owei Lakemfa said government felt that by dragging the judiciary into the matter, it would avert the obvious anger in the land.
Labour, he said, was neither served with court papers nor represented at the court proceeding, adding however that Nigerians were not against any organisation to protest what they considered insensitive government policy.
Faulting the injunction which the NLC described as “rumour” further, Lakemfa said the industrial arbitration court could only adjudicate on industrial disputes between employers and employees which, he insisted was not the case with the planned mass protest.
“There are rumours circulating that the desperate Jonathan administration has purchased a black market injunction possibly from the National Industrial Court (NIC).
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is not aware of any such injunction, we were not served any paper of court appearance, we were not present in court nor were we represented in any capacity. Also, the NLC was not served any court summons nor were we served any court order.
“The cretins in the Jonathan administration imagine that by seeking to drag the judiciary in the mud, they can avert the general strikes, rallies and mass protests that will begin on Monday 9th January, 2012.
“They cannot make the simple analysis that the whole populace is angry and that Nigerians do not need any group to ask them to protest an evil policy that seeks to impoverish them. The NLC asks Nigerians to ignore this childish ploy and rumour; there is no going back on next week’s protests and shutdown.
“The issue of the strikes, protests and against an obnoxious policy, is not an industrial relations one; it is not between an employer and an employee. Rather it is one between the Nigerian people versus the Jonathan Government. So if the issue was taken before the National Industrial Court, then it is the wrong place to shop for a black market injunction. To obtain an injunction from a court that has no competent jurisdiction is to try playing ping pong with the judiciary. Labour reiterates that the constitutional and fundamental right of Nigerians to protest cannot be annulled.
“The NLC asks Nigerians to ignore such rumours; the strikes, mass rallies and protests will go on as scheduled. The NLC advises the Jonathan administration to listen to the people or face their justifiable wrath”, Owei Lakemfa, Acting General Secretary stated.
Meanwhile, the NIC ruling of the court followed an ex-parte appeal filed by Attorney General of the Federation on behalf of the federal government seeking to abort the planned indefinite strike following removal of subsidy on petrol.
In a 30-paragraph affidavit of urgency filed and deposed to by counsel in the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Yusuf Moka, government averred that the defendants had not submitted any dispute to arbitration nor served it with a notice of arbitration, arguing that the scheduled strike was called without a formal declaration of a dispute relating to labour relations.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.