*We Are To Go To Jail- Labour
The Attorney General of Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN has warned the leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to shelve their proposed industrial action or they will be charged with Contempt of Court.
The warning was contained in a letter addressed to the counsel to the NLC and TUC, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN.
The AGF, in a letter addressed to the counsel to the NLC and TUC, Femi Falana, SAN, reminded them that it was as a result of the disobedience to the order that the Ministry of Justice filed a contempt proceeding against the labour leaders.
He added that the Ministry withdrew the suit following the intervention of President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly.
According to the letter, “It is also to be recalled that based on the conduct of the said nationwide action/protest, this office instituted contempt proceedings against the labour leaders. However, upon the intervention of the President and National Assembly, coupled with the decision of the labour unions to discontinue their action/protest, the contempt proceedings were not prosecuted further. This was advisedly done to enable the government and labour union to engage in further negotiations without any form of encumbrances.
“However, in its communiqué issued at the end of its National Executive Council meeting on 31st August 2023, NLC resolved to embark on a total and indefinite shutdown of the nation within 14 working days or 21 days from August 31, 2023.
“Also on September 26, 2023, the Presidents of NLC and TUC, jointly issued a communiqué stating that organised labour had resolved, “to embark on an indefinite and total shutdown of the nation beginning on zero hours Tuesday, the 3rd day of October, 2023.”
“These are undoubtedly issues that have been submitted to the National Industrial Court for adjudication. Therefore, the proposed strike action is in clear violation of the pending interim injunctive order granted on June 5 2023 restraining both the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress from embarking on any industrial action/or strike of any nature, pending the hearing and determination of the pending Motion on Notice”, he added.
Fagbemi said that irrespective of their disposition on the matter, the court order must be obeyed unless it is vacated.
In the counter reaction, The TUC Deputy President waved off the AGF’s warning, saying that the contempt threat would not make the organised labour shelve their planned walkout.
He noted that the labour leaders were ready to be jailed for their convictions.
“It is a threat but power belongs to the people. Let them carry all of us to the prisons. I can only answer by saying the end justifies the means. If that is what they want, let’s see what would happen on the 3rd of October. The good thing is that Nigeria is our country. If he would pack all the Nigerian people to prison, there is no problem.
“If the government wants to put us in prison, let them put us in prison. Going to prison is not a death sentence. After all, even a (former) president passed through the prison. Didn’t (Segun) Obasanjo go to prison? We are used to threats and it is not going to deter us, we are not cowards.
“We are working for the country and if the government feels it wants to put us in prison because we are working for the country, so be it. Let the end justify the means.”
