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| President of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba |
Nigeria’s two registered Labour centers, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, have disowned any plan by groups to embark on mass action, saying no issue had arisen to warrant such action.
President of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, and his TUC counterpart, Quadri Olaleye, said in separate press statements made available to newsmen in Abuja that before any action is embarked upon, any issue in contention must first be discussed by the various organs of the Congress.
Wabba said while congress respect the right of individuals to freely protest against any policy they disagree with, appropriate organs of the Congress were yet to discuss any issue of mass action.
The NLC statement reads: “We would wish to inform our members/affiliate unions, civil society allies and the general public that the Nigeria Labour Congress is neither organising nor getting associated with any mass action or street protest over any issue in any part or every part of the country in the days ahead.
“Before we embark on any mass action or street protest, the issue(s) in contestation must first be thoroughly debated by the appropriate organs of the Congress.
“Similarly, the decision to do a mass action or any form of protest is usually taken by those organs.
“Accordingly, we wish to state unambiguously that neither has such an issue arisen nor a debate for a mass action taken place, let alone a decision to proceed on a mass action.
“We are therefore not involved in any street protest. Nonetheless, Congress respects the right of the citizenry to freely associate and hold an opinion, and to peacefully protest against any policy or policies with which they disagree.”
On its part, the TUC said it was not in any league with any group for a mass action in any part of the country, adding that it was not aware of any issue with any government agency that has not been subjected to social dialogue that would warrant a mass action.
The TUC said: “The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) wishes to inform the general public that it has no planned mass action or street protest in the country for now. It also states unequivocally that it is in not in league with any group whatsoever for any mass action in any part of the country.
“It further states that there are no issues in contention with any public authority that has not been subjected to social dialogue that will now require extra ordinary means or action to resolve.
“The Congress further states that if such issues arise, the Labour Centre will go through its internal mechanism to procure authority for such an action, bearing in mind that its organs must be properly briefed and thorough debates will be undertaken before the organs can give approval.
“In this case no issue has arisen, no organ has been summoned, and no debate has been undertaken, therefore no such decisions has been taken.
“TUC however holds the opinion that any group or groups reserve the right to express themselves in any manner they deem fit taking into cognisance the laws of the land.
“TUC remains committed to the corporate existence of this country in which all manner of people enjoy the right of citizenship”.
