The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has opened up about its plan to shut down all economic activities in Lagos as it plans to go on strike on the 25th. The protest will focus on the Lagos state government’s ban on the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), an affiliate of TUC.
This move is expected to be joined by other affiliate unions of TUC, including the likes of PENGASSAN, ASSBIFI, and ASCSN. This was confirmed by TUC President Festus Osifo on Friday in Abuja.
Festus Osifo addressed the fact that the union has used every necessary measure to amicably settle the ongoing situation. He claimed that several meetings have been held as well as going to church. The court’s judgment obtained from the National Industrial Court by RTEAN clearly explains that the Lagos government has no right to forbid any legally registered trade union by the federal government. However, Lagos State turned a deaf ear to the court’s resolution and stopped RTEAN from operating.
“The National Industrial Court Lagos State Division, in its judgment, told the state government to unlock the offices of RTEAN. The Court expressly said also that the Lagos State government has no powers to proscribe a registered trade union. However, the Lagos government refused to comply with the judgment.”
“On the 4th of September this year, we wrote another letter to the Lagos State government, drawing their attention to the government judgment and the meeting we had earlier with them where they promised that the issue would be resolved, but there was no response. All other attempts to reach the state governor were to no avail. We have even reported to the Ministry of Labour and to people in the federal government who are from Lagos State to call the governor to order. What they are doing to RTEAN is the same thing they are doing to NURTW today. So, this is fundamentally wrong.”
“So it is against this backdrop that we said on the 4th of September: within two weeks, if the Lagos government remains adamant in resolving the issue, we are going to carry out a protest, and after the protest and there is no resolution in sight, there is going to be a total shutdown in Lagos State. Because what the state government is doing against a legally registered trade union is not acceptable to us. For us to carry out a successful protest in Lagos on Monday, we informed the DG of DSS, the IGP, and the National Security Adviser. The reason is that we want them to provide us with adequate security. And we have informed all our affiliates to proceed to Lagos next week.” The president said.