Former National Vice President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, comrade Isa Tijjani, has expressed its disappointment with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) over its recent strike action.
The veterans also called for an investigation into these actions, which they deemed criminal and in violation of International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions.
Tijjani, who is also the former National Deputy President and National Union of Petroleum Workers, in a press statement, condemned the strike’s violent tactics, which they described as ‘treasonable felony.’
He alleged that the striking labour leaders engaged in forceful eviction of citizens from their offices, employed arm-twisting tactics, and brought down the national grid, causing harm to the economy and citizens.
He said: “We are miffed by the apparent treasonable felony committed by the striking Labour leaders in bringing down the National grid, stopping citizens from going about their legitimate businesses, forceful eviction of law abiding citizens from their offices and employment of force and arm twisting tactics on people to abide by the strike. All these should be investigated and appropriate actions taken.
“Agitations for minimum wage is a legitimate right however, the means and method used in undertaking the strike is not only unfair but criminal and against ratifying ILO conventions which is aimed at protecting essential service sectors in any given economy from such disruption.
“Our earlier caution against using the congress as a Platform for Partisan Politics has gone unheeded and the consequences are here for all to see.
“The Penchant to opt for strike as the first option in settling labour disputes is inimical even to the interest of workers in whose name the strike was embarked upon in the first place.
“This demonstrate lack of seriousness and deep reflection on the side of congress leadership for always swinging into acting before they think. Such actions are inimical to well known norms and practices of the labor movement and should be stopped forthwith.
“We want to highlight Ajaero’s actions which are aimed at dragging the congress into muddy waters of ethnicity, political partisanship and self-aggrandizement which has been there for long. We had cause to highlight thisissues since 2023 and will continue to do so.”