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Last Updated: Friday, November 12th, 2004 HOME | Previous Page
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Court stops NLC from going on strike
By Habib Aruna,
Victor Ebimomi,
Rafiu Ajakaye (Lagos)
Rotimi Fadeyi
and Bassey Udo (Abuja)
Four days to its proposed indefinite nationwide strike, the Court of Appeal on Thursday restrained the Nigeria
Labour Congress (NLC) from embarking on the action. The interim order followed a motion brought by the government
challenging the legality of the protest scheduled to begin on November 16.
The ruling is to be in force until the hearing and determination of the motion, which has been adjourned till November
17.
Though government counsel Afe Babalola was ready to move the motion on Thursday, NLC counsel Femi Falana argued
that he was not ready for it because he was yet to consult with his client.
He asked for an adjournment till November 15, but Babalola objected, saying if for any reason he would concede
to an adjournment, the court should issue an interim order restraining the NLC and the coalition of civil societies
from embarking on the strike
The court, presided over by Justice Mohammad Tanko, granted Babalola�s request and issued an interim order restraining
the NLC and also granted the adjournment ought by Falana, but fixed the date for November 17.
However, NLC President Adams Oshiomhole has insisted that protest will go ahead despite the court order.
He said in Abuja shortly after the Palliative Committee meeting that only redressing the grievances of Nigerians,
including a reversal of the prices of petroleum products to their pre-September 23 levels, would avert the action.
Oshiomhole, who appeared to be satisfied with the progress made so far by the committee, however, said: �Making
progress is not about taking fine decisions, but more about what the government would do with the recommendations
arrived at the end of the assignment�.
And the NLC has reaffirmed its commitment to the interdenominational religious prayer session planned for Abuja
next Monday.
Its acting General Secretary Salihu Lukman denied insinuations that the session is aimed at removing the Obasanjo
government from power.
Additional support for the strike came on Thursday from Eclectic Network, a non-governmental Christian group, which
said in Lagos that it would mobilise Christians nationwide to join the action.
A statement signed by its Lagos State Chairman Adekunle Olaiya described the proposed industrial action as a �crying
aloud by the oppressed. It is a howling and groaning in great pains against tyranny. It is a protestation against
man�s inhumanity to man!�.
It called on well meaning Nigerians to protest �the gross exploitation of the poor by the ruling class� and described
the planned action as �absolutely timely and necessarily in the overall interest of the downtrodden Nigerians who
are the true owners of this country�.
But an organisation called Concerned Citizens of Lagos State on Thursday protested outside the NLC office in Yaba,
Lagos against proposed strike, saying it cannot solve any of the nation�s problems.
Dozens of protesters carried placards condemning the NLC and Oshiomhole for championing strikes, �that have never
solved anything�.
Some of the protesters said rather than calling Nigerians out on the streets for another round of work to rule,
the NLC should dialogue with the government to find a middle ground.
�Our national image and ability to attract foreign investors suffer with Labour unrest,� said Hamilton Okere, leader
of the group. �Two nationwide strikes within the space of a single month, about six nationwide strikes or threats
of strike within one year, have resulted in the loss of billions of naira and hampered productivity in the economy�.
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