The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has threatened to ground economic activities in Lagos State to protest the ban on the operations of its affiliate union, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) by the state government.
Ahead of the planned action, the TUC has directed its members to mobilise for a one-day protest on Monday as a warning ahead of total withdrawal of service by its members.
President of TUC, Comrade Festus Osifo, said in Abuja that all affiliate unions of TUC including Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) and others would join the action.
Osifo said TUC has employed all the necessary tools of engagement for amicable resolution, including writing letters and holding meetings with the Lagos State Government on the issue.
He added that the RTEAN also went to court and got a judgment from the National Industrial Court which said the state government had no powers to proscribe a trade union legally registered by the Federal Government.
Osifo added that the state government refused to allow the union to operate.
He therefore said TUC would utilise trade unionism powers to protest the ban on its affiliate union.
The labour leader asked the Ministry of Labour and Employment which has the powers to register and deregister trade unions to call the Lagos State Government to order.
He said: “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 Lagos State Government has no powers to proscribe a registered trade union. But the Lagos State 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 will be resolved, but there was no response. All other attempts to reach the state governor were to no avail.
“In fact we have even reported to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and to people in the federal government that 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.
“It is against this backdrop that we said on the 4th of September: within two weeks, if the Lagos State 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.
“So in order for us to carry out a successful protest in Lagos on Monday, we informed the DG of DSS, 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.”
