Press Statement NIGERIANS SHOULD IGNORE ANY BLACK MARKET INJUNCTION

6^th January, 2012

Press Statement

NIGERIANS SHOULD IGNORE ANY BLACK MARKET  INJUNCTION

There are rumours circulating that the desperate Jonathan administration has purchased a black market injunction possibly from the National Industrial Court (NIC). The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is not aware of any such injunction, we were not served any paper of court appearance, we were not present in court nor were we represented in any capacity. Also, the NLC was not served any court summons nor were we served any court order.

The cretins in the Jonathan administration imagine that by seeking to drag the judiciary in the mud, they can avert the general strikes, rallies and mass protests that will begin on Monday 9^th January, 2012.  They cannot make the simple analysis that the whole populace is angry and that Nigerians do not need any group to ask them to protest an evil policy that seeks to impoverish them.

The NLC asks Nigerians to ignore this childish ploy and rumour; there is no going back on next week’s protests and shutdown.

The issue of the strikes, protests and against an obnoxious policy, is not and industrial relations one; it is not between an employer and an employee. Rather it is one between the Nigerian People versus the Jonathan Government.

So if the issue was taken before the National Industrial Court, then it is the wrong place to shop for a black market injunction. To obtain an injunction from a court that has no competent jurisdiction is to try playing ping pong with the judiciary.

Labour reiterates that the constitutional and fundamental right of Nigerians to protest cannot be annulled.

The NLC asks Nigerians to ignore such rumours; the strikes, mass rallies and protests will go on as scheduled.  The NLC advises the Jonathan administration to listen to the people or face their justifiable wrath.

 

Owei Lakemfa

Acting General Secretary

NLC CONDEMNS INVASION BY GOVERNMENT THUGS AND DEPLOYMENT OF PRESIDENTIAL GUARDS IN ABUJA

6th January, 2012 The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) condemns the invasion of its Secretariat, Labour House, Abuja by thugs right under the noses of the police.  The thugs numbering about seventy who were hired by government agents, later apologized for their action claiming that they were not told they were being brought to the NLC.  They revealed that they were promised One Thousand Naira (N1,000) each to carry out the invasion. Subsequently, they forced the agents that brought them to pay the N1,000 fee right in the presence of the cameras. The aim of the invasion was to cause a fracas and claim that workers are divided over the issue of fuel price increase.  It is instructive that while the invasion was on, the FCT Police Command ignored calls by NLC officers to come and escort the thugs out of the Labour premises.  Also, the heavily armed security men who had condoned off parst of the NTA Link Road where Labour Hosue is situated,,  did nothing to stop the invaders.  The NLC views this incident as another desperate attempt by the increasingly isolated and unpopular Jonathan administration to stop the mass movement against its insensitive and ridiculous fuel price increases of between 120-220 per cent. The Militarization of Abuja As part of its desperate moves to abort the peoples mass protests and intimidate Nigerians, the Presidency this morning turned out heavily armed units of the Presidential guards.  The troops blocked roads, condoned off parts of the city, harrassed and frisked passersby. We condemn this “show of force” designed to intimidate peace loving Nigerians.  The NLC also condemns this misuse of the army and warn that the police and armed forces are citizens like the rest of us who are equally affected by the negative impacts of the fuel price hike, and should therefore not be taken for granted. The Labour Movement specifically ask Abuja residents to hold demonstrations in  various parts of the city and its surburbs, and march to the city centre  by 8am from Monday 9th January, 2012 Ignore Propaganda on Fuel Price Reversal Fraudulent text messages were sent around this morning claiming that Government had reverted PMS (Petrol) price back to N65 and that on the strength of this, Labour had called off the general strike, rallies and mass protests which commence on Monday 9th January, 2012.  Another text message claims thatt he strike and commencement dates have been shifted.  There is no truth in these claims.  The NLC informs Nigerians that on this issue of strikes and protests, only statements or messages from the Labour Movement should be taken as authentic. We reiterate that the right of Nigerians to peaceful assembly and protest is a fundamental one which no government can abridge.  The NLC will work with the patriotic Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) to bring those who brutalize Nigerians, and their bosses who issue the orders, to justice. Owei Lakemfa Acting General Secretary