NLC Attacks Ngige Over Threat To Proscribe NUPENG
Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Monday, berated Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, over alleged moves to proscribe Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, describing the action of the minister as uncivilised, ungentlemanly and undemocratic.
However, the United Labour Congress of Nigeria, ULC, while condemning the alleged threat to de-register NUPENG, sought amicable resolution to the potentially industrial unrest of immense proportion.
President of NLC, Ayuba Wabba, demanded not only immediate withdrawal of the threat letter to NUPENG, dated May 13, but also a public apology for yet another round of assault on organised labour in Nigeria.
Wabba said: “We wish to unequivocally posit that the cruel urgency communicated in his letter suggests only one thing: unveiled desperation to disorganise and destroy trade unionism in Nigeria.
‘’It is also not a coincidence that this is coming on the heels of our recent protests against the activities of the Minister of Labour and Employment to undermine organised labour and trade unions in Nigeria.
“We are privy to the fact that shortly after our last protest, a directive was issued from the office of the Minister of Labour to officers in the Ministry of Labour and Employment to fish for grounds on which to deal decisively with organized labour.
‘’We understand that the Nigeria Labour Congress is the primary target in the current overdrive to run trade unionism in Nigeria underground. It was only when the fishing expedition failed to grab anything against Nigeria Labour Congress that the hunters turned their barrels on NUPENG.
‘’This attitude of vindictiveness is not only unbecoming of ‘the only competent authority on labour matters’ but also uncivilised, ungentlemanly, undemocratic, uncut and unpolished.
“Unfortunately, even the most despicable dictators in global annals have never descended to this low of shameful abuse of public office and trust to hound, persecute and terrorize innocent workers, national labour centres and their affiliate unions.
‘’It is highly disgusting that this behaviour is coming from a so-called democrat who has had the privilege of seeking public acquiescence, especially the votes of workers while contesting for the position of the governor of a state.
“Given that the intention of the minister’s recent directive is aimed at achieving narrow, petty and selfish ends, we demand the withdrawal of Dr. Chris Ngige’s letter to NUPENG.
“We also call for a public apology from the Minister of Labour for yet another round of assault on organised labour in Nigeria. “Furthermore, we demand that the Minister of Labour and Employment publicly guarantees that he desists from further harassment, victimisation and persecution of workers, our trade unions and the two labour centres in Nigeria.
‘’We do not wish that the current fragile industrial peace in our country collapses completely on the account of endless provocations by the Minister of Labour and Employment.”
