NLC condemns ruling of National Industrial Court against workers

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the ruling of the National Industrial Court (NIC) of favouring the Federal Government against the interest of the masses and workers in the country. Mr Joe Ajaero, NLC President said this in a communique jointly signed with Mr Emmanuel Ugboaja, General Secretary of the Congress at the end of an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.

It said that the NEC meeting was called to discuss the outcome of the dialogue between the NLC and the Federal Government on the petroleum product price hike. The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the NLC had on June 3 ordered a nationwide strike that was supposed to commence on June 7 over the hike in fuel price. It would also be recalled that the federal government had procured a Court injunction restraining Congress from proceeding with the proposed nationwide strike.

The NLC said NEC in session resolved that there was need to show government that it was important to comply with laid down laws and court rulings. “Especially as it concerns obedience to the rulings of the Courts and their brazen disregard to the 2023 Appropriation Act. “To therefore support and accept the decision of the leadership of Congress to suspend the proposed strike action in compliance with the flawed rulings of the NIC.

“Also to allow negotiations to flow freely and enable final agreement during or after the 19th June, 2023, negotiation round with the federal government. “To however register in strongest terms its disgust and disapproval with the ruling of the NIC for its continuous weaponisation of the instrument of Exparte injunction in favour of government. “That is against the interests of Nigerian workers in defiance of the position of the Supreme Court on the use of this instrument,” it said.

Congress further stated that all Affiliates and State Councils of Congress are hereby directed to suspend further action and mobilisation until the outcome of the final negotiations. The communiqué commended all Affiliates and State Councils on their robust mobilisation towards a successful nationwide strike and to also remain vigilant in case there is a need to continue.

 

Source: Vanguard

 

 

It Is Wrong For You To Impose Leaders On National Assembly – Northern Elders Forum Warns President Tinubu

The Northern Elders Forum, NEF, has said that the legislators of the 10th National Assembly should be allowed to choose their own leaders. Spokesperson of the NEF, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed during an interview on Channels TV on Tuesday said, the position of the NEF was that President Bola Tinubu should steer clear of the leadership tussle in the National Assembly because imposing leaders on the legislators was “not in his best interest.”

The NEF Spokesman said, “We believe that the National Assembly should be respected enough to be allowed members of the National Assembly to choose their leaders, Nigerians elected them, from this point on they should be trusted to exercise the judgement of what is right for the country and for the legislature, independence of the legislature is absolutely crucial, it should not be compromised in anyway or form.

“We believe that legislators are people who are responsible, voted for, a legislature is an extremely important organ of government the executive has no business dictating to them who they choose to be their leaders; we believe they should be independent” “We disagree with any arrangement that tells an elected representative not his own people but someone else they go to and choose someone else, they can exercise, they should consult, they should respect their parties but ultimately they exercise responsibilities that the party itself cannot intervene in, shouldn’t intervene in and its dangerous for democracy for the party to go to the length it goes to tell legislators who has been elected by their constituencies not by their parties their parties filled them there but they were elected by the people.

“All we are asking for is to allow them to choose don’t be calling them like small boys and be telling them the party giving them formula, the president telling them this is the way I want things done they will not tell you what to do; that’s not constitutional. “Legislators should be allowed to decide where their positions go that’s the argument I have made I haven’t made an argument saying it must go to the north I have said there are other elements that needs to be considered, if the decision is made freely and fairly by the legislators, it can go the south, we will live with it, it can go to the north we will deal with it.”

“But we believed that it should be made by those who are going to be led.” He also said it was not in the interest of President Bola Tinubu to impose leadership on the legislators. “It is not in the interest of president Tinubu to impose a leadership on the National Assembly. It is not in his interest.” “In fact, the farther that he is away from the tussle of who becomes senate president, the better.”

 

Source: Sahara Reporters

 

 

Lai Mohammed gets international lobbying job

Less than 2 weeks after leaving office as Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has been appointed as the managing partner of an international lobbying firm, Ballard Partners. His appointment was announced in a statement shared on the firm’s official Twitter page on Tuesday.

“Ballard Partners, one of the top government relations firms in the United States, is opening its first office in Africa in Abuja, Nigeria, the nation’s capital,” the statement reads. “Lai Mohammed, the immediate past Nigeria minister of information and culture, will serve as the managing partner of the Abuja office and the firm’s satellite office in Lagos, the nation’s financial centre.”

According to Brian Ballard, the firm’s president he said Mohammed was given the role because he “is one of the most respected officials in the country”. “Opening our first African office in Nigeria expands our firm’s international footprint to three continents and builds upon the important work we have done on behalf of African nations and companies in Africa and the U.S.,” the firm’s president said.

“We are honoured to have former minister Lai Mohammed join the firm as our managing partner in Nigeria. He has a long record of public service and is one of the most respected officials in the country. His outstanding reputation and exceptional experience will be invaluable to our firm’s clients.” Reacting to his new appointment, Mohammed said Ballard Partners has a perfect record globally and is delighted to be a part of the firm.

“I am very pleased to join Ballard Partners and to open the firm’s first office in Africa,” he was quoted as saying. “Ballard Partners has an impeccable reputation internationally and is well known for its success representing African countries and American firms in Africa.”

 

Source: Punch