TUC disagrees with NLC on nationwide protest call
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has disagreed with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on the call for a nationwide protest without due consultation.
The TUC urged the NLC to stop taking unilateral decisions on issues of interest to the two organisations.
The TUC, in a letter addressed to the President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero said it was wrong for the NLC to declare a two-day national protest without consulting with her after jointly issuing a 14-day ultimatum on the same matter.
The letter, which was obtained by our reporter, was signed by the Secretary-General of TUC, Nuhu Toro dated February 19.
The 14-day ultimatum issued by both labour centres over the non – implementation of the 16- point Memorandum of Understanding would end on February 22.
The letter reads: “We convey compliments from the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), particularly the President of Congress, Comrade (Engr) Festus Osifo, and write to convey our displeasure on the above subject matter.
“We are writing to address a matter of mutual concern and our disappointment regarding the recent unilateral issuance of two days’ national protest with specified dates.
“You will recall that both centers issued a joint statement with a 14-day ultimatum to the federal government. This ultimatum will expire on Thursday 22nd of February and the right thing to do was for both leaderships to review the situation and agree on the way forward preceding convening our respective NEC meetings.
“Our respective NEC is made up of highly intelligent individuals, who are desirous that we both work together always in our collective interest, even if we didn’t anticipate our NEC decision meetings, it is our responsibility as leaders to harmonize our positions before jointly going to the press.
“It was our understanding that decisions of such magnitude would be made collectively, ensuring that the interests and perspectives of all parties involved are duly considered.
“This is the way other leaders of both centers have worked together from the time of SECSCAN to when TUC was formally registered. It is important to stress that this is the third time such a unilateral declaration is happening under your leadership, we are therefore constrained to formally put this on record as various discussions, communications and interventions have failed. First and second time could pass as human error but a third time would in our opinion translate to an intentional act to undermine us.
“Again, recall we requested that both congresses should jointly develop an MOU that will clearly guide and define our collaboration on issues of mutual interest to avoid situations like this, which has not seen the light of the day.
“Comrade President, also note that we are not averse to the issuance of your resolution because our members equally feel the pain, even if it’s a weeklong national strike, but we have a huge problem with the unilateral declaration for a process we both muted and agreed, because our members are equally concerned about the rising cost of living and not particularly the ultimatum, why can’t we see through the ultimatum that expires within the same period before jointly addressing other issues of mutual concern or at worst consolidate them?
“At best when the NLC conveyed its NEC meeting on the subject of mutual concern, courtesy demands that we ought to have been informed so we can synergise on the way forward and not to jump the gun.