By Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja and Alao Abiodun
The Federal Government yesterday faulted the plan by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to stage a two-day protest next week in support of the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).protest
Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed said Labour has no basis to do so as it has no dispute with the Federal Government.
He briefed reporters at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, defused anxiety over the possibility of aviation workers joining the protest.
The Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) had said they would join the rally.
Yesterday, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) asked members to get ready.
The association said it had commenced mobilisation of students across the country.
NANS president, Sunday Asefon, said in a statement: “I am pleased to inform all Nigerian students and her structures…to commence immediate mobilisation to partake in the rescue mission of NLC,” he wrote.
But the information minister said the planned solidarity strike would be unlawful because the NLC has no dispute with the Federal Government.
He claimed taking such step would be an attempt to instigate anarchy.
The minister was, however, silent on the citizens’ right to protest.
To him, what the Congress is doing is about interest, noting that it should insulate itself from politics.
Mohammed said: “I think we should also start to interrogate what Labour is doing. The NLC is not a political party. The NLC can go on strike or protest if the rights of NLC members are involved.
“What the NLC is planning is about interest. There’s no dispute whatsoever between NLC, as a body, and the Federal Government.
“Yes, there’s a dispute between some members of NLC, ASUU, whatever, and the Federal Government, which is being looked into and NLC itself is even party to the committee that is looking into the solution.
“So, calling out people on street protest, you’ll begin to wonder, what is the motive of NLC in this matter?
“NLC, by its own laws, cannot even give out pamphlets. NLC is supposed to be completely insulated from politics.
“Now, if you declare dispute with us, yes you can go on strike. Even that one would depend on whether certain steps have been taken or not.
“But this particular NLC asking and mobilising people to come out on strike on July 26 and 27, is clearly unlawful because there’s no dispute,” he said.
Read Also: NLC mobilises workers for nationwide protest July 26, 27
The minister noted that the NLC, having been part of the negotiations with ASUU, ought to have been concerned about a solution.
“Every union has an umbrella body, but it’s not every union that has issues with the Federal Government. That’s why I’ve made a distinction between rights and interest.
“You can only declare dispute if your rights as a group is violated. You cannot declare dispute simply because the rights of Lai Mohammad is violated.
“I mean, you cannot go on a protest because my interest is violated because there’s a body that looks after the violation of my right and there are procedures to follow.
“The Federal Government is as worried as NLC and everybody, but the law is the law. What I expect NLC to do as an umbrella body is to find solutions, to join Federal Government in finding solutions.
“They are part of those negotiating with Federal Government on this ASUU issue. So, why are they now going out to take sides? I think you should also interrogate it yourselves.
“Ask yourselves. How does that (protest) solve the problem? What you are going to create is more anarchy and I think the NLC should think twice about their proposed strike in solidarity with ASUU.
“It’s as if Federal Government is doing nothing about ASUU. No. They have been involved in these negotiations all along, so why now?”
Minister cautions aviation union
Sirika believes the planned strike by workers in the civil aviation would not fly as he had already held discussions with their union.
He said: “I’m naturally concerned about the aviation union shutting down in support of ASUU.
“I would say they have no need to and I will say also that we should begin to look at civil aviation as a critical national security enterprise.
“It has all the implications. We should not contemplate or think about an aviation disaster. We should also think about the general activity of the economy of Nigeria.
“This is democracy. You can push for demands, but in pressing for demands, you should be reasonable in doing so.
“Where the lives that you’re trying to promote would be seriously affected and hampered, where lives can be lost because of your own activity, I think you should reconsider.
“So, civil aviation workers, I think, should not be part of this and yes I am concerned, and yes we’ve spoken to them and I don’t think they will join because they know that there’s huge responsibility of lives on their heads.
“If you’re an air traffic controller, it involves national security, it involve the capability of preventing external aggression and so on so forth.
“I believe that they are very aware of the enormous responsibility upon them in civil aviation and they should continue to see it so and continue to be as law abiding as we want them to be.”
The Ministry of Aviation said it was about to take action against airline operators over flight delays.
“We are closely looking at the operations of some of these airlines occasioned by delays and further delays,” he said.
Presidency: no ultimatum to education minister
Also yesterday, the Presidency said President Muhammadu Buhari did not give a two-week ultimatum to Minister of Education to resolve the dispute with ASUU.
Presidential spokesman Garba Shehu said in a statement: “During the meeting, the Minister of Education requested that the Minister of Labour hands off the negotiation to allow him to lead and conclude what he had earlier on started with ASUU.
“He promised that he could get an agreement within the shortest possible time, possibly two to three weeks.
“In carrying out this assignment, the Minister will carry along all relevant ministries and agencies with statutory functions and duties relating to the issues involved.”
He said the Presidency was optimistic that agreements can be reached in an even shorter period if all parties/stakeholders are not obstinate.
He, therefore, appealed to the affected parties to work together to end the strikes.