NLC campaign for democracy urges Nigerians to disregard national industrial court injunction
By Correspondent Chinyere Ogbonna – The Nigeria Labour Congress has issued a press statement urging Nigerians to ignore what it called the “black market injunction” by the National Industrial Court, ordering NLC not compel people to come out en-mass to protest the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“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 9th January, 2012,” the statement read.
The union went further to say that the injunction seeking to stop an angry populace from protesting against what it referred as an “evil policy” is impossible.
It calls the ex parte motion ordered by the Nigeria Industrial Court a “childish ploy”, referring to it as a rumour.
The court, presided over by Justice Babatunde Adejuwon said the supporting affidavit observed that economic activities of the country, as well as the health and welfare of citizenry, would be adversely affected by the nationwide strike which many groups have indicated their intention to join.
NLC in the statement reiterates that the constitutional and fundamental right of Nigerians to protest cannot be annulled.
The congress therefore asks Nigerians to ignore such rumours, adding that the strikes, mass rallies and protests will go on as scheduled.
The NLC in the statement advises the President Goodluck Jonathan and his cabinet to listen to the people or face their justifiable wrath.
A group known as Campaign for Democracy also spoke out against the National Industrial Court ruling, saying in a statement that it “strongly condemns the request for a police permit before holding rally”.
“It is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void because even the public order act which stipulates that a permit be obtained before holding any rally has been declared illegal to the extent that it violates the rights of the people to freedom of association and assembly.
“We therefore call on the Police to limit itself to its constitutional prescribed role of maintaining peace, order and not allow itself to engage in wanton violations of the rights of millions of Nigerians.
“The Nigerian people have a right to protest against unpopular policy and such right is not conditional upon obtaining any permit from any security agency including the Police.”
The group urged Nigerians to be aware of their rights and “begin to enforce them”.
In the statement signed by the group’s president, Joe Okei-Odunmakin, they said the “black market injunction to stop Labour from embarking on the just struggle of the oppressed people would fail.”
