NLC Denies Awareness of Court Order Against Strike, Stating, ‘We Are Not Politicians Who Go to Court.’

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) refutes the existence of any court order restraining it from initiating a nationwide strike.

Asserting its right to protest, the NLC underscores its role as a social partner, not a political entity subject to legal proceedings.

Emmanuel Ugboaja, the general secretary of NLC, conveyed these sentiments in an interview on Arise TV.

He denounced the brutal assault on NLC president Joe Ajaero in Imo state, framing it as a national issue requiring immediate federal intervention.

Ugboaja pointedly accused the police force, holding them accountable for orchestrating the attack on workers during a protest in Imo. He criticized the federal government’s failure to recognize the NLC as a social partner and engage in dialogue to address the situation.

“We are not politicians whom people can challenge to go to court; it’s not about going to court,” Ugboaja declared. “We should foster a culture of social dialogue. The ILO, the oldest agency of the United Nations, consistently emphasizes the importance of open discussions, rejecting beatings, dehumanization, or threats of legal action.”