- David Orji
The Trade Union Congress on Monday made good its vow to stage a protest against the decision of the Lagos state government not to obey the order of the National Industrial Court to unban the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, from the state parks and garages.
The TUC led its members to the protest in Lagos on Monday just as its chairman of the Lagos council Comrade Abiodun said its major demand is for the state government to respect the court order and unban the association.
Abiodun Chairman, while speaking at the protest ground said democracy is about the rule of law
Comrd Abiodun, chairman Lagos state, said, “If the government respect the rule of law it should not have any difficulty respecting the order to return RTEN to the pack.”
Last night, the Lagos state government had warned against the protests, saying it was to armtwist it.
A statement by Gbenga Omotoso, Commissioner for Information in the state said, “the protest will be in breach of the Rule of Law, which expects both parties to maintain status quo, pending determination of the application for stay of execution and appeal.”
It reminded all that a 35-man Ad-hoc Caretaker Committee was constituted by the State Government to manage the State’s Parks and Garages under the control of RTEAN pending resolution of the internal dispute.
It added that the decision was to stop immediately the violence in some parts of the State – in line with the recommendations of the Y2004 White Paper on Transport Union Matters in the State.
“Now, the TUC has scheduled a protest for September 24 to force a return of RTEAN to the parks, following a verdict of the National Industrial Court (NIC).
“Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has filed an appeal against this judgment and has a pending application for stay of execution of the said judgement,” the government said
Asking the association to embrace peace, the government noted, “The planned protest is of no need and meant to arm-twist and intimidate the government, considering all the efforts being made to resolve the matter amicably.
At the assembly complex, National President of the TUC, Festus Osifo appealed to Gov. Sanwo-Olu to abide by the court’s judgment and reinstate the union to the parks.
He alleged that the state government had forcibly gone to the RTEAN office to remove documents binding the body and the state government.
“The state government created the Road Transport Employers Association as an affiliate of the TUC and they had a pact.
“Now the same Lagos State government is trying to disband the body.
“It has forcefully gone to the RTEAN office to remove documents binding the body and the state government.
“The state government has taken the cars given to the body and went away with the property in the office of RTEAN,’’ he alleged.
In his remarks, Mr Nuhu Toro, TUC Secretary-General, lamented that the state government promised workers some fuel subsidy removal palliatives but had not delivered on the promise.
Toro urged the state government to live up to its words and to keep up with its promises.
Addressing the protesters, Deputy Majority Leader of the assembly, Mr Adedamola Kasunmu (APC-Ikeja II), who received the union, commended the leadership over the peaceful protest.
Kasunmu assured the union that its grievances would be forwarded to the speaker and that a decision would be taken soon.
“The speaker is a proactive and efficient leader and he will definitely do justice to the letter you have presented.
“When we sit at the plenary session, your letter will be presented and I assure you that you will hear from the state government soon,’’ he assured the protesters.
The lawmaker urged the protesters to return peacefully and await a response from the assembly.
“TUC/RTEAN should embrace dialogue. It is better and safer for our economic and social well-being.”
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria had on Friday vowed to ground economic activities in Lagos State as parts of its protest against the ban on the operations of its affiliate union, the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria by the state government.
It also directed its members to mobilise for a one-day protest on Monday in preparation for withdrawal of service.
The National President of the TUC, Festus Osifo, who made this known during a press briefing in Abuja, said all affiliate unions of TUC including the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions among others are expected to join the action.
Osifo said the TUC had employed all the necessary tools of engagement for amicable resolution, including writing letters and holding meetings with the Lagos State government on the issue, adding that the RTEAN also went to court and got a judgment from the National Industrial Court which said the state government had no powers to proscribe a trade union legally registered by the Federal Government.
He added, “It is against this backdrop that we said on September 4 that within two weeks, if the Lagos State government remains adamant in resolving the issue, we are going to carry out a protest and after the protest and there is no resolution in sight, there is going to be a total shutdown of Lagos State, because what the state government is doing against a legally registered trade union is not acceptable to us.
“In order for us to carry out a successful protest in Lagos on Monday, we informed the Director-General of the Department of State Services, the Inspector-General of Police, and the National Security Adviser. The reason is that we want them to provide us with adequate security and we have informed all our affiliates to proceed to Lagos next week.”
Details later…