The federal government responded to the NLC’s seven-day ultimatum. The NLC threatened a strike if the government didn’t fix economic policies that raised residents’ costs of living. The Congress accused the administration of disdaining Nigerians.
B.E. Jedy-Agba, the Ministry of Justice’s permanent secretary, said the NLC would be violating a court order if it strick. The permanent secretary advised the NLC to negotiate with the federal government instead of self-helping and ignoring court decisions.
“It is noticed that the concerns (removal of fuel subsidy, a spike in petrol prices and the resultant increase in the cost of living, etc.) that caused the aforementioned court case are the same ones over which NLC has now issued another strike notice,” the statement adds.
“The NLC has submitted to the court’s jurisdiction and is represented by the reputed legal practice of Femi Falana, SAN. So, the NLC must allow the courts to exercise their constitutional duties rather than self-help and subvert court rulings.
“We observe with dismay that this new strike notification is commensurate with the unexplained disregard which the NLC leadership has inflicted on the court’s authority recently after prior inciting and disparaging utterances by the NLC president.
“Aside from the aforesaid legal prohibition against any strike action of any kind, we also observe that both the federal and state governments are engaged with stakeholders to cushion the collateral impact of gasoline subsidy elimination and fuel price increases.
“NLC should negotiate rather than strike to benefit Nigerian workers and the economy.”