Trade Union Congress (TUC) President Festus Osifo has announced that the union will proceed with its planned strike despite a standing court order prohibiting it.
Osifo justified the decision by accusing the Federal Government of regularly flouting court orders and setting a bad example for labour unions.
“We are copying what the Federal Government is doing,” Osifo said in an interview on Arise TV.
He pointed to instances where the government has ignored court orders, such as the case of Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele, who was detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) despite court orders for his release.
Osifo further questioned the validity of the court order against the TUC’s strike, suggesting that it may be a “black market injunction” aimed at crippling labour movements. He challenged the authorities to arrest all Nigerian workers if they were serious about enforcing the order.
“I don’t have any Service,” Osifo said. “If you want to charge us to Court, we are here. We are not running away, Nigeria is our own. We will fight for the soul of this Country,” he added defiantly.
The nationwide strike, which started on Monday, is a protest against the alleged brutality meted on Joe Ajaero, NLC president, in Imo state on November 1.
