Civil society organisation, Nigeria Integrity Watch (NIW), has referred to as on the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, to keep away from partisan politics and focus on addressing urgent labour points affecting Nigerian employees.
In an announcement launched on Friday, NIW’s Nationwide Convener, Dr. John Samuel Nangi, faulted Ajaero’s current intervention within the case of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who’s presently serving a suspension by the Senate.
NIW mentioned the NLC’s public criticism of the Senate over the senator’s suspension amounted to “meddling in legislative affairs” and will undermine the union’s credibility and independence.
“Ajaero ought to give attention to wage negotiations, employees’ welfare, and combating for improved situations of service relatively than participating in partisan battles,” the assertion learn. “It’s disturbing that the NLC, which must be non-partisan, is brazenly taking sides in a political dispute that’s already earlier than the courts.”
The group argued that since Akpoti-Uduaghan’s case remains to be in court docket, Ajaero’s requires her reinstatement amounted to encouraging disobedience to judicial processes. NIW careworn that her return to the Senate can solely be decided in plenary, consistent with parliamentary guidelines.
NIW additional expressed disappointment that the NLC president has not publicly urged the senator to adjust to an alleged court docket order directing her to concern a public apology and pay a ₦5 million positive earlier than resuming her seat.
“As a substitute of heating up the polity with statements that might inflame political tensions, we count on Ajaero to channel his vitality in direction of securing a dwelling wage, defending jobs, and addressing the rising price of dwelling going through hundreds of thousands of Nigerian employees,” the group said.
The organisation warned that persistent political involvement may erode public confidence within the NLC, urging its members and associates to “reclaim the union from getting used as a political device.”
