The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi has criticized the call for industrial action by organised labour, stating it is “premature, ineffectual, and illegal.”
This is coming after the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress declared an indefinite nationwide strike action from June 3, 2024
Prince Fagbemi highlighted that negotiations on a new national minimum wage had not reached a conclusive end, and emphasized the importance of considering the interests and capacities of all employers, including the private sector, in setting a minimum wage that benefits the entire working population.
He cited Sections 41 (1) and 42 (1) of the Trade Disputes Act 2004 which mandate both NLC and TUC to issue mandatory strike notices of at least 15 days.
He argued that the failure of labour unions to comply with these provisions renders their strike action illegitimate and unlawful. He also questioned the legality of the proposed strike action, and labour unions had not initiated trade disputes with their employers or issued any strike notices as required by law.
Prince Fagbemi also reminded organised labour of the interim injunctive order granted on June 5, 2023, which restrained both NLC and TUC from embarking on any industrial action or strike.
Attorney General and Minister of Justice urged organized labour to reconsider their stance and return to negotiation tables, emphasizing the importance of pursuing their cause within the bounds of the law.
RN
