The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Saturday, demanded that the Federal Government immediately revoke the certificates for the organizations that had been registered by the Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA) and the Nigeria Association of Medical and Dental Lecturers in Academics (NAMDA), IgbereTV reports
The request was made by the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, in a protest letter to Dr. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, entitled “Organised Labor Rejects the Purported Registration of New Trade Unions for Academics in Nigerian Universities.”
The letter had the reference number NLC/NS/E.16/654 and was dated October 5, 2022.
Additionally, copies were sent to Femi Falana, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, the President of the Nigerian Trade Union Congress, and all NLC affiliate unions.
Wabba claimed that international labor standards, particularly the International Labour Organization’s (Fundamental Conventions 87 and 98), which were some of the first ILO standards ratified by Nigeria upon achieving independence in 1960, served as the basis for the laws in the NICN, Appeal Court, and Apex Court.
He highlighted a few passages from the country’s labor laws to support the NLC’s contention that the CONUA and NAMDA were unconstitutional.
“Honourable minister, in view of the foregoing, we demand that you respect the doctrine of the rule of law, especially the clear provisions of our labour laws cited, and withdraw the certificates of registration issued to the two new trade unions. While we look forward to your kind consideration of our demands, please accept the assurances of our warm regards,” Wabba noted.
He claimed that Nigeria domesticated the ILO Conventions 87 and 98 into its constitution, particularly Section 40, which protects freedom of association.
According to him, Section 41(2) of the constitution regulates freedom of association in accordance with public decorum and order since where one right stops, another begins.
