Protest: You violated Ngige’s fundamental right, group flays NLC

A group, the Coalition of Delta APC Support Groups, has condemned the Nigeria Labour Congress’s (NLC) invasion of the private residence of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige as a violation of his right to private life.

The group said picketing the residence of Ngige’s home in Abuja which led to violence and threat to human lives was uncivil and unlawful.

Convener of the Coalition, Prince Daniel Ekuigbo, who is also the Coordinator of Change Consolidation Coalition, made the position of the group known in a statement made available to journalists on Saturday in Warri, Delta State.

Ekuigbo said that it was more disturbing that the NLC was acting in such manner purportedly to compel the Minister of Labour Dr Chris Ngige to disobey President Muhammadu Buhari and inaugurate Chief Frank Kokori as the chairman of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund in place of Mr Austin Enajemo-Isire who has been duly appointed by President Buhari.

He wondered why the NLC would declare a national emergency, create chaos and anarchy as well as spill blood just to enthrone a former Labour leader as chairman of a board.

“The picketing of the Labour Minister’s private residence was not only unlawful and against the Trade Dispute Act of Nigeria and gross violation of the fundamental right of Dr Ngige to his private life, but also criminal and an embarrassment to the organised labour.

“Assuming without conceding that Ngige acted outside Presidential approval to refuse the inauguration of Kokori as chairman of the board of the NSITF, does such act constitute a trade dispute which permits the NLC to picket offices or businesses where the dispute arises?

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“What exactly is NLC’s interest in this matter? The same Kokori has been given another appointment by Mr President as Chairman of the Michael Imoudu Labour Training Institute, Ilorin, so why is NLC insisting Kokori must be Chairman of NSITF?

“The NLC must know that there are federal laws that establish and regulate trade unions and trade disputes which must be obeyed by all parties, employers and employees including trade unions,” the statement affirmed.

The group called on all Nigerians to rise up and condemn what it described as the barbaric act of the NLC and demand that the labour union prioritize the interest of Nigerians ahead of an individual’s interest.