The Nigerian Federal Government has taken issue with human rights lawyer Femi Falana’s law firm for backing the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in their proposed nationwide protest.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In a letter addressed to Sam Ogala of Falana’s Chamber, the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Beatrice Jedy-Agba, urged the law firm to educate the labor union on relevant issues instead of endorsing their protest.

The letter, observed on Monday, highlighted that there is a subsisting interim order restraining the NLC from engaging in any form of industrial action….CONTINUE READING

Despite this, Ogala from Falana’s Chamber asserted in a letter dated July 28, 2023, that the right to peaceful protest remains constitutionally valid, and the NLC has the right to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with what they perceive as unfavorable policies of the new Bola Tinubu administration.

In response, the federal government emphasized that the interim order unequivocally restricts the NLC from undertaking any industrial action, including strikes.

The government pointed out that the NLC intends to embark on a nationwide action, issuing a seven-day ultimatum for the government to meet its demands and threatening to reverse alleged anti-worker policies.

The government expressed concern that the NLC’s move goes beyond peaceful protest, potentially endangering public peace, creating fear among the masses, and causing further crises.

They urged Falana’s law firm to educate the labor unions that peaceful protests should not justify disrupting or shutting down essential services, which essentially amounts to a strike action. The law firm was asked to advise their clients accordingly.