The President of the TUC, Festus Osifo who spoke at a press conference in Abuja said the union will begin with a mass protest in the state on Monday, September 25.
This action by the government has prompted the TUC to consider taking actions that may disrupt economic activities in response to the ban on RTEAN’s operations.
Speaking on the development, Osifo said the Lagos State Government had technically proscribed RTEAN in the state which led to taking over the motor parks and locking the office.
He said all affiliate unions of TUC, including the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions, among others, are expected to join the action.
He said the TUC had employed all the necessary tools of engagement for amicable resolution, including writing letters and holding meetings with the Lagos State government on the issue.
The TUC leader stated that RTEAN had taken legal action and obtained a judgment from the National Industrial Court, which ruled that the state government lacked the authority to ban a trade union that had been lawfully registered by the Federal Government.
Osifo added that the state government refused to allow the union to operate, saying that TUC would utilise trade unionism powers to protest the ban on its affiliate union.
The labour leader also called on the Ministry of Labour and Employment, which has the power to register and deregister trade unions, to caution the Lagos State government.
Osifo added that the union had informed the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Inspector-General of Police, and the National Security Adviser about the protest.
He added, “It is against this backdrop that we said on September 4 that within two weeks, if the Lagos State government remains adamant in resolving the issue, we are going to carry out a protest, and after the protest and there is no resolution in sight, there is going to be a total shutdown of Lagos State because what the state government is doing against a legally registered trade union is not acceptable to us.
“In order for us to carry out a successful protest in Lagos on Monday, we informed the Director-General of the Department of State Services, the Inspector-General of Police, and the National Security Adviser.
“The reason is that we want them to provide us with adequate security, and we have informed all our affiliates to proceed to Lagos next week.”
“A 35-man Ad-hoc Caretaker Committee was constituted by the State Government to manage the State’s Parks and Garages under the control of RTEAN pending the resolution of the internal dispute and to stop immediately the violence in some parts of the State – in line with the recommendations of the Y2004 White Paper on Transport Union Matters in the State.
“Now, the TUC has scheduled a protest for September 24 to force a return of RTEAN to the parks, following a verdict of the National Industrial Court (NIC).
“Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has filed an appeal against this judgment and has a pending application for a stay of execution of the said judgment.
“Therefore, the protest will be in breach of the Rule of Law, which expects both parties to maintain the status quo, pending the determination of the application for a stay of execution and appeal.
“The planned protest is of no need and is meant to arm-twist and intimidate the government, considering all the efforts being made to resolve the matter amicably.
“TUC/RTEAN should embrace dialogue. It is better and safer for our economic and social well-being”.
