Prosecute governors for non-payment of workers’ salary

Mr Issa Aremu, a labour leader on Thursday said that the President Ayuba Wabba-led faction of the NLC should have taken state governors to court for non-payment of workers’ salaries. Aremu, the General Secretary, National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTW) and Vice President of the Joe Ajaero-led faction of the NLC spoke in Lagos on the division in the NLC.

"Governors who owe workers several months of salaries should have been taken to court of public opinion and international organisations instead of the NLC against the other factions.’’ Speaking on the outcome of the National Industrial Court (NIC) case on the presidency tussle between Ajaero and Wabba, Aremu said that the labour leaders had been together before.

"And by the grace of God the issue will be settled since reconciliation process had started.’’ He said that the strength of the organised labour was not in fighting one another but in fighting a common enemy. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the controversial 11th delegates conference of the NLC held on March 12, in Abuja and produced Wabba as president.

While another delegates conference that held on March 19, 2015 in Lagos elected Ajaero as president and since then there had been factions in the labour organisation. Aremu said that Wabba should not have taken the Ajaero’s faction to court as the time spent in litigation should have been used to tackle issues on welfare of workers and national development.

"A united NLC will critically move the economy of the country forward,’’ Aremu said. The NUTGTW scribe noted that labour veterans like the Hassan Sumonu-led committee had begun reconciliation efforts to ensure that both parties returned as one labour organisation.

Also speaking, Mr Dele Hunsu, NUTGTW President said that after listening to the lawyers, President of the court, Justice Babatunde Adeyemo urged both parties to reconcile. Hunsu said that Adeyemo admonished both parties to reconcile because it was in the best interest of the workers, the nation and labour movement.He quoted the NIC president as saying, "whatever the difference, a united NLC is better than a divided one’’.

He said that the NIC president however warned that it had the legal powers of reconciliation in such matters.According to Hunsu, the court president said that it was an implied duty of the court to appoint a Trustee for the NLC. The textile president said that Adeyemo advised the lawyers to help in the reconciliation process on a win-win basis. He said that the case was adjourned until Oct. 8, hoping that the factions would use the time to settle the problem.