The Lagos state government has told the Trade Union Congress
(TUC) to suspend the planned protest scheduled for Monday in the state.
The union announced a one-day protest over the state
government’s ban on the operation of the Road Transport Employers Association
of Nigeria (RTEAN).
Festus Osifo, the TUC president, said the failure of the
governor to obey the court order that reinstated activities of RTEAN in the
state necessitated a protest.
“If there is no solution in sight then there is going to be
a total shutdown in Lagos,” he warned.
But in a statement on Sunday, Gbenga Omotoso, the Lagos
commissioner of information and strategy, said the protest is unnecessary
considering that the government has appealed against the judgment and “has a
pending application for a stay of execution of the said judgment.”
He said the union is only using the planned protest to
“arm-twist and intimidate the government.”
“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.”
In September 2022, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos,
ordered the suspension of the transport association, citing violence in parts
of the state as the reason for the suspension.
In April 2023, a national industrial court in Lagos ordered
the reinstatement of the transport association.
Maureen Esowe, the presiding judge, had said the suspension
of the union’s activities by the government was illegal and restrained the
state from interfering with the operations of the union’s executives.
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