- The TUC president highlighted instances where the government has ignored court orders, like the detention of Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele by the Department of State Services.
- Osifo challenged the authorities to arrest all Nigerian workers if they were serious about enforcing the order.
Festus Osifo, president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), has declared that the union will carry out its scheduled strike in defiance of a court ruling that forbids it.
Osifo defended the ruling by claiming that the Federal Government was a poor model for trade unions and routinely disobeyed court decisions.
Osifo disclosed this in an interview on Arise TV closely monitored by WITHIN NIGERIA corespondent, he said “We are copying what the Federal Government is doing,”
He pointed to instances where the government has ignored court orders, such as the case of Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele, who was detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) despite court orders for his release.
Osifo further questioned the validity of the court order against the TUC’s strike, suggesting that it may be a “black market injunction” aimed at crippling labour movements. He challenged the authorities to arrest all Nigerian workers if they were serious about enforcing the order.
“I don’t have any Service,” Osifo said. “If you want to charge us to Court, we are here. We are not running away, Nigeria is our own. We will fight for the soul of this Country,” he added defiantly.
Commencing on Monday, the nationwide strike is a demonstration against the purported violence inflicted on NLC President Joe Ajaero in Imo state on November 1.