Civil Society Coalition for the Defense of Democracy in Nigeria (CSO- CODDIN) has berated the National President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, over his threat to embark on strike if the suspended Senator representing Kogi South Senatorial district in the National Assembly, Senator Natasha Akpoti – Uduaghan is not recalled.
The coalition in a press conference at the weekend in Abuja by its spokesperson, Comrade Peter Nwokolo, described such threat as an assault to democracy and undue interference on the judiciary role of adjudication.
It condemned the NLC President’s meldsomeness and partisanship in the matter, urging him to channel the energy in addressing serious national issues of hunger, insecurity as well as welfare of the Nigerian workers.
The coalition accused Ajaero of becoming a willing tool in the hands of desperate politicians whose interest it now panders to..
It however, called on Ajaero to resign and join politics rather than romancing with politicians and interfering with the matter of the Senate.
“That the matter is still before a court of competent jurisdiction and therefore sub judice, we considers the actions of Comrade Joe Ajaero, president of the Nigerian Labour Congress, threatening to embark on an indefinite strike if the senator is not recalled as unsavory assault on the principle of democracy and undue interference on the judiciary role to adjudicate on of National issues.
“It has now become evident, that the Joe Ajero led Nigerian Labour Congress has constituted itself into an embarrassment, one that ok eaves a sour taste in the mouths of many Nigerians.
“Even more troubling is the fact that, of all the myriad of problems confronting the nation and for which the NLC have lost it’s voice including the insecurity in plateau, Benue, Niger and other nagging national issues, the only one that interest the NLC most is the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti – Uduaghan who was legally suspended for breaching it’s rules.
“The NLC, which was created for the sole purpose of advancing the course of the Nigerian workers, has now become a willing tool in the hands of individual policians, whose whims and caprices, it now panders to.
“Our coalition hereby call on the NLC to stop forthwith in meddling with the constitutionally assigned role of the Senate and spare itself the odium it has occasioned
“We are therefore, calling on Comrade Joe Ajero to resign from the Labour movement and join a political party of his choice rather than hide under the cloak of trade unionism to advance personal and parochial interest,” the coalition said.
