Fearing a backlash over the decision of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC to hold this year’s May Day celebrations on the streets of Abuja, after the sudden withdrawal of government approval for the Labour union to use the Eagle Square, the Federal Government has backed down from the ensuibg face-off, and re-instated the approval.
Following the government’s capitulation after its threat, the NLC rolled out fresh orders for its members to gather at the Eagle Square and not on the streets as it earlier directed.
Recall that the NLC on Saturday said that the annual 2023 National May Day celebration in Abuja will be held on the streets to enable Congress deepen its reconnection with the people, after government withdrew its approval.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC), had also protested the last minute order by government to deny the organised labour the use of the Eagle Square as venue for the May 1, Workers Day rally.
In a statement on Saturday, April 29, 2023, the General Secretary of the NLC, the Mr Emmanuel Ugboaja, said that the unfortunate development that resulted to the sudden withdrawal of the earlier approval granted for the use of the Eagle Square by the federal Government, the Congress has decided to shift the venue for the celebration to the Streets of Abuja.
In a statement NLC titled; “National May Day celebration in Abuja: Change of Venue,” the NLC said that the last minute questionable action of the Government at the centre to deny Workers the use of the Eagle Square for this year’s May-Day celebrations three days to the event despite having granted us the permit months ago is laden with mischief and actually a sign of what is to come in the near future.
The NLC further said; “Do remember that this is a venue we have been using in the past decades for our May Day celebrations.
“The sudden decision to withdraw the permit may be laden with mischief and actually a sign of what is to come in the near future”.
The Congress said that the take-off point for the May Day celebration shall be at the National Headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) by 8:00 a:m, adding that all affiliates are to assemble on the grounds of the Paschal Bafyau Labour House on Monday the 1st of May from where they shall proceed on a rally around Abuja
But the Minister of Labour and
Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige, has now assured that the Workers Day celebration will hold at the eagle square in Abuja on May 1.
In a statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations,
Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Olajide Oshundun he said, “the Minister of Federal Capital Territory assured the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment that the place is available for NLC to use on May 1, which is the workers day”
The statement reads:
“The attention of the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige has been drawn to press releases and statements in the media that the Federal Government disapproved of the NLC using the Eagle Square for the annual May Day parade, for reasons bordering on the preparation of the venue for the May 29 inauguration of President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“On receiving the report, the Minister contacted his colleague, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Muhammad Bello, who blamed the development on some overzealous officials, acting without his authority, as well as minor communication gap between the FCDA, the Federal Government Transition Committee and the NLC.
“It was actually the contractor handling the renovation of the Eagle Square, Merrs Julius Berger that informed the Transition Committee for the hand over ceremony that they erected their equipment even before last Thursday when the Nigerian Army used the venue for an event attended by the President.
“Consequently, the FCT Minister assured the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment that the place is available for NLC to use on May 1, which is the workers day”.
“This May Day is the last in the life of this administration. The NLC parade belongs to everybody, including government, diplomatic missions, international organisations, organised labour and affiliate unions and members of the public. The President, Ministers and others cannot shut themselves out. The Eagle Square is still available for all these individuals.
“All invited people should make themselves available for the parade at Eagle Square, most especially the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), the diplomatic missions and the international partners.
“The Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment has been in touch with the leadership of organised Labour led by Comrade Joe Ajaero and has briefed them on these developments and equally extended the apologies of the Honourable Minister of FCT for the unintended embarrassment occasioned by the action of their officials who misinterpreted the general intention and work plan of one month of Messrs Julius Berger the company in charge of the renovation of the Eagle Square for the May 29 inauguration to also include the May 1, 2023.
“The FCT Administration has promised to give all necessary material support to make the event hitch free and successful, while the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment wishes all Nigerian Workers a blissful Workers day on May 1”.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC), had also protested the last minute order denying the organised labour the use Square as venue for the May 1, Workers Day rally.
In a statement on Saturday, April 29, 2023, the General Secretary of the NLC, the Mr Emmanuel Ugboaja, said that the unfortunate development that resulted to the sudden withdrawal of the earlier approval granted for the use of the Eagle Square by the federal Government, the Congress has decided to shift the venue for the celebration to the Streets of Abuja.
In a related development, the Trade
The NLC statement titled; “National May Day celebration in Abuja: Change of Venue,” said that the last minute questionable action of the Government at the centre to deny Workers the use of the Eagle Square for this year’s May-Day celebrations three days to the event despite having granted us the permit months ago is laden with mischief and actually a sign of what is to come in the near future.
The NLC further said; “Do remember that this is a venue we have been using in the past decades for our May Day celebrations.
“The sudden decision to withdraw the permit may be laden with mischief and actually a sign of what is to come in the near future”.
The Congress had planned the take-off point for the May Day celebration for the National Headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) by 8:00 a:m, advising all its affiliates to assemble on the grounds of the Paschal Bafyau Labour House on Monday the 1st of May from where they shall proceed on a rally around Abuja
The TUC noted that the Abuja Investment Company, a subsidiary of the FCDA, wrote informing the organised labour of the withdrawal of the permit granted it for holding the May Day rally in Abuja, on Monday.
President of the TUC, Mr Festus Osifoh, who stated these while speaking with journalists shortly after the Congress National Executive Council (NEC), meeting in Abuja on Friday, said the union rejected the last minute change of venue for the Workers’ Day rally.
Osifoh said; “But suffice to note that this is not the first time that we will be holding May Day parade at the Eagle Square, and swearing in would follow on May 29.
“This has been taking place since 1999, and we have always had a way of carrying out our parade before they go ahead with their preparations for hand-over.
“May 1, is four weeks away from the handing over date, but our government is telling us that political considerations are much more important than the issues of workers.
“They have asked us to go to the Old Parade Ground, and we are not going. If they are not giving us the place that we have been using for this event, then we will wait and at the appropriate time, we will answer them,” he stressed.
