Labour Demands Immediate Reversal Of Emergency Rule In Rivers

What President Bola Tinubu described as a hasty and unconstitutional declaration of a state of emergency by the NLC and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has been directly condemned by the NLC and the TUC.

The labor unions demanded that the declaration be overturned right away, claiming that it blatantly violates Part II, Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and constitutes an excessive abuse of executive power.

This was contained in a statement released on Wednesday that Festus Osifo, the TUC’s president, and Joe Ajaero, both signed.

Read more about Amaechi’s constitutional violation in English: &nbsp, Fubara Suspension, and others.

The governor, deputy governor, and state assembly are all alleged to be suspended or removed, according to the statement.

It “sets a dangerous precedent,” threatening subnational governments’ autonomy and erodes constitutional authority.

No democratic society can prosper if its elected leaders are arbitrarily removed from office at the president’s discretion. Every reasonable governor and citizen who supports the rule of law should be deeply concerned by this reckless action, the statement read.

According to the unions, Section 305(6) of the Constitution clearly specifies the legal procedures for declaring and maintaining a state of emergency.

Additionally, they added that “the President must exercise restraint, adhere to constitutional limitations, and act in a way that inspires national confidence rather than suspicion.”

Any action that threatens democratic governance, economic stability, or national security must be reexamined.

We can’t afford to repeat the painful effects of past political overreach, which have affected Nigeria.

This unjustified state of emergency will have significant socio-economic effects on workers and the general population, both politically and legally. It will disrupt economic activity, causing thousands of workers’ jobs to be lost, pay off, and experience economic hardship, both in the formal and informal sectors; it will also foster unrest, detracting investment and slowing economic growth in Rivers State and beyond; and expose citizens to security risks because history has shown that politically motivated states of emergency frequently escalate rather than resolve crises.

The Labour movement pledged to stand up for the protection of the interests of ordinary Nigerians and workers as they seek to protect their livelihoods.

We urge Mr. President to refrain from abiding by his storied history of political struggle by engaging in behaviors that are reminiscent of those of the military-era authoritarianism.

Leadership calls for wisdom, restraint, and unwavering support for democratic principles.

Source: Channels TV