By OLASUNKANMI AKONI & ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

LAGOS – The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Lagos branch has described as uncomplimentary, the statement credited to the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Lagos branch, to the effect that it will call a strike over the Lagos State Government and doctors’ face-off while coalition of human rights group has warned the union against the proposed strike.

In a statement by the branch chairman, yesterday, NBA condemned the said declaration by the oil workers, while calling on Nigerians that “while we make statements, we should not aggravate the problem which in the end would not be in the best interest of all concerned citizens of Lagos state.”

In the letter dated May 27, the Chairman of the body, Mr. Taiwo O. Taiwo, the association said it was taken aback with such statement coming from a comrade in the struggle for a better Nigeria.

The coalition, which includes the Coalition for Good Governance, Doctors for Human Rights in Nigeria,Campaign against corruption and bad governance and Humanity Service Project, also warned against the strike.

issued the warning in separate statements made available yesterday.
In a statement, CGG Executive Secretary, Mr. Joseph Babatunde described the proposed solidarity strike as not only unnecessary and unwarranted, but also an affront to civilized conduct and the law by a lawful workers body which should know better.
Babatunde added that the matter for which the Lagos branch of NUPENG “is threatening strike action is already in court and so we wonder what they stand to gain by embarking on this unnecessary and uncivilized action”.
CACOBAG chairman, Mr. Toyin Raheem strongly appealed to the NUPENG not to join the on-going doctors’ strike in the state, stating that the hardship being faced by Lagos residents with the ongoing doctors strike enormous.
According to Raheem, any strike by NUPENG will only compound the plight of the working people that are always at the receiving end. The matter is still in court and we are optimistic that the national industrial court will be fair to the two parties.