By Victor Ahiuma-Young

NIGERIA Employers Consultative Association, NECA, yesterday, called on government to prosecute leaders of Joe Ajaero-led faction of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, describing them as illegal body and insisted that NECA only recognized Ayuba Wabba-led NLC.

This was sequel to Ajaero faction’s rejection of recent agreement between the Wabba-led NLC and NECA suspending the planned picketing of banks allegedly involved in mass sack of workers recently.

But reacting, Ajaero said his group was not surprised by the utterances of NECA through its Director-General, DG, Mr. Segun Oshinowo, because NECA under Oshinowo had a history of allying with others to undermine workers’ welfare.

Ajaero said: “We are not surprised with the utterances of NECA DG because his action has confirmed our fears that there is unholy alliance between NECA and others to perpetually keep Nigerian workers in bondage. We know the DG’s history because he has presided over NECA that has been endorsing mass sack of worker, unfair labour practices, among others.”

However, while giving details of the agreement reached with Wabba-led NLC, Oshinowo insisted that government had been patience with labour on the crisis rocking NLC, lamenting however that government’s patience in not addressing the issue squarely based on law was undermining industrial harmony in the country.

According to him: “We expect the National Industrial Court, NIC, to continue action on the case and make its pronouncement, which will be binding on everybody. So, let the NIC, based on the fact of the conduct of the controversial (NLC) election makes its ruling.”

He lamented that since both parties had not been able to resolve their differences, “It is high time the law took its position, and the law in taking its position will only be on the side of the legitimate NLC which has the certificate of registration, not the faction that does not have any prima facie or legitimate basis for its operation.

”The law is very clear about this. I expect the NIC to make pronouncement on this based on the position of the law. Since it had given the two parties opportunity to resolve their differences and they have not been able to do that.”

Oshionwo contended that before the NIC makes its ruling, “We call on the appropriate institution of government that is expected to keep the peace to prosecute the promoters of illegal NLC. If government fails to act, government will be promoting an environment that nobody will be able to guarantee industrial peace.”