The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has faulted the June 3, 2024 notice of industrial action issued by the Organised Labour.

In a letter dated June 1, 2024, the AGF described the strike notice by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) as “premature, imeffectual and illegal”.

The AGF addressed the letter to the NLC President Joe Ajaero and his TUC counterpart Festus Osifo.

The labour unions had said the current minimum wage of ₦30,000 can no longer cater to the wellbeing of an average Nigerian worker, lamenting that not all governors are paying the current wage award which expired in April 2024, five years after the Minimum Wage Act of 2019 was signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari. The Act should be reviewed every five years to meet up with contemporary economic demands of workers.

Labour later handed the Federal Government a May 31 deadline for the a new minimum wage. On May 31, the workers’ organs in the country declared a nationwide strike beginning from Monday, June 3, 2024 over the government committee’s inability to agree on a new minimum wage and reversal of electricity tariff hike.

During the failed talks with the government, Labour rejected three government’s offers, the latest being N60,000. Both the TUC and the NLC subsequently pulled out of negotiations, insisting on ₦497,000 as the new minimum wage.

However, the AGF urged Labour to return to the negotiation table, saying that dialogue was a more progressive path to take than industrial action.

Fagbemi drew the attention of the aggrieved unions to Sections 41(1) and 42(1) of the Trade Disputes Act 2004 (As amended) which required the NLC and the TUC to issue mandatory strike notices of a minimum of 15 days.

The AGF also recalled an interrim injunctive order granted on June 5, 2023 by an Abuja court which restrained the NLC and the TUC from embarking on any industrial action.  “This order has neither been stayed or set-aside, therefore it remains binding on the labour unions,” he said.

“Consequent on the foregoing, the call to industrial action is premature, imeffectual and illegal. The proposed strike action is also at variance with the order of the National Industrial Court and the ongoing mediatory settlement efforts over the issues connected with the subject matter of the order.

 Abia state governor, Alex Otti, says no stone would be left unturned in the search for those involved in the killing of soldiers in the state.

Five soldiers were killed on May 30 by gunmen who were reportedly enforcing the sit-at-home directive of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The soldiers were ambushed at an army post in Obikabia, Obingwa LGA of the state.

In a statement on Sunday, Kazie Uko, chief press secretary to the governor, said Otti visited the wives of the slain soldiers on Saturday at the headquarters of the 144 Infantry Battalion of the Nigeria Army in Asa, Ukwa West LGA of Abia.

“We, as a government, will continue to condemn this dastardly act, a very irresponsible act committed by criminals, who do not want any good for society,” the governor said.

“It’s very sad, but then, it has happened and because it has happened, we will need to move on, but we cannot move on without identifying those who are responsible.

“It’s as if General Diya was with me at the last place that we went to, where I had promised that we will smoke out whoever is remotely connected to this killing, whoever they are, wherever they are, wherever they run to.

“We are going to work like we have always done, closely with security agencies, particularly the intelligence unit of the security agencies, to ensure that we leave no stone unturned.

“So, I want to reassure the military high command and the leadership of the military in Abia that we are working together to ensure that we bring those people to book.

“The reason I came here (144 Battalion) today is to sympathise with you; to let you know that I feel your pain and I can understand what you’re going through at this time.

“On behalf of the government and people of Abia state, I want to assure you that we are behind you. We know that the military high command will also look after you, but because your husbands died here in Abia, we have adopted you as daughters of Abia and your children as children of Abia.”

The governor also awarded scholarships to children of the deceased up to the completion of their tertiary education.

He thanked Diya for helping to de-escalate the tension in the state and not embarking on a reprisal.

Abdulsalami Abubakar, former military head of state, says politicians create an enabling environment for military officers to stage coups.

Following the death of Sani Abacha in June 1998, Abdulsalami was sworn in as head of state.

Abdulsalami was Nigeria’s last military leader. In 1999, he handed over power to democratically elected Olusegun Obasanjo, keeping to his word of returning the country to civilian rule.

In an interview with The Sun newspaper published on Sunday, the former head of state said military officers take advantage of the political situation before staging coups.

“You see, whatever happens, it must be the political field that allows any military man to take over. When you are in government and there is no equity and justice, certainly this brings problem,” he said.

“You have a political party and even in the political party one belongs to, there is no democracy. So, certainly, you will expect some quivers, some quarrels to come out and if they are not handled amicably, certainly, this will result to military takeover.

“Remember there is no military man that takes over without the connivance and assistance of politicians and civilians.”

Speaking on how democracy has fared in Nigeria, Abdulsalami said he has no regrets handing over to a civilian government but noted that there has been some challenges.

“You know democracy is a continuous process. You can’t say this is democracy. When you describe democracy, you are talking of government of the people, for the people and by the people,” he said.

“Yes, we are not yet there. There are some drawbacks, but compared to 1999 to today, I will say democracy has really made advances in Nigeria.”

Abdulsalami urged President Bola Tinubu to learn from mistakes of past leaders and correct them while running the country the way he deems best.