Subsidy Protest: Coalition Warns Judiciary Against Subverting Wishes Of Nigerians

A coalition of eight civil society organisations drawn from across the country yesterday, warned the Nigerian judiciary not to allow itself to be used by the government to subvert the wishes of the Nigerian people in their struggle against unpopular government decision to remove subsidy on petrol.

The group expressed concern that the government secured what they called “black market injunction” from the National Industrial Court to stop the proposed industrial action and mass protest scheduled for Monday, January 9, 2012 by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.

In a statement made available to LEADERSHIP SUNDAY yesterday, the group asked the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association? (NBA) to call for the immediate removal of the members of the National Industrial Court who granted the injunction stopping the proposed action.

The statement was signed by Festus Okoye (Human Rights Monitor), Y.Z Yau (CITAD), Anyakwee Nsirimovu (Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law), Innocent Chukwuma (CLEEN Foundation), Funke Aluko (Centre for Genders Rights Protection), Emma Ezeazu (Alliance for Credible Elections), Saviour Akpan (Community Policing Partners) and Faruk Umar (Secretary, Transparency in Nigeria).

The statement entitled “The Judiciary Must Not Be Used To Subvert The Struggles Of the Nigerian People”, Read: “The Federal Government in an attempt to abort the general strike and mass rallies planned by organised labour for Monday the 9th day of January 2012 claimed it has obtained a black market injunction to restrain the labour movement from proceeding with the said strike and rallies.

“We call on the National Assembly to reconvene and side with the Nigerian people in their hour of need. The National Assembly must speak clearly and pass resolutions demanding a return to the status quo. The National Assembly must isolate anti democratic forces who want to subvert Nigerian democracy in favour of quick cash and quick fixes. As the tribune of the people, the National Assembly must speak for the people and stay with the people.

“We call on the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association to demand the immediate dismissal of all the members of the National Industrial Court that granted the Black Market injunctions restraining the Nigerian people from fighting for their rights.”