The Islamic and pro-government group, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to shelve its planned nationwide strike declared for Monday June 3, 2024 as it is an “assault on the religion of Islam” and about “bringing down our Muslim-Muslim ticket.”
In a statement on Monday morning by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the group said Organised Labour should postpone the strike because it “will make life unbearable for Muslims preparing for Id al-kabiir (Salah) which is just a few days away.”
Advising the Labour movement to “postpone its strike until after the Muslim festival,” Professor Akintola noted that “the approach of the current crop of NLC leaders is aggressive, arrogant, fascist and partisan,” adding that their “body language is unmistakable. It is directed at bringing government down.”
The full statement by the Islamic pro-government group reads reads: “The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) is set to begin its industrial action today Monday, 3rd June, 2024. But there is no scintilla of doubt that the strike will make life unbearable for Muslims preparing for Id al-kabiir (Salah) which is just a few days away.
“As expected, the workers unions of other service providing sectors like petroleum and electricity have offered to join. This means the lives of Nigerians are likely to be thrown into a state of higgledy-piggledy in the next few days.
“But what does NLC think will happen to Muslims whose festival of Id al-kabiir is already knocking on the door? Transport fare to and fro their various destinations will skyrocket. Movements will be so adversely affected that the whole Salah period will become a horrendous experience. Is that what NLC wants?
“The notice of strike was too short. It was given from the negotiation table and it was 48 hours or less. The approach of the current crop of NLC leaders is aggressive, arrogant, fascist and partisan. The body language is unmistakable. It is directed at bringing government down. This NLC has no respect for the rule of law, not even an iota of decorum for democratic practices.
“If we cannot speak for government, what about Nigerian Muslims whose lives your strike could turn into sheer nightmare? Is this a deliberate attempt to make life uncomfortable for Muslims? Will NLC declare strike one week to Christmas? Or is this about bringing down our Muslim-Muslim ticket? Is this part of the ‘religious war’ of ‘Yes Daddy’?
“Are Muslim workers not part of your union? If we are, shouldn’t NLC consider our interest, particularly our fast-approaching festival before embarking on a strike? What happened to strategic planning? What happened to timing and logistics? What happened to psychological preparation of people’s minds?
“By the way, every civilized group checks the calendar when planning an event and every calendar shows festivals of the year, is there no calendar on the walls of NLC office or was it deliberately ignored because NLC leadership is more interested in inflicting pains on Nigerian Muslims?
“Who did NLC leadership consult before declaring strike and what did they advise? Are there no Muslims among members of NLC executive? Are there no Muslims among NLC’s advisers or are they all ‘Yes Daddy’? If there are, are they conscious Muslims or just Muslims by name? Are they not aware that Salah is next week?
“This strike is ill-timed. It is a recipe for a topsy-turvy Salah. We advise NLC to postpone it till after the Salah. If NLC rejects our advice and goes ahead with its satanic strike, we will ask all Muslim workers who know that they will meet Allah yaom al-Qiyaamah (The Last Day) not to cooperate with NLC. They should reject the strike because it is an assault on the religion of Islam.
“We call on all Muslim leaders and Islamic organisations in Nigeria to speak up now before it is too late. We must reject the tyranny of Muslim-haters thinly veiled in unionism. We say ‘No To Strike in Salah.’”