The World Institute for Peace (WIP) has cautioned the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Osun State against embarking on another prolonged industrial confrontation over the lingering local government allocation crisis.
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The organisation recalled that local government workers in the state had previously embarked on a strike lasting about 20 months, warning that another round of industrial action could deepen workers’ hardship and disrupt economic activities.
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WIP Executive Director, Lamina Omotoyosi, gave the warning on Monday at a press conference held at the NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel, Osogbo.
He argued that the current dispute over local government allocations required a legal and diplomatic approach rather than industrial action.
Omotoyosi said the previous strike followed unsuccessful attempts by local government workers to obtain judicial redress over the crisis.
He recalled that the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) had instituted legal actions against local government chairmen and councillors but subsequently withdrew the cases after approaching several courts.
He expressed concern that the labour movement was now resorting to industrial action over an issue that remained before the judiciary.
“What cannot be obtained through the courts cannot be secured through industrial action,” he said.
The WIP director said the organisation was not indifferent to the challenges facing local government workers and residents but maintained that the rule of law must guide efforts to resolve the impasse.
He accused the NLC of failing to give sufficient consideration to the legal complications surrounding the release of local government allocations.
WIP said it was particularly concerned that the proposed strike could impose additional hardship on workers, traders and private business owners.
It therefore urged the labour unions to engage the parties involved in the litigations and consider an out-of-court settlement.
The organisation also called on the unions to use their access to political stakeholders to facilitate a peaceful resolution.
It urged the police and other security agencies to strengthen security during the strike period to prevent possible attacks on public and private facilities.
WIP appealed to the NLC to reconsider its decision, saying the state needed peace and stability to recover from the political tensions associated with the recent governorship election.