10th June, 2024
PRESS RELEASE:
AVOID STRIKE IN SALAH, HAJJ WEEKS - MURIC
As negotiations and offers continue
between the Federal Government (FG) and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), the
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has reminded the labour union to avoid going on
strike during the Salah and hajj operation.
The faith-based human
rights organization warned that NLC will have Nigerian Muslims to contend with
if it goes on strike during Salah and before Muslim pilgrims return from
hajj.
This was disclosed in a
press statement issued on Monday, 10th June, 2024 by the Founder and Executive
Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
He said further:
"The Federal
Government of Nigeria (FG) has reportedly offered N62,000 as minimum wage.
However, state governors have complicated the issue by declaring that they
cannot even pay N60,000 which was earlier offered by FG. This created tension
during the weekend amid fears that NLC may resume its suspended strike this
week.
"While we do not begrudge NLC pertaining to any
minimum wage it demands, we are particularly concerned about the greatest
happiness for the greatest number of Muslims during the Salah as well as the
welfare and safe return of more than 60,000 Muslim pilgrims who are bona fide
Nigerians and who are presently in the holy land.
"It should be noted
that MURIC issued three press statements last week (two on Monday 3rd
June (https://www.muricnigeria.com/no-to-nlc-strike-in-salah-muric/; https://www.muricnigeria.com/nlc-strike-muric-calls-for-state-of-emergency-as-thousands-of-pilgrims-endangered/)
and one on Wednesday 5th June (https://www.muricnigeria.com/nlc-strike-suspension-no-to-strike-eve-of-salah-muric/).
All three statements were on the need for NLC to avoid going on strike during
Salah and the airlift of pilgrims.
"In view of the present development whereby the two
parties are yet to reach an agreement, we are constrained to reiterate our
warning. There should be no strike during the Salah and hajj weeks. A strike
that constitutes threat to the lives of more than 60,000 people cannot be
called a civil action. It is a direct act of hostility. It is enemy
action.
"A man who
deliberately began to cut a huge tree under which innocent people are sleeping
cannot claim innocence after the tree falls and kills the people under it. He
was not blind. He saw the people sleeping under the tree yet he cut it down. It
is premeditated mass murder.
"It is in the same
manner Nigerian Muslims will hold NLC leadership responsible for any loss of
life or discomfort which may befall Muslim pilgrims on account of a strike
embarked upon by NLC during the Salah and before the return of pilgrims from Saudi
Arabia.
“NLC leaders are neither blind nor deaf. They heard that
Muslims are in Salah mood. They also saw Muslim pilgrims departing Nigeria for
Saudi Arabia. If NLC goes on strike now and aviation workers close the Nigerian
airspace as well as the airports, it will be a deliberate act of excommunicating
60,000 Nigerians and disallowing them from returning to their fatherland.
“This will be in violation
of Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on
freedom of movement which stipulates inter alia that every Nigerian
shall have the right to travel in and out of Nigeria without let or hinderance.
"We therefore call on opinion leaders as well as all
men and women of goodwill to call NLC leadership to order now before they
commit hara-kiri. Nigerian Muslims are not comfortable with any strike at this
point in time. We are in Salah and hajj weeks."
#NlcStrike
#SalahHajjWeeks
#MuslimFestivalsMatter
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Founder/Executive Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).
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