Kaduna (WorldStage Newsonline)-- A coalition of eight civil society organization in Kaduna on Saturday warned the judiciary against being used by the government to scuttle the proposed nationwide mass protest by the organised labour on Monday.

The coalition drawn from across the country in a statement urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to immediately removed members of the National Industrial Court that granted what they described as “black market injunction” to halt the planned mass action by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress(TUC).

The statement 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) insisted that the judiciary must not be used to subvert the struggle of the Nigerian people.

The statement read: “the Federal Government in an attempt to abort the general strike and mass rallies planned by organized 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.

“It is rather unfortunate that the Federal Government rather than heed to the popular wish of the Nigerian people is hell bent on subverting the challenge to its very unpopular decision.

“It is also unfortunate that a government that claims to be championing the rule of law and due process will use underhand tactics to obtain a black market injunction knowing full well that such an injunction and orders made therein are unenforceable and may lead to a street confrontation.

“We also consider it as unfortunate that the Federal Government dragged the judiciary into its dispute with the Nigerian people by securing a patently illegal, unconstitutional and irresponsible injunction to prevent the Nigerian people from resisting their subjugation.

“The struggle of the Nigerian people for the reversal of the withdrawal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government is a popular peoples struggle and the judiciary should on no account lend its support and weight to the subversion of the said struggle. It is a struggle for survival by all sectors and sections of the Nigerian populace and not just an industrial action by the Nigerian Labour Movement.

“It is our firm view that the Nigerian people have the constitutional and inalienable right to freedom of association and assembly. These rights are constitutional and no Court of Law can take it away or lend itself to support to its violation.

“The Nigerian people will march and work in unison with organised labour and all patriotic Nigerians to resist this unpopular policy of the government. The mass protest called by labour and civil society groups and organisations will hold on Monday the 9th day of January 2012 as originally planned.

“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. They have abused their oath of office and their continued stay as judicial officers is injurious to the image of the judiciary.

“We urge the leadership of the Nigerian labour Movement to remain firm and resolute and resist infiltration and compromise with the forces of subversion. We shall hold the government individually and collectively responsible if their actions in securing a black market injunction change the peaceful and non violent context of the present struggle”.

Story by Innocent Senyo (isenyo2005@yahoo.com)