A labour-based civil society group, All Workers Convergence (AWC), has called on National Record to hold on to its principled practice of journalism “despite attempts by labour bureaucrats to intimidate her, or bulldoze their way to suppress independent journalism.”
In the press release entitled: “Call for Solidarity With the National Record Newspaper and its Publisher Over Attacks By the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC),” Comrade Emelieze said AWC is motivated not only by the publications of National Record but also by its commitment to the cause of Nigerian workers in particular and the Nigerian labour movement in general.
“We are motivated by the rear publications of the National Record on labour matters. We have observed that the National Record has shown commitment to the labour movement in Nigeria towards exposing the plight of the Nigerian workers; her activities so far should be commended by all progressive activists, civil society groups and the mass media,” Emelieze said.
He added: “We are highly inspired by the commitment of the National Record to pursue journalism without fear or favour. We are motivated by the rear publications of the National Record on labour matters.
The AWC, Emelieze said, is “moved by the recent publication of the National Record newspaper demanding for an apology from the NLC over the attack on its firm and its publisher.
He cautioned the Nigeria Labour Congress “to stop playing the god game”, being a reference to NLC’s recent exchanges with National Record over a news item on its non-payment of salaries to its staff before Christmas and its threat of litigation.
“We also call on the NLC to stop playing the god game as if it is perfect and beyond criticism. The NLC as a pressure group should be open to engagements and not see any publication that exposes her shortcomings as a negation; they should rather accept criticism in good faith and adjust for the better.
While it urged the online newspaper “to go ahead with its professional activities, despite attempts by labour bureaucrats to intimidate her” and bulldoze their way “to suppress independent journalism,” Emelieze called for a truce between the two for the benefit of working people.
“However, the AWC calls for a truce between the NLC and the National Record, as the escalation of tensions will not do any good to the working people. We have ahead of us horrible challenges confronting us as a people of which the labour movement in Nigeria must wake up to,” Comrade Emelieze stated.
