Why we are on an indefinite industrial action against Global Plus Publishing Company-TUC, NLC

 

By allcitynews.ng 

The leadership of Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) under whose umbrella the two unions, Pulp, Paper and Paper Products, Printing and Publishing Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PPAPPPAPSSAN) an affiliate of TUC, and National Union of Printing, Publishing, and Paper Products Workers (NUPPPPROW), an  affiliate of NLC, are operating,  have explained the reason why the two unions decided to embark on an indefinite industrial action against the management of Global Plus Publishing  Company, being led by Sade Imoagene.

According to the two in-house unions, their singular problem began when they decided to join trade union,  PPAPPPAPSSAN and NUPPPPROW. 

Speaking with allcitynews.ng  during the picketing, the President of Precision, Electrical and Related Equipment Senior Staff Association (PERESSA), Comrade Rufus Olusesan, who led the side of TUC,  explained, "the Managing Director of Global Plus Publishing  Company, Pastor Sade Imoagene violated  Labour laws  on hiring and firing of workers.  She sacked 75 workers in one night because they  exercised their constitutional rights.

"The company has the right to hire and to  fire, but such action must follow due process. As our law, under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) gives every worker the right to freely associate and join trade unions for the protection of their interests, the workers only exercised  this fundamental right to belong to unions for collective bargaining and for their improved working conditions.

"When we wrote to inform her of our demand, she wrote a letter  to  the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Then when the Ministry invited us for a meeting, they told her to meet our demand first before they can intervene. She wrote to beg the Ministry of grace of one more week, and we agreed with that one week when the Ministry informed us of this one week extension. We were however surprised that rather than waiting for the meeting as she requested, she sent sack letters to 75 workers,  so, we  are  not  going to allow her  to treat our members like slaves."

Likewise, the  President of Pulp, Paper and Paper Products, Printing and Publishing Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PPAPPPAPSSAN), Comrade Philip  Omonikhe, stated that the picketing became imperative to make the management team of GPP, reinstate the workers.

On his part, the in-house  Chairman, Comrade  Benjamin Sunday said, "As soon we joined the unions of our choice, the MD started  treating the  workers as if  we  are in slave camp, she transferred me to another company  in River States, to a company that has nothing to do with my printing profession."

And the in-house secretary of the union, Comrade Olarenwaju Abiodun said, "the action of this MD does not portray her as a true representative of Chris Oyakilome. 

"Imagine her giving 75 workers sack letters through personal email. But when she saw the workers are still reporting for duty, though we are sitting under the shade of the big flower trees  outside the fence, she called on Mallam to cut off all the branches so that we  don't  have  any where to stay under this hot sun."

"The problem began when 75 workers joined the unions (NUPPPPROW and PPAPPPAPSSAN) in August 2025 and the Managing Director, Mrs Sade Imoagene, suddenly embarked on  pressurising union members to dismember and kept  harassesing and intimidating the workers, when her pressure did not work on the workers, she carried out oppressive measures which culminated into disengagement.

"What we are waiting for is reinstatement of the 75 workers. And we are using this medium to warn against victimisation of any worker," they said.

TUC members that were sacked are 40 members while 35 workers are members of PPAPPPAPSSA. 

And the two unions vowed to  continue with the picketing until their singular demand, which is  opening gate for the workers is met.

All efforts to get Pastor Sade Imoagene for her own side of the problem failed as she said "I will get back to you," a promise she did not fulfill until  going  to press.