ABUJA – By Paul Efiong As the Ayuba Wabba-led faction of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, begins a nationwide strike Wednesday morning, the Federal Government has warned workers against participating in any illegal strike.
A statement by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, advised all workers to respect the rule of law.
The Industrial Arbitration Court had earlier on Tuesday, ordered that the NLC should stay action on the proposed strike pending the hearing of the case before it filed by the Attorney -General of the Federation, AGF, Abubakar Malami.
The AGF had approached the court to restrain the NLC from going ahead with the strike, positing that it would affect the nation’s economy.
In a statement issued Tuesday evening, the SGF, said acts of intimidation, harassment, including barricading of gates, locking up of offices and preventing workers from carrying out their lawful duties will be met with appropriate response by security operatives.
The federal government has also directed all ministers, permanent secretaries and heads of government agencies to invoke the provision of “no work no pay” in respect of any staff who is absent.
The SGF’s statement reads in full:
“The attention of all Public Officers is drawn to the notice issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to embark on an indefinite strike from Wednesday, 18th May, 2016.
This notice is regrettably given in spite of an Order by the Industrial Court against the strike action.
Government, therefore, calls upon and advises all workers to respect the laws of the land and to desist from participating in an illegal strike action.
Government undertakes to guarantee the safety of workers and their work places, and expects that normal work will continue in the interest of the nation.
Accordingly, security agencies have been directed to ensure unimpeded access to offices, work places and markets. Acts of intimidation, harassment, including barricading of gates, locking up of offices, blocking of roads and preventing workers from carrying out their lawful duties will be met with appropriate response by the law enforcement agencies.
All workers, whether in public or private sector are further reminded of the Trade Dispute Act, 2004, which provides that ‘where any worker takes part in a strike, he shall not be entitled to any wages or remuneration for the period of the strike and any such period shall not count for the purpose of reckoning the period of continuous employment and all rights dependent on continuity of employment shall be prejudicially affected accordingly’.
Accordingly, all Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Government Agencies are hereby directed to invoke the provision of ‘no work no pay’ in respect of any staff who absents him or herself from work to join the strike action.
Attendance registers are required to be opened in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
Engineer Babachir David Lawal
Secretary to the Government of the Federation
Meanwhile, the meeting between the Wabba-led NLC was deadlocked as the delegation walked out of the negotiation following the inability of the two parties to reach an agreement.
However, the federal government had earlier reached an agreement with the Joe Ajaero-led faction of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
The meeting agreed to set up a committee to resolve agitations over the new pump price of petrol. The committee is to submit its report in two weeks.
