NLC To Resume Kaduna Strike, Directs Affiliate Unions To Mobilise

By John Ikani

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said it will resume its suspended industrial action in Kaduna State.

It has also directed its State councils and affiliate unions to mobilise for the latest action.

The directive was given by President of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba during a press conference after an emergency National Executive Council meeting of the congress on Tuesday in Abuja.

Wabba accused the State Governor, Nasir El – Rufai of failing to respect the Memorandum of Understanding brokered between the NLC and the state government by the Federal Government.

He said the congress, after exhausting all avenues, including writing letters to President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, the Union has decided to resume the strike.

About the agreement

The NLC and Kaduna State Government both reached an agreement in may on plans by the state government to lay off workers.

Part of the agreement stipulates that the Kaduna government will follow due process and the “principle of redundancy,” as stipulated in Section 20 of the Labour Act, in its Public Service Revitalization and Renewal Programme, which is expected to lead to the retrenchment and sack of workers.

Both parties also agreed that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) will no longer continue with its industrial action while no worker shall be victimized by the state government on account of his or her participation in the industrial action.

In the agreement signed by both parties and the representative of the federal government, it was resolved that it is the right of an employer to retrench workers. But in doing so, due process, especially the principle of redundancy, must be followed strictly.

“It was resolved that the principle of redundancy as stated in section 20 of Labour Act, Cap L 1 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) should apply,” the agreement reads.

The agreement was signed by Bariatu Mohammed, Head of Service, Kaduna State; Ayuba Wabba, President NLC; Ja’afaru Sani, Commissioner of Local Government Kaduna State; Najeem Usman, Deputy President NLC; Omoabie Akpan, Director Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations; and Muoneke Aloy, Director Finance and Accounts, representing the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour.