Kaduna strike to resume-NLC

The Nigeria labour Congress has drawn the attention of federal government to the Kaduna state government’s violation of  memorandum of understanding that led to suspension of the warning strike in the state.

The Congress has threatened  to shut down all economic activities in few days if the needful is not done.

One of the violations is the victimization of workers who participated in the warning strike.

The letter addressed to his excellency reads as follows;

“i bring you fraternal greetings from the Nigeria Labour Congress. We write to convey the deepest appreciation of the entire workforce in Nigeria for the gracious intervention of Mr. President to the recent industrial dispute in Kaduna State occasioned by the decision of the Kaduna State Governor, Mr. Nasir El-Rufai, to arbitrarily sack thousands of workers in the State Public Service without recourse to the provisions of Nigerian laws. Given the fatherly intervention of Your Excellency, Mr. President, the Nigeria Labour Congress immediately suspended our warning strike and embraced the conciliation process brokered by your directives and facilitated by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment. Sequel to a letter addressed to us by the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment and dated May 20, 2021, herewith attached, we wish to draw the attention of Your Excellency, Mr. President, to the following concerns Your Excellency, Mr. President, may recall that the first conciliatory meeting between the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Kaduna State Government took place on May 20, 2021. A major outcome of that meeting was a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Kaduna State Government. The MoU specifically provided that there should be no further victimization and harassment of workers and trade union leaders in the state especially workers who participated in the warning strike. The Nigeria Labour Congress was also expected to maintain the suspension of the strike action while negotiations continued.

To our greatest surprise, after signing the MoU with workers, the Kaduna State Government has gone ahead to impugn all the clauses in the agreement freely entered with the Nigeria Labour Congress. Some of the violations by the Kaduna State Government include as follows:

1. Refusal of the Kaduna State Government to honour/respect the Memorandum of Understanding signed at a meeting brokered by the Minister of Labour and Employment;

2. Continuous violation of workers’ rights as provided in our labour laws;

3. Punitive transfer of the State Chairperson of the NLC;

4. Workers’ victimization by sack for participating in the warning strike;

5. Violation of the “no victimization” clause in the signed agreement:

6. Non- adherence and respect for the rule of law

Your Excellency, Mr. President, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NLC on May 25, 2021 resolved that in case the Kaduna State Government remain adamant and recalcitrant or continues to pursue the path of war, threat and punitive actions against workers and their interests, that it had given the National Administrative Council (NAC) the power to re-activate the suspended industrial action in Kaduna State and also call for the withdrawal of services of all workers in Nigeria without any further notice.”