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Strike: Respect rule of law – FG warns Labour Unions

Published

9 years ago

May 18, 2016

Strike: Respect rule of law – Babachir Lawal warns NLC

The federal government has threatened to invoke the provision of “no work no pay” in respect of any staff who joins the ongoing strike.

The strike was organised by the Nigeria Labour congress [NLC] and their counterpart, the Trade Union Congress [TUC].

The Labour Unions are protesting the recent increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit [PMS], otherwise known as petrol.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal [above], in a statement on Tuesday evening, said that the government will guarantee the safety of workers and their work places.

He also expects that normal work will continue in the interest of the nation.

Mr Lawal warned that acts of intimidation, harassment, including barricading of gates, locking up of offices and preventing workers from their duties will be resisted.

Read below the full text of the statement by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation is reproduced:

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERATION

Proposed Indefinite Strike Action By The Nigeria Labour Congress

PRESS RELEASE: 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

NLC and its counterpart, the Trade Union Congress [TUC] had commenced a nationwide strike on Wednesday, May 18 after talks between the federal government and the Ayuba Wabba-led NLC ended in a deadlock.

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