Federal Government on Thursday declared the proposed nationwide strike scheduled for Friday, 15th September, 2017 declared by workers under the aegis of United Labour Congress (ULC) as illegal.
The Congress headed by Joe Ajaero, General Secretary of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and Igwe Achese, President of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), had threatened to embark on nationwide strike as from Friday, 15th September, 2017.
According to ULC National Executive Council, workers in four critical sectors of the Nigerian economy namely: oil and gas companies, telecommunication, aviation and electricity sectors will shut down operation if all its demands are not met.
Some of the demands include: embark on immediate review of the Privatisation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN); immediate withdrawal of Army and Police from workplaces and factory premises and immediate inauguration of the national minimum wage negotiating committee in line with the above so that it can commence sitting instantly.
The Congress also demanded for immediate payment of all the arrears of salaries owed Nigerian workers at all levels of Government without exception; implementation of 2009 agreement with University Lecturers under the umbrella of ASUU and immediate repair of all roads leading to all the petroleum refineries and Depots nationwide.
While responding to the planned strike, Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment who issued the directive warned that government “will not fold her hands and allow group of persons take the law into their hands by brazenly threatening to commit economic sabotage by shutting down essential services in the oil and gas, power and aviation sectors as threatened by the promoters of ULC.”
The Minister who reacted to the threat notice issued by the yet to be registered Trade Union Centre, who frowned at the development, urged members of the Trade Unions who are sympathetic to ULC to go about “their duties in the interest of a peaceful industrial relations environment and for the good of our national economy. Government will ensure security in all work places.”
While acknowledging that a “group of (12) Trade Unions can coalesce to form a Federation of Trade Unions in line with Section 35(1b) of the Trade Union Act, Cap T14 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004.
To this end, the Mimister urged the ” promoters of ULC should fulfill this requirement to qualify to be registered. To call out workers on “Essential Services” for a national strike without any major trade dispute with their direct employers will be tantamount to blatant violation of our extant Labour Laws and International Labour Standards.”
Ngige said: “Our immediate reaction is to remind the promoters of this Association that they are not yet a Federal Government recognized Federation of Trade Unions and hence cannot speak on behalf of any Trade Union.”
Didi Adodo, ULC General Secretary had in a statement issued on Wednesday noted that the “official response we received from the Federal Government on this matter vide a letter from the federal Ministry of Labour fell grossly short of addressing the issues raised by us and which warranted an ultimatum in the first instance.
“Congress therefore held an emergency meeting which deliberated on the said letter and was roundly found unsatisfactory and therefore unacceptable by the organ of the federation as our demands were not met. It therefore resolved to press on with the strike thus issued a final strike notice in fulfilment of the relevant statutes and traditions of engagement within the nation’s industrial relations space.
“Mobilisation still continues nationwide as State councils and affiliates are at red alert to ensure that if the federal Government remains unbending to our demands, we shall unfortunately be forced to embark on a compelling total strike across the nation which will be part of our contribution to governance effectiveness in Nigeria.”
The Congress also demanded for release of registration certificate of the ULC; immediate inclusion of all representatives of labour in the various committees, Agencies and Directorates of Government and not singling out just one centre for these purposes negating the tenets of the nation’s Laws;
To this end, the Congress warned that “if these demands are not met on or before Friday the 15th of September, the ULC shall embark on industrial actions to assist your Government respect the interests of workers and the citizenry.”
KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja
