Labour Goes On With Strike Despite Court Order

Labour Goes On With Strike Despite Court Order

Despite attempts by the Federal Government to halt the planned strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress, the leadership of the NLC vows to go ahead with the nationwide strike today.

The representatives of the Trade Union Congress however receded from the planned strike.

After the meeting, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, leading the delegation from the Federal government, said:

The National Industrial Court has given an injunction that no strike by NLC and TUC should hold tomorrow. It is therefore clear that anyone embarking on strike tomorrow is doing so illegally and government is assuring all Nigerians to come out and do their jobs tomorrow.

It is the duty of government to provide security for her citizens and anyone who tries to coerce any worker to do their bidding would be made to face the law of the land. We had full cooperation with the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria and they said they are not going on strike. For them, it is a complete return to work tomorrow (Wednesday). It is not the same with the NLC however. They have two factions, one agreed completely with the position of the TUC.

The Federal Government has in response to that, threatened to apply the 'no-work-no-pay- principle to workers who refuse to obey the court order.

Lawal added:

Government undertakes to guarantee the safety of workers and their workplaces, 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, workplaces and markets.

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 member who absents himself or herself from work to join the strike.

Attendance registers are required to be opened in all ministries, departments and agencies.

The NLC said it arrived at its decision following the Federal Government's failure to agree on reverting the price from N145 to N86.50K.