Meanwhile in preparation for the November 6 proposed nationwide strike, The NLC advised Nigerians to start stocking food and other necessities of life
James Ojo, Abuja and Bimbola Oyesola, Lagos
The highest decision making organ of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the NEC-in-Session yesterday, resolved to serve the Federal Government a formal notice of its impending nationwide strike over minimum wage impasse.
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A communique issued at the end of its emergency meeting and signed by NLC President, Ayuba Wabba and General Secretary, Peter Ozo-Eson, directed all affiliate unions, state councils, civil society allies, the informal sector and other friends of workers and lovers of democracy to commence immediate mobilisation of their members.
“This communique serves as formal notice to government that the NLC will commence an indefinite nationwide strike and industrial action from November 6, 2018; except government accepts and commences the process of perfecting the payment of N30,000 as the new national minimum wage on or before that date,” the NEC warned.
Before the commencement of the strike, the Union resolved to hold joint organ meetings of the Central Working Committees (CWCs) of all the Labour Centres on November 2, for final preparations for a full engagement with government on the national minimum wage.
NEC berated the Minister of Labour, Mr. Chris Ngige, accusing him of twisting the truth by misinforming the public that the meetings of October 4 and 5, 2018 were inconclusive as members of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage did not agree on a figure.
READ ALSO: Minimum wage: FG’s proposed figure is N24,000 – Ngige
Also, the NEC stated that it was disturbed by government’s new offensive against Organised Labour and workers’ rights as contained in a report submitted to the Federal Executive Council by the Minister of Labour and Employment and on which government has issued a White Paper on “No work, no pay”.
“This latest posture by government is an attempt to cow workers into submission as well as stop labour from protesting against Government’s delay on the new national minimum wage.
“The NEC noted that Government’s assault to clamp down on labour via selective and erroneous invocation of the ‘no work, no pay” clause in the Trade Disputes Act, is both a human and trade union right and cannot be abridged as it is what distinguishes a worker from a slave. There is nothing new about this clause as it has been in our statutes for over forty years,” the communique stated.
The NEC, accordingly, resolved that the threat of “no work, no pay” will not deter it from embarking on strike when necessary as it has always complied with legal requirements precedent and will always comply with those requirements. Therefore, it directed Nigerian workers to disregard government’s directive on “No work, no pay” because workers are already being impoverished and being owed arrears of salaries.
The NEC observed that government’s designs to influence the tenure of union executives and membership of unions negotiating teams, constitute a direct interference in the internal affairs of the unions which is in direct contravention of Articles 3, 4 and 8 of ILO Convention 87 (to which Nigeria is a signatory since 1960).
Meanwhile in preparation for the November 6 proposed nationwide strike, The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday advised Nigerians to start stocking food and other necessities of life at home.
The NLC in a communique issued at the end of its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Tuesday warned that the workers will ensure a total shutdown of the country.
Nigerians were asked to start stocking food and other necessities of life as workers will ensure a total shutdown of the country.
The communique was signed by NLC President Ayuba Wabba and Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, the General Secretary.