Strike To Go Ahead As Buhari’s Govt Threatens Workers With “No Work, No Pay”

President Muhammadu Buhari

The strike action called upon by the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, the Trade Union Congress, TUC, and other civil society groups is going ahead on Wednesday and there will be no work, the NLC said on Tuesday evening.

In Lagos, the protests will begin at 6 am at the Nigerian Labour Congress in Yaba area of the State, the Joint Action Forum said in a short statement, calling on Nigerians to disregard government lies that the strike will not hold again.

But the government is threatening workers with “no work, no pay”.
Read its statement below.

PRESS RELEASE — OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERATION
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.

2. 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.
3. 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.”
4. 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