NLC writes Buhari over planned nationwide crisis over Kaduna govt’s recalcitrance

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari over non-implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Kaduna State government.

The NLC also threatened a fresh nationwide strike in a letter addressed to President on Friday in Abuja.

A copy of the petition made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) showed that the NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, signed the letter.

“Your Excellency, Mr President, may recall that the first conciliatory meeting between the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Kaduna State Government took place on May 20, 2021. A major outcome of that meeting was a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU} signed by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Kaduna State government.

“The MoU specifically provided that there should be no further victimisation and harassment of workers and trade union leaders in the state especially workers who participated in the warning strike. The Nigeria Labour Congress was also expected to maintain the suspension of the strike action while negotiations continued. To our greatest surprise, after signing the MoU with workers, the Kaduna State Government has gone ahead to impugn all the clauses in the agreement freely entered with the Nigeria Labour Congress,” he said.

Wabba said that some of the violations by the Kaduna State Government included the refusal of the state government to honour/respect the MoU signed at a meeting brokered by the Minister of Labour and Employment.

He also noted that others were the continuous violation of workers’ rights as provided in our labour laws, punitive transfer of the State Chairperson of the NLC.

He also said workers’ victimisation by sack for participating in the warning strike and violation of the “no victimisation” clause in the signed agreement.

”Non-adherence and respect for the rule of law,” he added.

“Your Excellency, Mr President, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NLC on May 25, resolved that in case the Kaduna State Government remain adamant and recalcitrant or continues to pursue the path of war, threat and punitive actions against workers and their interests.

“That it had given the National Administrative Council (NAC) the power to re-activate the suspended industrial action in Kaduna State and also cail for the withdrawal of all workers in Nigeria without any further notice,”  the petition read.

▪︎ Report by NAN