Don’t join nationwide strike, FG warns civil servants
Folasade Yemi-Esan, head of civil service, has warned workers under the federal government not to join the planned strike by labour unions across the country.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and its affiliate unions had enjoined workers to embark on an indefinite strike from Monday, pending when the federal government reverses the price of petrol and electricity tariff.
In a statement on Friday, Yemi-Esan said the federal government is in talks with the labour unions towards ensuring that all agitations by the workers are resolved.
She, however, added that the workers cannot embark on the industrial action because there is a court injunction restraining them from doing so.
“Sequel to the call by the Labour Unions for workers to embark on industrial action from Monday, 28th September, 2020, the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) wishes to inform all public servants that the Federal Government team is currently engaging with the Labour Unions with a view to resolving all contentious issues and avert the planned industrial action,” she said.
“Furthermore, it is important to note that there is a court injunction granted by the National Industrial Court (Suit No. NICN/ABJ/253/2020) on 24th September, 2020, restraining the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria from embarking on any form of industrial action pending the hearing and determination of a Motion on Notice.
“Accordingly, all officers on Grade Level 12 and above and those on essential services are hereby strongly advised to be at work to perform their official duties.”
In two separate rulings on Thursday and Friday, the National Industrial Court had restrained the labour unions from embarking on the strike.
Meanwhile, other groups such as the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE), the Joint Action Front (JAF), Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), aviation unions, among others, have declared their interest to join in the strike.
Instead of all these threats and injunctions: Why can’t both the Unions and the Government operate openly? I mean the Unions call out workers okay. Let the Unions pay the workers Strike Pay for whatever duration the walkout lasts. Where it is the Government that locks out the workers then the Government sustains their pay until the cause is resolved. After-all there are Union check-offs paid to the Unions where are all these Funds?