BY Samuel Akpan
The Kaduna government has condemned the industrial action embarked upon by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state.
TheCable had reported that there was no activity in several schools and hospitals in Kaduna on Monday, as the NLC commenced its five-day warning strike in the state.
In April, Nasir el-Rufai, Kaduna governor, disengaged 4,000 workers across the 23 LGAs, citing the state’s high wage bill as the reason for the decision.
The decision, however, did not go down well with the NLC as workers resolved to ground activities.
But in a statement on Monday, the Kaduna government described the strike as a “campaign of sabotage, not an industrial action”.
According to the statement issued by Muyiwa Adekeye, media adviser to the governor, the strike has brought unnecessary hardship to the citizens who cannot access basic services.
He said the strike is a “needless exercise in futility,” adding that the government will not back down on its decision.
“The Kaduna State Government has said that the conditions that compelled its decision to rightsize have not been altered by the NLC’s campaign of economic and social sabotage,” the statement reads.
“The unlawful actions and reckless statements that define the NLC’s assault on the rights of the people of Kaduna State, are a needless exercise in futility.
“Desperate actions undertaken by the NLC today include unlawful trespass on government facilities, and attempts to prevent officers from signing attendance registers.
“Despite these actions, the state government has guaranteed access to the State Secretariat and other government offices.
“In addition to shutting down electricity, the NLC has also shut healthcare access for several of our citizens. They have closed several hospitals and chased away the patients.
“General hospitals in Kawo, Tudun-Wada, Kafanchan, Giwa, Rigasa, Kakuri and Sabon Tasha were illegally locked. They also shut rural hospitals and primary health centres in Kwoi, Turunku and other locations across the state. Preventing patients from receiving treatment in public health facilities certainly does not qualify as a pro-people action.
“The State Government is documenting all these violations of the Miscellaneous Offences Act and the Trade Union Act. The government shares the pain of the people of Kaduna State amidst the avalanche of unlawful conduct by the NLC and appeals to all residents to remain calm and vigilant.
“It should be obvious that the resort to coercion and imposition of restraints on the personal freedom and comfort of citizens confirm that this is a campaign of sabotage, not an industrial action.”
Adekeye said the government will not be deterred by the action of the unions to stop providing basic services to the citizens.
He added that “all officers from GL 14 upwards are expected at their duty posts as usual”.
The state also commended the Trade Union Congress (TUC) for its “constructive attitude” of meeting with Bariatu Mohammed, Kaduna head of civil service, on the matter.
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