Amid the ongoing Nigeria Labour Congress’ five-day warning strike to protest against mass disengagement of workers and other alleged anti-labour moves by the Kaduna State Government, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria has chosen to engage in dialogue with the state government.
The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, had on Monday led workers in the state on the warning strike to compel Governor Nasir el-Rufai to reverse his decision to sack workers.
The action led to the grounding of economic and social activities in Kaduna, with workers in the railway, aviation, medical and other sectors participating in the protest.
El-Rufai has remained adamant to the NLC call, insisting that the labour union and its protest displayed some unlawful actions, also accusing the union of “shutting down electricity, coercion and restraints of personal freedom, trespass into public facilities and denial of access to healthcare for several of our citizens.”
In a communique issued on Tuesday by the National President of TUC, Quadri Olaleye, the union said the dialogue was undertaken as a fact-finding mission and not intended to undermine the NLC strike.
Part of its resolution in the communique read, “The visit to the Head of Service in Kaduna was not designed, by any means, to undermine the industrial action nor was it meant as a solidarity visit to the state government and should not be taken as such.
“It was principally undertaken as a fact-finding mission and to further engage the state government on the way out through social dialogue that will benefit the workers and people of Kaduna state.”
Other decisions reached, which was a fallout of its National Executive Council meeting, include, “The NLC and TUC are united in arms against exploitation, oppression, victimisation and all acts that enslave the Nigerian worker, as workers are not slaves. The TUC is aware and monitoring the ongoing strike in Kaduna.”
Assuring the workers and the general public that labour unity has not been compromised, the TUC added, “We are in solidarity with the NLC on the strike in Kaduna and we look forward to its early amicable resolution.”
