After the Nigerian federal government on Wednesday, May 11, removed subsidy on fuel with immediate effect. The sale of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol increased from N87 to N145 per litre.
The petroleum minister, Ibe Kachikwu in a statement said the decision was taken based on the current challenges and that Nigerians have been paying exorbitant prices for fuel. This however didn’t go down well with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), who vowed to go on strike to force the federal government to revert to the former pump price of petrol after walking out of a meeting held with the representatives of the government. NLC said they were angered by the decision of the Federal Government to proceed to court, despite existing negotiation which was at the instance of the government.
The action of the NLC followed the failure of the parties to resolve the dispute over the increase of the pump price of petroleum by the federal government. However the presidency released a statement through Babachir David Lawal, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) on the indefinite strike action by the NLC.
Below are 7 things the presidency said in reaction to NLC’s indefinite strike:
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Accordingly, security agencies have been directed to ensure unimpeded access to offices, work places and markets.
4. 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.
5. 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’.
6. 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.
7. Attendance registers are required to be opened in all ministries, departments and agencies.
Be warned..!
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