Labour Defy Court, Embark On Strike In Kwara
Workers in Kwara State under the aegis of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), on Tuesday, embarked on strike in defiance to a court order which prohibited the industrial action.
The strike paralysed activities in state government ministries, institutions and local government councils.
There were reports of invasion of Kwara State Labour House in Ilorin by suspected thugs who demanded an end to the industrial action.
The leadership of NLC and TUC under the Joint Kwara Labour Congress had on October 12 issued a notice to workers under the state and local governments’ employment to embark on the strike.
The notice was signed by the Kwara State NLC Chairman, Aliyu Issa Ore; Ag, State Chairman, TUC, Ezekiel A. Adegoke and State Chairman (JNC-TUS), Salium O. Suleiman.
It reads: “This is to inform all workers in the State Public Service and the LGs that at the close of work on Monday, 12 October 2020, if the Kwara State Govenrment fails to meet the demands of the workers, which include the signing and implementation of the new minimum wage of N30,000.000 to all categaories of workers of the state and LGs as well as pensioners in the state and LGs, all the workers should as from Tuesday, 13 October, 2020 commence industrial action.”
The notice also directed every worker to remain at home and warned that any worker found in any ministry or office will be seriously dealt with.
It added that no worker should come to work until they were directed by the leadership of the labour movement.
It also promised that the leadership of the labour unions will make sure that nobody will be victimised or harrassed by government as a result of the strike.
It said, “Consequently, the state Council of the NLC, TUC, and JNC-TUS, hereby call on workers to please cooperate and actively participate in this struggle in other to achieve the desired success.
But the National Industrial Court, Akure Division in Ondo State had on Monday granted an exparte order restraining the labour unions from embarking on the strike.
The Presiding Judge, Justice D.K. Damulak granted the order.
He granted among other reliefs, an order of interim injuction restraining “the defendants/respondents jointly and severally by themselves, their agents, servants, employees, workmen, privies, or authoritis howsoever described from declaring any strike or industrial action or embarking on the planned industrial action of any nature effective on the 12th and/or 13th day of October, 2020 or at any other date pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injduction.”
He also granted an order restraining the defendants from taking further steps in respect of the subject matter of the suit pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice and another order for substituted services of the originating summons and any order of the court.
The Kwara State Government had through the State Attorney General asked the court to declare that the LG is a separate tier of government with its own financial autonomy and which wages should be determined by the state government, irrespective of some oversight powers of the state government on LGs, as the Federal Government has some oversight powers on the state.
Defendants in the suit include the NLC, TUC, Joint Negotiation Committee; Aliyu Issa Ore (Kwara State NLC Chairman); Ezekeil Adegoke (State TUC Chairman) and Salium Suleiman (JNC Chairman)
The court had adjourned to october 20 for hearing of the motion.
The Kwara State Government had through the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaiye, said the state government and the labour unions had always had a good relation and would find amicable resolution of the labour concerns.
Comments are closed.