The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has kicked against the Federal Government’s newly adopted National Industrial Relations Policy aimed at criminalising strike actions by trade unions.
Describing the new policy as “reprehensible”, the NLC condemned it, stating that among the catalogue of hundreds of workplace issues contained in the National Industrial Relations Policy, the Federal Government singled out industrial strikes as its major problem.
In a statement signed by NLC President, Joe Ajaero, the labour movement assured of its readiness to remain watchful on its mandate of protecting the rights, interests and hard-won industrial liberty guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution.
He decried the usage of strong-arm tactics to overturn popular decisions reached through a process of tripartism and social dialogue.He recalled that there were attempts during the development of the National Industrial Relations Policy for Nigeria to insert certain clauses in the policy that criminalised strike actions.
“The trade unions, the employers, and even the representatives of the Federal Ministry of Labour rejected such insertions as anomalous to the 1999 Constitution and the Trade Unions Act, which gives trade unions the power to withdraw their services in line with the law.
“It appears to us that there are personalities in the corridors of power who want to enjoy the fruits of constitutional governance and, at the same time, reject the principles of constitutionality, the rule of law, and respect for international labour standards.
“The right of a worker and trade unions to withdraw their services is fundamental and inalienable. That a government is celebrating the clandestine insertion of such a toxic clause in a National Industrial Relations Policy, which, anyway, is inferior to the Constitution and Trade Union Act, reveals the depth of mischief that some people in government can sink just to feed their fantasy on chains and whips,” he said.
Recall that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) last week approved the policy, which was presented by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, explained that the National Industrial Relations Policy for the country stems from the need to have a guiding policy document aimed at fostering harmonious industrial relations within the workplace for both employers and employees.
He said: “This policy is essential for regulating the conduct of the various trade unions within the industrial relations space in the country.
“This is due to frequent industrial actions over the years caused by the lack of a comprehensive national policy.
FEC looked at that and came up with approval for this policy, brought up by the Minister of Labour and Employment. The policy will ensure a seamless workload, promote social dialogue and tripartite cooperation among government employers and workers, and also align Nigeria’s industrial relations practices with global standards, including those set by the International Labour Organisation, while underscoring the importance of maintaining industrial relations as a national priority that requires immediate and ongoing attention,” he explained.
He recalled that the Nigerian government had previously enacted well-crafted laws to govern the industrial relations landscape between labour and employers, with the government serving as the regulator.
However, he said the implementation fell short of expectations, as many provisions in the laws are often disregarded by the parties involved, hence the need for a national policy that is comprehensive.
