NLC-Kaduna Govt. Face-Off: FG Sets Up 10-man Resolution Committee

BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – Following its intervention in the face-off betwwen the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Kaduna State Government over the sacking of civil servants in the state, the Federal Government has constituted a 10-man committee to resolve all the issues that led to the strike that paralyzed activities in the state.

The NLC had on Monday commenced a five-day warning strike over the sack of 4000 workers by Kaduna State Government. The strike paralyzed activities in the state just as Governor Nasir El-Rufai declared the President of the NLC wanted over what he described as economic sabotage but was unable to arrest the labour chief who led thousands of workers to stage a peaceful protest on the streets of Kaduna town.

But coming out of a meeting called by the Federal Government to resolve the impasse that led to the strike, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, announced the setting up of the committee with the NLC and representatives of Kaduna State Government on Thursday in Abuja.

The minister said that the meeting recognised that the impasse was caused by communication gap between the two parties.

Ngige also said that the meeting resolved to constitute a Bi-partite Committee comprising of six representatives of the State Government and three officials of the NLC who are expected to engage further with the objective of reverting with a work plan on how to integrate the provision of section 20 of the Labour Act CAP LFN 2004 with a view to resolving the impasse between the Kaduna State Government and the NLC.

According to the Minister of Labour; “The meeting also resolved that the Committee should have as Chairman, the Head of Service of the Kaduna State Government and assisted by a Deputy National President of the NLC.

“The Committee is expected to revert with the work plan for peaceful resolution of all issues in contention to the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment by Tuesday, May 24”.

The Labour Minister further explained that the work plan is to itemize the structure and sub-structure in the State and Local Government activities, adding that it also include the time of commencement and envisaged final tenure of the Committee.

Ngige also said that the committee can also recommendations if in its wisdom it thinks it should be a Permanent Standing Committee.

The minister said meeting agreed that there shall be no further industrial action on the issues, stressing that on no account shall any worker be victimized on account of his or her participation in the Industrial action.

The NLC had accused the Governor Nasir El-Rufai-led government in Kaduna State of acting arbitrarily in sacking workers without recourse to the provisions of the law and also said that the governor in particular was treating workers like slaves among other allegations of highhandedness.