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Nigeria invokes "No work, no pay" policy to counter strike

Irate Nigerians, from students to public and private sectors take to the streets in Lagos 

What you need to know:

The SGF ordered ministers, permanent secretaries and heads of government agencies to enforce the directive and open attendance registers in their sections.


Lagos. (NMG) The Nigeria government says it will invoke the "no work, no pay" policy on anyone going on strike against a court order.

The directive was contained in a Tuesday night statement signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Babachir Lawal.

The SGF ordered ministers, permanent secretaries and heads of government agencies to enforce the directive and open attendance registers in their sections.

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Private sector

"This notice is regrettably given in spite of an order by the Industrial Court against the strike action.

"All workers, whether in public or private sector, are reminded of the Trade Dispute Act,'' the statement read.

"'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.”

Unimpeded access

Mr Lawal said the security agencies had been directed to ensure unimpeded access to work places and markets.

He assured that acts of intimidation, harassment, including barricading of gates, locking up of offices and blocking of roads would be met with appropriate response by the law enforcement agencies. 

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) vowed to ignore a court order halting a strike against petrol price hike.

However, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and some NLC affiliates have backed out of the industrial action that was set to begin Wednesday.

Minimum wage

LC faction representatives led by Mr Ayuba Wabba, walked out of the meeting with the government on Tuesday night, insisting they would not relent on the demand for the reversal of the increase in petrol price.

But government has yielded some grounds to the NLC faction led by Mr Joe Ajaero, after it backed out of the strike.

The government has set up a committee to discuss the way forward, including increase in minimum wage.

 

In the headlines