Tag: strike

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Strike: ESUTH resident doctors issue 10-point resolution for implementation

FG proposes 65 yrs retirement age for doctors, healthworkers

The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH), Parklane, says it has taken a 10-point resolution for implementation by Enugu State Government through the teaching hospital authorities.

This is contained in a communiqué issued to newsmen on Tuesday at the end of the emergency general meeting of the ARD of ESUTH, Parklane in Enugu held on Aug. 2.

The communiqué was signed by its President, Dr Emmanuel Edoga and the association’s General Secretary, Dr Chukwunonso Ofonere.

The communiqué urged the hospital management to urgently employ a minimum of 50 new house officers, adding that these house officers could be recruited from newly inducted medical doctors from ESUT College of Medicine.

The statement said that the hospital management should urgently engage new residents in the following departments: Surgery, Psychiatry, Anaethesia, Ophthalmology, Paediatrics, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Radiology and Otorhinolaryngology.

According to him, the ARD of ESUTH Parklane has since declared a State of Emergency in ESUT-Teaching Hospital due to the chronic paucity of doctors.

“Third, that the management of ESUTH Parklane should properly place the remaining stagnated medical officers in terms of seniority and arrears paid.

“Fourth, that the management of ESUTH Parklane should pay outstanding advancement arrears owed our members.

“Fifth, that the post part 1 senior Registrars be immediately advanced, and all arrears owed them paid.

“Sixth, that the management of ESUTH Parklane should immediately review the procedures and terms for refunds of update and exam expenses, to closely align with the provisions of Medical Residency Training Funds (MRTF).

“It is being implemented in Federal Tertiary Health – Page 2 of 3- Institutions and in some State Tertiary Health Institutions, like in Benue, Gombe and Delta States,” it said.

The statement called on the management of ESUTH Parklane to commence the process for the full implementation of MRTF should commence in earnest.

It said: “That the Management of ESUTH Parklane should commence the process of review of hazard allowance for all health workers in the hospital, to align with what is being proposed for Federal tertiary hospitals.

“That the Chief Medical Director should please desist from issuing queries to the leadership of ARD-ESUTH for lawful actions taken by the Congress of the association. Such queries are considered highly provocative.

“To ensure improved Internal Revenue Generation and ensure actualisation of the 2021-2024 Strategic Plan for ESUTH Parklane, the Congress will commence regular scored appraisals of progress made in the implementation of the laudable plan”.

Apart from the resolution, the communiqué regretted the inconveniences and suffering that the actions which the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) had been forced to take was causing Nigerians.

“We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that ESUT-TH Parklane stands tall as a centre for excellence in healthcare, not just East of the Niger but South of the Sahara,” it added.

ARD of ESUTH-TH on Monday, Aug. 2, joined their colleagues nationwide in the ongoing resident doctors’ strike that had entered its second day.

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Resident doctors declare indefinite nationwide strike from Monday

Strike: It has been series of unfulfilled promises - LASUTH doctors

The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has called on its members to proceed on an indefinite nationwide strike, beginning from Monday, Aug. 2.

The President of the association, Dr Okhuaihesuyi Uyilawa, said this on Saturday, while briefing newsmen on the resolutions reached at its just-concluded 2021 National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, held in Umuahia, Abia state capital.

Uyilawa said the strike became unavoidable after the expiration of 113 days ultimatum earlier issued to state and federal governments to address the issues of welfare, training and service delivery by resident doctors.

The group accused the Federal Government of insincerity in implementing its promises to resident doctors as contained in the Memorandum of Actions signed before the ultimatum was issued.

“NEC therefore unanimously resolved by vote to resume total and indefinite strike from 8am on Monday, Aug. 2,” the group said.

It also demanded the immediate withdrawal of the circular removing house officers from the scheme of service by the Head of Service of the Federation.

While reaffirming its unequivocal commitment to the smooth running of the nation’s health sector, it said, however, “we can only discharge our responsibilities to Nigerians when our lives and welfare are given desired attention.”

The NADR president apologised to Nigerians over the association’s decision to shut down medical services in public health institutions across the country.

He said the only solution to the incessant strikes was for government to be sincere and responsive to their demands for better conditions of service and workplace infrastructure.

The association decried what it described as the “poor condition of its members” in the employ of the governments of Abia, Imo, Ondo and Ado Ekiti.

It expressed regret that resident doctors in those states were being owed salaries for 19, seven, four and two months, respectively.

It further expressed deep worry over the failure by most state governments to domesticate the Medical Residency Training (MRT) Act 2017.

The group commended the Delta, Benue and Lagos State Governments for blazing the trail in adopting the Act and urged others to tow the same path of honour.

It, however, expressed concern that the federal government is yet to disburse the MRT Funds, in spite its being captured in the supplementary budget.

It further expressed worry over government’s silence on the non-payment of the Minimum Wage Consequential Adjustment as well as the shortfall to its members.

The association also decried government’s failure to review the N5,000 hazard allowance, non-remittance of dues and non-payment of the COVID-19 inducement allowances to its members.

It said that the acute shortfall in the manpower of its members in public health institutions, made worse by the sustained brain drain in the medical profession, was having a “burn off” effect on its members.

The NARD president said that 50 member chapters of the association attended the week-long meeting with the theme: “The Nigerian doctor: an endangered specie grappling with a pandemic, poor workplace infrastructure and security threats”.

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EDUCATION HEADLINES NEWS & LIFE

FG directs NARD, JOHESU to withdraw strike notices

Strike: It has been series of unfulfilled promises - LASUTH doctors

The Federal Government has directed the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) to withdraw their strike notices immediately.

Sen. Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment said this at a news conference in Abuja on Friday.

Ngige was addressing newsmen at the end of a meeting with the Presidential Committee on Salaries, relevant Federal Government stakeholders and health sector professional associations and trade unions.

He said that the Federal Government was recently issued notice of trade disputes by NARD and JOHESU.

“I told them to withdraw because it is arm-twisting. It is not allowed in International Labour Organisation Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBAs) negotiation. So, we expect them to withdraw those notices they gave.

ALSO READ: Nasarawa health workers will not call off strike – Official

“JOHESU gave 15-day ultimatum with effect from June 28. NARD gave 28-day ultimatum from when the day they had their National Executive Council.

”Those things are arm twisting and I told them that they must withdraw them because the issues they are bringing in here are tangential issues.

”They have nothing to do with this discussion on fixing a new hazard allowance for health professionals and workers,” he said.

The minister said that the Federal Government would take the final decision on the new hazard allowance for health workers.

He said that the government’s side allowed enough time for the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and JOHESU to harmonise their different positions on the hazard allowance but they were not able to do so.

He, however, said the matter would be returned to the National Salaries, Wages and Incomes Commission (NSWIC) and the Presidential Committee on Salaries to decide on the new hazard allowance for health professionals and workers.

According to Ngige, the government is treading cautiously in order not to be seen as trying to stampede the health workers since the matter concerns money.

“We will have separated them into JOHESU and NMA but that will give us much problem in terms of the implementation of whatever we agree on.

“So, we are taking them jointly and it is yielding fruits now. The two big bodies have given their final positions. The government has taken their final positions back.

”We have also allowed them time to see if they can discuss among themselves like they did just before COVID-19 and we came out with COVID-19 allowance.

“We have given them that time to see if they can meet and harmonise their positions but they are not able to do so.

“We are adjourning this meeting sine die for the government side to look at those two positions to see whether we can do a middle of the road within our organ, the NSIWC, which by its mandate, is the government organ that fixes salaries, wages, allowances and remuneration,” he said.

Ngige recalled that the Federal Government earlier offered the health workers 300 per cent increment on hazard allowances, which amounted to N37.5 billion.

He said that they were trying to work within that realm of N37.5 billion, following inability of the unions to harmonise their different positions.

“It is a teething problem because everybody has CBAs and we are now renegotiating the CBAs.

”There are CBAs in 2006, 2009, 2013 and even court pronouncements by the National Industrial Court, especially on work value and equal pay. These are things we will put in a basket and decide,” he added.

Those present at the meeting were the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Enahire; Ministers of State, Clems Agba (Finance Budget and Planning) and Olorunimbe Mamora (Health).

Others are the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Abdulaziz Abdulahi and his Labour and Employment counterpart, Peter Yerima-Tarfa.

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EDUCATION NEWS & LIFE

Nasarawa health workers will not call off strike – Official

Strike: It has been series of unfulfilled promises - LASUTH doctors

The Coalition of Nasarawa State Health Professionals Association (CNSHPA)will mot call off its strike inspite of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government to end the action.

Mr Kyari Caleb, Spokesperson of CNSHPA, made this known while briefing newsmen on Friday in Lafia.

Caleb, who is also the Chairman, Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, explained that the coalition began the strike on June 7.

He said that the organised labour declared an indefinite strike on June 15.

”Government engaged the coalition and organised labour, but we backed out because we were not satisfied with what was being offered by the government.

”The government failed to implement the outstanding promotions of our members inspite of an agreement with the union in 2020.

”Based on that experience in 2020, the government should implement our promotion arrears immediately in the current month of June, before we call off the strike” he said.

He, therefore, distanced the coalition from any MoU with the state government to suspend the strike.

”The decision to embark on the strike, is a collective one. Our members will continue to stay at home until the government does the needful.

”Some of our demands include, implementation of promotions for more than 10 years, implement N30, 000 minimum wage for members and pay annual increment among others,” he added.

In a swift reaction, the Deputy Governor of Nasarawa, Dr Emmanuel Akabe said the government was determined to resolve all issues that led to the strike amicably with the organised labour.

”Government has made an offer to the organised labour and the MoU would be signed today (Friday). I wonder affiliates of the union are being indifferent,” he said.

He, therefore, appealed to the organised labour to put its house in order for the overall development of the state.

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More reactions trail JUSUN strike suspension

More reactions trail JUSUN strike suspension
JUSUN

The suspension of the 64-day-old nationwide strike embarked upon by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, has been received with mixed feelings in Abuja.

Some lawyers described the suspension as a welcome development, owing to the strategic importance of the judiciary, others expressed the reservation that since all issues which warranted the strike have not been fully resolved, it would be too early to celebrate.

The strike, the longest industrial action in the Nigerian judiciary was suspended on Wednesday, following a meeting between officials of the union and the National Judicial Council (NJC) led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad.

Both parties agreed that the strike should be called off in the interest of the nation and to give room for the implementation of agreements JUSUN reached with the Federal Government.

NAN reports that courts are to re-open on June 14.

A Lagos-based Lawyer, Victor Opara, said:”JUSUN through the strike, has sensitised the public on the challenges the judiciary is facing for not being autonomous.

“They brought awareness to the fact that judicial autonomy and judicial awareness is something that we need, and that will augur well for the administration of justice.

“They have been able to sensitize lawyers and stakeholders that autonomy and independence, as is constitutionally provided for, is something that should be adhered to.

“From what we read, they have been able to get some concessions and some state governors who have hitherto exhibited a lackadaisical attitude to it sat down at the round table to discuss it.

” At least some agreements were reached, and a window for implementation decided upon”.

Opara,however, advised parties to be faithful to the agreement signed.

“If an agreement has been signed, it remains for the parties to be faithful to that agreement.

“Any departure from that would suggest that one party is simply reneging on that agreement”.

However, Chudi Ojuwku, who spent over two decades teaching at the Nigerian Law School shared a different opinion on the benefits of the JUSUN strike.

“The truth of the matter is that at the end of the day, they have not exactly got the financial autonomy they are demanding.

“At the end of the day, the judiciary still does not have financial autonomy because the system we run does not allow that to happen.

“Autonomy would mean that the money meant for the judiciary would go to the judiciary and it would be up to it to decide how to use it”.

He added that as it stands now, the Executive is not interested in that.

“They want to be the ones to budget and apply the judiciary money for them.

“So one wonders if (JUSUN) called off the strike to save face or have reached a compromise,” he queried.

Also, an Abuja-based Lawyer, Mr Bowie Attamah felt that whether or not the strike achieved much depends on how one looks at.

“It goes without saying however that the state of affairs where the judiciary gets its funds at the behest of the state government needed to be looked into.

” That is what the JUSUN strike has drawn attention to. It is now open to public debate.

“And it seems to me that the public is weighing in on the side of JUSUN, if we must practise true separation of powers,” Attamah added.

Also, Mr Frank Tietie, a Human Rights Activist said the suspension of the strike was a welcomed development.
According to Tietie, the strike brought hardship and pain to lawyers, litigants and those in police detentions that required the services of the courts.

“There are several other ways of ensuring compliance to the constitution standards of judicial autonomy rather than crippling the entire judiciary.

“The government may function without the judiciary, but businesses and the ordinary man cannot operate normally without the judiciary.

NAN reports that the union JUSUN had begun a nationwide strike on Tuesday, April 6, when the union directed all its members across the federation to shut down all courts after the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum earlier given over the failure of the government to implement the law.

NAN reports that a verdict of the Federal High Court in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, had in January 2014 held that financial autonomy for the judiciary is a constitutional provision that must be complied with by the executive branch of government.

NAN reports that on May 23, President Buhari signed into law the Executive Order to grant financial autonomy to the legislature and the judiciary across the 36 states of the country.

The order also mandates the Accountant-General of the Federation to deduct from source amount due to state legislatures and judiciaries from the monthly allocation to each state for states that refuse to grant such autonomy.

The Attorney General of the Federation Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, said Executive Order No. 10 of 2020 made it mandatory that all states of the federation should include the allocations of both the legislature and the judiciary in the first-line charge of their budgets.

According to the AGF: “A Presidential Implementation Committee was constituted to fashion out strategies and modalities for the implementation of financial autonomy for the State Legislature and State Judiciary in compliance with section 121(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Amended).”

NAN reports that the Nigeria Governors Forum said it will start implementing financial autonomy for the judiciary latest by May ending, a pledge that indicated that an end to the ongoing strike that has crippled the nation’s judiciary may be in sight.

The governors also called on striking members of the JUSUN to call off their two weeks old strike then.

The Chairman of the NGF, Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, gave this assurance in an interview with journalists after meeting with “stakeholders” from the state judiciary and legislature at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Fayemi said the modalities for the implementation were worked out at the meeting held at the Presidential Villa.

According to him, the meeting, chaired by the Chief of Staff to President Buhari, Ibrahim Gambari, was attended by the Solicitor-General of the Federation, representatives of the judiciary, Conference of Speakers and House of Representatives.

The first line charge status, which is being respected by the Federal Government in respect of the federal judiciary, entitles the state judiciaries to get funds due to them directly from the Federation Account.

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Suspension of strike hits Kwara JUSUN

Strike still on, no concrete resolution reached – JUSUN

Mr Ibrahim Sambo, the Chairman, Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) Kwara Chapter, says the suspension of the three-month strike by the union would affect the morale of judicial workers in the country.

Sambo said on Thursday in Ilorin that the strike did achieve its objective.
He explained that the morale of the workers would be down because the purpose of the strike was yet to be achieved.

“In one way or the other, the suspension will affect the staff morale. We jointly want a financial autonomy which we have being clamouring for, but we are yet to achieve what we deserve.

“It is not only lawyers morale that will be affected but all the judicial workers will feel weak and morally down,” he said.

The chairman however commended judicial workers for their support and firmness during the struggle, and charged them to remain focus as work resumed.

Sambo however expressed optimism over a positive response from the Federal Government after the long term struggle.

Also reacting to the suspension of the strike, a lawyer, Mr Numan Suleman, called on the federal government to grant the three arms of government their complete financial autonomy.

“It is time for the federal government to allow independent operation of Legislature, Executive and the Judiciary. You cannot underate the Judiciary,” he said.

According to him, when the courts were on strike, there was possibility of increase crime rate and atrocities committed in the society.

JUSUN took the decision to suspend the strike at its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday.

The suspension shall take effect from June 14, and all judiciary workers are expected to resume work same day.

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Judiciary workers suspend 2 months strike

Strike still on, no concrete resolution reached – JUSUN

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) says it has suspended its two months nationwide strike.

The JUSUN’s Deputy National Deputy President, Emmanuel Abioye, stated this in a communique issued at the end of an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the union on Wednesday in Abuja.

JUSUN began a nationwide strike on April 6, over the failure of the government to implement the law recognising financial autonomy for the judiciary.

NAN also recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had, on May 22, 2020, signed into law an Executive Order granting financial autonomy to the legislature and the judiciary across the 36 states of the federation.

According to Abioye, the NEC-in-session commended the Chief Justice of the federation and all heads of courts for their patience and understanding throughout the period of the industrial action.

“NEC-in-session commends the effort of the NJC in making sure that the Governors obey the MOA, Judgment and agreement on the Financial Autonomy of the Judiciary.

“NEC-in-session commends the NWC/NEC and all JUSUN members for all their sacrifice, understanding and patience, “he said.

According to him, NEC condemned the actions of the Governors of Kaduna, Plateau and Benue for withholding salaries of Judiciary in their various states for months and urge all governors involved to do the needful.

Abioye also said that NEC-in-session agreed that there shall be introduction of peculiar allowance throughout the State and Federal Courts.

”NEC-in-session discussed extensively and after putting so many issues into consideration i.e. the intervention of NJC and other stakeholders, the NEC has resolved that the strike is hereby suspended.

”NEC-in-session plead with the NJC, the Presidential Implementation Committee, Attorney General of the Federation, Accountant General of the Federation and all stakeholders to see that the issue of Judiciary Financial Autonomy is laid to rest finally.

”This is as provided for in Section 81 (3), 121 (3), and 162(9), of -1999 Constitution as amended,” he said.

He said that the NEC-in-session also frowned at the deduction of salary of JUSUN members of Bayelsa and requested that the deducted sum be restored forthwith.

Abioye, therefore, said that the NEC- in- session warned that members of JUSUN should not be victimised on the industrial action.

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Thousands of nurses on strike in New Zealand

Strike: It has been series of unfulfilled promises - LASUTH doctors

About 30,000 nurses in New Zealand walked off their jobs on Wednesday in a nationwide eight-hour strike after negotiations with the government for better pay and working conditions failed.

The strike action came after the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) rejected a 1.4 per cent pay hike proposed by the District Health Board earlier this week.

The government said the nurses’ demands amounted to a 17 per cent increase that it can’t afford, but pledged to continue negotiations.

The stand-off comes as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern faces criticism for not doing enough to address rising inequality in spite the economy bouncing back from the COVID-19 pandemic more swiftly than expected.

Thousands of nurses marched on the streets holding placards, while others gathered at parks and outside hospitals around the country.

“Nurses are the glue who hold care services together,’’ Dr Julian Vyas, president of Association of Salaried Medical Specialists said, according to online news portal Newshub.

“If they are on strike, you can be sure there’s a big problem which needs to be fixed,” he added.

Nurses have complained of being underpaid and burnt out, with conditions worsening with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Current pay rates do not attract people into the profession or retain the people, and staffing levels have stretched them to breaking point, putting them and their patients at risk, NZNO had said in a statement.

“We stood during the pandemic. The nurses have put their lives at risk, and that of their families. And this is the thanks that we are given,’’ Diane McCulloch, Clinical Nurse Specialist told Newshub.

All non-urgent surgeries and outpatient clinics were cancelled.

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JUSUN strike: Police in Lagos decongesting cells

Strike still on, no concrete resolution reached – JUSUN

The police in Lagos have devised means to decongest its cells amidst the prolonged strike by the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).

Police spokesman in the state, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said on Tuesday that the decongestion was carried out in collaboration with the office of the Chief Judge and Attorney-General of the state.

JUSUN on April 6 directed its members to shut down all courts across the country, demanding the implementation of law granting financial autonomy to the Judiciary.

”The command had been managing the situation in collaboration with the office of the state chief judge,” he said.

He, however, did not give the number of suspects that had been granted bail.

“We work with the office of the CJ and Attorney-General of Lagos State to decongest our cells.

“The CJ has provided the services of some Magistrates and District Prosecutors to assess case files and grant bail to some suspects.

“So, we are collaborating with them in this regard,’’ Adejobi said.

NAN reports that a verdict of the Federal High Court in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, had in January 2014 held that financial autonomy for the judiciary is a constitutional provision that must be complied with by the executive branch of government.

NAN reports that on May 23, President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law the Executive Order to grant financial autonomy to the legislature and the judiciary across the 36 states of the country.

The order also mandates the Accountant-General of the Federation to deduct from source amount due to state legislatures and judiciaries from the monthly allocation to each state for states that refuse to grant such autonomy.

The Attorney General of the Federation Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, said Executive Order No. 10 of 2020 made it mandatory that all states of the federation should include the allocations of both the legislature and the judiciary in the first-line charge of their budgets.

According to the AGF: “A Presidential Implementation Committee was constituted to fashion out strategies and modalities for the implementation of financial autonomy for the State Legislature and State Judiciary in compliance with section 121(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Amended).”

NAN reports that the Nigeria Governors Forum said it will start implementing financial autonomy for the judiciary latest by May ending, a pledge that indicated that an end to the ongoing strike that has crippled the nation’s judiciary may be in sight.

The governors also called on striking members of the JUSUN to call off their two weeks old strike then.

The Chairman of the NGF, Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti,. gave this assurance in an interview with journalists after meeting with “stakeholders” from the state judiciary and legislature at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Fayemi said the modalities for the implementation were worked out at the meeting held at the Presidential Villa.

According to him, the meeting, chaired by the Chief of Staff to President Buhari, Ibrahim Gambari, was attended by the Solicitor-General of the Federation, representatives of the judiciary, Conference of Speakers and House of Representatives.

The first line charge status, which is being respected by the Federal Government in respect of the federal judiciary, entitles the state judiciaries to get funds due to them directly from the Federation Account.

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NLC restates plan to strike over fuel price increase

NLC restates plan to strike over fuel price increase
NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba,

The Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) has reiterated its threat to emback on nationwide strike over plans to further increase the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), known as fuel.

The NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba said this in a communique jointly signed with Mr Ismail Bello, Acting General Secetary of NLC on Thursday in Abuja.

The communique was issued at the end of a virtual meeting of the NLC National Executive Council (NEC) held on May 25.

Wabba said that the NEC-in-session also reviewed the proposal by the Nigerians Governors Forum for a three hundred per cent increase in the price of petrol.

He said NEC resolved that the proposal was the height of provocation, arbitrariness, detachment and insensitivity to the current economic realities in the country.

He said that it also indicated lack of se sensitivity to the extreme hardship that Nigerians especially workers are going through.

He said NEC reiterated that it still stands solidly by its decision taken at its meeting which took place on Feb. 17 to reject further increases in the price of refined petroleum products particularly the PMS.

”The NEC also re-echoed its decision that the only sustainable way out of the crisis of fuel importation and associated dislocations in the downstream petroleum sub sector is for government to rehabilitate all four public refineries in Nigeria and build new ones.

”The NEC resolved that any decision to increase by even one cent the price of refined petroleum products especially PMS will attract an immediate withdrawal of services by Nigerian workers all over the country without any further notice.

”The NEC resolved to write officially to the Federal Government conveying the plight of Nigerian workers, the concerns of Congress and the resolutions of the NEC on the matter of fresh proposals for an increase in the pump price of fuel,”he said.

The NLC President also said that NEC resolved to continue to keep its doors open for dialogue and amicable resolution of the industrial crisis occasioned by the mass sack of workers by the Kaduna State Government.

He added that NEC resolved that in case the Kaduna State Government continues to pursue the path of war, threat and punitive actions against workers and their interests.

”That NEC had given the National Administrative Council (NAC) the power to re-activate the suspended industrial action in Kaduna State and also call for the withdrawal of services of all workers in Nigeria without any further notice, “he said.

Wabba, however, noted that NEC called on the National Assembly to retain Labour administration, National Minimum Wage, Pension and Industrial Relations in the Exclusive Legislative List of the Constitution.

He added that NEC directed the full mobilisation of workers at all the Zonal Public Hearings to lend weight to the demands and aspirations of Nigerian workers in the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution.