‘Your actions could be counter-productive’— governors warn against Kaduna labour strike

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) says the strike action by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Kaduna could be counter-productive.

Schools, hospitals and places of business in Kaduna were closed on Monday, as the NLC commenced its five-day warning strike in the state.

The strike action followed the decision of Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, to disengage over 4,000 workers, giving the state‘s high wage bill as the reason.

In a statement on Monday made on behalf of governors, Kayode Fayemi, governor of Ekiti and chairman of the forum, cautioned the workers over the strike action.

“The NGF calls for cautious introspection on the part of Labour as no meaningful progress of any kind has ever been achieved in an atmosphere of conflict and chaos,” the statement reads.

“The NGF also wishes to remind the NLC that its actions could become counterproductive, especially as the last year 2020 had adversely affected workers socially and economically.

“Therefore, the NGF advises the NLC to explore the already open avenue of rapprochement that the Kaduna State government has provided to resolve the matter and join the State to evolve a convivial working environment that is befitting for all.

“The NGF also calls on the NLC to be open-minded towards the altruistic intention of the staff audit that the Kaduna State is embarking upon to sanitise the State’s workforce and make it more productive.

“This should not be seen as a witch-hunt or an attempt to unnecessarily downsize the civil service.”

The governors added that states are at present going through difficult times and the most feasible option will be for each state to device its own response to its unique challenges, without undermining the rights of individuals to seek redress.