Tag: Kaduna State

Normalcy has returned to Kaduna after the Nigerian Labour Union (NLC) called off its five-day warning strike to protest the sack of over 4,000 workers by the state government.

Banks, schools, markets, and other businesses, including public offices, have been open for business.

Also, petrol stations and cooking gas companies which were hitherto closed due to the strike have been open with long queues as motorists and residents struggle to buy the products.

Electricity was also restored by the Transmission Companies of Nigeria and power has been restored to some parts of the state by the Kaduna Electric Distribution Company.

However, other areas like Sabon Tasha, Unguwan Boro, Mahuta, Lagos Streets among other areas of the metropolis are still waiting for the Kaduna Electric to restore supply as at the time of filing this report.

NLC had on Monday begun the five-day warning strike, a development that paralysed activities in the state, with governance and business owners counting huge economic losses.

But on the third day, the President of NLC, Mr Ayuba Wabba announced the suspension of the strike to pave way for negotiation as requested by the Federal Government.

“We will honour the meeting scheduled for tomorrow at 11 a.m. The labour leaders in Kaduna will also be present because they have the substance of the issues in the state.

‘The National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the NLC would be held at the Labour House in Abuja on May 21, to review the warning action that was prosecuted in Kaduna state and determine further action.

Residents of the state have commended the federal government for intervening to end the disagreement between the labour unions and the state government.

One of them, Mrs Kubai Philip, who said she lost all perishable and other food items in the freezer due to power blackout, expressed joy that the strike was called off.

“Most of us incurred huge losses but thanks to the federal government intervention, our lives have been restored.

“Now that the strike has been called off, we pray the warring parties will reach a resolution because we will not want another strike again,” she said.

Another resident, Mr Ishaya Ayuba, noted that dialogue was the best option in addressing labour disputes, pointing that the masses suffer the most during strike action.

The suspension, the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba was to honour the invitation of the Federal Government on Thursday to mediate in the dispute.

Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige waded into the ongoing face-off between the Kaduna State government and labour unions by inviting both parties to a reconciliation meeting.

The meeting scheduled to hold at the Ministry of Labour and Employment in the Federal Secretariat, Abuja is to be attended by Gov. Nasir El Rufai and top officials of the State as well Wabba and top NLC leaders.

Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-rufai has accused the national leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress of economic sabotage and attacks on public infrastructure.

This according to the governor is an offence that contravenes the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Kaduna state.

In Tweet on Tuesday on his private verified twitter handle @elrufai, Governor El-rufai also announced that a handsome reward awaits anyone with useful information leading to the arrest of the national chairman of the NLC and his colleagues.

“KADUNA UPDATE: Ayuba Wabba & others of @NLCHeadquarters
declared wanted for economic sabotage & attacks on public infrastructure under Miscellaneous Offences Act. Anyone that knows where he is hiding should send a message to @MOJKaduna. KDSG. There will be a handsome reward!” Governor El-rufai tweeted.

The NLC and it sub-bodies have since Monday shutdown economic activaties in the state following plans by governor El-rufai to sack four thousand (4000) civil servants in the state.

Details soon….

Labour unions began a five-day warning strike in Kaduna State on Monday.

NLC National President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said at the flag-off of the action that it would run its full course unless the state government attended to the workers grievances.

He said the national leadership of the NLC had been informed that the grievances included the sacking of 7,000 workers from local governments in the state.

“We are also aware that in the Primary Health Care Development Agency, 1,700 workers were sacked.

“All these are happening in the face of exorbitant increment in tuition fees , high cost of living and other uncalled for actions in ministries and agencies in the state,’’ he said.

“Fuel stations, hospitals, banks, the railway, and airport, among others have been closed because we must take our destiny in our hands if the situation in Kaduna State and in Nigeria at large cannot change.

“We cannot accept the bitter pills; we are here in Kaduna today because the labour law in Nigeria says before you can declare redundancy, labour shall be consulted and we were never consulted.

`The governor said he has consulted the National Union of Local Government Employees, but the union is here with us; we want to tell the world that a lot of information from government is false.

“We have the right to protect peacefully without being intimidated or harassed.

“The governor should go after criminals, especially kidnappers and bandits terrorising the state and not workers who are earning their legitimate wages,’’ Wabba added.

A commissioner in Kaduna State who featured on a national television programme on Monday said the figure of sacked workers the NLC was quoting was incorrect.

The commissioner also said majority of retrenched workers did not have requisite qualifications to hold office and were given ample notice to upgrade their qualifications.

He said also that many of them had been trained for other jobs preparatory to their disengagement from public service.

Part of the protest was a planned march by leaders and unionists from the NLC’s office, through the streets of Kaduna to the state’s House of Assembly.

Following the commencement of the five-day strike by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Kaduna on Sunday, a group of youths with no defined name have come out in hundreds protesting against the strike action in solidarity with the Kaduna State government.

The NLC and its various affiliates had planned and have began its strike for five days from May 16 in Kaduna State. The strike is in response to reform plans by the state government, including the recent dismissal of workers. Various groups of state workers, including those in the electricity, health, and aviation sectors, plan to participate.

So far, the Kaduna Electricity distribution Company have taken the lead by ensuring a total blackout from 12midnight on Sunday.

Aviation workers at Kaduna International Airport (KAD) plan to withdrawal services from 00:01 May 17.

The work stoppage is unlikely to affect emergency services and COVID-19 care.

However, disruptions to routine health services at government hospitals and health facilities may occur due to understaffing.

Increased demand for care could also disrupt services at private facilities.

Disruptions to electricity supply or maintenance of electricity infrastructure are possible.

Disruptions to KIA flight operations are likely while general public transport services may also be disrupted.

State services, generally, could be impacted.

Striking workers may participate in protests near government buildings, particularly in the state capital, Kaduna.

Police will almost certainly deploy to any strike-related protest and clashes are possible if demonstrators fail to heed orders to disperse.