FG tells workers they risk six months in Jail if they begin on the indefinite strike.
The Federal Government has warned workers who plan to join the trade unions’ indefinite strike that they face a six-month prison sentence.
Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice issued the warning in a statement on Sunday.
According to Fagbemi, Section 18 of the Trade Disputes Act requires a worker employed in any vital service to provide their employer 15 days’ notice before stopping their services, and anyone who fails to comply faces a fine or six months’ Jail if convicted.
He stated that Sections 41 and 42(1)(b) of the Act criminalize noncompliance with the requirement, emphasizing the critical need for the 15-day notice.
He stated that the federal government had been engaging stakeholders in the tripartite committee to decide on a new national minimum wage and had yet to proclaim the conclusion of negotiations.
The AGF further stated that the intended strike violates a National Industrial Court ruling and current mediation efforts to resolve concerns about the order’s subject matter.
“You are further invited to recall the pendency of the interim injunctive order granted on 5th June 2023 in suit no: NICN/ABJ/158/2023 — FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA & ANOR VV. NIGERIAN LABOUR CONGRESS & ANOR, which order restrained both Nigeria Labour Congress und Trade Union Congress from embarking on any industrial action or strike of any nature,” he stated.
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“While the government assures that it will continue to take a conciliatory approach to resolving issues concerning workers’ and citizens’ welfare in the spirit of collective bargaining, I would like to urge you to reconsider the declaration of strike action and return to the ongoing negotiation meetings, which have been postponed to a date to be communicated to parties.
This would be a more polite and patriotic strategy, allowing your Congress to pursue its cause within the scope of the law while avoiding imposing unavoidable burdens on the majority of Nigerians, as this proposed industrial action is sure to do.”
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