The Centre for Labour Studies (CLS), has declared support for Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC , strike in Kaduna State over what its called obnoxious anti-worker policies.
The Centre for Labour Studies (CLS), has implored trade unions and pro-labour civil society and human rights organizations to join forces with the NLC to fight Kaduna Government mass sack of workers through industrial action billed to commence on Monday.
Barrister Femi Aborisade,the Director of the CLS,who declared the centre’s support for the Nigerian Labour Congress ,strike in Kaduna,said the action of the state government was on obnoxious.
He maintained that the right to pension is a constitutionally guaranteed right, which is also guaranteed in the civil and public service rules in Kaduna State.
According to him,premature compulsory retirement of all officers on grade levels 14 and above, officers who are 50 years and above, and officers who have been in service for 30 years or more; conversion of permanent employees on grade levels 1-6 to casual workers status and stoppage of pension for pensioners who have earned pension for 5 to 10 years but ‘have refused to die’ must be addressed.
He said Rule 02809 of the Kaduna State Government Public Service Rules (2005) and Part II, Regulation 10(3)(c) at page 34 of the Unified Local Government Service Staff Regulations (2012), provide that “the compulsory retirement age for all grades in the service shall be 60 years or 35 years of pensionable service.
He added that: “The phenomenon of physical insecurity involving bloodshed, killings, abductions, kidnappings, insurgency and terrorism in Kaduna State is related to economic insecurity. It is an incontestable fact that Kaduna State has become one of the most dangerous states to visit, work or live. This is because of massive layoffs which the State Government started in 2016/2017 when about 22,000 teachers, 8,000 workers in MDAs (Ministries, Departments and Agencies), 800 workers in the state’s Internal Revenue Service Dept, and over 4,000 local government workers were laid off.
“This year, according to the NLC, the State Government has disengaged 6,000 workers, including local government and primary health care workers. Eleven thousand (11,000) workers have been short-listed for disengagement on account of being in service for 30 years and above and/or being on level 14 and above.
“Nigeria is a country based on a written Constitution. The Courts have held that Public/Civil Service Rules, made pursuant to the Constitution, have constitutional flavor. Governance by the whims and caprice of Mr. Governor is not compatible in a modern State. All other unions, including the TUC, should unite and join forces with the NLC to defeat the unitary ideology in industrial relations and the vicious war on workers’ rights being waged by the Kaduna State Government. Otherwise, other State Governments would emulate the draconian and wicked labour policies and practices in Kaduna State and workers’ rights in other states nationally would come under severe threat.”
