Labour unions in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, have taken opposing positions on the indefinite strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, with some directing members to resume work while others have ordered workers to join the industrial action.
The dispute stems from unresolved issues between the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, and the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, with the strike raising concerns about its impact on education and workers’ welfare.
The NLC FCT Council had on Wednesday directed workers in the FCTA, including those in the private sector, to embark on an indefinite strike over the disagreements.
However, the directive has exposed divisions among labour unions, as the Trade Union Congress, TUC, and the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, ASUSS, distanced themselves from the action, while the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, declared its support.
TUC rejects strike directive
The TUC FCT Council rejected the strike directive in a notice signed by its FCT Secretary, Mr Sunday Joseph, on Friday, citing a lack of consultation before the action was announced.
The congress said the NLC had declared the strike without engaging the TUC FCT Council or its affiliated unions in discussions.
“The directive was issued without any consultation with the TUC FCT Council or any of its affiliates in the FCT. We didn’t take part in the meeting that produced it.
“Accordingly, the TUC FCT Council is not a party to the said industrial action,” it said.
The congress called for a more proactive and strategic approach to labour disputes, particularly those involving workers’ welfare and children’s education.
It directed its affiliated unions and members to continue their normal duties, urging them to disregard directives that had not been authorised by the relevant union leadership.
“All affiliated unions and workers are urged to carry out their normal duties without fear. Members should ignore non-sanctioned orders, including unauthorised enforcement committees.
“Any harassment or intimidation should be reported to the TUC Secretariat immediately,” the congress said.
The TUC reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the interests of teachers and other workers but cautioned against industrial actions that could disrupt children’s education and affect their future.
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Secondary school teachers told to resume work
The Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools also distanced itself from the strike on Wednesday.
The union’s FCT Chairman, Mr Julius Ogundiran, said that secondary school teachers and education officers should continue their normal academic duties.
The directive placed the union among those opposing participation in the strike, despite the NLC’s call for workers to withdraw their services.
The position of the TUC and the secondary school teachers’ union contrasts with the decision of NULGE to mobilise its members in support of the industrial action.
NULGE orders workers to join strike
In a notice of solidarity with FCT teachers, the NULGE FCT Council directed workers across the territory’s six area councils to join the strike from Friday.
The notice, signed by the union’s State Secretary, Mr Ayendi Agede, instructed members, including non-teaching staff of the Local Education Authority, to remain at home until further notice.
NULGE called on its members to maintain calm, unity and discipline while defending workers’ rights and dignity.
The directive extended the industrial action beyond the initial dispute involving the FCTA and the NUT, as local government employees were also asked to withdraw their services in solidarity with teachers.
The contrasting directives from the unions have created uncertainty over workers’ participation in the strike, with some being asked to remain at their duty posts while others have been instructed to stay away from work.
Students raise concerns over strike
Amid the disagreement among labour unions, stakeholders have expressed concern about the consequences of the strike for schoolchildren in the FCT.
Mr Abdulkarim Muhammad, Secretary-General of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Joint Campus Council, FCT Chapter, said students should not bear the consequences of disputes between the government and organised labour.
Speaking at a joint conference in Abuja on Thursday, Muhammad called on the parties to prioritise students’ welfare while addressing the disagreements.
He urged all sides to protect classrooms, uphold teachers’ rights and safeguard the future of students in the territory.
The concerns highlight the potential impact of the prolonged industrial dispute on teaching and learning, particularly if the opposing positions of the unions prevent a coordinated response to the strike.
With the NLC maintaining its call for industrial action, the TUC and ASUSS directing their members to continue working, and NULGE ordering its members to join the strike, the dispute continues to present competing demands over workers’ rights and the continuity of education in the FCT.
NAN
