The five-day warning statewide strike embarked by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Kaduna state has taken a new dimension as thugs have attacked the striking workers, while the state Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai announced the dismissal of all nurses below level 14.
The governor’s action is linked to a tweet he made earlier when he stated that Barau Dikko Teaching hospital had reported that nurses disconnected oxygen from a two-day-old baby in an incubator on Monday, May 17, 2021 when they joined the NLC strike.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Muyiwa Adekeye, El-Rufai said, “Apart from referring the nurses involved to the Ministry of Justice to initiate prosecution, the government also announced the dismissal of all nurses below Grade Level 14 for the illegal strike.”
“The Ministry of Health has been directed to advertise vacancies for the immediate recruitment of new nurses to replace those dismissed.
“The government has directed all its Ministries, Departments and Agencies to submit their attendance registers to the Head of Service while Kaduna State University should submit same to the Secretary to the State Government and the Commissioner of Education.”
Adekeye noted that salaries that could have been paid to the dismissed nurses will be given as extraordinary occupational allowances to the health workers who are at their duty posts to fill the gaps of those absconding from duty.
The NLC is yet to react to the latest action of the governor.
Meanwhile, thugs have disrupted the rally organized by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in continuation of the ongoing five-day warning strike in Kaduna to protest Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s sacking of workers in the state.
The rally was held at the NEPA roundabout, Ahmadu Bello Way area of the state, where the organized labour was addressing the workers of their intention to ensure that El-Rufai reinstates the sacked workers.
Earlier in their address, the affiliate unions expressed their support for the NLC in its struggle. They lamented the action of the Governor for not following the down process of relieving the workers of their jobs and resolved that they would not surrender until their demands were met.
The NLC is accusing governor El-Rufai of sacking 21,770 Kaduna State Primary school teachers sacked since 2017 and over 30,000 workers disengaged through competency tests and are yet to receive their benefits.
The organized labour explained that the failure of the state governor to meet their demands would lead to a nationwide strike to bring sanity to the workforce across the country.
The NLC said it has resolved to put an end to these gross violations of workers and Trade Union rights, saying enough is enough.
It is also accusing the Governor of recently sacking 7,310 Local Government Employees, 3,000 civil servants and 1,700 Primary Healthcare Board workers in the state.
It lamented that about 20,000 workers are yet to be paid April salary, while over 11,000 civil servants are currently penciled for disengagement and conversion to casual and contract workers.
The state governor was also accused of prolonged and tortuous verification of Pensioners and non-payment of pensions for over four months.
“Intimidation and harassment of workers to contract out of the Union; non-remittance of statutory check-off dues to Trade Unions; workforce reduction in gross violation of workers and extant provisions of Labour Laws,” NLC said.
It expressed dismay at the unlawful reversal of minimum wage for Local Government employees; withholding Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Endwell contribution since December to date; non-implementation of promotions; non-issuance of permanent and pensionable appointments to newly recruited teachers; and payment of Grade Level 8 staff with Grade Level 7 salary.
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