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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has reacted to the decision of the Federal Government to implement the ‘no work, no pay’ principle for striking workers.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) gave the approval on Wednesday.
But Wabba says the federal government cannot apply the’ no work no pay’ rule in isolation of other provisions of the law that allow the rule.
Wabba in an interview on Wednesday night said it is morally and legally wrong to apply a phrase of the law in a body of law without respecting all other provisions of the law.
He said the threat to ‘no work no pay’ cannot deter workers and trade unions from exercising the right to strike or demanding for a new minimum wage noting that there are clear procedures provided by the law.
Wabba said the same law being quoted provides that a workers wage is due after 30 days and collective bargaining agreement needs have to be respected.
“Therefore, morally and legally, it is justifiable to apply no pay, no work where the law is violated. The right to strike is a human and trade union right and cannot be wished away, that is why strike is legalised by the same law they are quoting in the trade union act and has been exercised since the colonial era till date,” Today.ng quotes him as saying.
The NLC president said the issue of ‘ no work, no pay’ cannot apply once the legal requirements for embarking on a strike are met.
“The right to strike is what differentiates a worker from a slave, just like the right to strike, the right to work, the right to protest and peaceful assembly. The same law provides that the union must give notice and reason for their action to proceed on strike, either 7 days, 14 days or 21 days,” Wabba said.