El-Rufai gets NLC ,TUC ultimatum to reverse anti-Labour policies

Femi Adi/Kaduna

As battle line is drawn between Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress, TUC and Kaduna State government over what is termed “Anti-Labour Exercises” the labour unions on Wednesday gave Governor Nasir El-Rufai seven days ultimatum to stop further verification exercise of workers in the state and other anti-labour policies.

The national bodies of the labour unions also asked Governor El-Rufai to pay all backlogs of salaries owed workers in the state or have the state shut down by organized labour unions and civil society organizations.

Addressing a crowd of workers at Kaduna NLC Headquarters Wednesday, NLC President, Ayuba Waba and TUC President, Bobboi Kaigama in their separate speeches, said they are prepared to fight El-Rufai to a standstill until he reversed all plans to deny civil servants of their right to remain members of union.

According Waba, NLC and TUC are prepared to mobilise workers, labour unions and civil society organisations to occupy Kaduna after the seven days ultimatum expires .

He said, any governor who does not believe in union and welfare of workers will be resisted and voted out come 2019.

“El-Rufai’s Mr know all attitude is responsible for some of the careless decisions he has taken in recent times,” Waba stated.

Similarly, TUC President, Kaigama said it is high time El-Rufai was reminded that workers voted him into office as governor and when the time comes they will take necessary action.

According to Kaigama, “he came into power as a result of President Muhammadu Buhari’s influence, so he might not understand the importance of workers, but we would make him realise that if he remains adamant.”

He emphasised that failure to pay workers their salaries between Wednesday and the expiration of the 7 days ultimatum given will leave labour with no other option than to shut Kaduna down.

On the issue of workers who died in Zaria bomb blast during the first verification exercise in the state, Waba said El-Rufai must compensate families of the workers immediately.

“We gathered that El-Rufai promised to compensate families of the victims of the bomb blast, but as we speak, nothing has been done. This shows that he’s insensitive as a leader,” Waba stated.

While the NLC and TUC presidents mounted the podium to talk, the angry workers, who chanted union songs in support of their leaders, also chanted “Enough of intimidation”, “El-Rufai, pay us our salaries” and several others.