President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed his displeasure with the spate of strikes by workers in parts of the country.

The president expressed his feelings at the State House in Abuja last Friday while signing into law the 1999 Constitution’s Third Alteration Bill 2010, which establishes the National Industrial Court.

Jonathan said strikes should only be a last resort when all other options for negotiated settlement of industrial disputes had failed.

“We must all imbibe a culture of negotiation and resort to constitutional means of resolving labour disputes if we are to sustainably grow our economy and ensure stability,” he said.

The president urged the organised labour, employers of labour and employees in all sectors of the economy to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by constitutional safeguards for the peaceful resolution of industrial disputes.

He recalled that he also signed a new Employees’ Compensation Act into law late last year.

Jonathan noted that his assent to both bills was a further affirmation of his administration’s total commitment to ensuring that the welfare of Nigerian workers in the formal and informal sectors was safeguarded at all times.

“It is my hope that with the constitutional establishment of the National Industrial Court, we have institutionalised the process for quick, fair and efficient resolution of disputes relating to labour, employment and industrial relations,” he said.

The president explained that the court would also resolve problems relating to workmen’s compensation, child labour, discrimination, pension, health and safety in the workplace.

“This court is conferred with exclusive jurisdiction in those areas considered critical to the sustenance of our economic and industrial development.

“Its effective discharge of its mandate should serve not only to promote industrial harmony, but also to boost the confidence of both local and foreign direct investors in our national economy,” he said.

The ceremony was witnessed by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Senate Leader Teslim Folarin and House of Representatives Speaker Dimeji Bankole.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed and the Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Adoke, were also at the event.