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NLC Vows To Proceed On Warning Strike In Kaduna
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Kaduna State Chapter has vowed to proceed on its proposed five-day warning strike starting from tomorrow.
The State Secretary of NLC, Comrade Christiana Bawa, disclosed this in a statement at the weekend in Kaduna.
Bawa urged workers in the Kaduna State Civil Service to disregard government’s circular and threats against the industrial action.
She directed all workers, particularly, teachers, local government workers and their counterparts in state government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to disregard the provocative circular.
Bawa said that the warning strike was aimed at registering their displeasure over the pitiable conditions of workers in the state civil service.
She noted that no worker in the state had a secured job, adding that the state government had in April 2021 arbitrarily sacked no fewer than 4,000 workers without following due process.
“Kaduna State Government sacked over 30,000 workers in 2016 and their entitlements have not been settled. This is the time to tell the world that the state government is anti-workers and wants to destroy the civil service in the name of reform,” she said.
She said that all affiliates of NLC in the state such as the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and National Union of Road Transport Workers( NURTW) would join the strike.
Others to join the warning strike are the National Union of Electricity Employees of Nigeria (NUEE), National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institution Employees (NUBIFIE) and National Association of Nurses and Midwives, among others.
Bawa said that the national leadership of the NLC led by Comrade Ayuba Waba, would be in the state to ensure full enforcement of the strike.
Recall that the state government had, in a circular signed by the Permanent Secretary (Establishments), Office of the Head of Service, Hajia Amina Abdullahi, had directed workers to discountenance the proposed strike.
The circular titled, ‘Re: NLC to ground all government activities in Kaduna State’, was addressed to chief executives of MDAs and others.
The circular read in part: “Sequel to a notice dated May 10, 2021 by the NLC on the above subject, I am directed to request you to inform civil servants in your MDAs and other arms of government to disregard the notice.
“You are further requested to ensure strict compliance to signing of the attendance register as such registers would be submitted to the Office of the Head of Service for necessary action,” Abdullahi said.
“Payment of tuition fees for undergraduate/postgraduate studies shall be subject to a maximum limit of $25,000.00 per semester,” the Manual states.
The expansion of international card limits also reflects growing confidence among lenders that foreign exchange liquidity has improved enough to support retail dollar transactions.
Speaking recently at the BusinessDay 14th Annual CEO Forum in Lagos, CBN Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the CBN said buying and selling activities now increasingly determine outcomes in the foreign exchange market, unlike in the past when market participants relied heavily on routine Central Bank interventions.
According to Cardoso, Nigeria’s net foreign exchange reserves have risen from just over $3 billion at the start of the reform programme to more than $40 billion, while gross reserves have climbed to about $52 billion, providing stronger confidence for investors and enabling the Central Bank to reserve interventions for periods of market stress rather than day-to-day liquidity management.
The restoration and expansion of international naira card spending limits are increasingly being seen as one of the clearest signs that the benefits of the CBN’s foreign exchange reforms are beginning to reach households, students and businesses making legitimate cross-border payments.
The Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer, WEC, Dr Angela Wilkinson, disclosed this in a statement, last Thursday.
“Nigeria’s participation comes at a pivotal time as the country seeks to expand energy access, strengthen energy security, accelerate gas development and mobilise the capital required for industrialisation and sustainable economic growth.
“WEC Nigeria will convene leaders from across the energy ecosystem, apply the WEC’s globally recognised Energy Trilemma framework to Nigeria’s unique context, and promote evidence-based dialogue, practical collaboration and informed policymaking.
“It will also ensure that Nigerian and broader African perspectives contribute meaningfully to global energy conversations,” she said.
Wilkinson expressed confidence that Nigeria would play a significant leadership role at the World Energy Congress scheduled for Riyadh in April 2027 and beyond.
The statement also quoted the Chairman of WEC Nigeria, Isa, as describing the country’s participation as an opportunity to deepen national and African leadership within the global energy community through practical solutions tailored to regional development priorities.
He said the platform would promote collaboration across sectors and attract sustainable investments into Nigeria’s energy sector.
The Chief Executive Officer of WEC Nigeria, Wunti, was quoted in the statement as saying that the council would connect leadership, evidence and investment to build a secure, affordable and sustainable energy system.
“This system will be capable of driving economic growth and shared prosperity.”
According to him, the platform will also connect Nigerian institutions and businesses with international knowledge, technology, partnerships and investment opportunities through the World Energy Council’s global network.
Recall that WEC, founded in 1923, is the world’s oldest independent and impartial community of energy leaders and practitioners, advancing informed, collaborative and practical action across the global energy system.