Wike warns FCT teachers: no-work, no-pay if they join NLC/NUT strike

 Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has directed the council chairmen in the nation’s capital to enforce a strict “no-work, no-pay” policy against workers that participate in the ongoing indefinite strike by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).   Wike, made the remark on Friday after meeting with chairmen of the six area councils in Abuja, describing the mass action as “political and baseless”.   According to NAN, the minister said he has directed the council leadership to clamp down on unapproved absences.   “We have directed the chairmen of the area councils to call their teachers and state clearly: if anybody participates in this, we will implement no-work, no-pay,” he said.     “Enough is enough; we cannot continue with this.”   The minister rejected the rationale behind the industrial action, asserting that all legitimate demands raised by the teaching body, including promotions and operational matters, had been substantially resolved or were actively being implemented.   “We want to state categorically and let it be known to the public: this so-called strike declaration is political, and we will not accept it.     “There is no basis for anybody to call for a strike. We don’t have any issue with the Local Education Authorities or primary schools. Everything we have agreed on, we are implementing,” he said.   Wike noted that secondary school teachers and other key union segments had distanced themselves from the strike action, recognising that the demands were already being met.   Addressing the political underpinnings of the shutdown, the minister directly challenged the political neutrality of the local NLC leadership.   He alleged that the union chairperson was a former candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the last February FCT area council elections.     “You can see his interest. He is trying to ensure the FCT is in crisis as a political tool, telling voters that pupils are at home. We will not accept that blackmail,” he said.   “If you want to involve yourself in politics, you are free to do so, but excuse yourself from holding union leadership so you don’t politicise it.”   BACK STORY   The NLC had, on Tuesday, directed all workers in the nation’s capital, including those in the private sector, to begin an indefinite strike the following day over unresolved labour disputes and policy grievances affecting teachers.     The directive followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to Wike over unmet demands.   In a communique issued at the end of an emergency state executive council meeting of the NLC on Wednesday, Knabayi Adalo, the union’s chairman in the FCT, identified one of the demands as the abolition of the vacancy precondition for teachers’ promotions, which he described as the primary cause of career stagnation and demoralisation.     He said the union was also demanding the immediate withdrawal of redeployment and demotion letters issued to directors in agencies under the education secretariat who were beneficiaries of the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act, 2022.   However, the FCT chapter of TUC and ASUSS rejected the strike, directing teachers and education officers to report to work and continue their normal duties.     In a statement on Friday by Sunday Joseph, its secretary, the FCT TUC directed its members to disregard the NLC directive, saying it was not consulted before the decision was announced.   Similarly, ASUSS described the strike as premature, warning that the action could disrupt academic activities and negatively affect students.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has declared the ongoing strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, FCT chapter and the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, as political and baseless. Wike, who stated this after meeting with chairmen of the six area councils in Abuja on Friday, directed the council chairmen to […] No work, no pay – Wike warns NLC, NUT over strike 

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has declared the ongoing strike by the FCT Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) as political and baseless. The post NLC/NUT strike: Wike threatens no-work, no-pay  appeared first on Vanguard News.