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ASUU Strike: Chris Ngige Defends ‘No Work, No Pay’ Policy

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Ngige Faults Falana’s Criticism Of No Work, No Pay Policy

Minister of Labour, Senator Chris Ngige has faulted the reaction of human rights lawyer Femi Falanas (SAN) on implementation of the “No work, no pay” policy of the Federal Government.

He said every employer has the right to withdraw pay for workers while on strike in accordance with International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions and the Nigerian labour laws.

In a statement signed by the ministry’s Director of Press, Samuel Olowokoore, the Labour Minister noted that Falana might not be totally right in his submission.

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The statement said: “Nigeria is a member of the ILO, a United Nations (UN) specialised agency dealing with labour issues and whose aim is to promote the right at work for employees and employers, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues.

“It is important to state that Nigeria has also ratified and domesticated about eight core conventions of the ILO out of which two are most related in the instant dispute between ASUU and the Federal Government of Nigeria. These are the rights to freedom of association and organisation as well as the right to Collective Bargaining.

“Based on these conventions, the ILO recognises the rights of the workers to strike. However, it also recognises the reciprocal rights of employers to withdraw wages during strike. This is the anchor for ‘No work, no pay’.

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“This has also necessitated the Nigerian Parliament (National Assembly) to legislate this into a law through the provision in section 43 of the Trade Dispute Act Cap T8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004.”