The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has accused the Federal Government of playing politics with the welfare of Nigerian workers. The union said officials often provoke strikes through neglect and insincerity, only to punish workers for exercising their rights.
Speaking at the opening of NASU’s National Executive Council meeting in Abuja, the General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, criticised the government’s frequent threats to apply the “No Work, No Pay” policy. He described the move as a deliberate attempt to intimidate workers and criminalise legitimate union activities.
Adeyemi said such behaviour exposes the government’s double standards and undermines industrial peace and workers’ confidence.
He explained that unions only embark on strikes after the government repeatedly fails to honour agreements and ignores collective bargaining processes. “Union leaders are not irrational individuals who declare strikes for fun. Strikes are painful, last-resort measures caused by government’s failure to keep its promises,” he stated.
According to him, government officials often disregard collective agreements, delay renegotiations, and convene meetings only to create the impression of dialogue. When workers finally strike, the same officials accuse them of being unpatriotic.
Adeyemi said it was unfair that workers are punished for striking, while no sanctions exist for government delays in paying salaries. He noted that the Labour Act requires regular wage payments, adding that withholding salaries also violates the law.
He accused the government of hypocrisy for provoking strikes through neglect and later treating them as crimes. Adeyemi reminded officials that under International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards, strikes are recognised as a legitimate part of industrial relations.
“It is time for government to end this double standard and act with sincerity,” he said. “NASU will continue to defend workers’ rights based on justice, fairness, and dignity for all.”
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