The Federal Government has authorized the National Industrial Relations Policy, NIRP, 2025, to prevent strikes in an effort to reduce the constant industrial activities by trade unions.
This occurred as the administration announced the withdrawal of the controversial circular that sparked the current health workers’ strike. Today, the administration will meet with the nurses who are on strike. To weaken the fight for workers’ welfare, organized labor has sworn to oppose any attempt by outside forces to sow discord between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC).
Day 3 of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Federal Health Institutions Sector, NANNM-FHI, nationwide warning strike has begun, and the union has demanded that the Federal Government take the lead and grant some of its main demands. Due to the inadequate benefit package, nurses, midwives, and doctors went on strike. At the conclusion of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, which was chaired by President Bola Tinubu, Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, briefed State House media, explaining that the new policy will govern trade union activities.
According to him, the country’s National Industrial Relations Policy was created in response to the need for a guiding text that would promote positive working relationships between employers and employees. “This policy is crucial for controlling the behavior of the different trade unions in the nation’s industrial relations arena,” he stated. This is because there hasn’t been a coherent national policy, which has led to repeated industrial actions over the years. After considering that, the FEC approved the policy that the Minister of Labor and Employment had proposed. In addition to bringing Nigeria’s industrial relations practices into compliance with international standards, such as those established by the International Labour Organization, the policy will guarantee a smooth workload, encourage social dialogue and tripartite cooperation between government employers and workers, and emphasize the significance of upholding industrial relations as a national priority that demands immediate and continuous attention. ” The Nigerian government has previously passed well-crafted laws to regulate the industrial relations environment between employers and employees, but the implementation did not live up to expectations because many of the laws’ provisions are frequently ignored by the parties, which is why a comprehensive national policy is necessary. Speaking about the health sector’s level of labor harmony, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Alli Pate cited professional organizations’ concerns on a recently issued, since-retracted circular from the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission. He said, “We’re now in the process of negotiating revised allowances transparently,” and disclosed that active talks are taking place with important associations, such as the nurses’ unions, the Nigerian Medical Association, and the NMA. “We are handling establishment difficulties like the centralization of nurses’ posts; not all problems are pecuniary. The government is dedicated to making sure that healthcare professionals are valued and assisted.
In keeping with President Tinubu’s order to continue constructive engagement for enduring peace, more talks with union leaders are planned for today. The NLC denounced the government’s and security forces’ ongoing meddling in the nation’s trade union matters. TUC President Mr. Festus Osifo promised that the leadership of the two labor centers will cooperate to safeguard workers’ interests when he welcomed the new leadership of the Radio, Television and Arts Workers Union, or RATTAWU, to his office. “The TUC believes in solidarity,” stated Osifo, speaking through Dr. Nuhu Toro, the TUC Secretary-General. “Together, we can raise our voices, bolster our advocacy for justice and equity, and enhance the well-being of all Nigerian workers. We firmly believe in the power of collective action. We are aware that employers and management occasionally want to split up our ranks, a tactic you described as divide and conquer.
Although we are aware of those strategies as well, I want to reassure you that if we work together, we can overcome all of the obstacles and make sure that our employees receive value.
While welcoming recently elected RATTAWU officials in Abuja earlier at the NLC headquarters, President Joe Ajaero called the situation “unheard of” in other regions of the world where governments meddle in trade union internal issues. Ajaero implied that the International Labour Organization, or ILO, is keeping a close eye on the Nigerian government’s meddling in union affairs. He insisted that trade unions are autonomous organizations governed by internal regulations in accordance with ILO principles, which exempt them from government meddling in their formation, management, and operations. Ajaero further called out some unionist who usually invite security agencies to disrupt most of the unions’ proceedings, for their self-centered reasons.
NANNM-FHI National Chairman Morakinyo-Olajide Rilwan reiterated the union’s stance and warned that the strike would continue unless the Federal Government complied with some of its main demands. He added that promises alone would not help end the strike. Speaking in Abuja yesterday, Rilwan stated that the union expected a signed agreement in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding, or MoU, and that meetings with government representatives seeking to end the strike had been largely fruitless. He also underlined that the union will not call off the strike in order for its demands to be taken into consideration.
“The administration will undoubtedly request that we halt the strike so they may consider our requests. We have to make sure that parts of the demand are attended to before we can suspend the strike at all.
