President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero
The Nigeria Labour Congress has called on the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association to fully comply with the ruling of the International Court of Justice affirming workers’ right to embark on strike action.
The NLC said attempts by NECA to question or weaken the ruling amounted to a defence of exploitation and selective obedience to international labour laws.
In a statement issued on Friday, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, criticised comments made by the Director-General of NECA, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, during an interview on TVC where he argued that the right to strike was not automatic and must be exercised within the provisions of Nigeria’s labour laws, particularly Section 43 of the Trade Disputes Act.
Ajaero described the remarks as “a painful but avoidable and needless act of hair-splitting,” insisting that the legal position on the matter had already been settled by the ICJ.
