Strikes should only be a last resort – President Jonathan

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has expressed his displeasure over the recent spate of strikes by some labour and professional unions in parts of the country.

In his remarks in Abuja on Friday, March 04, after signing into law the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Third Alteration Bill, 2010 which formally establishes the National Industrial Court, President Jonathan said that strikes should only be a last resort when all other options for a negotiated settlement of industrial disputes have failed.

“We must all imbibe a culture of negotiation and resort to constitutional means of resolving labour disputes if we are to sustainably grow our economy and ensure stability,” the President said.

He urged organized labour, employers of labour and employees in all sectors of the economy to avail themselves of the opportunities provided by constitutional safeguards like the National Industrial Court for the peaceful resolution of industrial disputes “in the overall interest of our nation’s growth and development”.

Recalling that that he also signed a new Employees Compensation Act into law late last year, President Jonathan said that his formal assent to the bill establishing the National Industrial Court is a further affirmation of his Administration’s total commitment to ensuring that the welfare of Nigerian workers in the formal and informal sectors are safeguarded at all times.

“It is my hope that with the constitutional establishment of the National Industrial Court, we have institutionalized the process for quick, fair and efficient resolution of disputes relating to labour, employment, industrial relations, workmen compensation, child labour, discrimination, pensions, health and safety in the workplace,” President Jonathan said.

“This court is conferred with exclusive jurisdiction in those areas considered critical to the sustenance of our economic and industrial development.

“Its effective discharge of its mandate should serve not only to promote industrial harmony, but also to boost the confidence of both local and foreign direct investors in our national economy,” the President remarked.

His assent to the new law was witnessed by Vice President Namadi Sambo, the Senate Leader , Chief Teslim Folarin, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed as well as the Ministers of Justice and Labour.