The Ogun State Government has invoked the ‘no work, no pay’ rule of the Trade Dispute Act in relation to the ongoing industrial action by its workforce.

“Consequently, the State Government has directed all workers to be at their duty posts from Monday,  March 14, 2016,” the government said in a statement signed by the Head of Service, Elder Sola Adeyemi.

“The application of the ‘no work, no pay’ rule followed the refusal of the striking workers to heed appeals from government and well-meaning indigenes of the state and the refusal of the labour unions to consider all entreaties to end the industrial action so that the state might be in a position to generate resources for the benefit of the workers and generality of the citizens,” Mr. Adeyemi said.

He added: “Section 43 (1) (a) of the Trade Dispute Act, the government pointed out, provides that ‘Where any worker takes part in a strike action, he shall not be entitled to any wages or other remuneration for the period of the strike, and such period shall not count for the purpose of reckoning the period of continuous employment and all rights dependent on continuity of employment shall be prejudicially affected accordingly’.

“Despite the fact that the State Government has been consistent with payment of workers’ salaries as and when due and has paid workers up to February 2016, with a promise to meet other demands once the finances of the state improved, union leaders went ahead to call out workers on a strike on March 7, 2016 and physically prevented majority of the employees, who reported for duties, from gaining access to their offices.

“Government will not yield to pressure to downsize or reduce salaries of its workforce as being suggested in some quarters.
“This is the reason why government employees should be in their offices. Government reaffirms it’s commitment to the welfare of its workers and calls for their understanding during the current economic downtown in Nigeria,” the statement concluded”.