Senator Chris Ngige, the minister of labor and employment, claims that his desire to uphold the law has made him a “odd man” in the nation.
Ngige said this on Monday while taking questions for the Morning Show program on Arise Television.
He made his statement on “May Day,” a holiday observed by Nigerian workers.
Remember how the Minister came under fire and harsh criticism for not paying the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) members’ salaries during their eight-month strike?
I Will Not Give ASUU Chance To Go on Strike Again – Ngige Vows
When they went on a four-month strike, health workers covered by the Nigeria Medical Association shared the same experience in that they never received their salaries during that time.
The Minister insisted that he simply implemented Section 43 of the Trade Dispute Act, which forbids a worker from receiving payment if he ceases providing services, and lamented that Nigerians don’t like to follow the law.
Ngige said, “People in Nigeria don’t like to obey laws. The statutes are there. The laws of the country are there. If you even try to enforce the law, you look odd. I am an odd today because I enforced Section 43 of the Trade Dispute Act, which says that if a worker withdraws his services, he will not be entitled to any pay; that’s the right to go on strike. It’s allowed, you can go on strike.
Buhari Govt Has Approved Salary Increase For Civil Servants – Ngige
“But your employer has the right to keep that money that is due to you, and if you’re on essential services employ people to keep the services running. It’s in the ILO statute books and principles on strike.”
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