The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has distanced itself from the indefinite strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the Federal Capital Territory, directing its members to continue their normal duties.
The FCT council of the TUC said it was neither consulted nor involved in the decision to call the strike over the dispute between the FCT Administration and the Nigeria Union of Teachers.
In a statement on Thursday, the council said the NLC’s communiqué of October 6 directing public and private sector workers in the territory to begin an indefinite strike was issued without its endorsement.
“We took no part in the meeting that produced it, and we did not take part in the decision to call a strike. Accordingly, the TUC FCT is not a party to the said industrial action,” the statement said.
The council directed its affiliate unions and members to report to work as usual, warning against attempts to force them to join the industrial action.
“Members should not be intimidated or coerced into joining any action that the TUC has not sanctioned,” it said, urging workers to report any such incidents to its secretariat.
The TUC also instructed affiliate leaders to disregard directives to set up strike enforcement committees unless they came from its own leadership.
While urging members to remain calm and law-abiding, the council called for dialogue and the use of established industrial relations channels to resolve the dispute.
It expressed concern about the impact of the disagreement on teachers, other workers and pupils, warning against disruptions to education.
“We remain open to that approach so that our children’s access to education and a bright future is not disrupted,” the statement added.
The TUC said it would issue further guidance if the situation changed.
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