The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association to fully comply with the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which affirmed workers’ right to embark on strike action.
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 must must be exercised within the provisions of Nigeria’s labour laws, particularly Section 43 of the Trade Disputes Act.
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.
Ajaero described NECA’s position as unnecessary, insisting that the legal status of workers’ right to strike has already been settled by the ICJ
According to him, Nigeria ratified Convention 87 in 1960 underscoring the importance in which it was held, and still held. Now, that the highest court in the world has ruled that the right to strike is implied in the Convention, it behoves Nigeria, including NECA, which Mr Oyerinde represents to obey this law unconditionally and not selectively.
He noted that the dispute over whether the right to strike is implied in Convention 87 had gone through several stages within the International Labour Organisation system before eventually reaching the ICJ after employers’ groups challenged the interpretation.
He stressed that all parties, including employers must obey the ruling in its entirety and avoid selective interpretation of international laws.
The NLC president maintained that strike action had never been the first option for workers, describing it instead as a last resort after dialogue and negotiations fail.
He urged all stakeholders to respect the ruling and embrace constructive engagement, saying mutal respect and adherence to the law remains essential for industrial harmony.
