NIN: NIMC workers makes U-turn on Strike within 24hours
Victoria Ogunrinde
The National Identity Management Commission workers on Friday called off the industrial action they embarked upon on Thursday over poor funding and fear of COVID-19 spread.
According to reports, the workers decided halt the strike after they had meeting with the Federal Government where it was agreed that the demands of the employees would be addressed, thus the workers gave the government a 21-day ultimatum to meet their demands.
The President, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, NIMC Unit, Lucky Asekokhai, confirmed the suspension of the strike in Abuja, said NIMC workers across the country were being contacted to resume work by Monday and recommence the enrolment of citizens for the National Identity Number.
The strike had grounded activities at the offices of NIMC across the country, as the workers stopped work, leaving large crowds of people who had visited the commission to obtain their NINs stranded.
Asekokhai said, “We just finished the meeting and the minister (of communications and digital economy) has intervened in the matter. He has promised to look into our grievances.
“So we will be meeting with the minister on Tuesday and on that note, we’ve called off the strike and all workers will return to their offices by Monday morning.”
On whether the association had communicated the latest development to its branches nationwide, Asekokhai replied, “Yes, we are doing it right away. We are putting out a memo to that effect which will be everywhere in 30 minutes.”
He said the Trade Union Congress, which was the mother body of ASCSN, was part of the meeting with the government, adding that a 21-day ultimatum was served on the management of NIMC.
He said, “We actually served the management of NIMC a 21-day ultimatum based on the issues of welfare and safety against COVID-19 that we raised.
“The ultimatum starts counting yesterday (Friday) officially. And for it to start counting officially from today, we had to step down the strike we embarked on yesterday (Thursday). So on that note also, we’ve called off the strike, while the ultimatum starts running.”