A Nigerian governor has sacked the entire 34 000-strong workforce in his state for refusing to heed a call to suspend their one-month-old strike over pay, a government spokesperson said Thursday.
Public-sector workers in the south-western state of Oyo launched the industrial action last month to force Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala to pay increases approved by his predecessor.
Alao-Akala, who came to power in May, refused to pay the new salaries, arguing that the government had no money to pay, but labour said since the government was a continuity he had to pay.
The governor directed the workers to return to work or face dismissal, but they were recalcitrant.
”The government has declared their positions vacant and an advertisement has been placed … in national dailies for the positions to be filled forthwith,” the governor’s spokesperson Dotun Oyelade said.
Union officials warned the government against ”playing with fire” by sacking the entire workforce.
”The governor is a joker. The NLC [Nigeria Labour Congress] will resist any attempt to intimidate workers. We will resist the action with all lawful means at our disposal,” NLC state chairperson Lamidi Apapa said. — Sapa-AFP