The workers’ union in the National Identity Management Commission has threatened to embark on strike if the Federal Government did not meet their needs after 21-day ultimatum.
The grouse of the union against the Federal Government bordered on the deplorable state of NIMC enrolment centres across the country.
The Secretary-General of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, Isaac Ojemhenke, signed the 21-day ultimatum letter, dated November 8, 2019, and addressed to the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Minister of Labour and Employment, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Director General of the State Security Service, Inspector General of Police and NIMC management.
The letter said the deplorable state of NIMC enrolment centres across the country, occasioned by leaking roofs, poor furniture and lack of toilet facility, had resulted in staff members’ deadly encounters with snakes and other reptiles.
It added that poor conditions of the working environment and inhumane welfare had also resulted in workers death. The letter also stated that while NIMC offices had no diesel to power generators, stationery and internet facility, workers’ salaries were reduced and allowances stopped. It also accused the commission’s management of failing to protect staff interests.
In an interview with journalists in Abuja, chairman of the NIMC branch of ASCSN, Lucky Asekokhai, said despite the expiration of the ultimatum, NIMC management had yet to respond to the workers’ demands.
He said a decision would be taken by the union soon, noting that workers would not continue working under deplorable condition of service.
He said, “We have been on this issue for a long time. Because of the insincerity of the management of the commission, we issued an ultimatum in accordance with labour laws which had elapsed. There is no reason for people that work in a critical agency that keeps data of the identities of Nigerians to be subjected to the deplorable condition of service.
“We heard of a new salary structure and the management confirmed it was working on it but we have yet to see the salary. The 28-day relocation allowance given to people on transfer or those that are newly employed had yet to be paid since 2013.
“After the ultimatum, we were invited to the National Assembly, the SGF, police and head of the Trade Dispute department at the Ministry of Labour and Employment and we were told to give the government some time.
“We have decided to give government till December 31, 2019 for further discussion. But if nothing positive comes up, nobody should blame us for any action taken.”
In a separate interview with journalists, NIMC’s General Manager, Operations, Abdulhamid Umar, however, said many issues raised by workers were addressed before the ultimatum elapsed.
He said, “There are issues raised but 99 per cent of them were outside the purview of the NIMC’s management because they were directed at the government. But because we were delegated by government to manage the commission for the public, we cannot run away from the impact of the issues raised. They were germane and still germane but no longer at the front burner again.
“On the allowance, government said we should gather them; so if you go to the Accountant General office, you will see our requisition there. Discussions have taken place at the highest level and those matters have been tabled before the government.”