Kaduna NLC Strike: Govt Sets Up Commission Of Inquiry Into Actions Of Labour Leaders

The Kaduna State Government has established a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) strike of May 2021, with  Justice Ishaq Bello, a retired Judge as chairman.

This was contained in a statement signed on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to Governor Nasir El-Rufai on Media and Communication, Mr Muyiwa Adekeye.

He explained that the former Attorney-General of Cross River State, Eyo Ekpo and ex-Attorney General of Kaduna State, Joan Jatau-Kadiya, are members of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry.

Former Assistant General Secretary of NLC and Deputy National Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Chom Bagu is also a member of the Commission of Inquiry.

Other members of the commission include AVM Rabiu Dabo, Nasirudeen Usman, and Mohammed Isah Aliyu.

According to the statement, the Judicial Commission of Inquiry is constituted based on the 1999 Constitution and the Commissions of Inquiry Law CAP 34, Laws of Kaduna State 1991.

The Inquiry has 14 terms of reference which include ascertaining the legality of the warning strike, the actions of various persons and organisations.

“Others include determining whether such actions amount to any breach of of the Trade Union Act, the Trade Disputes Act, the Trade Disputes (Essential Services) Act, the Miscellaneous Offenses Act, the Quarantine Act, the Public Health Law, and Penal Code Law of Kaduna State and other laws.

“The Inquiry will also ascertain the economic losses incurred during the strike, assign responsibility for actions and make recommendations for appropriate actions, including civil remedies, criminal prosecution and policy measures,’’ Adekeye said.

The statement pointed out that “Section 7 of the Commissions of Inquiry Law grants the Judicial Commission of Inquiry the power to summon any person in Nigeria to give evidence and to issue a warrant to compel the attendance of anyone so summoned.’’