The National Labour Commission (NLC) has ordered the Divisional Union of the National Identification Authority (NIA), under the Public Services Workers Union (PSWU), to immediately call off its ongoing strike, labelling the action as unlawful.
The directive was issued in a statement on Friday, June 27, following a hearing held the previous day, Thursday, June 26, 2025. The Commission convened representatives from the striking union and key government stakeholders to address the dispute.
Present at the hearing were the Deputy General Secretary and Divisional Chairman of the National Union, alongside representatives from the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment, and the NIA.
The NLC revealed it had received a formal notice of the strike from the Divisional Union and sought clarification regarding who authorized it. The National Union confirmed that the strike had been declared by the divisional leadership.
However, the Commission ruled that the strike was invalid, stating that divisional or local unions lack the legal authority to initiate industrial action. The National Union acknowledged the procedural error and issued an apology.
While the union indicated that steps were being taken to end the strike, the NLC deemed those efforts inadequate and reiterated its directive for the immediate cessation of the action.
A follow-up meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at 1:30 p.m., during which the Commission will assess compliance with its directive and review the status of negotiations.
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