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President
of the National Industrial Court (NIC), Babatunde Adejumo, shocked his
audience at the Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan, on Tuesday when
he declared that over 80 per cent of the cases before the court are on
“who should collect check-off dues and who should not.”

Mr. Adejumo, who
delivered the lead paper at a two-day national workshop for union
leaders and management of southern Nigeria based universities on
industrial harmony, said many of the strikes that have taken place
within the system were needless.

Jointly organized
by the NIC and the Consultancy Services Centre (UNIFECS) of the Obafemi
Awolowo University, Ile Ife, the workshop sought to engender symbiotic
relationships among the unions and the management of the Nigerian
universities.

According to him,
most often, many members of the union are completely in the dark about
the cause their leaders are fighting for.

“Many times,
workers are not well educated on the need to go on strike,” he said.
“There must be constant and proper education for union members. Most
people believe that the union leaders are only there to manage the
check-off dues. That should not be the only active role and functions
the union should play. Before the issue of strike, how best have they
done to discuss the issue and educate their members? This is more
important.”

Improper strikes

While reaffirming
the inalienable right of workers to go on strike when their rights are
trampled upon by their employers, Mr. Adejumo cautioned union leaders
against leading their member to strikes that do not conform with the
provisions of the constitution on exercising their rights, saying the
effect could be counter-productive.

He hinted that
about eight court complexes of the NIC will soon be commissioned and
open for operation in the spirit of ensuring that litigants across the
country have access to an industrial court within a distance of less
than three hours.

He further revealed
that the National Assembly is almost through on the amendment of the
relevant legislation guiding the operations of the court, with a view
to empowering it to better deliver its mandate to the people of Nigeria.

In order to achieve
harmonious relationship between the university managements and unions
of their staff, Mr. Adejumo called for the creation of codes of conduct
within each of the universities.

“The aim of the code should be to lay down principles and guidelines
on the practice of industrial relations for achieving greater
industrial harmony,” he said.