NIMC workers embark on strike, allege exposure to COVID-19

Registration of National Identity Number has been put on hold as workers of the National Identity Management Commission embark on indefinite strike over what they call undue exposure to coronavirus and sundry welfare issues.

The notice for the strike action is contained in a statement signed by President of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, NIMC branch, Lucky Michael, and its Secretary, Odia Victor.

The notice was issued after a meeting convened on Wednesday January 6 by the association to discuss the state of the exposure of staff members to COVID-19 and the salary structure and its representation in the annual appropriation and irregularities in the conduct of promotion exercise amongst other welfare matters.

The workers also decided to go on strike to demand for better welfare package from the government, more allowances for the registration of NIN, which they viewed as an extra duty.

They decried the lack of protective kits at their offices, which left them exposed to contracting the coronavirus disease while attending to a huge crowd of applicants daily.

The association’s statement read in part, “Consequent upon the congress of the above-mentioned association that took place on January 6, 2020, the unit executive directs all members of grade level 12 and below in the head office and state offices to report to their respective duty posts tomorrow January 7, 2020, and do nothing.

“All members at the local government offices and special centres are advised to stay away from their various centres as a task force and implementation committee would be on parade to ensure total compliance to the directive.”

Some of the workers who spoke on the strike on condition of anonymity accused the government of toying with their safety.

They expressed concern over lack of personal protective equipment at the office as they noted that they could get infected with COVID-19 while attending to thousands of residents daily.