Union Pickets RMRDC Over Unresolved Labour Dispute

The Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC) has commenced picketing of the headquarters of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) in Abuja over unresolved labour disputes and alleged violations of workers’ rights.

The industrial action followed the expiration of a three-day notice issued to the council’s management after an earlier seven-working-day ultimatum, dated September 23, 2026, failed to resolve the grievances raised by the union.

In a statement, the Acting General Secretary of SSASCGOC, Comrade Akin Okudero, accused the RMRDC management of failing to address several labour and administrative issues affecting senior officers of the council.

The union alleged that management had failed to remit check-off dues deducted from members’ salaries, interfered in its internal operations and restricted the constitutional rights of eligible senior staff to freely join and participate in its activities.

It also accused the management of refusing to recognise the SSASCGOC RMRDC Branch executive and suppressing the activities of the branch and its general membership.

According to the association, the grievances prompted the issuance of the initial seven-working-day notice on September 23, followed by a three-day notice of picketing to compel management to address the outstanding demands.

SSASCGOC warned that the dispute could escalate into full-scale industrial action, including total and indefinite picketing of the council’s headquarters, if management failed to resolve the issues by November 11, 2026.

The union said the action was intended to compel the council to address the outstanding labour issues and restore industrial harmony.

The statement partly reads: “The Leadership of the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC) is picketing Raw Materials Research and Development Council based on the expiration of a Three (3)-Day Notice of Picketing Action to the Management of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), headquarters in Abuja.

“The ultimatum follows the expiration of an earlier 7-working-day notice issued on September 23, 2026, which urged the Council’s management to resolve persistent labour disputes and administrative grievances affecting senior officers within the organisation.”

Listing its grievances, the association cited the non-remittance of accrued check-off dues deducted from members’ salaries, alleged interference in its internal operations, restrictions on eligible senior staff joining the union and the non-recognition of its RMRDC branch executive.

The union warned that failure to address its demands before the expiration of the three-day notice on November 11 would trigger full industrial action.

It said this would include total and indefinite picketing of the RMRDC headquarters in Abuja without further notice.

SSASCGOC urged the council’s management to use the remaining window to address its demands and avert an industrial shutdown.