NLC Delta State Council Rejects New Dress Code Policy for Civil Servants

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Delta State Council has expressed strong opposition to the newly introduced dress code for civil servants in the state.

The NLC criticized the government for sidelining workers’ representatives in the decision-making process, accusing it of imposing the policy as an additional financial burden on workers.

Addressing workers in pidgin English on Friday, NLC leader Comrade Goodluck Oforbrukueta urged any civil servant penalized for refusing to comply with the new dress code to report immediately to the Labour House for support.

He stated, “We no gree because the money we dey earn no reach chop. E no reach pay school fees for our children. E no reach pay house rent. E no even reach transport us go work, yet dem want make all of us wear suit.”

Oforbrukueta pledged the union’s commitment to defending workers’ rights, saying, “We go protect and defend workers with the last drop of our blood.”

He further criticized the government for failing to consider workers’ welfare before introducing the policy.

“Dem never even think about how to improve our salaries, or if we fit chop or take care of our health. Instead, dem dey tell us make we wear suit. The money no dey for us to buy those things.”

Oforbrukueta also questioned why the government did not engage workers’ representatives in discussions before rolling out the dress code. “They just sat down in their offices and issued the circular, thinking everybody dey get money like them.”

He highlighted poor working conditions, noting that many workers lack basic office supplies such as chairs, tables, pens, and paper, yet are expected to buy expensive suits.

Warning against allowing the policy to stand, he said, “If this one pass, next time dem fit come say civil servants no suppose marry. That one go be the next government policy.”

He emphasized that civil service rules cannot be changed unilaterally, insisting, “No one person fit just wake up and change the rules.”

Oforbrukueta assured workers, “We will protect anyone who is threatened or sanctioned because of this.”