The Nation Newspaper

Category: Labour

  • NECA seeks passage of competition law

    NECA seeks passage of competition law

    The Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) has urged lawmakers to give Nigeria a competition law before the end of this year.

    Speaking at a ‘Walk for Competition Bill’ in Lagos, NECA Director-General Mr. Segun Oshinowo said there was nothing to cheer despite the bill passing second reading in the House of Representatives. According to him, there is nothing to cheer, because previous attempts to pass the bill even passed this stage before they were abandoned.

    “We, therefore, urge the lawmakers to match words with action and give Nigeria a competition law before the end of this year. We also call on the Federal Government to revisit the Draft Competition and Consumer Protection Policy Document and approve it as a matter of urgency.

    “It is this policy that sets out the goal of promoting competition in the economy. We further call on the Federal Government to mainstream competition in broader areas of economic development such as trade and industrial policy, investment policy, privatisation and deregulation policy, among others”  he said.

    Oshinowo noted that with the ongoing reforms in the economy and the privatisation and liberalisation programmes that have been pursued over the past few years, it is important that these programmes are supported with the appropriate regulatory measures and laws to ensure that they deliver real benefits to the citizens.

    In a related event, NECA has condemned the planned picketing of selected banks by the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees.

    The employers’ association, in a statement, alleged that the union was being emboldened by the directive of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, on the sacking in the banking sector.

    NECA’s Director-General, Mr. Olusegun Oshinowo, pointed out that the labour law recognised the right of employers to determine their operational policies without approval from the ministry, while respecting the provision of Section 20 of the Labour Act, where and if a labour union existed in the organisation.

    He assured that any employer carrying out retrenchment would meet with the appropriate body in the workplace, including the union where one existed, and would pay redundancy benefits to affected employees.

    According to him, the right to strike or picket is not an opportunity for impunity and criminality.

    “It is most unfortunate that the minister’s comment has been fuelling impunity and gross abuse of rules and principles of industrial relations in Nigeria. The law about dispute settlement is clear in Nigeria. If the union has any issue with the action of the employer, its recourse should be the industrial court rather than take laws in its own hands.

    “We expect the minister to caution the union and urge it to follow due process in seeking justice for its cause. In exercising its right to picket, the union should realise that such an action should not impinge on the right of the enterprise to conduct its business,” he said.

  • NUPENG to govt: punish employers for ‘unjust sacking’

    NUPENG to govt: punish employers for ‘unjust sacking’

    The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has called on the Federal Government to punish employers in the oil, aviation and electricity sectors who sack indiscriminately.

    Speaking with The Nation, NUPENG President Comrade Igwe Achese urged the National Assembly to halt the retrenchments in these sectors in order not to worsen unemployment.

    He hailed the Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige, for threatening to withdraw the licences of banks for sacking some workers.

    He said banks were unfair to their workers who toil daily to make their businesses viable, adding that workers were always at the receiving end, even when the banks declare huge profits and dividends.

    Relatedly, President-General, Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC), Comrade Chris Okonkwo, has said over 2000 disengaged workers of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) were yet to receive their severance pay three years after the Federal Government’s privatisation of the power assets.

    Okonkwo, who made this known at a briefing in Lagos, bemoaned the development, saying it does not show determination on the part of the government to settle the outstanding payment of the ex-workers.

    He urged the Federal Government to ensure that all outstanding and related payments on severance of PHCN workers were settled.

    “Government is also advised to urgently conclude severance payments and others involving past and present workers in the sector to close that chapter.

    “The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Minister of Labour and Employment and Director-General of Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), should take specific note to avoid another threat to industrial peace in the sector in connection with this matter,” he said.

    He also advised the Federal Government to take urgent steps to bring investors and workers to sign up to rules of engagement based on law to mitigate imminent collapse of industrial peace in the power sector. The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) had backed banks on workers’retrenchment, accusing the government of meddling in the matter.

    It disagreed with  Dr. Ngige on his directive to banks and financial institutions to suspend the exercise.

    NECA Director-General Olusegun Oshinowo said labour laws did not empower the minister to issue such a directive, which he described as “uninformed and populist”.

    He added that the laws had envisaged redundancy, which was why provisions were made in Section 20 of the Labour Act to guide the actions of parties in the event of retrenchment or redundancy,  Oshinowo said. the minister seemed not to have understood the fundamentals of industrial relations and labour laws in Nigeria and, thus, acted ultra vires.

    His words: “NECA affirms that no employer will take pleasure in declaring redundant employees which it has invested significant resources in developing over the years. Usually, redundancy exercise is foisted on employers on account of an unhealthy economy and the dynamics of the business, which often demands staff rationalisation.’’

    Oshinowo said it was part of the inalienable right of an employer to determine the optimal staff level it requires to sustain its operations, adding that employers have rights, which include the right to hire and fire within the rules governing such employment contract.

    “Employers’rights are employers’ prerogatives, which are not subject to ministerial directives.

    ”Where an employer has found it necessary to carry out retrenchment, it would respect the laws of the land and the laid down procedures for redundancy.

  • Labour flays tenure abolition for Perm Secs, Directors

    Labour flays tenure abolition for Perm Secs, Directors

    The Federal Government’s sudden decision to abolish the tenure policy for Permanent Secretaries and Directors in the Public Service has not gone down well with  the orgAnised labour

    The organised labour, under the aegis of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), has, therefore, urged the Federal Government to halt the plan and summon a stakeholders’ meeting to discuss the issue.

    The tenure policy, which started in 2009, under the late President, UmaruYar’Adua, stipulated two terms of four years for Permanent Secretaries and a single tenure of eight years for Directors.

    In a statement issued in Lagos, during the week, ASCSN National President Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama and the Secretary-General, Comrade Alade Bashir Lawal, said incessant policy somersaults if not checked,  may destroy the cherished norms in the public service.

    The union noted that few months ago, the Federal Government recruited non-serving officers, some of whom were above 60 years, as Permanent Secretaries in violation of the Public Service Rules (PSR).

    “This is in a situation where there are highly skilled, educated, and knowledgeable civil servants who should have been elevated to these exalted positions.

    “All appeals by this union to the government to reverse the appointments and promote senior civil servants who have served the nation meritoriously for decades to the posts of Permanent Secretaries were treated with contempt,” Kaigama said.

    He noted that in February, a Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resource, who was to retire on February 17, 2016 had her service extended to February 2017, while other Permanent Secretaries exited.

  • Varsity union seeks renegotiation of 2009 agreement

    The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has urged the Federal Government to kick-start  re-negotiation of the SSANU/Federal Government 2009 agreement.

    In a communiqué issued after a workshop and NEC meeting on Tuesday at the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS) in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, the union said the continued delay in kick-starting the re-negotiation of the agreement is detrimental to the growth of the education sector.

    The communiqué, signed by the union’s National President, Comrade Sampson Ugwoke, said the SSANU/FG 2009 agreement has been due for review since 2012 in line with the terms of the agreement that it should be reviewed every three years.

    “NEC-in-session noted that the continued delay in setting up a negotiation committee was not in the best interest of peace in our universities and called on government to immediately invite the union for discussion and negotiation.

    “NEC further advised the government that the membership of the negotiation team should not be tilted towards only teaching staff in the university, but be balanced to include registrars, bursars and representatives of other constituent groups in the system.”

    The communiqué also lamented the low budgetary allocation to the education sector, saying: “NEC in session noted with disappointment that the educational sector still remains highly underfunded, as the 2016 budgetary allocation to the educational sector is still extremely low.

    “NEC notes that the N403. 16 billion allocation is a far cry from the 26 per cent UNESCO standard.

    ‘’NEC in session notes that many countries with less incomes and population than Nigeria place more premium on budgetary allocation to education and finds it ironic that a government that promised to employ 500,000 teachers can devote meagre sums to the educational sector.”

  • Kogi: Labour rejects new bank account opening order

    Kogi: Labour rejects new bank account opening order

    The organized labour in Kogi State has opposed what it descibed as arbitrary decision of the state government to compel workers to open accounts with two specific new generation banks as condition for the payment of their salaries.

    In the statement jointly signed by the state chairman of NLC, Comrade Onuh Edoka, TUC chairman, Ojo Ranti and JNC chairman, Aaron Akeji, the organised labour described the new policy of government as an infringement on the fundamental human rights of workers to personal accounts with any bank of their choice.

    The government has however clarified its position on the matter, giving reasons why it decided on Access and Zenith banks for salary payment.

    They stated that labour was not convinced of the reasons given by the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, over government’s decision on the issue.

    The statement added: “Besides, most workers already have business commitments with their current banks predating this administration, implying that the policy will definitely set them against their banks.

    “We have suffered for this wages several months and now we are passing through this suffering again and yet we do not get our wages and the whole thing comes to nothing. Whoever is concerned, we are appealing that they retrace their steps for sanity to come back”.

    Governor Yahaya Bello said there were reasons why the government chose Access and Zenith banks for salary payment.

    It stated, “Due to the prevailing economic situation, cash reserves of commercial banks domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria are currently competing for so many pressing needs simultaneously, making it increasingly difficult for the commercial banks to finance loan facilities, especially long-term ones.

    “Access and Zenith Banks were however able to step up to the plate when Kogi State approached them. They made the first tranche of the state’s bailout funds available, but on one small condition; that the funds remain domiciled in their banks. If you ask me, and without giving it too much thought, it does make perfect business sense.

    “These banks offer essentially homogeneous services, especially in this case where we are talking salary accounts. It would have been odd were Access and Zenith to be so liberal as to allow other banks benefit from an exclusive market they have basically created. So, rather than make these funds available to the state government to pay workers through other banks, why not internalise the entire process and start reaping accruable benefits from the get go?

    “This explanation is very necessary as I have come across many wild allegations and insinuations that accounts being opened are for unethical purposes. Given the foregoing, any insinuations and speculations about shady, underhand dealings with regards to the disbursement of these bailout funds are completely unfounded.

    “I admit that this situation where erroneous notions are already making the rounds should have been preempted. However, I believe it is not too late to correct the wrong impression some of us have held on this issue”.

  • NECA seeks passage of competition law

    NECA seeks passage of competition law

    The Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) has urged lawmakers to give Nigeria a competition law before the end of this year.

    Speaking at a ‘Walk for Competition Bill’ in Lagos, NECA Director-General Mr. Segun Oshinowo said there was nothing to cheer despite the bill passing second reading in the House of Representatives. According to him, there is nothing to cheer, because previous attempts to pass the bill even passed this stage before they were abandoned.

    “We, therefore, urge the lawmakers to match words with action and give Nigeria a competition law before the end of this year. We also call on the Federal Government to revisit the Draft Competition and Consumer Protection Policy Document and approve it as a matter of urgency.

    “It is this policy that sets out the goal of promoting competition in the economy. We further call on the Federal Government to mainstream competition in broader areas of economic development such as trade and industrial policy, investment policy, privatisation and deregulation policy, among others”  he said.

    Oshinowo noted that with the ongoing reforms in the economy and the privatisation and liberalisation programmes that have been pursued over the past few years, it is important that these programmes are supported with the appropriate regulatory measures and laws to ensure that they deliver real benefits to the citizens.

    In a related event, NECA has condemned the planned picketing of selected banks by the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees.

    The employers’ association, in a statement, alleged that the union was being emboldened by the directive of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, on the sacking in the banking sector.

    NECA’s Director-General, Mr. Olusegun Oshinowo, pointed out that the labour law recognised the right of employers to determine their operational policies without approval from the ministry, while respecting the provision of Section 20 of the Labour Act, where and if a labour union existed in the organisation.

    He assured that any employer carrying out retrenchment would meet with the appropriate body in the workplace, including the union where one existed, and would pay redundancy benefits to affected employees.

    According to him, the right to strike or picket is not an opportunity for impunity and criminality.

    “It is most unfortunate that the minister’s comment has been fuelling impunity and gross abuse of rules and principles of industrial relations in Nigeria. The law about dispute settlement is clear in Nigeria. If the union has any issue with the action of the employer, its recourse should be the industrial court rather than take laws in its own hands.

    “We expect the minister to caution the union and urge it to follow due process in seeking justice for its cause. In exercising its right to picket, the union should realise that such an action should not impinge on the right of the enterprise to conduct its business,” he said.

  • NUPENG to govt: punish employers for ‘unjust sacking’

    NUPENG to govt: punish employers for ‘unjust sacking’

    The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has called on the Federal Government to punish employers in the oil, aviation and electricity sectors who sack indiscriminately.

    Speaking with The Nation, NUPENG President Comrade Igwe Achese urged the National Assembly to halt the retrenchments in these sectors in order not to worsen unemployment.

    He hailed the Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige, for threatening to withdraw the licences of banks for sacking some workers.

    He said banks were unfair to their workers who toil daily to make their businesses viable, adding that workers were always at the receiving end, even when the banks declare huge profits and dividends.

    Relatedly, President-General, Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC), Comrade Chris Okonkwo, has said over 2000 disengaged workers of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) were yet to receive their severance pay three years after the Federal Government’s privatisation of the power assets.

    Okonkwo, who made this known at a briefing in Lagos, bemoaned the development, saying it does not show determination on the part of the government to settle the outstanding payment of the ex-workers.

    He urged the Federal Government to ensure that all outstanding and related payments on severance of PHCN workers were settled.

    “Government is also advised to urgently conclude severance payments and others involving past and present workers in the sector to close that chapter.

    “The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Minister of Labour and Employment and Director-General of Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), should take specific note to avoid another threat to industrial peace in the sector in connection with this matter,” he said.

    He also advised the Federal Government to take urgent steps to bring investors and workers to sign up to rules of engagement based on law to mitigate imminent collapse of industrial peace in the power sector. The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) had backed banks on workers’retrenchment, accusing the government of meddling in the matter.

    It disagreed with  Dr. Ngige on his directive to banks and financial institutions to suspend the exercise.

    NECA Director-General Olusegun Oshinowo said labour laws did not empower the minister to issue such a directive, which he described as “uninformed and populist”.

    He added that the laws had envisaged redundancy, which was why provisions were made in Section 20 of the Labour Act to guide the actions of parties in the event of retrenchment or redundancy,  Oshinowo said. the minister seemed not to have understood the fundamentals of industrial relations and labour laws in Nigeria and, thus, acted ultra vires.

    His words: “NECA affirms that no employer will take pleasure in declaring redundant employees which it has invested significant resources in developing over the years. Usually, redundancy exercise is foisted on employers on account of an unhealthy economy and the dynamics of the business, which often demands staff rationalisation.’’

    Oshinowo said it was part of the inalienable right of an employer to determine the optimal staff level it requires to sustain its operations, adding that employers have rights, which include the right to hire and fire within the rules governing such employment contract.

    “Employers’rights are employers’ prerogatives, which are not subject to ministerial directives.

    ”Where an employer has found it necessary to carry out retrenchment, it would respect the laws of the land and the laid down procedures for redundancy.

  • Varsity union seeks renegotiation of 2009 agreement

    The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has urged the Federal Government to kick-start  re-negotiation of the SSANU/Federal Government 2009 agreement.

    In a communiqué issued after a workshop and NEC meeting on Tuesday at the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS) in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, the union said the continued delay in kick-starting the re-negotiation of the agreement is detrimental to the growth of the education sector.

    The communiqué, signed by the union’s National President, Comrade Sampson Ugwoke, said the SSANU/FG 2009 agreement has been due for review since 2012 in line with the terms of the agreement that it should be reviewed every three years.

    “NEC-in-session noted that the continued delay in setting up a negotiation committee was not in the best interest of peace in our universities and called on government to immediately invite the union for discussion and negotiation.

    “NEC further advised the government that the membership of the negotiation team should not be tilted towards only teaching staff in the university, but be balanced to include registrars, bursars and representatives of other constituent groups in the system.”

    The communiqué also lamented the low budgetary allocation to the education sector, saying: “NEC in session noted with disappointment that the educational sector still remains highly underfunded, as the 2016 budgetary allocation to the educational sector is still extremely low.

    “NEC notes that the N403. 16 billion allocation is a far cry from the 26 per cent UNESCO standard.

    ‘’NEC in session notes that many countries with less incomes and population than Nigeria place more premium on budgetary allocation to education and finds it ironic that a government that promised to employ 500,000 teachers can devote meagre sums to the educational sector.”

    The union, therefore, called on the Federal Government to urgently make provision for a supplementary budget to bridge the shortfall in order to create greater focus on building the human resource more than the oil and gas sector.

  • TUC rejects law on social services levy

    TUC rejects law on social services levy

    The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Rivers State chapter, has kicked against the law on social services levy before the State House of Assembly.

    Its Chairman, Comrade Chika Onuegbu, told reporters that the union and its affiliates would not accept the reintroduction of the controversial social services levy, or any  new tax law in whatever disguise on  workers in the state.

    He said the position of TUC  on the new tax law before the state House of Assembly is clear, saying a court of competent jurisdiction has previously ruled against that law and similar laws.

    He said the union resisted the law under the previous administration in the state, and that the union shall continue to resist it under the present administration as such law amounts to double taxation of the workers.

    The TUC boss said members of the union and her affiliates never paid the social services contributory levy in the state and were also not part of its Board as previously constituted.

    Onuegbu said the planned reintroduction of the law amounted to additional hardship on the workers, stressing that the TUC in the state will resist the planned imposition of additional taxes by the government.

    He advised the state government to limit the collection of taxes to the Taxes and Levies (Approved list for Collection) Act.

    He enjoined the state House of Assembly to concentrate on making laws that will improve the welfare of the workers and ordinary people in the state.

  • NECA backs banks on retrenchment

    NECA backs banks on retrenchment

    •’Ngige’s directive uninformed, populist’

    The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has backed banks on workers’retrenchment, accusing the government of meddling in the matter.

    It disagreed with  the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, on his directive to banks and financial institutions to suspend the exercise.

    NECA Director-General  Olusegun Oshinowo said labour laws did not empower the minister to issue such a directive, which he described as “uninformed and populist”.

    He added that the laws had envisaged redundancy, which was why provisions were made in Section 20 of the Labour Act to guide the actions of parties in the event of retrenchment or redundancy.  Oshinowo said the minister seemed not to have understood the fundamentals of industrial relations and labour laws in Nigeria and, thus, acted ultra vires.

    His words: “NECA affirms that no employer will take pleasure in declaring redundant employees which it has invested significant resources in developing over the years. Usually, redundancy exercise is foisted on employers on account of an unhealthy economy and the dynamics of the business, which often demands staff rationalisation”. Oshinowo said it was part of the inalienable right of an employer to determine the optimal staff level it requires to sustain its operations, adding that employers have rights, which include the right to hire and fire within the rules governing such employment contract.

    “Employers’ rights are employers’ prerogatives, which are not subject to ministerial directives.

    ”Where an employer has found it necessary to carry out retrenchment, it would respect the laws of the land and the laid down procedures for redundancy.

    ”Employers’ expectation from the Minister of Labour and Employment is that he will work hand in hand with other government ministries in the establishment of the desired enabling environment to ensure business sustainability, competitiveness and job creation,” he said.

    Oshinowo said the Ministry of Labour and Employment runs on the principle of tri-partism, which entails regular interactions with trade “unions as represented by NLC/TUC, the employers as represented by NECA, and government as represented by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment. The ministry is expected to respect the rights and interests of employers and workers alike on issues that relate to labour and industrial relations,” he said.

    Meanwhile, NECA has written to its members to ignore what it described as the “illegal directive from the minister.”