The Nation Newspaper

Category: Labour

  • SON, EU to end rejection of export products

    SON, EU to end rejection of export products

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has partnered the European Union (EU) to build capacities and competences required to stop rejection of exports from Nigeria at the global market.

    It said to meet up with the diversification agenda of the Presidency, which would be pursued with the support of 2016 budget, Nigerian products must gain acceptance at the international market.

    Its Director-General, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, said to prevent the nation from suffering   disadvantages due to non-acceptability of its exports, 70 workers of SON, who will retrain others across the value chain, will be trained by the team of experts from EU for eight months.

    He spoke at the inaugural meeting of SON with the experts for the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP)-EU-Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) programme on capacity building and training on standardisation.

    The theme of the forum was: “Fostering Standardisation Values and Capacity Growth for Made-in-Nigeria Products”.

    He said Nigeria, buying 80 per cent of what it consumes and selling less than 20 per cent of what it has capacity to produce, is a net buyer at the international community.

    He said:  “The partnership with EU to build capacities for Made-in-Nigeria goods is a micro quality intervention programme focused on specific areas such as agricultural produce, chemical testing, electronics and electrical, as well as identifying gaps in the processes of accreditation of laboratories.”

  • ‘Nigeria’s oil and gas facing difficult times’

    ‘Nigeria’s oil and gas facing difficult times’

    National President of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) Comrade Dr. Igwe Achese has expressed dismay over the challenges facing the oil and gas industry.

    Achese, who spoke at a national education seminar: Global Oil Politics, Investments and Employment Relations in the Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry,’ in Owerri, the Imo State capital, regretted that the situation had led to a drop in investment.

    “Times are really tough with the sector with the global fall in oil prices at the international market which has led divestment in some fields to retrenchment etc,” he said.

    He observed that the practice of casualisation and contract staffing has become endemic in the industry, adding that this category of workers is subjected to slavery and exploitative labour.

    He regretted that international oil companies were selling off their on-shore oil fields in Nigeria and moving to Angola, Uganda, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan, among other, countries, while NUPENG members were being retrenched with redundancies becoming the order of the day.

    Giving the current situation, Achese stressed the need for the Federal Government to look inwards by diversifying the economy, warning that the nation must not rely on oil, but should focus on other areas that would bring the needed revenue.

    While not opposed to deregulation of the downstream sector, the union urged the Federal Government to create an enabling environment to engender private investor’s interest in building refineries to provide the capacity to meet local demand.

    He praised the Federal Gvernment’s effort to fix the four refineries, adding that when they become fully operational, they can refine 440,000 barrels of oil daily.

    In a related event, the newly appointed ministers have been urged to work assiduously to address pressing issues of insecurity, high electricity tariffs, dilapidated infrastructure, unemployment, non-payment of salaries and naira devaluation.

    The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) set this agenda for the new ministers at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja.

    The union lamented the state of the nation, especially the oil and gas industry, listing Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), crude oil theft, job insecurity, and expatriate quota as areas of focus for the ministers.

  • ‘Entrepreneurship cure to poverty’

    The immediate past chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, has identified entrepreneurship as the cure to poverty and corruption.

    Ohuabunwa, who is the national president, Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC),  spoke during the Achievers Business Summit with  “Redefining your Business for Impact” as its theme.

    He said: “There is a growing need to encourage people to try their hands on business. It is the only way to help stem the scourge of corruption in our society thereby limiting the urge to compromise, which has been the norm by lazy Nigerians. Entrepreneurship will allow people earn an income to take care of their daily needs and live a decent life.”

    The summit offered participants an insight into how to establish successful business concerns and also provided the essence of multiple streams of income, which is seen as a way out of poverty and corruption.

    The convener of the summit, Pastor Akinola Ajayi, said the aim of the gathering was to raise achievers in business to become worthy examples.

    “I remember the first three Business Summits staged between 2001 and 2003 at House Hotel now Havana Hotel. In those three years, we gained huge followership and people encouraged us to continue but I couldn’t because I could not organise the seminar on a yearly basis and also continue as a pastor until I got a call from God to start again,” he said.

    Pastor Ajayi noted that most people are successful in business, but they cannot pass it on to their next generation because such businesses are not built on God’s foundation.

    “This seminar is convened to empower people to do business in God’s way. It is aimed at raising achievers in business who can consistently improve and become worthy ambassadors of their trade,” he added.

  • Fed Govt warns against strike

    The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Clement Illoh, has cautioned on incessant strikes, which can truncate the attainment of national goals.

    He made this assertion in Abuja at the weekend, during the presentation of the report of the fact-finding committee into the industrial crisis that paralysed activities at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State, for the substantial part of 2014 and 2015.

    Illoh stressed that if various actors in industrial disputes could embrace dialogue in resolving their differences, the developmental agenda of government would be realised.

    He added that management and union officials should see dialogue as an indispensable tool in the resolution of disputes.

    His words: “Resort to strikes and disruption of work processes remains inimical to the overall development of the country. More importantly, the case of Federal Medical Centre Owerri (FMCO) could jeopardize the lives of Nigerians who need the services of the Centre in order to stay alive’’.

    Illoh said the committee was set up in response to a letter from the Presidency by the three Joint-House Unions of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANMM).

    He noted that what led to the industrial action was the alleged introduction of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) by the Medical Director of the FMCO, Dr. Angela Uwakwem and allegations of gross financial misconduct and highhandedness against her.

    He said towards the resolution of the crisis, the Ministry of Labour and Productivity in performing its statutory conciliatory role, set up a fact-finding committee to resolve the crisis, adding that the committee made far-reaching recommendations that could end the industrial action.

    Illoh assured that the ministry would monitor the implementation of the recommendations as well as set up a tripartite monitoring committee to do same.

    The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mr. Linus Awute, noted that the report of the fact-finding committee is the best thing that has happened to the health sector.

    His said: “We are going to do the needful to make sure that actions are taken based on the recommendations of the report believing that we are doing so in the best  interest of the nation.”

    Calling on care-givers to justify their salaries, he condemned the incessant strikes embarked upon by health workers, which described as detrimental to the nation.

    The chairman of the committee, Mr. Nyamali John Audu, appealed to the Federal Ministry of Health to start the implementation of the recommendations of the committee to avoid further disruption of activities at the Medical Centre, warning that unionism is not a licence to impunity.

    He noted that there are statutory provisions in extant labour law that guides the relationship between unions and management on how to manage and resolve industrial disputes.

    In a related event, Illoh called on all Nigerians, both in the public and private sectors, to support  Federal Government’s efforts at providing social security protection to the vulnerable groups

    The Permanent Secretary, who was represented by the Director of Special Duties, Mr. Felix Ogenyi, made this appeal in Abuja while declaring open a stakeholders’ meeting on ‘Addressing the Social Security Needs of the Informal Workers through Cooperative Delivery System’.

  • NASU warns states over salary arrears

    NASU warns states over salary arrears

    •Threatens showdown

    Governors still owing workers, despite the bailout funds from the Federal Government, may soon face an industrial action. The Non Academic Staff of Universities and Educational Institutions (NASU) has urged the governors to pay up with immediate effect.

    The union in a resolution adopted after the quadrennial delegates’ conference, last  weekend, warned that the bailout funds should be used to pay the arrears of salaries owed workers. It also mandated the governors to, henceforth, ensure effective and prompt payment of workers’ salaries.

    The statement, which was jointly signed by the Deputy President  and Secretary,  Adegoke Adeniyi and Damola Adelekuný, condemned the delay in the payment of workers’ salaries by some governors.

    “Union views this negative, anti-worker agenda as an inhuman act, which has brought untold hardship on the workers and invariably on the populace,” the statement said.

    It, however, praised the giant strides of President Muhammad Buhari in providing bailout funds to affected states to offset debts owed to workers, noting that the singular act of Mr. President has endeared him to the hearts of Nigerian workers.

    The union also urged workers of the affected states not to compromise the payment and to closely monitor the disbursement of the funds to forestall any attempt by some governors to use the funds for other purposes.

    The union also expressed dismay on the deplorable conditions of Nigerian Public Libraries and the National Library of Nigeria due to neglect by government and decline in individual and corporate support.

    It also frowned at some governors’ concession of e-library to private operators and other ministries as against its usage by the library boards.

    It noted that for the country to develop and for the present government’s clamour for eradication of illiteracy to succeed, urgent attention must be given to resuscitation of libraries in Nigeria.

    “The Conference-in-Session, therefore, called on all tiers of government to make it a priority by providing adequate funds for this education sector since they are not created to generate revenue but to render services to the populace and also implored the Tertiary Education Fund (TETFUND) to intervene in the pathetic situation in public libraries”, the union added.

  • NLC, NULGE call for local govt autonomy

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) have called for local government areas’ autonomy to liberate them from the grip of governors.

    The President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and his NULGE counterpart, Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel, made the call at a roundtable discussion on Local Government Autonomy, organised by NULGE in Abuja, on Monday.

    Comrade Wabba enjoined NULGE to be steadfast and continue the struggle as the NLC will support the union to ensure that the autonomy of local government is granted.

    Wabba said: “I want to assure you that NLC will fully support and canvass for local government autonomy. Local governments must be allowed to use their funds. I want to urge you to continue the struggle. The local governments must be liberated.”

    Wabba said the issue of joint account should be looked into, arguing that the joint account has not served the purpose for which it was intended.

    His words: “If we all believe that the majority of our people live in local government areas, then that is where development is needed most. So, we will continue to canvas for autonomy. I am also happy that the current National Assembly, with some of their utterances and dispositions, we can also say we can have an ally in the area of strengthening local government administration and also canvassing for autonomy for local governments.”

    According to him, what NULGE has started is an initiative that will bring development closer to the people.

    Wabba said: “In the old good days when our local government system was very functional and effective, the issue of security, agriculture, the issue of providing  jobs for the teeming youths were actually being addressed. Therefore, we must return to the basics if we want to address the challenges in our economy, our polity or even in our social life.”

    He lamented the rate of unemployment, saying through an effective local government system, the agricultural sector can be reinvigorated to curb the menace.

    Khaleel said autonomy for local government system is not negotiable, calling for support from stakeholders to ensure the objective is achieved

    He noted that stronger financial autonomy for local governments would help to strengthen their activities, adding that the union was working assiduously to ensure that the constitutional reforms of local government system are formulated.

    Khaleel said the importance of the roundtable was to produce a rich policy document that would engage government and others in making the local government system stronger.

  • PENGASSAN gets new officers at NNPC CHQ

    PENGASSAN gets new officers at NNPC CHQ

    Senior members of the staff at the headquaters of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) have elected new officers to lead them for the next three years.

    The workers, under the aegis of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), picked Comrade Matthew Duru as their chairman. He took over from Comrade Nuhu Marcus Avong.

    In his acceptance speech, Duru promised to ensure continuity of Avong’s programmes.

    “I promise that I will not disappoint all who voted me into power. I will work hand-in-hand with the former Chairman, Comrade Avong, and I will always seek his advice on issues. I will continue from where he stopped to take our branch to a higher level,” he said.

    Duru assured other officers and members of a cordial working relationship, promising to maintain a good working relationship with national and zonal levels of PENGASSAN.

    PENGASSAN President Comrade Francis Olabode Johnson said all hands must be on deck to ensure that the ongoing reforms in the oil and gas industry work for the benefit of the members.

    He said: “The ongoing reforms will definitely pose some challenges, but we should work together to derive benefits from the reforms.

    “The government has promised to  revamp refineries and we have seen the steps taken so far. Port Harcourt Refinery is now working. I enjoin everyone in the branch to work as a team, so that we can see the plans of the government coming to fulfilment.”

  • Lagos to implement public service reforms

    The Lagos State government will continue to develop institutional framework and implement reforms to enhance the capacity of its public service, Director-General, Lagos State Public Service Staff Development Centre (PSSDC), Mrs. Olubunmi Fabamwo, has said.

    This, she said, is to deliver quality service through effective people management and synergy at the state and local government levels.

    She spoke last weekend at a sensitisation forum aimed at deepening the understanding of human resource reforms in the public service for human resource officers and council clerks, on the Centre’s premises.

    Fabamwo reiterated the primacy of deepening the human resource capabilities of practitioners in the promotion of public service excellence and in broadening the capacity of government to satisfy the yearnings and expectations of citizens.

    She told participants, from the 20 local governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas of the state, that as leaders in the third tier of government, their understanding and commitment to the human resource management reform agenda would go a long way to promote service delivery, which will ensure uniformity in people management across the board.

    Also speaking, the Director-General, State Office of Transformation Creativity and Innovation (OTCI), Mr. Toba Otusanya, said the human resource reform would boost governance by building a professional public service managed by professional human resource managers.

  • LCCI gets corporate communications manager

    LCCI gets corporate communications manager

    The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has appointed  Segun Alabi its new Corporate Communications Manager.

    LCCI Director- General Mr. Muda Yusuf, in a statement last Monday, said Alabi is a talented corporate communications professional, who has gained diverse experiences in the Pay T.V, manufacturing, financial and real estate sectors.

    He said Alabi would  be an added value and a real asset to the Chamber. “As we continue to support, promote and represent the opinion of the business community, as well as contributing to the growth of our economy.”

    Before his appointment, Alabi served as Head of Corporate Affairs at Forthright Group of Companies, overseeing public relations and communications functions of the organisation. He has focused on media relations, image architecture, internal communication, perception management and social media management at various levels. He is also a consummate corporate communications professional, who possesses the qualities of a communication connoisseur, with a canny ability to manage and disseminate information to a competitive advantage.

    Upon starting, Alabi said: “I am excited about joining the LCCI during this crucial period of entrenching positive change in all facets of our economy. The task ahead is not only to make the image, but also to sustain the already made image of the chamber, as well as improving on it.”

    Alabi holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria and a Master’s degree in English from the University of Lagos, specialising in Language Use and Communication.

  • Labour seeks regional integration to improve workers’ welfare

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for regional cooperation among African countries to improve workers’ welfare.

    Its President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba made the call at the opening of the Organisation of Trade Unions of West Africa (OTUWA) special delegates’ conference in Abuja.

    He noted that past efforts at regional integration had always focused on removing barriers to free trade, increasing free movement of people, labour, goods, and capital across borders, reducing the possibility of regional armed conflict and adopting a cohesive regional stance on policy issues in the sub-region

    He emphasised the importance of OTUWA for regional unity and cooperation of workers in meeting the challenges of globalisation and the increasingly competitive markets.

    He said: “It is our belief that trade unions’ regional solidarity is a possible solution to the continent’s deep and prolonged labour, economic and social crisis, at a time when the working people are experiencing the ‘race to the bottom’, prevalent neo-liberal policies of deregulation and privatization of national economies, while the continuing decline of state-imposed barriers to inter-country flows is paving the way for increased regional trade.”

    Wabba assured that the NLC would continue to play a vital role in the sustenance of  OTUWA and other African regional trade union organisations for the benefits of the workers in the sub-region and Africa as a whole.

    ”We must reflect on the fact that West African countries today are weakly integrated nationally, regionally, and internationally. Ethnic and socio-political divisions are particularly dominant in the region. Our trade unions are small and labour centres significantly fragmented in many of our countries, and these are impediments to regional integration.”

    He said regionally, West African countries are divided by a wide range of institutional, legal, socio-economic and cultural barriers. At the international trade union level, for instance, he said West Africa is increasingly being marginalised.