The Nation Newspaper

Category: Labour

  • NDE chief: govt committed to tackling unemployment

    THE  Director-General, National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Malam Abubakar Mohammed, has said the Federal Government is committed to tackling unemployment in the country.

    Speaking at the opening ceremony of the NDE-Enterprise and Finance Counselling Clinic for unemployed graduates in Lokoja yesterday, the DG said NDE remains the foremost government agency saddled with the duty of implementing programmes meant to tackle mass unemployment in the country.

    The DG, who was represented by the Zonal Director of NDE in the Northcentral, Mr. Jibrin Aye, said the concept of the clinic was borne out of the desire to ensure that unemployed graduates of tertiary institutions are exposed to the benefits of self-reliance through entrepreneurship.

    According to him, the training was to also to guide them in their choices of business ideas and give a solid business management training that would instil in the graduates self confidence in managing their chosen business ventures successfully.

  • Xenophobic attacks: Labour calls for evacuation of Nigerians

    The Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria has urged the Federal Government to evacuate Nigerians from South Africa as a result of the ongoing xenophobic attacks.

    Its President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, in a statement, picked holes in the recent directive of the government asking Nigerians to remain indoors.

    He said: “Asking them to remain indoors is not safe as they could unleash mayhem on them even in their houses. It is the government’s responsibility to protect its nationals both internal and external. We must not shirk our responsibility to our citizens wherever they are.”

    Kaigama described the xenophobic attacks as appalling, abysmal and beastly, imploring the Jacob Zuma-led administration to live up to its responsibilities by taking all necessary measures to stop the act of stealing, killing and taking over of people’s properties in Johannesburg, Durban and Pretoria.

    TUC added that Nigerians have not and will not kill any South African in Nigeria in spite of several aborted efforts to unionise workers in South African companies including telecoms giant, MTN and  DSTV which are thriving in Nigeria.

    “Congress is aware of a number of Nigerian investors who went to invest in South Africa but ran back, abandoning acquired properties because they could not cope with their strict labour laws. Nigeria is a country that accommodates all and sundry including South Africa and South Africans and today, we see this rare opportunity being grossly abused.

    “They own several multi-billion dollar investments on our soil yet, we co-exist despite all odds. The same people will come here to dehumanise Nigerians. Not anymore. This must stop! This sacrifice is becoming too grave to bear and over-stretched all to ensure peaceful co-existence,” TUC said.

    He said it is true that the government of South Africa as well as other countries of the world have condemned the attacks, yet, labour demand that the government investigate and punish those involved in accordance with the provisions of the law of the land.

    ”We should also use this opportunity to let the world know that South African owned companies in Nigeria are anti-labour in their operations.

    “Several efforts have been made to unionise MTN, DSTV, and others all to no avail which cannot happen in their country. Congress is aware of a number of Nigerian investors who went to invest in South Africa but ran back abandoning acquired properties because they could not cope with their strict labour laws,” he said.

  • Osun labour crisis: TUC condemns strike

    The crisis rocking the Osun State chapter of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) took another dimension, as the national secretariat of the union disowned the factional Chairman, Mr. Francis Adetunji, who has been parading himself as the recognised chairman of the union.

    The union also condemned the strike embarked upon by workers in the state, arguing that the directive to commence the strike did not emanate from the recognised leaders of the union in the state and did not have the backing of the national secretariat of the union.

    Its National Secretary General, Musa Lawal, who was on a solidarity visit to the state, said the tenure of Adetunji ended a year ago and had thus seized to be the chairman of TUC in the state.

    He queried the rationale for the strike embarked upon by workers in the employ of the state government, noting that the national secretariat of the union was not aware of the strike.

    Addressing reporters at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre after a meeting between the leadership of the TUC and NUJ, Lawal expressed regrets on the action of some workers in the state who perpetrated violence during a protest embarked upon by a faction of the work force.

    Lawal, who berated the attitude of some workers in the state, lamented that laws should not be taken into the hands of any individual and that protest by workers should be peaceful.

    He, however, expressed confidence in the leadership of Akinyemi Olatunji, whom he described as the duly elected chairman of TUC in the state, saying, “There is only one TUC chairman in Osun State and he is Akinyemi Olatunji.”

  • Vocational training vital to economic growth, says ITF

    Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Dr Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko, has said the youths’ training under the German dual vocational training partnership with Nigeria would help to fast track the nation’s economic development.

    Speaking at the end of the programme and presentation of certificate to the 43 trainees, Chukkas-Onaeko, expressed appreciation to the German government on the training, which was financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, BMZ and conducted by Sequa GmbH.

    The bilateral project, initiated by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), Giessen-Friedberg to improve vocational education quality in Nigeria, was aimed to further boost German-Nigerian cooperation.

    Chukkas-Onaeko explained that though ITF trained people on ICT and usage of modern technology, her agency was partnering with foreign countries to facilitate Nigeria’s industrial growth.

    Earlier, the president of Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ABUCCI), Mr. Tony Ejinkeonye, said the chamber participated in the training to bridge the gap between knowledge and pragmatic skills in the economy.

    Ejinkeonye pointed out that the knowledge and skills acquired by the trainees are highly marketable and elusive ones that would enhance their contributions in their various companies and the entire economy.

    The Project Coordinator, Mr. Kehinde Stephen Awoyele, said the objectives of the training were to strengthen civil society, environment protection, fight poverty and ensure good governance.

    He listed insufficient involvement of the private sector, inadequate equipment, obsolete technical infrastructure and deficient qualification of trainers as challenges faced in the training.

    Speaking on the occasion, German Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Zenner said the trainees would soon start their “new and responsible task of training young Nigerians in office administration, maintenance and technical facility management.

    “So, we celebrate today an outstanding bilateral project which shows the intensive and close German-Nigerian cooperation in our day-by-day work. These very close relations between Germany and Nigeria are characterised by friendship, excellent cooperation and mutual understanding,” he said.

    Zenner said he supported the project because it helps to improve the qualification and employability of many young Nigerians. He, however, pointed out that facilitating more people‘s access to productive employment with a decent wage is also a key element of sustainable economic development.

  • NLC crisis: One office, two presidents

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is embroiled in a leadership crisis. Two officials are claiming its presidency, a development that is affecting its performance. The consequences of the crisis, experts say, will impact on not only the workers, but also the economy, TOBA AGBOOLA reports.

    When the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) held two separate inaugural Central Working Committee (CWC) meetings  in Abuja and Lagos, presided over by Comrade Ayuba Wabba and Comrade Joe Ajaero, it only confirmed stakeholders’fears that the crisis rocking the number one labour movement has deepened.

    The two factions have been holding meetings and issuing statements separately, a development that has left stakeholders worried over its obvious implications for  workers and the economy.

    For instance, the Wabba-led NLC, in a communique jointly signed by its General Secretary, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, at the end of its inaugural CWC meeting in Abuja, said the labour centre after exhaustive deliberation has resolved to picket the office of the Postmaster-General for unlawful and illegal diversion of the check-off dues of members of National Union of Postal and Telecommunications Employment (NUPTE) to another union without the consent of NUPTE.

    According to the communiqué, the Postmaster’s action is a violation of the Trade Union Laws and the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantees freedom of association. It also resolved to constitute a committee of experts to formulate a cogent and coherent response to the emerging issues in the economy as well as advance an alternative development agenda that will address the concerns of workers. The group also commended the credentials committee for conducting transparent, credible and unimpeachable elections during the 11th National Delegates’ Conference of NLC.

    Also, at a briefing in Lagos, the other faction led by Joe Ajaero examined some labour and national issues that affect affiliate unions and its members. Ironically, despite the crisis, Ajaero said its CWC re-affirmed its commitment to the unity of the labour movement in Nigeria based on the principles of trade union independence, fairness, strong internal democracy, equity, solidarity, gender balance and justice.

    He, however, said it would not work with the reconciliation committee set up by the Wabba team, an indication that solution may not yet be visible.

    Though the factional group congratulated the new Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya on his appointment and promised to work with him based on mutual trust and respect, it  advised the Minister  not to dabble into the internal affairs of trade union movement, adding that it must respect ILO Conventions 87 and 98 on the rights of workers to freedom of association and collective bargaining.

     Implications for workers

    TheDirector-  General, Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Mr. Olusegun Oshinowo, described the NLC leadership crisis as ‘an unfortunate incident.’ He reasoned that the best thing that could have happened to the organised labour movement is to have a unified body that could talk on behalf of Nigerian workers. “But as it is now, bearing in mind that the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and other institutions recognise the right to freedom of association, the question of legality of the factions has to be sorted out, and this is where the ministry of labour through the office of the Registrar of trade union should come in to tell the public the authentic body as two unions cannot bear NLC. The other splinter group would either go to court or form its own centre,” he said.

    Oshinowo said the problem would undermine the effectiveness of the NLC as the common voice of the workers. He, however, noted that he did not see workers missing out as there are structured industrial relations when it comes to relating with their sectoral employers.

    “However, when it comes to issues that transcend the sectors to the national like the minimum wage, the unity of the organised labour as the voice of the workers is necessary,” he said.

    National President, Chemical and Non- Metallic Products Senior Staff Association (CANMPSSA), Comrade Abdul Gafar Mohammed, said it was not  good for labour, as workers, no doubt, would be at the receiving end.

    He said: “Some employers, who have no respect for workers’ rights may capitalise on the crisis to undermine the interest of the workers. This is a kind of situation they want. It is in unity that we can better serve the interest of our members. Hence, I would implore the two sides to come together and resolve their differences, if actually they are doing this in the interest of the Nigerian workers as they claimed.”

    Former President, NLC and Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, said the NLC has lost prestige and influence in the eyes of Nigerians, particularly the workers.

    In his congratulatory message to Wabba, he said: “It must be obvious to you by now, Comrade President, that the labour movement, and in particular, the congress has lost a significant amount of prestige and influence in the eyes of the working people and the public at large.

    “The people no longer see the congress as the voice of the voiceless and a bulwark against socio-economic and political oppression and injustices in the polity. The congress is essentially viewed as either being complicit or at best indifferent to the cries of the poor working class people and the middle class citizens, who are daily at the receiving end of an unjust social order.”

    Oshiomhole appealed to those who were aggrieved by the outcome of the congress election to sheathe their swords and extend a hand of fellowship to the new president to  reposition the congress.

    The first General Secretary of the NLC, Aliyu Dangiwa, described the development in NLC as a big shame. “It’s a big shame. Moreover, on the part of workers, we have to be more articulate and objective. Apparently, we must look at ourselves. There are people working against us, people working for our adversaries in our midst. Whoever is responsible for this should be traced by workers for appropriate action,” he said.

    Presiding Bishop, Rhema Christian Church and Towers, Bishop Taiwo Akinola, warned that the  problem in NLC might spell doom for workers and the masses.

    He said: “The effect will be far- reaching for the workers and the masses. It means no more voice for the voiceless. When the government overreacted, labour in the past had a way of putting them in check, but now labour too has been politicised. I will advise that whatever their differences are, they should be resolved for the sake of the workers and Nigerians, who have always looked up to them in terms of crisis.”

  • NUPENG threatens strike over failure to pass PIB

    THE  National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) has threatened to go on strike if the National Assembly (NASS) fails to pass the Petroleum Industrial Bill (PIB) into law.

    President of the union, Comrade Igwe Achese, made this known  during a briefing tagged: “What is the future of oil and gas sector?”

    According to him, we will not use the word ‘strike’ to scare Nigerians, but we will withdraw our services across the country if the Seventh Assembly fails to pass the PIB.

    Igwe said the bill must be passed by the NASS to ensure transparency in the oil and gas business.

    “We are not joking with this issue and I hope strongly that the  assembly will do the needful,” he said.

    The NUPENG chief also lamented the vandalism of pipelines, calling on the government to provide adequate protection for them.

    “For refineries in Kaduna to function properly, there is the need to secure them and others throughout the country,” he added.

    Part of their demands include the rehabilitation of refineries to reduce massive importation of petroleum products, tackling the problem of outsourcing of workers in the oil and gas sector, road rehabilitation, security, inauguration of the PPRA board, among others.

    The labour leader said the divestment of oil must be stopped and that the government must bring in new policies to sustain the sector.

    On the scarcity of fuel in Abuja, Achese emphasised that NUPENG was not on strike and despite the insecurity in the country, they still ensured the distribution of the product across the country.

    “The question of no fuel should be directed to the NNPC and others because we are committed to our jobs,” he said.

  • Civil servants caution Buhari against retrenchment

    The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has urged the President-elect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), to discard the advice of experts, who are asking him to retrench civil servants.

    In a statement, its Secretary-General, Comrade Alade Bashir Lawal, expressed surprise that an incoming government that pledged to create employment is already being nudged to sack workers under the guise that the civil service is bloated.

    The union pointed out that Nigeria’s population of about 160 million, with 100,000 of it, that is, 0.06 per cent in the  civil service is not too much.

    “The public service itself, which comprises the core civil service, the Armed Forces and the Police, Immigration, Customs, federal universities, and so on, is about 970,000 (0.61 per cent of the country’s population).

    ”So, where do these ‘experts’ get their facts that the civil service is bloated. We challenge all those making this unsubstantiated claim to a public debate on the issue,” the union said.

    The ASCSN urged Buhari to be wary of fifth columnists that are  pushing every government to embark on anti-people policies, which invariably lead it to a collision course with the people. It wondered why these activists and experts maintained criminal silence while the treasury was being looted by the out-going Federal Government officials.

    The union argued that it is the political office holders with their retinue of special and junior advisers; senior and junior assistants and other political appointees that took billions of public finances.

    “It is common knowledge that political office holders, including lawmakers and members of the executive arm of government are the highest paid in the world. Most of them receive more than the President of the United States. So, if the All Progressives Congress (APC) government is desirous to make meaningful change, it should do well to drastically reduce the humongous emoluments of political office holders to bring it in tandem with the salary in the Public Service and equally trim the innumerable number of sycophant politicians recruit as personal aides,” the ASCSN stressed.

    The union pointed out that civil servants are the least paid in Africa, with a meagre monthly national minimum wage of N18,000, which is not being paid by many state governments in the country.

    ”As we write, civil servants and their dependants moan and groan under the pain and pang of poverty because their miserable pay-packets cannot cater for their basic needs in an environment where every citizen is running a mini-government for himself.

    “It will, therefore, be an unmitigated tragedy if the incoming administration bows to the pressure of failed experts looking for relevance and recognition to throw thousands of civil servants into the over-saturated labour market,” the ASCSN added.

    The union emphasised the need for self-appointed experts to be abreast of facts in any sector before rushing to the media to indulge in unproductive advocacy.

    Recently, the former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, urged the incoming Buhari administration to “decapitate the civil service because the civil service, is bloated and should be cut so that the government can have more money”.

  • Organised labour set agenda for president-elect

    Organised labour set agenda for president-elect

    • Unemployment, casualisation, PIB passage, top list of demands

    The Organised Labour comprising of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has urged the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to tackle unemployment, casualisation and to ensure that he fulfils all his campaign promises upon assumption of office.

    The NLC described Muhammadu Buhari’s victory as a lesson in ‘perseverance and commitment to a cause’, saying there are unusually great expectations from Nigerians which he cannot fail to meet.

    Speaking with The Nation, NUPENG President, Comrade Igwe Achese, urged the President-elect to address the challenges of quick passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), rehabilitation of the nation’s four refineries and building of new ones, in order to reduce massive importation of petroleum products that has bedevilled the sector.

    Said he: “We believe that if these issues are addressed, there will be job creation which is one of the cardinal points of the new administration. The union is optimistic that the second coming of Buhari will put the nation’s oil and gas sector on a sound footing.”

    NUPENG also urged Buhari to tackle outsourcing and casualisation of the workforce in the nation’s oil and gas sector. The union said nipping the unfortunate development in the bud would open decent job opportunities in the sector for Nigerians as stipulated by the country’s labour laws.

    In similar vein, ASUP charged the President-elect to restore Nigeria’s greatness by pursuing only policies that will impact positively on the citizens.

    ASUP, in a letter signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Clement Chairman, noted that in electing Buhari, Nigerians have given vent to their overwhelming desire for the nation to move forward towards becoming an equitable society where the rule of law is held sacrosanct and the people are placed above the selfishness and greed of the political class.

    He said Nigerians are hopeful that the change agenda, which drove Buhari’s campaign, will be pursued with disciplined diligence that will put Nigeria on the track of wholesome greatness. “The revolutionary smooth transition represents a significant deepening moment for our democracy and holds the seed of promise for a vibrant egalitarian society where the wish of the people is supreme,” he said.

    President of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said the election was significant for the fact that votes do count after all, adding that politicians will learn to keep their promises to the electorate.

    While expressing readiness to work with and engage the incoming government, Wabba said the NLC is ready to work with the president-elect in defining a new agenda for the nation.

    “We strongly believe that the election of General Buhari (retired), has undoubtedly opened a new and important chapter in the socio-political development of our nation as we have finally broken the jinx of transiting from one democratically elected civilian government controlled by a ruling party to one controlled by an opposition party,” he said.

    President of TUC, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, while reminding the President-elect of the urgent need to tackle the worsening unemployment challenge in the country, also urged him to see all Nigerians as one irrespective of religious or ethnic leaning so as to move the nation forward.

    “He must know that irrespective of the number of votes he got from individual states, there is no part of the country where he was not voted for. By implication it means that he is the president of Nigeria and father to all.

    “Muslims, Christians, pagans, etc voted for him because they believe in him. As such, we don’t wish to see the issue of religion, tribalism, nepotism, which have always been the bane of Nigeria’s development rear their ugly heads in the next dispensation,” he admonished.

    The union also commended outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan for what it termed his “rare show of statesmanship by driving the process for a credible and seamless transition.”

    It said Jonathan has earned a revered place in history for placing the nation above self and for deepening the practice of democracy in Nigeria and preserving the unity and integrity of the nation at its most critical point. It also commended INEC chairman Professor Attahiru Jega for organising a credible electoral process.

     

  • Workers want railway rehabilitation sustained

    Workers want railway rehabilitation sustained

    Workers of Nigeria Railway Corporation have advised that the ongoing rehabilitation and modernisation of the railway transport sector be continued.

    In a congratulatory message to the President-elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), workers under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Railway (NUR) Workers, expressed optimism that the sector would experience rapid development under the new administration.

    The union said: “There is need for the new administration to address the fate of the rail transport industry with a view to furthering the ongoing asset rehabilitation and modernisation of the industry.”

    The President-General, NUR, Mr. Raphael Okoro, called on the President-elect to come to the aid of Nigerian railway workers, whom he said has been subjected to poor remuneration over the years.

    The union had in the last one year been calling for improved living wage and condition of service for its members as well as sufficient manpower for effective running of the railway transport system in the country.

    Okoro said: “Considering his unbending patriotism and quest for national development, I am confident and hopeful that Nigerian railway will fare considerably better under the administration of General Buhari.

    “What it takes to take Nigeria to higher level of national development and stronger integration is a functional and effective rail transport system. I strongly believe that what determines the extent a country like Nigeria can go in terms of development is its commitment to attaining rail infrastructural proficiency.”

    He recalled that over the years, the Federal Government has spent several billions of naira on the asset rehabilitation and re-equipping of the Nigerian Railway without any impact on the welfare and liveability of the workers. According to him, the workers who will put the multi-billion equipment to use still grope in poor remuneration and welfare.

    He added that railway workers’ welfare and remuneration should be of great concern to the President-elect in order to attract skilled and employable Nigerians to the industry and make the sector the highest employer of labour.

  • NECA advises in-coming govt on dialogue with OPS

    NECA advises in-coming govt on dialogue with OPS

    The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has called on the President-elect, Mohammadu Buhari to carry the Organised Private Sector (OPS) along, through dialogue and consultation in the formulation and execution of key economic policies.

    NECA’s President, Mr. Larry Ettah, who spoke in Lagos,  explained that though the task ahead of the President-elect were onerous, but they are not insurmountable.

    Ettah said there is the urgent need for the General Buhari-led administration to address the fundamental of the high cost of doing business and low productivity, which could be ascribed to macroeconomic factors, institutional challenges and structural issues to restore investors’ confidence for businesses to thrive.

    He said Buhari must initiate policies that would in the short run, ensure security of lives and property as well as create an enabling environment that would create job opportunities for youths in the country.

    “Security, the economy and employment must be accorded priority in the agenda of the new government,” Ettah said.