The Nation Newspaper

Category: Labour

  • ASSBIFI warns against unfair labour practices

    ASSBIFI warns against unfair labour practices

    The President of Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions  (ASSBIFI),Comrade Sunday Olusoji Salako, has called on  both the government and other employers of labour in the country to take advantage of the nation’s industrial policy to partner with workers to ensure sustainability of fair labour practices for the nation’s industrial sector to thrive in harmony.

    Salako , who in an interactive session with newsmen after ASSBIFI’s capacity building  at Entry Point Hotel, Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State , called  for the implementation of the nation’s industrial policy for peace and harmony to thrive in the industrial sector.

    He said: “We call on both government and other employers of labour in the country to partner with the workers through transparent implementation of Nigeria’s industrial policy to guarantee the sustainability of fair labour practices, as well as  for foreign investors to invest in the nation’s industrial sector.

    “Our call is necessary now, because interestingly, governments around the world are increasingly strengthening labour institutions to play a leading role in the promotion of dialogue as an important reflex and to help raise the capacity of critical partners in national development agenda.

    “We also call on both government and employers of labour to embrace dialogue with workers as social dialogue is an important element in industrial peace and harmony in the workplace”.

  • Housing: Deposits safe, NLC assures workers

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has assured workers and subscribers of the security of their deposits for the NLC-Kristone-Lally Housing Project in Abuja.

    In a statement, the  NLC President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, said the congress is doing everything possible to protect and secure the interests of the subscribers despite  alleged of a scam in the housing project.

    Omar said: “In its bid to promote workers’ welfare, the congress went into understanding with a number of developers to provide affordable housing for workers, one of such understandings was with Kristone –Lally with whom congress signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU).

    ”Based on this MoU and subsequent advertisement, a large number of workers subscribed to the project under the MoU, Kristone-Lally was to build specified housing types at agreed prices. The funding of the project was to be provided by financiers from abroad whom Kristone-Lally had identified.”

    The President said NLC was on its part to ensure that there were off-taken of the housing units by mobilizing workers to subscribe by paying some per centage of the price of desired house type stressing that NLC was happy with the overwhelming response of Nigerian workers to the advertisement of subscription to the housing project.

    He said that on the 4th of October 2013, NLC decided that further subscription and collection of money be stopped to enable the project consolidate and deliver the first phase of houses to those who had subscribed within the agreed timeframe of December 2014, adding that the congress’ decision was served on and acknowledged by Kristone-Lally.

    Omar said: “Congress became worried as the take –off of the project kept on being delayed. Due to the delay, a number of subscribers applied for a refund of their deposits.”

    He explained that in the process of processing the application for refunds, the officials of NLC encountered a bank teller which showed that a subscriber had paid the initial deposit into an account other than the advertised NLC-Kristone-Lally EPC account.

  • NUFBTE to address rights abuses by employers

    NUFBTE to address rights abuses by employers

    The Leadership of the National Union of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE), said it would exploit every Industrial Relations avenue to checkmate the arbitrariness of employers in the work place..

    The National President of the union, Comrade Lateef Oyelekan at the National Executive Meeting (NEC) in Lagos expressed dismay at the flagrant abuse of the workers’ right by some employers, most especially in the area of redundancy.

    Citing the present disaffection against the management of Fan Milk in Ibadan over the unilateral and unprocedural termination of over 65 staff without recourse to the union, Oyelekan said the union would ensure that justice prevails.

    He said: “We will use all the means available to us in the area of industrial relations, including strike to ensure that our members in Fan Milk and other companies are not just sacked anyhow without carrying the union along. We understand the fact that the employer has the right to hire and fire, but under our contractual agreement, it should be done with the consent of the union.”

    The NUFBTE President therefore charged the employers body, Association of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) to call its members to order in a bid to ensure that peace continues to reign in the sector.

    “As we have understanding at our NEC, we once again seek the cooperation of AFBTE to appeal to their members who flagrantly go against labour the policy”, he said.

    Oyelekan who lamented the state of unemployment in the country said the employers ought to be supporting government in ameliorating the crisis rather than increasing the number due to their selfish reason.

    He however noted that its union has made a remarkable contribution to reducing the state of unemployment in the country through several investments the present leadership has undertaken.

    He said unemployment is a devil which must be tackled by all, stressing that government alone cannot address the problem of unemployment.

    On the state of the nation, the NUFBTE boss said the continued assault of Boko Haram insurgents and the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease called for renewed efforts from the government.

    He  said: “The ironic and painful aspect of this security and health challenges is the glaring fact that the government in power has relegated these vital issues to the background and instead has brazenly chosen to concentrate undue efforts on 2015 re-elections at all cost. The helpless situations across the length and breadth of the nation calls for extra-security and health alert on the part of every citizens and residents.”

  • NUP protests non-payment of pension, arrears

    NUP protests non-payment of pension, arrears

    The Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Electricity Sector, Rivers/Bayelsa Chapter, has protested against the non-payment of their arrears and pension for over nine months.

    The union insisted that the Ministry of Finance and Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Company, NELMCO Board should apologise to the families of its late union members, who died waiting to collect arrears and pension.

    The President, Rivers/Bayelsa Chapter of the union, Mr. Ufeme Tuka, who addressed newsmen, said the union was ready to take steps to ensure that the government aids the plight of the members of the union, who have been facing difficult times over the nonpayment of their entitlements.

    He also said the purpose of the peaceful protest is to bring the attention of the government to know that they have not been receiving their allowances adding that their members are suffering due to the government’s insensitivity to their plight.

    He said: “For a long time now, our gratuity and pensions are not paid as at when due by NELMCO. We are in the arrears of the forth month and they have not paid our pensioners.

    “Many of our members have died because of this problem of nonpayment of our entitlements because that is the only means in which we make ends meet in our families. We are facing so many challenges. As I talk now so many of our members have died as a result of hunger. We are calling on the government to come to aid. We are suffering so much”.

    During the protest in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the union drew the attention of President Goodluck Jonathan to the hardship which their members are going through due to the irregular and non-payment of monthly pension since the beginning of the year.

    The union insisted that the Ministry of Finance and Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Company, NELMCO Board should apologise to the families of its late union members, who died waiting to collect arrears and pension.

  • NECA gets concession on consumption tax

    NECA gets concession on consumption tax

    The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has secured concession from the Lagos State government on uncollected occupancy and consumption taxes/rates for companies in the hospitality business including restaurants and fast food businesses.

    Its Director General, Mr. Olusegun  Oshinowo the waiver of taxes not collected by them at the inception of the Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant Consumption Law 2009 will now in the spirit of fairness  be made for  the account of those who did not collect taxes, but made payments to government in fulfilment of the law.

    He said: “It is therefore a big relief, and a thing of joy to all and sundry when the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola,  announced the resolutions at the 4th edition of the Lagos Corporate Assembly. The outcome of this unrelenting peaceful follow up by NECA is an eloquent testimony of good governance that has been the hallmark of the government of Mr. Fashola, which the private sector very much appreciate.”

    According to Oshinowo, the association has already communicated the relief to hoteliers that are its members.

    He said: “NECA is a platform for private sector employers to interact with the government, labour communities and other relevant institutions in and outside Nigeria for the purpose of promoting harmonious business environment that engenders productivity and prosperity for the country.”

    Following the enactment of the Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant Consumption Law 2009, the Hotels and Personal Services Employers’ Association (HOPESEA), an affiliate of NECA, had filed a case on behalf of its members at the Federal High Court to seek clarifications on the appropriateness of the tax.

    While the legal battle subsists, the hoteliers had refused to comply with the law. The ruling of the Court in the case Attorney General of the Federation vs. Attorney General of Lagos State, the Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue Service had come after the hoteliers to collect all outstanding payment arising from the law, a situation that had led to a disagreement between the parties, which eventually led to the intervention of NECA.

  • Oyo, SMEDAN partner to address youth unemployment

    Oyo, SMEDAN partner to address youth unemployment

    The Governor of Oyo State,  Senator Abiola Ajimobi has promised to leverage on the opportunities offered by the  Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) programmes to address the challenges of unemployment and poverty in the state.

    Ajimobi made the remark  during a courtesy visit by Oyo State delegation on SMEDAN management, at its corporate headquarters in Abuja. The governor who was represented by his Deputy, Otunba Moses Adeyemo, noted that poverty and escalating unemployment could be attributable to the disturbing security challenges with their consequences on the socio-economic and political vicissitudes.

    He stressed that SMEDAN as government agency responsible for the creation and development of micro, small and medium enterprises in the country, has a crucial role to play in translating the government’s agenda of drastic reduction of unemployment and poverty among Nigerians.

    Governor Ajimobi regretted that in the past, Oyo State government did not take advantage of partnering with SMEDAN to translate some of its programmes that are geared towards fighting youth unemployment and poverty alleviation in the state.

    “I want to assure you that from today Oyo State will be in active partnership and collaboration with SMEDAN in order to derive maximum benefits of your laudable programmes that could positively change the lives of our people,” he said.

    The governor added that even as Oyo lagged behind in partnership between state governments and SMEDAN,  the current efforts of the Ajimobi administration will make Oyo a leading state in partnering with the agency.

    “Henceforth, Oyo State government will participate fully in all SMEDAN programmes so that the state could benefit from the good gesture of empowering the people through creation and developing of  small businesses,” he promised.

    Responding, the Director General of SMEDAN, Alhaji Bature Umar Masari, thanked the entourage for choosing  SMEDAN among government institutions to partner with on enterprise development and youth empowerment.

    ”I am indeed very delighted to have a high powered delegation from a state government in a quest for partnership  and collaboration on job creation. We are ready and capable of collaborating with you to extend the desired dividend of democracy to the people of Oyo State.

    ”The National Enterprises development Programme (NEDEP) and One Local Government , One Project (OLOP) programme have a lot of potentials that will benefit your people; we promise to constantly engage your state so that all the content of NEDEP will be extended to your people.”

  • CISLAC urges World Bank to adopt standard

    CISLAC urges World Bank to adopt standard

    The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has urged the World Bank to adopt a comprehensive labour standard lending requirement in its institutions. It said this is necessary because those adopted by other multilateral development banks to correct the major weaknesses in the draft labour safeguard that was recently issued for consultation were inadequate.

    Its Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani who spoke in Lagos while reviewing the labour standard version proposed for those who work in bank-financed projects, stressed the need for the World Bank President, Jim Yong Kim, to ensure that the proposal would be to all good intents and purposes and not exist only on paper.

    According to the CISLAC boss, an important feature of all the other banks’ labour safeguards in the past has been their application to contractors and sub-contractors, thus ensuring coverage of a category of workers that are highly vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.

    He emphasised that the major weakness of the World Bank’s draft labour safeguard is the proposal that the International Labour Organisation (ILO’s) core labour standards should only be fully complied with if they are incorporated in national law.

    “Specifically, the freedom of association and right to collective bargaining provisions would apply only where national law recognises them, thus opening the door to retaliatory measures by project managers against workers who wish to exercise those rights.

    “We fully hope and expect that the World Bank will catch up to the labour standards provisions adopted by the other development finance institutions over the past several years, and not undermine the progress that has been made by adopting a labour safeguard that is full of exemptions and exclusions,” he said.

  • Commission recruits 170 persons with disability

    Commission recruits 170 persons with disability

    The Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) has recruited 170 persons living with disability into the federal civil service this year.

    Its chairperson, Mrs Joan Ayo who spoke while receiving the new Head of Service of the Federation (HoSF), Mr. Danladi Kifasi to her office, said the disabled persons have been given appointments, adding that a place must be created for them to utilise their skills.

    Ayo said: “They have been given appointments; some of them regrettably cannot fit into the system. But we try to ensure that anyone given a job has something to do otherwise it will be frustrating to the commission and the affected person.”

    She assured Kifasi that the commission will continue to work harmoniously with HoSF to ensure that government’s policies are implemented successfully and that productivity is enhanced, stressing that only qualified candidates will be recruited into the civil service.

    Kifasi stressed the need for collaboration between his office and the Civil Service Commission, adding that civil service rules would soon be reviewed and that training would be given priority to boost the capacity of the workers.

  • NDE commissions skills acquisition centre

    NDE commissions skills acquisition centre

    The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has commissioned a model skills acquisition centre capable of accommodating 250 trainees in different trades.

    Its Director General, Malam Abubakar Mohammed said the centre, located at Kuduru District, Bwari Area Council, is fully equipped with modern tools and equipment for both technical and agricultural vocations.

    Mohammed added that the centre, which has boarding facilities in a conducive environment for effective and efficient skills empowerment, will produce a pool of sound artisans as well as modern farmers relative to the demand of the economy and the nation at large.

    He said the skill-sets currently offered, but which would be expanded in the future, are welding, computer operation/maintenance, mobile phone repairs, plumbing, electrical installation, hair dressing, catering, interior decoration, radio/TV repairs, auto electrical, fashion design, cane furniture making, video/photography, satellite installation/maintenance, knitting, soap making, motorcycle repairs and food processing.

    Some of the skills will have between two to four different sets of trainees annually at no cost to beneficiaries.

    The NDE boss said to date, the directorate has established 74 centres nationwide, adding that 64 are fully operational while 10 are at various stages of completion.

    He said youths do not have any reason to remain idle at home. “Learn some vocational skills. It is a vehicle for you to reassert your  dignity, occupy a productive place, feel useful and contribute positively to the family, community and the nation at large,” he said.

  • RATTAWU urges members on professionalism

    RATTAWU urges members on professionalism

    The Radio Television, Theatre and Arts Workers’ Union (RATTAWU) has called on media houses in the country to avoid being card-carrying members of any of the political parties ahead the 2015 general elections to safeguard the integrity of the profession.

    The union in a communiqué signed by its National President, Comrade Yemisi Bamgbose at the end of a capacity workshop organised for the broadcast professionals in the Northeast states and Northwest ,called on broadcast stations in the country to adhere to their civic responsibility of promoting election awareness and avoid speculating on election results.

    Part of the communiqué read: “Broadcast stations in the country must adhere to their civic responsibility of promoting election awareness and  avoid speculating on election results by allowing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to authenticate and formally announce results using both audio and visual evidences”.

    Participants also called on media organisations and broadcast professionals to adhere to  INEC election guidelines and the National Broadcasting Code in their operations by ensuring balanced reportage on all political issues to ensure fairness and avoid sentiments or biases.

    While participants identified misconceptions and distrust among Nigerians as major factors in conflicts, it advised media organisations at all levels to avoid making live presentations on religious programmes, they however resolved that all religious transcripts should be subjected to editing before going on air.