The Nation Newspaper

Category: Labour

  • NASS workers union EXCO dissolved

    The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) has dissolved the executive committee of its National Assembly (NASS) chapter.

    It also froze the bank accounts of the chapter and urged the Registrar of Trade Unions (RTU) to audit them.

    In a communique at the end of the association’s emergency NEC meeting in Abuja, the national body asked the RTU to call to order one of its members.

    A NEC member and Chairman, Kogi chapter, Alhaji Mohammed Bello, who read the communique, said the hammer fell on the chapter “following acts inimical to PASAN’s well-being.”

    “This NEC decision was based on the dictates of Rules 19 (10), 20 (6), 13 (4) and F/1 20 (6) of PASAN’s Constitution. Thus, the NASS exco stands dissolved.

    “All the accruable dues in the chapter will now be paid to the national body, while its accounts have been frozen.

    “We also call on RTU to go on to audit the chapter’s accounts and take all actions it deems necessary to restore sanity in line with what we have in PASAN’s Constitution,” he said.

    Bello said NEC felt it had to take action as the NASS chapter was already over-stepping its bounds.

    “The NASS chapter is one out of many chapters in PASAN and it is duty bound to abide by all the laws of the association, which we all subscribe to through our constitution and which is the only legal instrument we have,” he said.

     

  • Prisons service assures staff of better conditions of service

    The Ebonyi command of the Nigerian Prisons Service has promised its staff better conditions of service.

    The state Controller of Prisons, Mr Columbus Omenuko, said at a ceremony in honour of retirees that the service was committed to improved staff welfare.

    He said the ongoing prisons reform were aimed at repositioning the service to conform to international standards.

    Omenuko said the reform emphasised more on rehabilitation of the prisoner and reintegrating him back to the society.

    He said the retraining of officers and men of the service was to expose them to the modern techniques in prisons administration and the provision of adequate security to inmates.

    He described prisons as a ‘correctional institution’ where inmates were taught better values and trained to lead better and more useful lives.

    He commended the contributions of the retired officers which led to instilling of discipline, order and peace and security in the Abakaliki Prisons.

    “Today, your excellent contributions to the prisons are being celebrated. There is no doubt that your exit from the service will create some vacuum.

    “We will always remember your contributions to the Abakaliki Prisons, which has made it one of the most peaceful and secured prisons in the country.

    “As you officially disengage from the service, we wish you peaceful retirement,” Omenuko said.

    He extolled the achievements of the former chief warder of the Abakaliki Prisons and one of the retired personnel, Mr Kenneth Alo, adding that his administrative style brought a lot of innovations that boosted peace and security in the yard.

    He urged workers to emulate the virtues of the retired staff member by being diligent and patriotic in their duties.

    The Deputy Controller of Prisons, Abakaliki Prisons, Mr Malachi Ohakosim, said the contributions of the former officers would always be remembered.

    He said he had tapped from the wealth of experience of the retired officers to effectively run the prison.

    “It has been fun working with you and I must say that I benefited a lot from your wealth of experience in the day-to-day running of the Abakaliki Prisons.

    “I wish all of you success in your future endeavours,” Ohakosim said.

    Seven officers were disengaged at the ceremony.

     

  • ‘Fed Govt owes pensioners N500b’

    The National President of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Mallam Ali Abatcha, has said the Federal Government is owing pensioners unpaid entitlements totalling over N500 billion.

    He said this in Ibadan during the celebration of Pensioners Day and the foundation laying ceremony of Oyo State Pensioners House.

    Abatcha, who was represented by Mr Wale Jolaoye, noted that the joy of pensioners had been truncated by series of disappointments, frustrations and deprivation.

    He stressed that many pension arrears remained unpaid, while thousands of pensioners were not receiving any benefits from the government.

    He noted that the pension and gratuity of retired workers were at times not paid in full, while there were some disparities in the harmonised pension scheme.

    “Besides, names of pensioners are sometimes removed from the payroll by pension officials,’’ he added.

    Abatcha rejected claims by Mr Abdulrasheed Maina, the Chairman, the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), that over N181 billion pension funds had been saved.

    He called for the immediate implementation of the report of the Senate Joint Committee on Pension Administration, which indicted the PRTT officials for fraud and called for their prosecution.

    Abatcha challenged the PRTT to make public the report of its 2010/2011 biometric exercise and solicited the immediate resumption of the inconclusive biometric verification of 2010/2011.

     

     

     

  • Sacked workers protest non-payment of entitlements

    About 50 factory workers who were retrenched by the management of International Plastics Nigeria Ltd (INTERPLAST) at Ijora CauseWay, Lagos, have embarked on a peaceful protest over unpaid salaries and entitlements.

    The workers said they were sacked in November and that up till now, the company had not paid their entitlements.

    One of the workers, Mr Ahmed Shehu said he was only paid N677,000 after serving the company more than 17 years.

    Shehu said the company had yet to pay him other entitlements.

    “How can someone be paid N677,000 after all these years of service. I feel being used and dumped after giving all I have to the company,” he said.

    He confirmed that 50 workers of the company were laid off.

    The Chairman of the company, Mr Harish Shinani, while addressing the workers, promised that they would be paid their entitlements tomorow.

    “We are short of funds now, but I assure you that by this coming Tuesday, you would get everything due to you,”  he said.

    Shinani gave the protesters N1,000 each to use as transport allowance when coming next week.

     

  • Health Bill: Tuc seeks public hearing

    The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) rose from its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the weekend in Lagos, seeking public hearing for the National Health Insurance Bill.

    The meeting chaired by the Congress President, Comrade Peter Esele, frowned at the National Health Bill, which it claimed, does not accommodate the interest of many Nigerians. It, therefore, demanded an invitation to a Public Hearing for TUC’s input in “making the Bill a better gift to Nigerians.”

    In a six-point communique signed by Esele and Acting Secretary-General, Musa Lawal, the NEC also frowned at the growing rate of kidnapping, bombings and robberies on banks, general workers and citizens and called on the government to intensify its effort in arresting the menace.

    On infrastructure development, TUC condemned the continued deterioration of roads despite the huge funds being expended them, and called on the government to improve on them.

    On power, the meeting commended the Federal Government on the negotiation with the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). The body implores the Federal Government to implement fully the terms of the Agreement and deliver to the citizenry the promise of 24-hour uninterrupted electricity power supply to the nation.

    The association endorsed the industrial action in Plateau in the struggle for workers emancipation due to the non-compliance with minimum wage Act.

    But it condemned “the religious colouration being introduced by some religious bodies in the investigation being carried out by the military in the bombing of the military barracks in jaji by suspected fundamentalists.

    “The military should be allowed to carry out both its internal and external statutory investigations so that the issues can be properly addressed in the collective interest of Nigerians,” he asid.

    The NEC okayed the retirement of its Secretary-General, Comrade John Kolawole. He has been replaced by Mr Lawal, the Deputy Secretary General.

     

  • ITF, NECA disburse N4m to trainees

    The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) have disbursed N4 million as grant to 38 graduates of its skills acquisition programme.

    NECA’s Director-General, Mr Segun Oshinowo, said the grant was disbursed to successful trainees who presented business plans for assessment.

    Represented by NECA’s Project Director, Mrs Helen Jemerigbe, Oshinowo charged the recipients to use the fund to boost their businesses.

    He advised governments to complement efforts of ITF and NECA in boosting the informal sector.

    “If grants are given to more purposeful people, the level of unemployment in the country will be minimised and many youths will be gainfully engaged,” she said.

    ITF’s Lagos Zonal Director, Alhaji Sule Indabawa, urged beneficiaries to make judicious use of the funds.

    “There is nowhere in Nigeria where people are given two years training on skills acquisition free.

    “Only NECA and ITF can give additional training on entrepreneurship development and also give fund as grant to start business.’’

     

     

     

  • Group condemns Plateau over workers’ strike

    Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR) has condemned Governor Jonah Jang’s alleged refusal to pay Plateau workers the N18,000 minimum wage structure, which has forced workers to embark on indefinite strike.

    In a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary, Chinedu Bosah, the body said it is illegal for any government to refuse to implement the N18,000 minimum Wage since it has been passed into law.

    It stated that the government should rather be working towards a new minimum wage that takes care of the rising inflation trend.

    “Plateau State Government claimed it has no capacity to pay the N18,000 due to unavailability of funds. This has been the sing-song of many of the state governments who daily engage in waste of public resources and outright looting of public treasury.

    “Is it not contradictory for the same Jang to be constructing another government house/palace costing more than N4 billion whereas a paltry N18,000 minimum wage structure cannot be paid to workers.

    “Besides, the same government is paying idle top political office unjustified huge salaries and allowances while workers do not deserve what is obviously a poverty wage. “

    CDWR, therefore, demands that the state government open its books to the public and to be scrutinised by an elected committee of workers to ascertain how the state’s funds have been utilised and the true state of accounts.

    “We demand that Jonah Jang-led administration pay all backlog of salaries still owed to workers on the N18,000 minimum wage structure and to work out a basis for periodic increment in line with the rate of inflation. We reject and urge workers to stoutly oppose any plans by government to downsize,rightsize or retrench the workforce as a basis to pay the new wage.

    “We also call the trade union leaders to engage workers in more mass actions as a means of sustaining the ongoing strike. CDWR has always urged the trade union movement not to believe for a moment that state governments would comply with the Minimum Wage Act without struggle and not to rely on trade union diplomacy alone as a means to bringing about the full implementation of the Wage Act.

    It warned that it will require the continuous mass struggle of workers to force the state governments to implement the minimum wage act and to get more concessions from the government.

    “Fundamentally, every government that subscribes to neo-liberal capitalist policies, which only guarantee the privilege and profit of a few at the expense of the working masses will do everything to undermine workers’ welfare. It is fool hardy to expect that anti-poor political parties and politicians can guarantee workers interest. Hence, it is high time workers and the organised labour movement began the building of a new mass working class political party armed with socialist policies of creating jobs, payment of living wage and sustained infrastructural development under working class democratic control and management,” it urged

     

     

     

  • More workers join Trustfund pension

    More workers join Trustfund pension

    Trustfund Pensions Plc has recorded about 25 per cent increase in enrollees, its Managing Director, Mrs Helen Da- Souza, has said.

    Addressing delegates at the Eighth National Labour Relations Summit and Fellowship Award at the Michael Imoudu National Institute of Labour Studies (MINILS) Ilorin, Kwara State, Mrs Da Souza, said Trustfund would soon make gains as it hopes to make its mark through a transfer window it would soon open.

    “We are looking at the transfer window which we will soon open, where we would make our mark. We would end up by the day to be the next gainer. The board is fully supporting the management to achieve our target,” she said.

    She said the investiture of Nigeria Social Insurance Trustfund (NSITF) Chairman Mrs Ngozi Olejeme as a Fellow of the institute was well deserved, adding that the Board Chairman was the brain behind the Employees Compensation Act (ECA) that the government has just enacted.

    “We cannot talk of Employee Compensation Act without mentioning Mrs Ngozi Olejeme, because she is truly the brain behind it.You see what she is doing in NSITF and Trustfund, where she is the Chairman, that after working, after all the contributions, customers will retire to a comfortable way of living,’’ she said.

    Mrs. Olejeme assured Nigerians of the Federal Government’s social protection that would boost essential health care benefits, as well as reduce poverty and inequality in the country

    She said this is a foundation for sustainable and economic growth that has proved to be a powerful anti-crisis measure that protects and empowers people, and contributes to boosting economic demand and accelerating recovery.

    Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Vice-President, Comrade Isa Aremu, said: “She did very well to consummate what was close to almost a decade of struggle, to bring the ECA into being. When we have people like this in the position of public responsibility, it tells you that, regardless of political affiliation, if you want to work, you would work very well. And within a short time, that fund is already building up. Not only that, they have started giving compensation to some of the workers who have sustained injuries at work. It is really commendable.

    “ Trustfund is one of the leading PFAs in the country, with a better corporate governance. It has its challenges, but nonetheless, it has critical stakeholders- Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congree (TUC), Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) and Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).

    “That tells you that women are doing very well in the labour market, and they need to be encouraged in that respect,” he stated.

    President-General, Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria, Peter Esele said as an investor in Trustfund, last year, he got 10 kobo per share, but this year, he received 15 kobo per share despite the worldwide economic depression. “That means the chairman has moved to a new level and I have also told her that this is what we expect for next year, as long as dividends are coming in, we know that the company is growing.”

  • Union seeks payment of outstanding NITEL workers’ salaries

    The Senior Staff Association of Communication, Transport and Corporation (SSACTAC) has asked the Federal Government to pay Nigeria Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) workers their outstanding 11-month salaries.

    In a communiqué signed by its President, Mr Adetunji Adesunkanmi and General Secretary, Mr Chile Ekeke, at the end of its National Executive Council meeting, the group said many of those associated with telecoms firm were unimpressed with government’s attempt to privatise it.

    It said the privatisation had not impacted positively on NITEL’s operations.

    It appealed to the Federal Government to conclude NITEL’s privatisation, adding: “Government should take the privatisation exercise seriously”.

    Besides, the communiqué expressed worries over fuel shortage, insecurity and the state of the nation

    It condemned the continued fuel scarcity in the country, asying it affects the movement of people, goods and services, as well as, increasing cost of living and making inflation to go up.

    It pointed out the need to address the challenges of insecurity.

    “The session notes with great concern the high level of insecurity in the country, which discourages investment, growth and development.

    “We, therefore, urge the Federal Government to brace by nipping in the bud these senseless killings, kidnapping, armed robbery and political assassination being perpetrated against innocent Nigerians.”

    It commended the prompt interventionist strategies used by the government and some relief agencies to address the flood disaster in the country.

    It recommended the establishment of an environmental impact assessment committee at all tiers of government to guard against future occurence.

  • Oil workers threaten to shut down Onne FTZ

    Oil workers, under the aegis of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) have threatened to shut down oil and gas operations in the Port Harcourt zone if anti-labour practices in Onne Free Trade Zone do not stop in three weeks.

    The zone comprises Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Imo, Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi, Anambra and Benue states.

    In a communique at the end of a joint NUPENG and PENGASSAN (NUPENGASSAN) National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Calabar, Cross River State, the groups expressed worry about the alleged continuing anti-labour practyices by companies in the zone, saying its authorities and the firms have refused to heed the advice by the Labour Minister to respect the rights of workers to join trade unions.

    They accused the firms and FTZE management of maltreating their workers.

    ”We observe that managements of the various companies in the Free Trade Zone continue to harass, intimidate and victimise workers. Consequently, NEC-in-session hereby directs the Port Harcourt Zone of NUPENG and PENGASSAN to shut down all oil and gas operations in Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Imo, Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi, Anambra and Benue States if these matters are not resolved within three weeks.”

    The workers also reminded Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, of the agreement reached at the joint meeting of NUPENGASSAN on September 20, 2010, at Aldgate Congress Hotel, Port Harcourt, on the state social levy.

    The agreement, they added, was a review of the levy for those that earn below N100, 000 to be treated as workers in the public sector; inclusion of two representatives of NUPENG and PENGASSAN on the Board of Governors of the new schools; commitment that the rate of the social services levy would not be subject to further review; and the inclusion of the TUC on the Board of Trustees of the Social Service Contributory Trust Fund.

    The workers reminded the government of the commencement date of the law.

    They called on Governor Amaechi to honour the state government‘s side of the bargain.