Category: Labour

Following the planned concession by the Federal Government, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said  nobody can take over the aviation industry without following the due process.

NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero gave the assurance in Lagos during a visit to the Association Nigeria Aviation Professionals.

 Ajaero warned that any operator in the industry who refuses unionism would be dealt with. He  mentioned Air Peace Airline and Ibom Airline  as airlines discoraging unionism,

Recall that the Federal Government planned 17 airports for concession.

The had said the airports under the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) that are not up for concession would be given to concessionaires.

Reacting to the challenges facing the industry, Ajaero said the issue of concession could not be done without paying the workers’ entitlement.

He urged the workers not to listen to whoever that wants to take over the industry, saying that such move is a joke.

“Don’t panic about the concession of the airport, whatever they have done now is void ab-initio.

“As the minister in charge of aviation and essential service, he should be careful and sensitive to the challenges of the industry.

Also, the NLC President said there was no need for Nigeria to have a national carrier, saying the nation cannot depend on the foreign carriers.

Earlier, the General Secretary of Association Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), Comrade Saidu Rasaq, complained of bad management in the industry.

According to him, “we have written to the National Assembly, but nothing has been done. Please we need NLC to intervene and help us”.

On the issue of airport concession, he said if the plan worked out, it would lead to job loss.

Ajaero also visited Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PTECSSAN).

Ajaero, who took note of the union’s challenges, promised to work with them in order to serve Nigerian workers better.

• Promises to fight anti-labour governors

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has promised to fight casualisation to a stand still.

However, it assured workers of better welfare, considering the  challenges in the country.

Speaking during his visit to the National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees (NUCFRLANMPE) and other unions in Lagos,  NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the congress would fight casualisation, outsourcing or any other policy  that is undermining the welfare of workers. Just as he pledged to take the welfare of workers seriously.

Ajaero said trade unionism is gradually facing extinction as a result of causalisation, out-sourcing, hence NLC would fight to ensure that the issue of casualisation is reduced to the barest minimum, if not eliminated

He lamented that workers have been reduced to slaves through contract and casual employment.

According to him, some workers earn as little as N15,000 with no conditions of service, medicare and pension.

“All these things, we are going to face squarely. Most employers don’t allow workers to belong to unions. It is only when you belong to a union that your interest and welfare will be catered for. All those issues will be tackled.

“Some of the unions are at the point of extinction because of workplace tyranny. We have to put a stop to it. If we do that and empower the unions, make them strong and vibrant, then they will be in a position to serve their members.

“Note that whatever is affecting the Nigerian worker is also affecting the NLC. This is a burden that the NLC must carry.

“Then the issue of minimum wage, the pay that cannot take you home. When you compare the minimum wage with the cost of living, it cannot balance up. So, these are some of the issues that we will have to contend with as a movement,” he said.

Ajaero said that the congress is also ready to fight anti-labour governors for neglecting their welfare.

“This is not an era that any governor will insult us. Any governor or anybody that wants to punish workers should be ready for war because we will not allow it. We are out for serious business. All inhuman working conditions or anti-labour activities, most especially from the governors, will no longer be acceptable.

“Many organisations have been destroyed as a result of anti-labour policies. Workers are always at the receiving end. Workers create wealth and it time for us to also enjoy the wealth.

Ajaero said the congress is ready to engage incoming government. He said the workers are ready to be involve in the governance .

” We will engage any government to come up and the era of sitting down and be looking is over.  No time for patience or laziness again. We are ready to take out rightful place and that is why we are going to engage which ever government that takes over.

Ajaero,  who vowed not fail workers and people, said the leadership of the congress would seek platforms to lift them from the shackles of poverty.

“We will not betray that trust! We are committed to pursuing the interests and desire of workers and, by extension, the majority of the masses.

“We, therefore, pledge our loyalty to the NLC, workers, the masses and Nigeria. Our thoughts and our actions shall be propelled by this avowal,” Ajaero said.

Earlier, the President of NUCFRLANMPE, Comrade Goke Olatunji, lamented that anti-workers practices such as casualisation, contract staffing were the major challenges facing the sector.

He said these had affected the sector negatively. He also said the various government policies had caused havoc in the sector

Olatunji said: “Without sounding immodest, the economic situation in Nigeria is not business-friendly. The instability occasioned by either lack of economic policy framework or unclear economic policy direction and or ineffective implementation of the economic policies is having their tolls on the manufacturing sector of our dear nation.

“It is imperative to discuss and understand the state of Nigeria’s economy and come up with adequate approach to cope with the resultant effects. These effects are evident in the evolution of strange practices in industrial relations like casualisation, contract-staffing, outsourcing, indiscriminate restructuring, and redundancy.

Meanwhile, The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria(PENGASSAN) has pledged to curb casualisation in the oil and gas industry.

Its President, Comrade  Festus Osifo, described casualisation as modern slavery.

He said casualisation had become a menace in the sector.

“This is a message of hope for workers that have not been enjoying the joy of working. The first step is to address casualisation in the industry is to through unionisation of the workers that will give them sense of belonging.

“And this will make the task of advocating for such workers much easier. The goal of the unions is in line with accordance with International Labour Organisations (ILO),” Osifo said.

The National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institution Employees (NUBIFIE) has advised Nigerians against attacking bank facilities and workers, saying that bank workers are not responsible for the scarce new naira notes, neither are they exacerbating the crisis by hiding or refusing to load the new notes in the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

At a briefing, NUBIFIE National President, Comrade  Abakpa Anthony, warned that the continued attacks on banks and their staff members would force his union to direct workers to stay away from work, and that this would worsen the situation.

He maintained that bank workers were afraid of going to work because of the threat to their lives.

“We are worried about the violent attacks on banks and our members by extension. It is also worrisome the news people are  saying that banks and their workers are withholding money. It is not true.

“There is no possible way the CBN will release money and banks and their staff will refuse to load the ATMs. Bankers are not the reason  there is cash scarcity neither are they withholding the money from Nigerians. In fact, they and their families are also suffering just like every other Nigerian.

“Attacking bank facilities and their workers who work so hard to render services to the citizens is very wrong. It is wrong for anybody to believe that bankers and the facilities are the reason there is no money in the ATMs or in the banks. The citizens should rather find a better way to express their grievances instead of unleashing mayhem on bank staff and facilities.”

Anthony added: “If the government hesitates any further to protect banks and our members, we may ask them to stay at home. We cannot continue going to work when our lives are not guaranteed. For somebody to go to work in fear of attack is not a situation we want to put our people into.

“We will call for a National Executive Council meeting of our union to deliberate and make a decision in view of the current situation to ask our members to stay off work.

“Already, a lot of critical assets of banks have been destroyed and we will not wait till our members are being killed before we take action.”

“We are also appealing to the government to take charge and balance the situation for good because of the masses. The masses are suffering. We urge the government to find a solution fast for the sake of lives and properties in the country. It is recognized that the policy will eventually be beneficial to our economy but right now, the people are suffering seriously.

He reiterated, “We call on Nigerians not to mete their anger on bank staff, the critical facilities of the banks nor on any other assets of the country. Because violent attacks will worsen the situation and sabotage the processes that will help bring the situation to normalcy. ”

“Now that President Buhari has directed that old N200 notes be rolled out to cushion the effects of the new notes scarcity, it will be wise if the CBN will massively make available the notes. It should be much available that every ATM should be working effectively. The CBN and other related government agencies should deploy all their powers and give their best to ensure that this issue does not snowball into a destructive crisis. A serious action and attention on the part of the government will reduce all the tension.

“We are appealing that the new and old naira notes should run concurrently while the CBN gradually withdraws the old notes from circulation.

“We appeal to Nigerians that it is not by violence they can air their view and frustration. Do not destroy bank facilities, it will affect you eventually. If you destroy bank facilities in your area, you will have to go somewhere else to do your transactions, which may cause you more, either time or money.

“We urged our members to thread with caution when going when going to work and closing.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has elected a new leadership. TOBA AGBOOLA spoke to some Nigerians on their expectations.

Dr Oyerinde, Director-General, Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA)

The new Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) must go into deep consultation, collaboration and social dialogue

We congratulate Comrade Ajaero and the new leadership. We expect that he and the new team will continue in the tradition of excellence, social dialogue, collaboration and partnership that has been established by the founding fathers of the Labour movement. The need to deepen Social Partners engagement cannot be over-emphasised as we all face and confront socio-economic issues that threaten our collective survival as employers and workers. We trust that Ajaero’s tenure will usher in more reforms and his contributions fundamental to the achievement of a stable and functional industrial relations system in Nigeria.

Prince Billy Harry, President, Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN)

 NLC is expected to pursue the welfare of the  workers.

I want to congratulate the new NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero and the entire leadership. It is very important that the Organised Labour stay united. The new leadership must ensure that there is unity within them.The new leadership must give room for meaningful deliberations with governments and stakeholders.

They must structure the union in a way that it will pursue the welfare of the entire workers. They must not politicise issues, reach out to work workers and identify their challenges.

I also expected the new leadership to deeply look into the issue of new minimum wage. It is long over due. Before they embark on any mission, they are expected to do a proper consultation get results.

Lastly, the NLC leadership should act as watchdog to all organs of government . Once again, I congratulate the new leadership

Sunday Odedeyi, Lecturer/Political Analyst 

NLC should act as watchdog to the organs of government.

We expected a non-partisan leadership that will hold the political class accountable in both the federal and state level .

A leadership that will hold the governors accountable for the welfare of the people workers in their state. Leadership that will ensure implementation of local government autonomy. To check the unscrupulous activities of foreign-owned companies and see to the welfare of Nigerians working in foreign companies .

Mr Dawudu Micheal Olusegun, lecturer/public analyst

NLC is expected to start on the need new minimum wage for workers.

The new NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero, is a veteran labour activist and leader who has fought for the rights of workers. He’s well-respected in labour circles.The average minimum expectation of the worker from the new NLC team led by Ajaero is the protection of the rights of the average  worker, be it in public or private employment. The most auspicious time for the defence of the rights of the  worker is with the socioeconomic and financial challenges confronting the average worker.

The world over, the worker is saddled with humongous and vicious inflationary impact on his or her wages in a way never seen before. For the worker, it is the more evident in his wages, emoluments and the general condition of service.

Mr Ajaero has his work cut out for him. The issue of fixing the minimum wage falls under the exclusive list of the Federal Government to which every other tier of government is obligated in complying with. The N30,000 minimum wage was worked out by the Buhari government and it’s unfortunate that many state governments are yet to implement this.

Ajaero has to start from there and, thereafter, work his way up to much bigger issues to help the  worker. It’s a daunting task with dwindling government revenues. With his new team, that’s the least they can do for the average worker.

Mr Edmund Onwuliri, civil servant

 NLC must not be seen as an appendage of the government.

“Over time, it has been said that the leadership of NLC is an appendage or an extension of the government in power. I think that this notion is the aggregate of the views of a number of committed workers. The expectation is that NLC should be seen as being independent; being able to not just be a watchdog but also work with the government in making the life of Nigerians better not otherwise, particularly those who are workers.

“We expect the new leadership of NLC to position the Congress as an independent pan-Nigerian organisation that does not need to tell workers and Nigerians where it stands but whose actions will define and showcase its place and position in Nigeria. Protection of the interests of workers should evidently be paramount to this new NLC leadership.

“If you look at what is happening in Nigeria, one is tempted to ask, is it that NLC has lost its voice to call government’s attention to the sufferings of workers and Nigerians by extension or that it can no longer take action to cause the government to ameliorate the suffering of workers?

“The independence of the labour movement should be guaranteed and sacrosanct; it must never be compromised. The new leadership of NLC must never be an appendage of the government or an oh yes organisation to the government.”

Mr Ameh Ejekwoyilo,  media expert

 NLC should live up to its name.

“I think the new leadership of NLC has a lot on its table in terms of rejuvenating public confidence and trust in the NLC. NLC, as the largest labour union in Africa, ought to live up to that space it occupies. I am convinced that within the last decade, if not more, the NLC leadership has not lived up to the expectations of workers and Nigerians at large. The impression of Nigerians is that the NLC leadership often sells out at the most critical time.

“Look at the kind of mess that we have found ourselves in Nigeria lately. I am talking about the fuel scarcity and naira redesign policy. Of course, if the NLC was up and doing, it would have been able to interface with the government and see how these issues can be resolved in the interest of workers who are suffering so much owing to these two issues.

“We are expecting the new leadership of NLC to first rebuild the trust and confidence of the affiliate unions in the Congress, as Mr Ajaero in his speech promised. Then chart a common front to tackle  the injustice that has deprived workers their human rights; that should be the first thing he has to do. Of course, there is always room for dialogue and negotiations between the government and the NLC but it should not be at the detriment of the workers.”

Comrade Sylvester Nwaiwu, National Chairman, Contribution Pension Scheme, Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP)

 Lay emphasis on contributory pension issues.

“Our expectation from the newly emerged National Executive Council of NLC led by Comrade Joe Ajaero is that they should lay emphasis on the contributory pension in Nigeria. It has never happened at any time that a country is running two parallel pension regimes. That is what we are having in the country today, different from the agreements the government as employers reached with workers.

“We expect Comrade Ajaero to emphasise the need to correct anomalies in the contributory pension scheme sector. Pensioners are suffering. The Federal Government hardly knows if there is anything called contributory pensioners. For instance, what we call pension increase that’s supposed to come every five years or when salaries increase, whichever comes first, from 2007 when retirees started emerging under the contributory pension scheme, the Federal Government has not paid a dime to any contributory pension. But from 2007 till date, including the 2019 increment arising from the national minimum wage, every pensioner under the old defined benefit scheme has benefited from that leaving those of us under the contributory pension scheme uncatered for.

“It is a very big job before the new leadership. And the earlier they start paying attention to that, the better for everyone because those of them in the office today will become pensioners tomorrow, including the president himself.”

Comrade Adewale Adeyanju is the President-General of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and First Deputy President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). In this interview with TOBA AGBOOLA, he speaks on the challenges in the maritime sector.

How are you handling the welfare of your members viz a viz the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)?

There are lots of improvement In the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). It is only in the shipping industry that we are having issues. The altitude of the  operators is not encouraging and that is why we are taking up with them. We’ve invited them for a meeting in the past and they did not take it serious. Those who believe and ready for us are always coming to us and negotiate with us. Don’t forget that after the oil and gas sector, it is the maritime sector and if we shut down, lots of things will be affected. That is the reason we are always managing our ultimatum with wisdom.

For instance, we have CBA in the industry, dockworkers, seafarers, but not in the shipping industry. That is why when you see someone going on retirement in the shipping industry, it’s like a death sentence. You can only negotiate individually. There is nothing like the minimum standards. Thay is not the way to go and we are going to see to that. It’s a great concern to the union.

With your added portfolio as the First Deputy President of the NLC, what should we expect from the NLC?

The new executives are going to continue from where the former president stopped and we are going to do more. Although we are coming at a challenging period, I don’t want to speak for my President, I know we are going to put in our best. Don’t also forget that all of us in the executives are coming from very critical unions. So, we know the task ahead of us.

What are your expectations from the incoming administration for your sector?

The first thing we want them to look into is the road leading to the port. That road has been turned to personal use. There are all manners of things going on there. The road has been turned to an estate. When you go there by between 7 pm and 8pm, you will see children and many people there. They have erected rooms and parlour on the road and many business transactions are going on in the place.

We want the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) to wake up. NPA should engage the state and Federal governments to sanitise that area.

Should the maritime stakeholders expect tougher time now that you are on the executive of NLC?

I want to assure the stakeholders in the maritime sector – the terminal operators, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Shippers Council – of our support all the time. I want to let them know that my new position as the Deputy President of NLC is to support the agenda and policies that I believe would help the workers. So, I am not going to use the position to intimidate or threaten the good relationship that we have been enjoying with the management.

I know my constituents. I will not run away from my base or responsibilities.

There are indications that the nation would soon witness another battle for a review of the National Minimum Wage to mitigate the realities of the time.

The new President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, told reporters recently:  “The NLC will pursue with utmost urgency a new national minimum wage law that would take into consideration the objective realities of our socio-economy; expand its reach to capture more workers and create variables and thresholds for automatic adjustment of the nation’s wage floor to avoid unnecessary politicking and impunity by our employers and reduce the suffering of workers.

“We are committed to resolutely pursuing the interests and desires of Nigerian workers and by extension the majority of Nigerian masses. We, therefore, pledge our loyalty to the NLC, workers, masses and Nigeria. Our breath, our thoughts and our actions shall be propelled by this avowal!

“We shall seek to reconnect more strongly to build greater solidarities with the people of Nigeria rising once again to be the carriers of their desires and amplifiers of their voices.

“We shall not only speak for the 133million Nigerians who are multi-dimensionally poor but shall also seek platforms to lift the shackles of poverty from the shoulders of our people. We shall once again be the true champions of the Nigerian people; crying their cries and jointly waging our wars against all forces of impoverishment and misery.”

The labour leader said the NLC would engage the Federal Government on how to cut  the cost of governance, and reduce the opportunities for fat cats to raid the economy.

Speaking on the review of the privatisation of the electricity sector, Ajaero said the Congress was ready to work with the Federal Government to sanitise the power system.

Ajaero contended that everybody, including the Federal Government, agreed that the privatisation was fraught with corruption. 

He said:  “The electricity tariff remains stacked against workers and masses and we shall, therefore, work with the government to bring sanity to bear to that sector. We urge the Federal Government, again, to review the privatisation of the electricity sector – a process both the government and all of us have agreed was mired in corruption.

”Despite the humungous loss to public coffers occasioned by the under-valued sales of national power assets and the decision of government to still offer bailout funds to private sector investors who claim to possess the needed financial and technical expertise to turn around epileptic public electricity supply in Nigeria, the reward has been a trillion megawatts of darkness.”

Ajaero continued: “We warned the government that the power sector privatisation would only be a venture in the despoilation of choice national assets rather than a commitment to improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

”Today, we have been proved right as the successor companies that emerged from the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) are more interested in stripping Nigerians of their money without rendering commensurate services.

“We warn the Power Distribution Companies (DISCOs) and the Nigerian Electricity Commission (NERC) to cease and desist from exploiting Nigerians through estimated billings fostered by their failures to provide prepaid meters to Nigerians.

”We reject the high electricity tariffs arbitrarily imposed on Nigerians. We wish to remind the Federal Government about our agreement on September 28, 2021, to freeze further hike in electricity tariff until some of the issues identified to drive high electricity tariff in Nigeria, including dollarisation of investments in the electricity sector, are addressed.”

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has warned President Muhammadu Buhari and politicians to desist from pushing the country into anarchy.

President of the Congress, Comrade Festus Osifo told reporters that workers could not fold their hands and watch the country destroyed by those who do not mean well for it.

Osifo lamented that Nigeria has never had it so bad, where the people attack banks, strip in banking halls or threaten to commit suicide because they can’t access their money.

According to him, “The populace is unable to pay for basic needs including food, medicines, clothes or transportation.

“Workers and indeed mases cannot be used as pons in the hands of politicians.

“We do not only hold those in political office responsible for this clear decline into anarchism, but also the politicians who rather than come up with concrete suggestions or try to find a solution, have turned this tragedy into a circus show in which brick bats are thrown, conspiracy theories woven, and accusations made while the people are meant to suffer.

“Nigerians are angry; justifiably so and have shown their anger in several ways, including through protests. Tragically, rather than address the issues or try to assuage their anger, the security services under the Presidency is shooting live bullets at defenseless Nigerians.

“The TUC demands that President Muhammadu Buhari and his government put an immediate stop to these shootings and bring the culprits to book.

“Indeed, what can be more criminal than depriving the citizenry of access to their hard earned money thereby starving them and their families, and then turning round to unleash armed security forces on them?

“The Presidency and political class must realise that they are pushing the country down the steep slope of anarchism.

“Unless they reverse this, they must know that our collective efforts to build a viable and democratic system would be lost; we are very close to the precipice and must act carefully.

“Nigerians unlike the politicians and the wealthy class have nowhere to run to, have no money stacked abroad and have no option than to remain in the country; their interest must be priority one.

“Therefore, the TUC, the Labour Movement, professional associations, market associations and social movements have no choice, but to defend the populace and prevent any tragic situation or scenario.

On the fuel scarcity, the labour leader said: “The answer to the fuel shortage question is the local refining of our petroleum product needs. Local refining would add value to our crude oil, provide local jobs, and not only save us foreign exchange, but would enable us earn far more income.

“Despite these past weeks of uncertainty, there is no clear solution in sight as the state and Federal governments are neither on the same page nor have they charted any path to resolve this visibly self-induced crises.

“If anything, they and their fellow politicians are engaged in legal somersaults in the courts, which have merely worsen matters and further confused the populace. Yet, it is a nightmare that we cannot allow to continue.”