The Nation Newspaper

Category: Labour

  • ‘Buhari must fix economy this time’

    President Muhammadu Buhari must make a difference on the economy, which, according to the National Union of Shops and Distributive Employees (NUSDE), has been in coma for the past four years.

    NUSDE President Comrade Innocent Jaja told reporters that the task would not be impossible for him to achieve, if he could get technocrats to do the job rather than party members. He stated casualisation enslaved workers, and the union’s  position is that they must be liberated.

    Jaja listed the problems the union was facing in organising its members and the steps taken to resolve the issues.

    Read Also: I’ll fight insecurity to standstill, Buhari vows

    He said: “It is the issue of the economy. Last year you said the economy was in crisis and, right now, it is still in crisis. I mentioned then the issue of just one factor, which was power. I said then very fortunately that the then minister of power was the former Lagos State governor and he did say then that a serious government could fix the power problem within six months.

    “He was there for four years and the problem still persisted. Government should fix power, most of the companies in our sector use power 24 hours. One can imagine how much they have to spend buying diesel to run their organisations. If power is fixed, for instance, the money being used could be deployed for the expansion of the companies and these companies could employ more hands, which would help in reducing the unemployment problem in the country.’’

  • How to resolve workplace conflicts

    The President, National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non-Metallic Employees (NUCFRLANMPE), Comrade Babatunde Olatunji, has urged governments at all levels, employers in the private sector, workers and trade unions to uphold and utilise collective bargaining machinery to prevent conflicts and crises in the workplace.

    Olatunji said collective bargaining machinery must be properly utilised for the prevention of conflicts; while proper training and development must also be in place.

    In a paper he presented, entitled, ‘’Steps in conflict resolution process: NUCFRLANMPE experience’ at a workshop in Lagos, he said there must be an organisational dynamic approach to managing conflicts.

    Besides, he identified effective communication between workers and management; rewards which should be based on merit and proper job enrichment and enlargement, such as career development, promotion and motivation, as other conditions necessary in preventing conflict.

  • Private sector, states not remiting pension, says Trust Fund Pensions

    A Pension Fund Administrator (PFA), TrustFund Pensions Plc has accused the private sector and the state governments of non-remittance of pension under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) for their workers.

    To this end, Trustfund has called on intending retirees to always check their balance to ensure that their employers have been remitting their pension as and when due.

    The call was made by the Head of Customers Relations Management, Trustfund, Mrs Racheal Obi, during a pre-retirement and retiree forum organised by Trustfund Pensions in Abuja.

    She said: “Private sector and state governments are worst culprits when it comes to non remittance of pension for the workers.

    “For the pre-retirees, we tell them what they ought to know in preparation for retirement. They should be conscious of the balances in their accounts, whether or not their employers have remitted as and when due, as well as the legal issues, so that they can sort them out before they approach us for payment. So that when they come, payment is seamless.”

    She pointed out that there were a lot of unfunded accounts due to the failure of private sector employers to fully comply, while the state governments constitute a weak link in the implementation of the scheme.

  • ‘Youth unemployment undermines Africa’s growth potential’

    A labour expert, Ms Cynthia SamuelOlonjuwon, has said Africa’s large population should be a demographic dividend, if properly harnessed. According to her, underemployment, unemployment, informality and working poverty have remained persistent challenges on the continent.

    Ms. Samuel Olonjuwon, who is an International Labour Organisation (ILO) Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for Africa, said a staggering 95 per cent of young African workers were engaged in informal employment coupled with other challenges, while around 38 per cent others were  working poor.

    Read Also: ‘Youth unemployment a time bomb’

    Speaking at a workshop in Abuja, Olonjuwon said while the region continues to witness frequent situations of disaster, conflict or fragility, the youths are the most vulnerable, noting that from 2000 to 2014, employment grew at an average annual rate of only 1.8 per cent. She said while the labour force grew at an annual rate of three per cent, almost twice as fast and if the trend continues, Africa will have an additional 100 million unemployed youth by 2030.

    To her, Africa must observe that  the youth crisis in Africa is an employment crisis that affects the whole economy and community and not just the youth.

  • Breach of agreements cause workplace conflicts, says Labour

    Organised labour has said inability to go by the rules and non-compliance with agreements are responsible for conflicts in workplaces.

    President, National Union of Chemical Footwear Rubber Leather and Non-Metalic Products Employees (NUCFRLANMPE), Comrade Goke Olatunji, who spoke at a workshop organised by the Chemical and Non-Metallic Employers Federation (CANMPEF) in Lagos, noted that if employees and employers were well guided, they would not have conflicts.

    In his presentation addressing steps in conflict resolution as it relates to the union, Olatunji advised that workers and employers should ensure that no contentious issue attracts external resolution mechanism because of its negative effects on employer-employee relation after settlement.

    He said: “In handling conflict of whatever form, the causal factor should be addressed instead of wound-dressing. I equally submit that we should always consider what might be the reaction of others to an action of one. Conflict in industrial set-up should also be positive in nature such that it forecloses severance of industrial relationship.”

    According to him, conflict is as old as human existence and, therefore, it is an unavoidable phenomenon whenever there is a relationship or contact between two or more people.

    Read Also: NLC to Fed Govt: attack on protesters anti-democracy

    He noted that in spite of the desire among parties to co-exist peacefully, there are nevertheless hidden infractions, stating that the objectives of unions (workers or employees), government and employers are sometimes compatible and, at other times, incompatible with one another.

    He said: “For instance, the interest of both the employers and employees are not mutual. Wages can never be as high as workers desire or profits as investors/the employers might wish. Also the dynamics of organisation in response to technology and or some economic or societal policies might also cause conflict.

    “However, we should also not be so engulfed by conflict that we will now shun or look down at resolution mechanism because conflict must surely arise as we engage in economic activities for enhancing  means of our livelihood and for the betterment of our dear economy- Nigeria.”

    Olatunji highlighted issues, which may lead to industrial conflict, to include retrenchment of workers, following the closing down of a factory, lay-off, discharge or dismissal, denial of benefits, lock-out and non-recognition of unions, among others.

    He said resolving conflicts was sine qua non to organisational survival and as such should be accorded priority.

    Olatunji said: “The strategy, principle, process and practice must carefully be examined with a view to ensuring healthy conflict resolution without bias or prejudices.

    “In handling conflict, the validity of the issue must be determined, find out whether any collective agreement has been breached; has any labour law or policy been violated or has the worker’s health, safety and welfare been jeopardized? After determining the validity, get all facts and cross-check, then reduce the complaints into writing for onward settlement process.”

  • Labour: why we opted out of revolution mass action

    The organised labour distanced itself from the botched mass action tagged: “Revolution Now”, because the issues involved were not thoroughly debated by the appropriate organs of the Congress. It noted that before embarking on any mass action or street protest, issues involved would have been exhaustively debated.

    In a statement by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, the decision to do a mass action or any form of protest, the union said, is usually taken by those organs.

    “Accordingly, we wish to state unambiguously that neither has such an issue arisen nor a debate for a mass action taken place, let alone a decision to proceed on a mass action.

    “We are, therefore, not involved in any street protest. Nonetheless, Congress respects the right of the citizenry to freely associate and hold an opinion and to peacefully protest against any policy or policies with which they disagree,” Wabba said .

    Similarly, TUC President Comrade Quadri Olaleye, in a media statement on the protest, distanced the union from the protest, saying it had no plan to embark on mass action or street protest in the country for now.

    Olaleye clarified that TUC was not in league with any group whatsoever, for any mass action in any part of the country. He stated further that there were no issues in contention with any public authority that had not been subjected to social dialogue.

    “The labour centres, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), therefore wish to inform members and affiliate unions, civil society allies and the general public that they are neither  organising nor getting associated with any mass action or street protest over any issue in any part or every part of the country in the days ahead,” it said.

    The NLC further said if such issues arose, the Labour Centre would go through its internal mechanism to procure authority for such an action, bearing in mind that its organs must be properly briefed and thorough debates undertaken before the organs can give approval.

    “In this case no issue has arisen, no organ has been summoned, and no debate has been undertaken, therefore no such decisions have been taken,” it said.

    The TUC also expressed commitment to the corporate existence of Nigeria, adding that citizens reserved the right to express themselves in any manner they deem fit, taking into cognisance the laws of the land.

  • Fed Govt to focus on youth empowerment

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said his administration recognised the need to focus more attention on youth empowerment by creating an enabling environment for jobs and capacity building.

    He spoke at the Global Youth Employment Forum (GYEF) of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Abuja.

    The President, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, said Nigeria placed more value on the youth who represent today and the future of the nation.

    He was optimistic that the event would bring together select young people from ILO member states, to discuss an issue of importance to the young and the old.

    He also reiterated that human capacity development, implementation of dedicated programmes and technical/financial support cannot be over-emphasised, adding that he was grateful the ILO has committed itself to youth employment and the future of work in Africa with in-depth understanding of the rapidly changing demographics, the emerging world of work and the challenges of natural economic stabilities.

    Read Also: ILO, AEA, SMEDAN partner on youth empowerment, poverty eradication

    He added that his administration recognises youths’ creative potential and the need to sharpen their global competitive edge. According to him, the Central Bank of Nigeria has introduced the Creative Industry Financing Initiative (CIFI) to improve access to long-term low-cost financing for entrepreneurs to invest in Nigeria.

    Earlier in a welcome address, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr. William Alo, said a growing youth population could provide an important opportunity to expand the labour potential of any country. According to him, investing in youth education closes the gender gaps in labour markets and education.

    Alo further stated that the theme for 2019 GYEF, “Today and Tomorrow with decent Jobs for Youth”, was apt in the light of the persistent global youth employment challenges and the future of work initiative, which the ILO has placed on the front burner of discuss. He adding that the future of the world rests within the youth who constitute the most productive segment of the global population.

  • ILO, AEA, SMEDAN partner on youth empowerment, poverty eradication

    A mission to boost youth empowerment and eradicate poverty through entrepreneurship is being championed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA), and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN).

    The partnership will provide sufficient support in material and human resources to the AEA, which, in turn, will scale up its numerous empowerment schemes to accommodate more persons.

    At an exhibition in Abuja, in honour of the visiting ILO Director-General, Mr. Guy Ryder, AEA Managing Director Mr Arabi Muhammad Tukur said the agency was established in 2006 as the Federal Capital Teritory’s administration’s vehicle for entrepreneurial development, poverty reduction and wealth creation.

    He said the agency, in the last 10 years, has supported 73,450 persons and businesses (90 per cent of whom were youths), in critical entrepreneurial areas like business clinics, access to finance, counselling, sensitisation, workspace and market linkage among others.

    He added that AEA had supported 31,100 rural entrepreneurs in 160 communities of the FCT with capacity-building training, access to finance, equipment and other critical areas.

    These are just some of the few achievements the Agency has attained over the years.

    He said: “The agency has designed to expand its grants programme to support the provision of work tools which will eliminate drudgery, share new technology to rural entrepreneurs and finance Start-ups, who are confronted with inadequate access to finance.

    “We are also focused on youth and women development. We have in the past three years trained over 800 youths and women on ICT, skills acquisition programmes covering areas such as shoes production and other leather works, cosmetology, confectionary and entrepreneurial training.

    “Plans are under way to undertake a financial literacy sensitisation programme to increase the number of entrepreneurs who have access to financial services to understand how to properly use the funds they received for their business.”

    Earlier in his remarks, Ryder assured that the body will assist AEA scale up its entrepreneurship drive.

    He said: “It was good listening to the beneficiaries of the training. All suggestions have been taken. The idea of working with the NLC, other bodies in the future is noted. The energy, vibrancy of Nigerians is excellent”  he said.

    The representative of the Director-General of SMEDAN, Mr Monday Ewang described AEA as its baby.

     

    “We’ve partnered them ever since they took off. We’re ensuring they deliver their mandate and on ours too.

    “We’re happy to welcome the DG of ILO. SMEDAN will ensure it works closely with ILO”, he noted.

  • Ministry inaugurates anti-corruption, transparency unit

    The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment has inaugurated its reconstituted Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU). It charged civil servants to operate within the rules.

    Inaugurating the ACTU, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary (PS), William Alo, said the public servants should operate within the country’s laws, rules and regulations to deliver quality and timely service to the public.

    He noted that the ACTU is established in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), through the directive of the Federal Government, to conduct preliminary investigation, review corruption-prone operational system, educate and enlighten staff on issues related to corruption, as well as monitor budget implementation in the Ministry.

    The PS urged the ACTU Committee members to rise up to the challenge of being in the vanguard of fight against corruption, and reminded them that “the fight against corruption is the integral part of the crusade for national rebirth, social inclusion and regeneration”.

  • Rivers chapter of TUC gets new exco

    The Rivers State chapter of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has re-elected comrade Austin ThankGod Jonal as its state chairman.

    He was returned alongside his executives during the Sixth triennial state delegates conference of the union held at the Atlantic hall of hotel presidential Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    Declaring the conference open, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, Rivers State governor, represented by Rufus Godwins, the state Head of Service, commended workers for their input to the successes of his administration and decried a situation where a worker will leave his duty post because of check up dues and the same worker will be expecting promotion.

    He noted that his government is committed to the workers welfare hence the commencement of the payment of backlog of retirement benefit to their retired workers on contributory pension scheme.

    Delivering a lecture on the theme “The Impact of stress on employee productivity, performance and turnover: Implications on the prosperity of Nigeria”, Professor Joseph Kinanee of Counselling Psychology, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education Port Harcourt, explain different categories of stress including good and negative stress.

    Others are cronic and traumatic stress, saying that 99 per cent“ of suicide victims were as a result of stress.

    He recommended that workers should find time to relax, have good diet, observe their work leave and engage in body exercises from time to time, he also said that employers should learn to appreciate their workers just as they award query letters.