The Nation Newspaper

Category: Labour

  • Tech threat to jobs: NECA seeks self-devt for workers

    Following possible threat to job security posed by digital technology, the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) has advised workers to engage in continuous self-development if they want to survive the challenges posed by robotics.

    NECA’s Director-Genera, Olawale Timothy in an interview said whether Nigerians liked it or not, technological advancement in the workplace is catching up with the country fast.

    He dismissed fears that technological advancement would lead to massive job loss, pointing out that workers should acquiant  themselves with such technologies in order not to be caught off guide.

    Timothy said the organisation would educate its members on the new convention adopted at the conference against violence and harassment in the workplace to ensure a decent work agenda for workers.

    He said: “The advent of digital era or robotics as some people call it into the world of work has come to stay. Whether we like it or not, it is catching up with us in Nigeria. However, that assumption that it is going to translate to massive loss of jobs, especially in Nigeria is misplaced.

    “What is critical is that as stakeholders, both employers and employees, have roles to play so that workers will continue to be relevant in the work environment. As this development unfolds, workers are supposed to take kin interest self- development.

    “You should not wait until your employer sent you on course to update yourself  and be in tandem with latest technology or the digital era that has cropped up in the world of work.

    “While introducing new technology, employers also have responsibilities to ensure that they give existing workers the opportunity to be very relevant by giving them relevant training on the use of those technology.

    “So, that does not mean that embracing new technology is going to lead to loss of jobs. Rather, it is for relevant stakeholders, both employers and workers to continue to deepen their capacity building and sustain relevance in the work place.”

    On the move by employers to deny workers their right to strike and the eradication of violence at work, Timothy said: “Over the years, employers have said they are all out for the eradication or reduction to the barest minimum in the world of work all these evils of violence and harassment because of the implication in the work relationship.

    “We are working together to ensure that we reduce to the barest minimum the issue of violence and harassment. With regard to the issue of strike, employers recognises that it is the right of workers to go on strike.

    “However, the emphasis is on due process. Strike action should be the very last resort in industrial dispute resolution. Before it gets to strike, there are other processes for resolution that need to be followed.

    “What we are saying as employers is that we should explore all these other steps before embarking on strike which is counter productive. It is after the other steps, which include mediation, arbitration and conciliation fails that you resort to strike. Even before you go on strike, there are processes for giving notices. What we are asking for is due process and abiding by the rule of law.

    “I am sure that employers are not interested in defeating strike. What we should be thinking about as stakeholders in the world of work is how to maintain cordial industrial harmony so that when we have industrial disputes, it is amicably resolved so that it does not led to strike.”

    He said further that the body would enlighten its members on the their responsibility on the safety of their workers. He said: “What is very fundamental is for us to enlighten employers, the government and workers to what their responsibilities are. This is what NECA has been doing over the years.‘’

  • Unions to support FIRS on N8.8 tr target

    Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) chapter of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) and the Nigerian Civil Service Union (NCSU) have pledged to work with FIRS to realise its N8.8 trillion target for the year.

    Its Chairman, Okere Samson, and his NCSU counterpart, Idris Hassan, gave the assurance at a meeting with FIRS Chairman, Tunde Fowler.

    According to Hassan, the FIRS chair has raised the level of staff welfare and unfolded plans that would enable the workers to realise their goals.

    He added that Fowler also approved meal, children education, and maintenance grants – once the workers met their target and attained some consensus on the vacancies for last year and this year’s promotion.

    “Apart from the increase of subsistence allowance, staff have also been paid wardrobe allowances, while quarterly bonus on met or exceeded target in revenue collection, 13th month salary, and payment of equity contribution to benefiting staff of the FIRS Mass Housing Scheme have also been approved.

    “This is to inform FIRS staff that following continuous engagement between Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) and management of the FIRS, the management has been able to address most of the issues raised like increment of subsistence allowance to 30 per cent, reduction of KPI (Key Performance Indicators) benchmark from 80 per cent to 70 per cent of non-oil, and payment of terminal benefits to staff among others,” he  said.

    On his part, the ASCSN Chairman, Comrade Samson advised the staff to work harder to ensure that the Service realises its revenue target.

    On proposed staff grants, such as meal subsidies, children’s education and furniture maintenance grants, Samson said the FIRS chairman had directed the Director, Human Capital to   pay grants once the FIRS attains 70 per cent of its non-oil revenue target after the third quarter of the year.

    He said: “All outstanding severance benefits to retired staff have been approved for payment to staff that exited the service since November 2018, while Fowler directed that more working tools such as printers, laptops, and furniture be provided by directors in charge of facility and efficiency, to ensure timely distribution of such tools to field offices.”

  • Unions reject planned salary deduction for health insurance

    State-owned tertiary institutions in Osun State have rejected the government’s plan to start the deduction of 1.5 per cent as premium from their basic salary for the health insurance scheme.

    A letter dated June 20, 2019, and signed by the Academy Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, Osun State Polytechnic, Iree; Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke; College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) Colleges of Education, Ila-Orangun and Ilesa, urged the government to exclude the institutions from the deduction in the interest of industrial peace.

    The letter addressed to Governor Adegboyega Oyetola was in response to the government’s letter titled: “Commencement of 1.5 per cent Deduction as Premium from the Basic Salary of all Public Servants in the state and Alignment of all state-owned Tertiary Academic Institutions with the Osun Health Insurance Scheme Tertiary Institution Social Health Insurance Programme”.

    Read Also: Osun pensioners split over protest

    The letter reads in part: “We acknowledge the effects of the government to improve the general welfare of workers and residents in our dear state. The circular under reference dictates that as from May 2019, 1.5 per cent of salary would be deducted while government wills 3 per cent as counterpart fund to provide health insurance scheme for workers in the state.

    “We are constrained to use this medium to request for exemption from Osun State Health Insurance Scheme.”

  • IGR: Expand tax net, not VAT, NECA urges govts

    The Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) has urged state governments to engage in taxpayer enlightenment and expand their tax net to increase their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

    The call was made following President Muhammadu Buhari’s advice to states to increase Value Added Tax (VAT) to increase their IGR.

    NECA said increasing VAT at this time was not only misplaced but would further impoverish the citizens the President promised to take out of poverty. To NECA, the step will do more harm to the already burdened private sector.

    Its Director-General, Timothy Olawale, who spoke at the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, said  the President meant well by urging states to be innovative in increasing their IGR and prudent in their expenditures. He, however, argued that state governments could not increase VAT without amending the VAT Act at the National Assembly.

    According to him, it is the common man that will be at the receiving end of any increase in VAT.

    “Even if businesses are taxed more through likely illegal levies and rates, outside the provisions of the law, they will naturally pass the cost to the customers whose purchasing power is already at the lowest ebb,” he said.

    Proposing a way out, Olawale said the federal and state governments should engage in an aggressive taxpayer enlightenment and expansion of the tax net to capture more citizens, adding that less than 40 per cent of Nigerians pay tax.

    He suggested that the states should put mechanisms in place to eliminate leakages as a large chunk of the IGR realised did not find their way into the government coffers.

    Olawale advised governors on reduction of cost of governance, saying the retinue of aides kept by them at prohibitive cost to the state was needless.

    “Besides, ingenious idea of corrupt practices in the name of security votes and frivolous foreign travels by state government functionaries are veritable examples of cuttings in avoidable expenses draining state government purses.”

    Olawale, however, opposed the call for state governments to hike VAT to increase their IGR.

    Considering the reported over N2 trillion of bail-out funds to many of the states, it was apt for the President to advise them to be innovative to increase their IGR and at the same time be prudent in their expenditures.

    “However, the call for increase in VAT or any other form of tax as a way to increase IGR at this time is not only misplaced, but will do more harm to the already burdened private sector and further impoverished citizens that the President promised to take out of poverty.

  • NSITF set for awareness campaign on compensation scheme

    The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) is to carry out a massive awareness campaign to increase enrolment in the Employee Compensation Scheme (ECS).

    At the just-concluded 108th session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland, chairman of the board of the NSITF Austin Enejamo-Isire said employers, the major contributors to the fund, ought to be made aware of the advantage of enrolling their workers in the scheme.

    He said awareness was key to the success of the scheme, adding that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration was doing a lot to provide a fair deal for Nigerians.

    He said: “I have just resumed as the chairman of the NSITF board and I believe that one way to increase enrolment is to create awareness and I do know that if you do great things and you fail to propagate those things, nobody will recognise that.

    “One of the key things we are going to do to stimulate greater enrolment is awareness creation. We must let them be aware that there are great benefits in enrolling in the social security work of the government.”

    He noted that a lot has been done by the government and they are still doing that in trying to provide decent work for the populace.

    “For example, looking at it from the angle of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, we are basically out to provide a fair guarantee system for all those who are affected by occupational hazard and bring succour to them.

    “It is sad when two things happen to a man and that is when a breadwinner is gone and the bread itself is gone. That is why the NSITF is out to ensure that beneficiaries of those who suffer death as a result of being in active service are adequately rewarded.

    “We have a way of bringing succour to those who suffer disability up to covering their medical expenses. All these are being done to ensure that a decent environment is created. The drive and the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari is particularly in the area of social investment and a whole lot is being done.

    “Poverty alleviation comes from there, training and awareness are galvanised to provide very decent work for Nigerian workers.  This is a step in the right direction and in line with the ILO yearning for decent work,”  he said.

    He said just as prevention is better than cure, same applies to occupational hazard prevention, which is very key in the world of work.

    The NSITF boss said surveys were being done in the health and safety department and he has gone ahead to encourage them to include occupational hazard to the extent of asking for fire extinguishers.

    He stated further: “Awareness is being done in all areas and that is better than being a reactive person. If we are proactive in addressing all the issues, you will have safety and good work environment. At NSITF, we have a full department handling this area and we are trying to see how we can change the narratives.”

  • ‘Labour unions can’t function without democracy’

    The Nigeria Textile Union Secretary General, Comrade Issa Aremu, has described labour as the greatest beneficiary of democracy as it cannot operate without it.

    Speaking during an interactive session with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), on the activities of the apex bank to improve the economy, Aremu said labour union deserved to celebrate the feat of 20 years of uninterrupted democracy, given that the country experienced 30 years of military regime under which labour unions suffered.

    According to him, Labour suffered a lot under military regimes of General Ibrahim Babangida and the late General Sani Abacha.

    “Under IBB, the NLC was dissolved in 1988 and in 1994, Abacha dissolved us again. Labour cannot function very well without democracy. We are a democratic organisation.

    “This is why I think we should all celebrate as Labour leaders. We should not leave this to politicians alone. We cannot operate without democracy,” he added.

    Aremu, who contested as the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the 2019 election in Kwara State, said the labour union as a democratic body is teaching democracy, urging unionists to be abreast with the knowledge of politics and the economy.

    “A good unionist must know about inflation, interest rates, capacity utilisation and employment rates. You must know about the Monetary Policy Rates (MPR). All these issues affect us in the world of work,” he said.

    Aremu described the CBN’s creative intervention in the economy as highly commendable.

    He said: “CBN is working today because we have a competent hand. Mr Emefiele is a man of vision, but he is also passionate about Nigeria, he is patriotic; we need to replicate that kind of public officer.

    “Also, in terms of engagement, I haven’t seen the CBN governor engaging in any sort of controversy, he doesn’t go outside his mandate. What happens is robust engagement, such that both the executive and the legislature agreed that he should go for another term. And the facts are all verifiable.

    “They all talked about jobs that have been created. So, you need similar kinds of personnel in the next cabinet of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    He, however, noted that for the economy to improve on its current growth levels, all hands must be on deck. “CBN is doing its own side of the bargain, but the other fiscal authorities must also complement the effort of the CBN.

    “For example, the CBN can’t do much to stop smuggling; so you have improvement in rice production, but by the time the farmers reach the market, it has been overwhelmed by smuggled rice.

    “The same thing with textiles, so Customs must also sit up. Energy is also important. We need uninterrupted power supply. So, we need the same activism that we are witnessing at the apex bank, at Customs, and at the Ministry of Power. The Ministry of Trade and investment must sit up also. Ministry of Labour must sit up as well because they are the ones to find out whether the funds are made available to investors in this sector are actually used for production and employment is being created,” he said.

    He added that the organised labour is committed to partnering CBN to ensure that all these creative initiatives, in terms of development financing, are sustainable.

  • Nigeria to chair ILO govt group for 2019/2020

    Nigeria has been elected to chair the Government Group, comprising all regional groups of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) for 2019 to 2020.

    The country’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Ambassador Audu Kadiri, was elected during the 108th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC), which held from June 10 to 21, 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland.

    Nigeria was the vice-chairman of the Government Group in 2018 to 2019 and as a policy of the ILO, the vice-chairman automatically becomes the chairman for the next year.

    The role of the chairman of the group is to put up strategic plans and co-ordinate all government members of the ILO during the period.

    Brazil was also elected vice chairman of the group while Lesotho will chair the Governing Body (GB) for the year 2019-2020.

    Meanwhile, Uganda is to host the 46th African Regional Labour Administration Centre (ARLAC) Governing Council meeting in 2020.

    The country accepted to host the meeting during the 45B ARLAC Governing Council meeting for Ministers for Labour/Employment and Manpower Issues in Anglophone Africa.

    National Productivity Centre (NPC) Director-General, Dr. Akor Kashim, was the Nigerian leader of the delegation to the 45B ARLAC Minister’s meeting.

  • ‘Buhari needs experts to drive economic agenda’

    Textile and Garment Workers Union has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint capable hands if his agenda of growing the economy and creating over 100 million jobs is to be achieved.

    The union praised the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for initiating creative monetary policies to finance businesses geared towards the creation of jobs.

    At the interactive enlightenment session with stakeholders, organised by the  Central Bank Nigeria (CBN) in Owerri, the Secretary-General of union, Comrade Issa Aremu, commended Buhari for setting the  agenda.

    “President Buhari has made a commitment that he will work towards the creation of 100 million jobs and what it means for us is to compliment his effort in achieving that objective. But he must ensure that he appoints capable and tested hands into his cabinet if he is to achieve this ambitious agenda,” he said.

    Read Also: Social investment key to stronger global economy, says IMF

    The Labour leader commended the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, for banning importers of about 43 items, which could  be produced locally, from accessing  foreign exchange.

    “Items, such as rice, tomatoes and textile fabrics are things we can produce locally and with the creative intervention of target financing by the CBN we have already seen the impact on our economy. Today, we talk about Anchor Borrower for rice production and through it, a lot jobs have been created.  CBN has also been engaging critical stakeholders on this  vision  and they are doing it both vertically and horizontally and we need other agencies to do same,” he said.

    Responding, CBN Director of Corporate Communication, Mr. Isaac Okoroafor, said besides its core mandate, the apex bank‘s  new emphasis was on growth to unlock the creative energy of Nigerians.

    “At CBN, our emphasis is on growth by funding the  cotton/textile value chain by providing cotton farmers the input, including high-yielding seedlings. We have given loans to textile manufacturers to enable them to re-start production which will  create Jobs.

    “We are also doing the same with the palm oil value chain across the Eastern Nigeria /Southsouth . It is the same for the creative industry by providing finance to help creative arts by building of film academy, music production centres.”

  • Industrial peace confab holds at MINILS June 25

    Stakeholders across the country will next week  meet to discuss industrial peace in the public and private sectors.

    A statement signed by the Director-General/Chief Executive, Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Alhaji Ishaq Alabi, explained that the workshop would serve as a platform for proactive and routine dialogue, consultations and negotiations to ensure the sustenance of industrial peace in public service and by implication, the country at large.

    The yearly workshop, organised by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), in collaboration with Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Ilorin, has: Managing the challenges of emerging realities in labour management negotiations in the Federal Civil Service as its theme.

    According to Alabi, the workshop is also being held ‘to share practical strategies that would develop and sustain a peaceful and harmonious employee – employer relation in Nigeria through the identification of emerging industrial relations issues and challenges”.

    The workshop, which will hold between June 25  and  29  in Akure,  Ondo State, will have in attendance Permanent Secretaries, Directors of Administration, Establishments, Pensions and Training, Human Resources/Personnel Management in Ministries, Departments and Agencies at federal, state and local levels.

     

  • Promoting inclusiveness, equitable representation at ILO

    Nigeria is pushing for equal representation and opportunities at the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The Federal Government believes this will also promote inclusiveness. The government made its position known at the ongoing 108th session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, Tony Akowe reports.

    FOR  the Federal Government, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) should remove discrimination and isolation to promote inclusiveness and equitable representation of all regions in the governance structure of the world body.

    Addressing delegates at the ongoing 108th session of the ILO Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, William Alo, asked the world body to correct the international arrangement of reserving permanent seats for countries of Chief Industrial Importance.

    He expressed the belief that the future of the ILO depends on how it continues to reaffirm and uphold the democratic principles and values of the organisation by removing discrimination and isolation thereby.

    Alo said: “It is indeed heart warming that the ILO through the ‘Future of Work’ initiative is taking the bull by the horns in anticipating future challenges in the world of work and taking a holistic approach in dealing with opportunities as they may arise

    “I am pleased to inform this august gathering that Nigeria is one of the countries that has convened a National Dialogue on the Future of Work and is implementing many of the initiatives as well as the recommendations of our National Dialogue.

    Read Also: ILO seeks more African participation in global youth initiatives

    “We agree with the ILO that labour, being the most critical factor of production should be the fulcrum of economic and social policies if we are to have a just, fair, equitable and egalitarian society in the future.

    “In view of this, the government of Nigeria inaugurated and launched the 2017-2020 Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan for improving and developing capacity in the public sector towards advancing the nation’s economy.

    “At present, there is concerted effort to create an efficient, productive, incorruptible and citizen-centered work force anchored on four pillars of professionalism, enterprise content management system, entrepreneurship culture and enhanced welfare package for employees.

    “One other area of interest identified by the ILO in charting the future of work is the need to establish a Universal Labour Guarantee, which advocates, inter alia; “adequate living wage” and minimising the incidence of the working poor.

    “The Nigerian Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari has keyed into these ideals by signing into law, a new National Minimum Wage Act which increased the National Minimum wage by 66 percent, and this has consequential wage adjustment for all workers and translates into enhanced purchasing power of the Nigerian workers.

    “Furthermore, the number of workers covered by the New National Minimum Wage Act has substantially increased in line with the demand of the ILO over the years and this will, ultimately, pull many workers out of the vicious cycle of poverty thereby stimulating investment, economic growth and wealth creation.

    “One other aspect of the Future of Work Initiative that is close to the heart of the Nigerian Government is the provision of social protection schemes including social insurance schemes for workers and the vulnerable segment of the society.

    “It is worth noting that for the first time in the history of Nigeria, the present administration’s social investment programme stands out clearly as the largest and most effective social investment programme in Africa.

    “It involves Home Grown School Feeding Programme for over Nine Million pupils, Conditional Cash Transfer to almost three hundred thousand Nigerians and the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), which financially empowers small and medium scale businesses. These programmes amongst others are geared toward overcoming the daunting unemployment challenges and eradication of poverty.”

    Alo called for the upgrade of the ILO Country Office in Abuja to the status of a Decent Work Sub-regional Office to serve the English speaking countries of West Africa, adding that the office in Senegal can no longer effectively serve our technical assistance requirements of the sub-region.

    He called for the employment of more Nigerian professionals into the office to bridge the under-representation of the country in the ILO workforce bearing in mind Nigeria’s status and contributions to the organisation.

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) explained the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari at the ongoing ILO Centenary celebrations in Geneva. Over 50 top world leaders are attending the occasion.

    NLC President, President Ayuba  Wabba, said Buhari was absent due to important political matters at home.

    Wabba said Buhari could not attend the conference despite the invitation from the ILO because of national assignment, especially the celebration of June 12 Democracy Day.

    He added that the timing also coincided with Ninth National Assembly electing the leadership and other activities of governance.

    Wabba, also a member of the ILO Governing body, said the invitation was delivered to the president.  However, the activities of governance called for serious attentions. “But am sure if there is subsequent opportunities he will definitely be here,” he said.

    Wabba stated that despite the absence of the president, “Nigeria was highly recognised because from the context of Africa, Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa were invited first before other African countries and looking at the strategic position of Nigeria in the  committee of nations, ILO recognises the contributions of Nigeria to the issues concerning all other nations not only in Africa but in the world.”

    He said the country will host one of the largest global event this year, Global Employment Youths Forum where by the Director-General of ILO, Guy Ryder would visit Nigeria.

    He said: “The DG was the former General Secretary of the International Trade Union Congress (ITUC), which am now the president. Clearly, there is flow of information.

    “Looking at the constitution of the National Assembly, every leader will like to get things fixed and those activities have been scheduled, clearly the date that was given coincided with ILO time table. Besides this time around ILO don’t want representation, its wants the  heads of states to be there physically.

    “Most of us those that came here were Presidents, I was seated beside those African countries that were here, I was in the hall when President of France, Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel of Germany and others came in. However the issues on ground at home concerned  governance and that is why the president is not here.”

    On the issues of low appointment of Nigerians at the top of affairs in the ILO and other international organisations despite Nigerian roles in the body, Wabba said the Deputy General Secretary in charge of African, Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, is from Nigeria, and has held the position for almost a decade likewise also many others holding key positions in the ILO.

    “Nigerian has been doing well, but we can even do better particularly the people in government, in terms of interfacing, not like what we have now, coming in for two days and disappearing minutes, we want our political leaders to be here in order to have interactions with their contemporaries around the world to discuss vital issues affecting not only economy but other areas that will make life better for the citizenry,” Wabba said.

    According to him, Nigeria can tap into other opportunities, like in the area of internship. He said youth can do internship in the ILO for two years because in international organization.

    “They look at experience so those that have done internship with them at the end of the day, they will be integrated into the system. But it requires that your country will continue to pay your salaries and up keeps until your integration.

    “As an organised labour, we cannot be able to do that as workers, but as a government, they need to look into the opportunity because if we are able to be in one of the international agency, it will be easier to move to others and that is why the system works and the issue of experience is very important,” Wabba said.