The Nation Newspaper

Category: Labour

  • ‘We ‘ve lost over 20,000 members in five years’

    Job losses in the country have continued unabated, worsening the already bad unemployment situation. National Union of Chemical Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees President, Comrade Olatunji Babatunde ‘Goke, says no fewer than 20,000 members of his union have been sacked in the last five years. He speaks with TOBA AGBOOLA.

    Influx  of  imported products

    We have been dealing with it in the best way we could. Even at the industrial global union level, we have addressed the issue because the market has been flooded with imported/foreign materials and goods that we can actually produce in Nigeria. We have been appealing to the government to ensure that their policies on local content and others aimed at improving and sustaining local production are implemented effectively.

    For instance, if you go to Oshodi market in Lagos, you will see a lot of imported detergents. You see these products in every market across the country and we say no to this uncontrolled importation. We have appealed to the Federal Government to stop the importation of these products that we can produce locally. It is affecting our sector seriously, and many of our employers are talking about retrenchment and redundancy.

    Redundancies and retrenchments weaken our membership, which happens to be our strength. As we speak, most of the companies that had over 1,000 workers, have less than 100. The workers have been replaced with casual, contract staff or outsourced workers, who are not union members and so, do not pay union dues. Once again, we want to use this opportunity to appeal to the government to do the needful and save our sector, and indeed, local industries from extinction.

    Read also: NLC to Buhari: overhaul security architecture

    Job losses

    Before now, we were about 40,000 and as at today, we are less than 20,000. Within the last five years, we have lost over 20,000 members. Take for example in Lafarge, we had over 1,000 members, but as at today, we have less than 100 members. When you ask, the management will tell you that the minimum entry in Lafarge is OND. The moment you have the OND and you present the OND, you become an automatic senior staff. What that means is that we now have higher number of senior staff in the company. That is another problem that confronts the union.

     

    Job migration and expatriate quota

    That area has been taking care of in our sector. We have put everything in place to address it, so we don’t have such problem in our sector. I also think the Ministry of Labour should look into this. When they go on factory inspection, they should note all these . But they will not do this because of corruption in the system.

     

    Expectation from government

    Buhari needs his connection to bring in more investors to Nigeria. The government should encourage investors because there is little the government can do in that regards. Private sector are the ones to create employment . Even, if the investors come to Nigeria and the environment is not conducive, they will leave. That is why many of them are running away. More investors should be brought in through their connection and they should put in place conducive environment and infrastructure like electricity and good roads among others. The way he is dealing with corruption should continue and more should be done on it. Those who are guilty should be dealt with. He should provide food because Nigerians are suffering. The gap between the rich and poor is wide , so he need to streamline it. On the import duty, especially those that import raw materials should be given relieved. This will help the economy. He should encourage the private sector because the government cannot do it alone.

     

  • Oil subsidy removal: Organised labour expresses mixed reactions

    • NECA urges Fed Govt to remove subsidy

    • Oil workers say it’s attempt to destabilise the country

    Against the backdrop of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) call for the removal of subsidy on petroleum products, the oganised labour has expressed mixed reactions over the issue.

    While the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) backed the fuel subsidy removal, both the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) warned that its removal would be clearly seen as an attempt to destabilise the nation.

    They also expressed concern at the corruption in fuel subsidy regime and the nation’s increasing debt profile.

    Speaking with The Nation,  NECA’s Director-General, Mr. Timothy Olawale, said: “Like a sore that has refused to heal, the recurrent issue of fuel scarcity has reared up its ugly head again. We are where we are today because despite past sound counsel, the government has not been faithful to the deregulation of the Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) segment of the downstream oil and gas sector.

    “Let us ponder and ask ourselves where the non-deregulation of the petroleum sector has led our economy: continued dependence on offshore sources for petroleum products supply, perennial shortage of petroleum products, loss of productive man-hours as a result of endless hours spent at filling stations, massive and unimaginable corruptions in the management of the subsidy dispensation, etc.”. All these, he averred, are not sustainable.

    Giving insight into the need for urgent deregulation of the downstream oil sector, the  NECA boss said over the last decade, the country has spent over N9trillion on fuel subsidy, about N15.5 trillion on capital expenditure, N2.1trillion on health and about N3.9 trillion on education, adding that this is a misplacement of priority and has shown that critical developmental items such as education, health and infrastructure have suffered due to the expenditure on fuel subsidy.

    He said the fuel subsidy regime has succeeded in creating phony and emergency billionaires at the expense of millions of pauperised Nigerians.

    Olawale expressed concern at the nation’s growing debt stock, with huge percentage of the budget, over the last decade going to debt servicing.

    He said: “Borrowing could have been permissive, given the state of the economy in 2015, but not to the clearly humongous level it has turned out to be. Incurring debt for developmental purposes is not in question, but the over N24.39 trillion debt stocks, taking over 20 per cent of annual national budget to service, should be enough source of worry. Though the argument of debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio is tenable, the IMF warned that Nigeria’s debt-to-GDP ratio, though good, was risky and cannot be guaranteed going forward.

    Workers, under the umbrella of NUPENG and PENGASSAN, said imposing more stringent reforms on domestic revenue mobilisation, including  increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) and securing more domestic oil revenues through subsidy removal in the present circumstance, among others, would not be in Nigerians’ interest.

    In a statement signed by PENGASSAN General Secretary, Mr. Okugbawa Lumumba and NUPENG’s General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, the unions said: “The leadership of NUPENG and PENGASSAN read with serious concerns and worries the reported statement made by the IMF  media chief for Africa on the state of Nigeria’s economy and the unsolicited poisonous advice on further recovery of the nation’s economy.”

    According to the oil workers’ unions, the statement by IMF has created panic in the country with associated hoarding of petroleum products, panic buying, and skyrocketing increases in prices of goods and services in the country.

    “Clearly, IMF is speaking from the two sides of its mouth. In one breath, the media chief praised the significant progress the nation has made in terms of its GDP that increased by 1.9 per cent in 2018, from 0.8 per cent in 2017 on the back of improvement in manufacturing and other economic policies of the government, while on the other hand offering poisonous advice on further economic recovery,” the unions stated.

    The oil workers said it was bewildering and baffling that IMF was not considering the pains and agonies Nigerians went through even to achieve the acknowledged gains of last year, with almost two-thirds of the world’s hungriest people among Nigerians.

    The unions said the statement credited to IMF was loaded with poisons, considering the antecedents of IMF in the country’s economic challenges over the decades.

    They noted that the various devaluation of the currency on the strength of advice of the IMF has been a very big burden on the nation for several years.

    “The leadership of NUPENG and PENGASSAN are aware of what Nigerians are going through. We empathise with them and will not turn blind eyes to any further attempt to increase their pains and impoverish them further,” the unions warned.

    The oil workers said they appreciated the efforts, commitment and determination of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to put Nigeria in the right economic stead after several years of economic maladministration and mismanagement.

  • NLC to partner MINILS on capacity building

    President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Ayuba Wabba has stated its readiness to partner the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS) in building the capacity of the workers for improved productivity.

    Wabba made this known when the management of the institute paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Abuja.

    He expressed optimism on this new initiative, saying it would improve the lots of the workers.

    Read Also: NLC urges Buhari to tackle security challenges

    Wabba described the institute as one that is dear to the NLC.

    He assured the institute’s management of congress’ readiness to collaborate with the institution in the area of training and re-training of  its officials and  members for better productivity.

    “I want to assure you of our readiness to collaborate with you and see how we are able to maximise the benefits that the institute in its experience, as a foremost labour institute, can actually bring to the Nigerian workers,” he said.

    He assured that the NLC will work towards a concrete arrangement to ensure it builds an ensuring partnership with the institute.

     

  • Dangote Salt rewards truck drivers

    The NASCON Allied Industries Plc (National Salt Company of Nigeria Plc) management has said it will continue to accord its staff members due recognition as it rewarded truck drivers in its employ for meeting product delivery target and driving accident free last year.

    NASCON is a subsidiary of  the Dangote Group.

    Its Executive Director, Commercial, Hajiya Fatima Aliko Dangote, who presented various gifts to the drivers, said drivers as critical part of the company’s workforce are the most important assets of the company and NASCON would, therefore, continue to recognise and reward them for meeting targets.

    Underscoring the importance NASCON management attached to drivers, she said the organisation’s business transactions with its customers would not be completed until the final delivery of products to the right destination and are made possible only by the truck drivers.

    “Therefore, no serious organisation would take its drivers for granted. Our drivers are the most important in the distribution chain. They take a lot of risks while striving to deliver products and meet targets and even exceed targets.

    “We are doing this to recognise them; that they matter in our business and we will continue to celebrate them,” she said.

    Fatima Dangote explained that the company has put in place various incentives to motivate the drivers to perform better, pointing out that each driver that meets delivery target and records zero accident will collect N50,000 every quarter, totalling N200,000 a year.

    The NASCON boss disclosed that the yearly performance award ceremony was meant to celebrate the drivers and let them know that their contributions to the success of the company was not unappreciated.

    She urged them and the workforce not to rest on their oars, but strive to exceed 2018 performance, promising them that the company would always live up to expectations by rewarding their hard work.

    The Fleet Administration Manager, Mrs. Augustia Odega, explained that five of the drivers were adjudged best performing truck drivers for last year and all of them automatically became NASCON brand ambassadors.

    According to her, some of the criteria used in selecting the best performing drivers included high trip performance; volume lifted – tonnage; good truck maintenance records; low cost of truck maintenance, i.e tyre and AGO usage; accident free operations; Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and safety compliance and overall driver’s personal conduct in compliance with company’s rules and regulations.

    Overall best driver, Nurudeen Shomuyiwa, is said to be a post-graduate diploma graduate, but chose to be a truck driver because of his passion for driving.

    In his remarks, FRSC Commander, Akporowho Isaac, who represented the Lagos Zonal Commander, described the company‘s gesture of rewarding its drivers as very laudable, but rare in most organisations.

    According to him, most management and individuals treat drivers with disdain, yet drivers’ roles are very critical in the overall success of the organisation. “What you are doing here today is an important event, but which many organisations don’t consider as necessary,” he said.

  • Union decries IMF’s opposition to minimum wage

    The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has condemned the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF’s) opposition to minimum wage existence across the world.

    It alleged that the IMF has continued to promote the unfounded claim that higher minimum wages prompt job cuts and hurt workers, putting at risk economic growth.

    IMF in a recent article said an overly generous wage may prompt employers to cut jobs.

    But ITUC General Secretary, Sharan Burrow thinks otherwise. She submitted: “It is disheartening to see that the IMF continues to ignore a large body of evidence on the benefits of minimum wages for working people and the economy as a whole.  If the IMF is serious about addressing inequality, it should abandon policy advice and loan conditions that have failed to generate economic growth. The economic evidence they claim is simply not there. Also absent is an acknowledgement that IMF interventions including attacks on minimum wages have deepened economic and social crises, not alleviated them.”

    ITUC insisted that the article  was based on selective evidence, which highlighted the bias of the authors, adding  that the article recognised that most empirical studies found positive or at most, very small negative relationship between minimum wages and employment levels.

  • Review privatisation of power sector, Fed Govt told

    THE President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration should review the privatisation of the power sector to prevent the collapse of the economy, the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) has said.

    The workers spoke at their fourth triennial delegates’conference in Enugu. It had as theme “Privatisation and unionism: Nigeria’s power sector experience.”

    SSAEAC President Comrade Chris Okonkwo, who was re-elected  for another three years, wondered why the government has remained indifferent to the issue, despite that privatisation is in its sixth year.

    “Everyone has seen that the privatisation of the sector was an error and there is a clause that allows a review after five years. Since last year, we have been charging the government to use the clause and correct the anomaly in the process, but nothing is being done,” he said.

    He noted that incompetence of the distribution companies had been the bane of the process, adding that an overhaul of the sector was the only solution.

    The SSAEAC chief lamented the experience of workers and the unions with their employers, despite the union’s intervention.

    “This challenge informed our choice of the theme to dissect the concerns and factors still impacting negatively on the power sector and the goal of government to make the power problems a thing of the past,” he said.

    Commending employers, such as Abuja, Ibadan, Eko, Jos and Kaduna distribution firms, and the TCN, who have signed agreements with the union, he warned others like Ikeja, Benin, Kano, Yola, Enugu and Mainstream Energy that they might soon be picketed by the union if they fail to work with the union.

    “It is important to note that it is in the interest of the companies and staff, through the unions, to have this contract documents because it offers protection to both sides,” he said.

    Also,  the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) General Secretary, Comrade Joe Ajaero, criticised privatisation, noting that it has made it difficult for unions to discharge their core responsibilities.

    He accused employers of maltreating workers and not following due process and labour laws, warning that such employers would be dealt with.

    Ajaero said: “Privatisation is taking what belongs to everybody and giving it to an individual, or their own people. That is my definition of privatisation. They say it will bring foreign investments, none has come.

    “There’s urgent need for us to look at it critically. PDP wants privatisation, APC says it does not have it as agenda. Why can’t they review it, if there is no collaboration between them?”

    Similarly, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, criticised  our privatisation model, adding that it has done more harm than good.

    He called on the government to review the privatisation model, advising that it must be discarded in order to achieve efficiency.

    Kaigama said: “There is a dire need to revisit or reverse privatisation in the sectors that it has failed. The processes were wrong. The intention may be right, but wrongly executed  probably by vested interests.”

    The guest speaker, Dr. Godknows Igali, however, tasked the workers on playing an active role in restoring the sector, which he said, is the driver of the economy.

  • Perm Sec makes case for effective service delivery

    The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr. William Alo, has called on labour officers to be vanguards for labour justice by demonstrating professionalism, diligence, transparency and honesty in discharging their duties.

    He made the call at the zonal sensitization workshop on Resolving trade disputes and seeking redress for labour injustice, organised by the ministry for labour officers, in Maraba, Nasarawa State.

    Alo, represented by the Director, Human Resource Management, Alhaji Ibrahim Ajibola, said the objective of the workshop was to articulate procedures for seeking redress on issues of unfair labour practices, adding that employees should know their limitations in order not to infringe on the rights of others.

    Read Also: Perm Sec to civil servants: build capacity, add value to service

    “As professionals in this area, the workshop shall equip you with the skills required to identify levels and sources of labour injustice in the world of work. I am confident that the outcome of the workshop will further ensure that industrial peace and harmony is maintained in work places through strict observance and adherence to the rule of law which guarantees equal rights before the law as well as the extant labour legislations,” he added.

    Alo urged the participants to maximise the opportunity provided by the workshop to equip themselves with the skills required for better performance on the job.

    Earlier, the Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations (TUSIR) Director, Mrs. Omoabie Akpan, welcomed participants and noted  that they were drawn from various departments of the ministry from grade levels 10- 17 because it is expected they should handle dispute.

  • Ministry, AfDB partner on job creation

    The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment will deepen its partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB) on job creation,  the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr William Alo, has said.

    He made this known in Abuja during the review of country strategy papers (2013 – 2019) and launch of the preparations for the new country strategy paper (2020 – 2024) between AfDB and the ministry.

    According to him, there is the need for more funding for the two projects which the ministry is in partnership with the AfDB. He proposed the inclusion of some intervention projects in the 2020-2024 Strategy Paper.

    He noted that since last year the ministry had been working with the AfDB on the two projects, one of which is the Public-Private Partnership for Youth Employment and Skills Development aimed at implementing eight priority projects, across relevant sectors.

    Alo said the aim was also to boost massive job creation and skills development among the teeming unemployed youths.

    Read also: Fed Govt seeks partnership with AfDB on youth employment

    He said the other project was aimed at implementing the labour content of an Inclusive Basic Services Delivery and Livelihood Empowerment Integrated Programme (IBSDLEIP) for livelihood enhancement and support for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Northeast.

    “The aim of the IBSDLEIP is to document the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the productive age and provide technical support to the participating states,’’ he said.

    Alo said this was to build capacities on alternative means of livelihood as tools for self-reliance, rehabilitation and resettlement of the IDPs.

    The permanent secretary reiterated the government’s efforts in generating youth employment through the skills acquisition centres scattered across the country, saying that the government had not been resting on its oars.

    He, however, said the government would include skills acquisition in the nation’s secondary schools curricula, as well as in the curriculum of the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

  • Lagos retirees lament delay in payment of entitlements

    Thousands of retirees in Lagos State are worried over  the delay in the payment of their gratuities and pensions.

    Speaking with The Nation, Chairman of the Lagos State Association of Retirees and Pensioners Mr Omisande Micheal appealed to the government to respond urgently to the demands of the retirees. He added that theywe re disappointed because after serving their fatherland meritoriously for over three decades, they have to wait endlessly to get their entitlement.

    He said the delay in the payment of their gratuities and pensions had affected them to the extent that some of them had to borrow money to maintain themselves.

    “Even when some of us  go for medical checkup, they cannot get money to take care of their health because government has no programme to assist the retirees in getting urgent medical attention.

    In addition to the delay, he said  the government had also not kept its promise of upward review of gratuities and pensions anytime there was increase in salaries and allowances in the civil service.

    Omisande Micheal said  some of those who retired in 2015 had been paid.

    His words: “We can deduce that from the payment of 137 retirees in January, the monthly allocation released for the payment of pensions  is grossly inadequate.

    “Out of the meagre sum released, 95 per cent was for payment of State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB) and local government while five percent was used to pay mainstream and secondary school retirees. How many people do you think five per cent can cater for”.

    Omisande urged Lagos State government to fulfill its promise on the  health insurance scheme for retirees.

    He also urged the government not to reduce the 25 per cent  being paid to the retirees in their lump sum.

    He appealed to Governor Ambode to increase allocation to Lagos State Pension Commission ( LASPEC), to accelerate the  payment of retirees’ entitlement and clear the back log of 2015 and 2016 pension and gratuities within the next two months on compassionate grounds.

    Mrs. Ogunkoya Josephine Funke, a civil servant at Lagos State Ministry of Education, District 3, Eti Osa, for 32 years and retired in October 2016 said:  “Since two years ago when I retired, I have been suffering due to the delay in payment of my gratuities and pensions.  I  have been having difficulty in getting needed medical attention because government has no concrete programme to assist retirees having serious health challenges.

    She said what madethe situation worst was that those in authority such as the permanent secretaries, commissioners, governors, deputy governors, got their entitlements within six months after leaving office with access to quality medical attention, while  many of them have served for shorter period when compared with an average civil servant.

    Mrs. Ayodele Abibat Okaah, a civil servants in Lagos said: “ It is unfair for government to treat us like this. We have been turned to beggars, yet, this is our country and we are asking for our rights.

    Mr. Olagbaye Johnson who retired as Director at SUBEB said he cannot understand why retirees are been shabbily treated.

    “It is discriminatory, It is apartheid, and we are not happy, we are calling on Lagos State government to expedite action and ensure that our entitlements are paid without further delay, “ he said.

    Meanwhile, the retirees have embarking on a one day prayer and fasting.

  • ‘Unemployment has reached critical level’

    The Director-General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), Dr Dikko Umaru Radda, has said only one of every 100 graduates gets a job.

    He said if the situation was not properly addressed with effective job creation programmes, civil, social and political upheavals might occur.

    The SMEDAN boss noted that the global population of youths between 15 and 24 was on the rise, with the majority of that group living in emerging economies like Nigeria’s; hence, the need to properly manage the group to yield dividends.

    Radda, who stated this in Kaduna, while kicking-off the sensitisation programme on Young Business Owners in Nigeria (Y-BON), however, said, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) would boost economic diversification and employ more youths.

    According to the DG, represented  by the Northwest Zonal Coordinator of SMEDAN, Alhaji Ahmad Muhammad Madaki, one of the major causes of unemployment in  the country is skill shortage occasioned by dearth of skilled personnel and entrepreneurial competence, among others.

    He said: “There is no doubt that unemployment situation in Nigeria has reached a crisis level. Statistics have shown that only one out of every 100 graduates is assured of getting a job in Nigeria.

    “It is towards addressing this challenge that the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN) has initiated the Young Business Owners in Nigeria (Y-BON) programme, to provide a platform where existing entrepreneurs, either as standalone or cooperative societies, will be competitively selected for further support packages, to reduce some of the fundamental challenges that usual confront MSMEs.”