The Nation Newspaper

Category: Labour

  • FOBTOB institutes empowerment scheme for members’ children

    The Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB) has introduced N1million empowerment scheme for children of its members who graduate with first class.

    The union’s President, Quadri Olaleye, who revealed this at a luncheon in Lagos in honour of the media for their support for the union’s activities, explained that award of N1million to brilliant youths was aimed at promoting academic excellence.

    He said: “We decided to initiate a scholarship award on yearly basis but exclusive to children of our members. It is a merit award of one million Naira for students that graduate with a First Class degree.

    “Just last week Friday, we were at Nestle Nigeria Plc. to celebrate one of our children that got a first class in Electrical Electronics from Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA). The bank draft of N1 million was delivered to him in the presence of the management representatives.

    “If we cannot assist the world at large, at least let us do something within our circle. We want to make ourselves more relevant, our members have high expectations from us, and we cannot afford to disappoint them.”

    According to him, the decline of student performance in universities spurred the association to come up with a merit award initiative.

    Olaleye said the admittance of directors and senior managers as members of the union made FOBTOB a unique amongst the comity of industrial trade unions in Nigeria.

    “In the past, our managers thought the union was for senior staff only, but as we speak, we have more managers in our midst. Between 2016 till date, one of our priorities is to continue to increase membership. We make sure every year our target is minimum of five companies joining our fold,” he added.

    He also restated the commitment of the leadership of the union to continue to be prudent and exhibit high professionalism in the operations of the union.

    Olaleye said things have changed since the inception of the current administration different from what it used to be.

    “Before now, we used to have different offices within a building, but now we have an open office which is part of our journey towards excellence. It makes us work faster, respond to issues faster and it also builds our inter relationship.

    “We are a union and we want to be different in the comity of unions even with the way we do things. The reason is because we belong to the private sector and the way we do things in our sector, especially in the food and beverages, we want people to recognise us as totally different from others.”

    He explained that while the union is desirous of expansion of its membership base, managing directors and human resources directors would not be admitted into the union.

    He said: “By our constitution and agreement, the only people that are exempted from being our member is the Managing Director and the human resources directors, all other directors are our members. In a union that a Director belongs to, you will see that its makes the union different from the common one, which is guiding us in our journey towards excellence.

    “When the present executive came on board, there were no funds to carryout activities, we were asking our employers to donate for us but now things have changed.”

  • Union plans N200m investment

    TO build on the success in its diversification, the National Union of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE) is expanding its business tentacles with N200 million investments.

    Also, the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) has given its administrative council two years’extension to oversee the business projects to be undertaken.

    Similarly, branches of the union cut across its 13 states’ councils have also backed the decision of the NEC, which is the highest organ of the union. The branches represented by their chairmen and secretaries at the union’s Secretariat said their support for the 38th NEC which took place in Abuja last month was borne out of the need to sustain the track record of the union in business in recent years.

    In a statement signed by the Coordinating Secretary of Branch Leadership’s Forum, Comrade James Olukanni, the branches said the need to invest more for the raining days is of more importance to them as members of the union.

    “Today, part of what brought us to limelight is our prudence and meticulous investments such as commercial hotel, solidarity infinity venture, water factory plant, befitting secretariat  among others.

    “The National president announced to the NEC in session that a saving of N200 million has been made in order to kick start another modest five stars hotel very soon. We believe we all need to embrace the sacrifice of today for the pleasure of tomorrow,” the statement said.

    It explained further that the suspension of the delegate conference for two years was due to the fact that most of the ongoing projects at  the national headquarters need to be completed and in order to invest more for the organisation and across the several state councils so as to lay a good legacy and sustaining future for the incoming leaders at various levels of the union’s structure.

    The union’s President, Comrade Lateef Oyelekan, said the N200 million saved from the investments would be committed to expanding the union’s tentacles in business, more so to save the union from future financial embarrassment.

    He said: “The expansion is part of our long term project to sustain the union because last year, we lost over 3,000 members due to retrenchment, and those numbers cannot be regained within the same years even with new investments coming into the country and we have continued to lose check off dues.

    “Hence we have concluded plans to build a new hotel either in Ibadan or Portharcourt, as well as a water factory. Our projection really is to have our water factory in all our 13 states’ councils.”

    He explained further that another challenge for the union was the use of robots in the factories, which are now taking over jobs of the workers, which indirectly is a big loss to the union, adding that the only way is to expand its business empire.

  •  Lagos Mega City: Transport workers train over 200 commercial drivers

    For the transportation system in Lagos State to meet international standard, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employer’s’ Association of Nigeria  RTAEN) have come together under the Amalgamated Mega City Transport Services (AMCTS)Limited to train commercial drivers across the city.

    Speaking with reporters at the Transport Week-long training workshop for city bus drivers, held at Abule Egba , Lagos, AMCTS Managing Director, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, said over 200 will be trained in the  first batch, saying all drivers should make use of the opportunity through commitment in order to meet up with the challenge for smart city which Lagos State deserves.

    He said structured training of driving instructors and drivers on state-of-the-art safety trainings tracks, as well as evaluation and certification of both instructors and professional drivers will be the pillars of the programme.

    ”As professional drivers, we are proud to associate with this standard, hence, this prompted us as major stakeholders in the transportation industry to officially unveil this week-long drivers training programme.

    “As it is generally known that drivers are the promoters of economic well-being of any given nation, we should all at this time be prepared to carry out our function towards moving the economy of the nation forward,” Agbede said.

    Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Dayo Mobereola, represented by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Christian Olakpe, urged the drivers to be more disciplined, focused and intellectual in their operations.

    He said the state is ready to support them in every capacity in order to meet up with the international standard.

  • ‘It‘s time for women to identify their strengths’

    Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) President, Comrade Oyinkan Olasanoye has urged women to identify their strengths and weaknesses, notwithstanding the restrictions placed by culture.

    Olasanoye said women should work towards appraising how far they have fared in the bid to realise their dreams.

    Olasanoye, who spoke with The Nation, said: “I must say that it is indeed nice to have a day set aside to celebrate the political, social and economic achievements of women, which is a rare privilege the menfolk do not have.’’

    She explained that women should flayed the notion that women are  incapable of doing most reasonable things.

    She said the perception held by most people is very wrong, and enthused that women are good managers and multipliers of resources.

    She added: “We are global peace makers, mothers and housewives, doing vacation-less jobs. Our gender is our strength, so we must not allow anyone put us down.

    ‘’Ostensibly interpreting the theme of the international day dedicated to all women across the world, she explained that Balance is not women’s issue alone, saying that it is a business issue.

    “The race is on for the gender-balanced boardroom, a gender-balanced government, gender-balanced media coverage, a gender-balance of employees, more gender-balance in wealth, gender-balanced sports coverage.’’

    She emphasised that gender balance was essential for economies and communities to thrive, noting that the 1995 Beijing Conference’s  blueprint was the best for achieving gender equality.

    She said gender bias exists in every social stratum, even in the most developed societies but it will take our commitment to address it.

    “Though we have fought countless wars out there alongside the menfolk, and even more daring wars in our bedrooms but it is the menfolk only that take the glory – the kids bear their name. This is the time to take advantage of our population is now.

    “Truly, significant progress has been made in terms of the number of women that have been elected to public office – but the World Economic Forum’s Annual Global Gender Gap Report has stated, sometime in 2017, that men held about 80 percent of key elected and appointed positions,” she said.

  • Industrial Training Fund trains 700 youths in ICT

    THE Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has started training 700 youths in Information and Technology (ICT) under its Infotech Skills Empowerment Programme (ISEP).

    The programme, which is in its first phase, had youths from six states: Plateau, Bauchi, Imo, Ondo, Kaduna, Cross River and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    ITF Director-General Sir Joseph Ari disclosed this during a visit to an ITF centre in Bauchi State. He said beneficiaries would receive specialised skills in computer hardware maintenance, advanced computer networking and computer networking.

    Of the objectives of the programme, he said it would produce  certified professionals that would  bridge the ICT skills gap, prepare  youths  for job and wealth creation, stimulate growth, promote entrepreneurship and self-employability and reduce youth restiveness.

    Ari said unlike the Fund’s other intervention programmes that are targeted at a broader segment of Nigerians, ISEP is restricted to holders of the Ordinary National Diploma (OND) and above.

    He said Computer Hardware and Maintenance (A+) and Computer Networking (M+) trainees were required to hold an OND, while beneficiaries of Advanced Computer Networking (CCNA) were to have the Higher National Diploma (HND) or its equivalent.

    Ari said the ITF would pay each trainee a monthly stipend of N5,000 during the three-month training, adding that successful participants would get start-up packs to set up their own business.

    He added that to enhance participants’ employability, the trainees would be enrolled for professional exams, such as the CISCO, CompTia A+, CompTia N+ and CCNA.

    He charged participants to take the programme serious, warning that only those tho completed the course work, achieved at least 70 per cent attendance and had above 80 per cent in the final exams, would graduate.

    He said ISEP was ITF’s commitment to boosting job creation, adding that it trained 450,000 last year.

    Responding on behalf of the trainees, Abdullahi Yusuf, lauded the ITF for its strides in entrepreneurship and employability.

    He said ISEP was a laudable initiative, especially for graduates seeking jobs, pledging that the Bauchi centre would make the best of the opportunity given them.

  • ‘Influx of foreign products killing our sector’

    The National Union of Chemical Footwear Rubber Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees (NUCFRLANPE) has said the influx of foreign products is killing the sector, noting that about 10,000 jobs have been lost in two years.

    Its President, Comrade Babtunde Goke Olatunji, said the menace was affecting the manufacturing sector.

    He said  products from other countries, such as China, were heavily subsidised, making it possible for them to be sold at cheaper rates than local goods.

    Olatunji urged the Federal Government to strengthen the regulatory agencies to tackle the problem.

    On the high rate of unemployment, he said aside providing a conducive environment, there was the need for the government to come up with a policy that would encourage local and foreign investors.

    In a related event, Olatunji said maintaining gender balancing in the socio-economic and political space encouraged inclusiveness which was pivotal to our collective growth and development.

    In his message to mark Women’s Day, Olatunji, the Chairman, Industrial Global Union, Nigeria Chapter said: “A balanced world is a better world and as such we need to celebrate women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements and also raise awareness against biasness and discrimination along gender divide. Above all, we need to take action for gender equality.

    “Our patriarchal stereotype is no longer fashionable; the only difference between men and women is just biological role which thus take a dominant part of the human existence. Therefore, equality should be promoted, thus availing balance for better.

    “At the level of Nigeria chapter of IndustriALL Global Union, we will support any policy that promote gender balancing while also engage in advocacy towards gender balanced Nigeria.

    “ It, therefore, behooves on all of us here present to mount pressure on the stakeholders in the socio-economic and political space of Nigeria to ensure equality in the distribution and or allocation of resources and opportunities.

    “Moreover, if the above agrees with our collective consent, I therefore on your behalf appeal to our new President-elect; President Muhamadu Buhari to ensure gender-balance in constituting his cabinet while also replicating same at all levels of Government,” Olatunji said.

  • Civil servants urged to shun corruption

    Civil servants have been urged to shun corruption and other related offences in their work places, in line with the anti-corruption mantra of the government.

    Human Resources Management Director, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ajibola Ibrahim, made the call in Abuja during the Sensitisation and Awareness Creation Workshop on Transparency and Anti-Corruption Practices, organised for junior officers.

    Ajibola said the workshop would educate the participants on the proper understanding of corruption, as well as their roles in curbing the menace.

    She noted that corruption was not limited to financial crimes alone, but included the little things you do, or neglect to do, in the conduct of your daily duties like movement of files, handling mails/other official documents.

    Also, the Ministry’s  Director, Special Duties/Projects, Dr. M. E. Nwordu, said the workshop would arm junior officers with adequate information to guide their engagements in line with the principles and practices of transparency.

    She was optimistic that the workshop would lead to enhanced service delivery and aid the war against corruption.

    In his presentation : “The integrity imperative in the workplace”, the Resource Person from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr. Ahmed Abdul, enjoined the management of the ministry to provide not only punitive measures for corrupt practices, but also reward officers for outstanding performance as a motivation to staff.

  • NECA hails CBN’s forex ban on textile imports

    The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for banning the sale of forex to importers of textile materials.

    Its Director-General, Mr Tim Olawale, told reporters in Lagos  that stopping the sale of forex to textile importers was good.

    He said the decision would breathe life into the textile sector, stressing that over $4 billion spent on textile materials import deprived other critical sectors the much-needed foreign exchange (forex).

    Reflecting on the impact on the  industry in the past years, Olawale said: “The first modern textile mill in Nigeria, Kaduna Textile Mill, was started in 1956 in Kaduna, and between then and 1987, there were 37 textile firms in the country, operating about 716,000 spindles and 17,541 looms.

    “This period was indeed the glorious era of the textile industry. With an annual growth rate of 65 per cent between 1985 and 1991,  employing about 25 per cent of workers in the manufacturing sector, the textile industry, then, could be called the pride of Nigeria.”

    Olawale said to revive the industry, the borders should be policed.

    He said the porosity of the borders made smuggling a lucrative enterprise, adding that this was affecting the CBN’s efforts to help the industry.

    Olawale urged the Federal Government not to relent in creating a favourable environment for businesses, stressing that for the Executive Order to work,  a proper regulatory mechanism should be in place.

  • Union suspends president over anti-union activities

    •What they have done is illegal, says Apeh

    The Tricycles Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN) has impeached its President, Comrade Augustine Agbo Apeh, over what it described as anti-union activities.

    In a communiqué, signed by the Secretary-General of the committee set up by the union, Sunny Ennag, the union said the decision was taken to rebuild a virile and trailblazing trade union that would be the pride of tricycle workers and owners in Nigeria.

    The union has, however, chosen Comrade Babatunde Ayenogun , the former Deputy President  as the substantive President.

    “Findings revealed that Augustine Apeh has been involved in a lot of anti-union activities, thereby truncating the union’s operations in so many states apart from Abia, Bayelsa, Edo and other states where his role, as contained in the catalogue of accusations, acted as a clog in the wheel of the union’s progress.

    “With the above proven fact and in consonance with the constitution of the union best practice, Augustine Apeh lacks the competence, mental capacity and the moral justification to continue leading the union. Therefore, the committee affirms his suspension,” the communiqué said.

    The council also approved the first national  delegates’ congress to hold within six months and the Central Working Committee (CWC) has been mandated to  work out modalities towards realising this.

    In addition, TOAN pledged its commitment to the onerous task of ensuring a proper organisation of tricycle operators in the country and ensuring partnering government and relevant agencies to uplift the economic and wellbeing of the hapless and vulnerable masses.

    Responding to his suspension, Comrade Augustine said what the union did was illegal, adding that the so call executives are not recognised.

    “What they are doing is illegal and I want to assure that they are not recognised. And the so-called executive, led by the so-called President has a questionable character. Not only that, he has a criminal case on ground. I am still the president of TOAN,” he said.

  • 248,000 retirees earn N9.36b monthly pensions under CPS, says PenCom

    Over 248,000 retirees have  begun reaping the benefits of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), taking home over N9.360 billion pensions monthly, just as the pension industry has accumulated over N8.73 trillion worth of assets as at December 31, 2018.

    While 194,000 retirees earn an average pension of N6.56 billion under Programmed Withdrawal, 54,000 of them have received an average of N2.8 billion under life annuity monthly pension as at December 31, 2018.

    This was disclosed by the Acting Director General, National Pension Commission (PenCom) Mrs Aisha Dahir-Umar,  in a chat with journalists in Lagos.

    “Indeed, about 194,000 have retired and were receiving an average pension of N6.56 billion under the Programmed Withdrawal Arrangement while 54,000 retirees were currently receiving an average pension of N2.8 billion on monthly basis under life annuity as at 31 December 2018.”

    “To date, total pension contribution received from both the public and private sector employers for 8.3 million employees is about N5 trillion.  Accordingly, the CPS has opened the window for Nigeria to generate a sizable pool of investible funds. For the first time, the pension industry had accumulated over N8.73 trillion worth of assets as at 31 December 2018,” she said.

    According to her, the life annuity and the group life insurance programmes introduced by the CPS have facilitated economic growth through improved businesses in the insurance industry, particularly, as insurance is one of the focus sectors under the economic recovery and growth plan of the Federal Government.

    “Both PRA 2004 and 2014 mandated employers to maintain life insurance policy in favour of the employee for a minimum of three times the annual total emolument of the employee. This provides another means of averting vulnerability to poverty and other levels of risk exposures to families of deceased employees,” she explained.

    She further noted that the provision of Guaranteed Minimum Pension under the PRA 2014 is quite a remarkable means of averting old age poverty through its strong redistributive impact and that it has provided a minimum income to all eligible persons, as an incentive to participate in the CPS, regardless of labour status in line with social assistance programmes in which citizens pool old age income risk.

    The guidelines and framework for implementing the minimum guaranteed pension, she disclosed, are still being worked out by the Commission.

    “The establishment of a uniform set of rules, regulations, and standards for the administration and payments of retirement benefits under the sole regulatory control of the Commission would also help to avert the credibility crisis that characterised the old pension scheme and some social security programmes.”