The Nation Newspaper

Category: Labour

  • Failure to inaugurate NSITF board stifles productivity, says NECA

    The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has criticised the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, over his insistence on not inaugurating the boards of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), and other Federal Government agencies under his ministry, saying the development was stifling their performance.

    According to NECA, which represents the interest of employers in Nigeria, the failure to inaugurate the board members, several months after they were appointed, contravened the law establishing such agencies. He noted that such action was inimical to the growth and performance of the agencies.

    NECA Director-General Timothy Olawale, who criticised the development in a statement, lamented that more than one year after President Muhammadu Buhari announced the membership of the boards, some recalcitrant Ministers have remained defiant to President’s directive without any repercussion.

    To avoid eroding the confidence  built over the years in the institutions by Nigerians, the NECA scribe said the implication of total absence of a governance framework, which is to regulate the activities of the agencies, three and half years down the line, after dissolution of previous boards, was grave.

    He said it was unfortunate, especially for a government that prides itself in the rule of law.

    He advised that government should ensure and encourage the practice of good corporate governance at all levels, saying the Acts establishing the various agencies had provided for the composition of the board members and in some instance ‘institutional representatives’ to the boards mentioned.

    It would be recalled that there were pressures on the Minister of Labour and Employment to inaugurate the boards. Till date, his promise has failed to come to pass.

    The minister, he said, also assured that the board would be inaugurated in order to assist the implementation of the audit committee he set up to study financial infractions in the Fund.

    Ngige had announced that the implementation committee of the audit report, which had since been established by him to effect the various policy recommendations  aimed at sanitising and strengthening the weak internal audit system of the Fund.

    The Federal Government had in August 2017 nominated former NUPENG General Secretary, Frank Kokori as the Chair of the board with Vice President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Peters Adeyemi, Treasurer of NLC, Khaleel Ibrahim, representatives of Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), NSITF  Managing Director and Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment Permanent Secretary,  who represents the Ministry on the board as members.

    Kokori had in a public forum, while commending President Muhammadu Buhari for recognising June 12 as the official democracy day in Nigeria, reported the matter to the presidency.

  • Fed Govt urges workers to shun corruption

    The Federal Government has urged civil servants to shun corruption  and other offences in their work places, in line with the anti-corruption mantra of the government.

    Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment Permanent Secretary Mrs Ibukun Odusote made the call in Abuja when she flagged off a sensitisation workshop on transparency and anti-corruption practices, organised for junior officers.

    Represented by Human Resource Management Director Ajibola Ibrahim, Odusote said the workshop would educate participants on the proper understanding of corruption, as well as their roles, individually and collectively, in curbing the menace.

    She explained 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 schedule of duties like movement of files, handling mails/other official documents, among others”.

    In a welcome address, Special Duties/Projects Director, Dr. M. E. Nwordu, said the workshop was organised to equip he junior officers with adequate information to guide their official engagements to be in line with the principles and practices of transparency devoid of corruption.

    She expected the workshop to usher in a significant improvement in service delivery by the officers, which would consequently aid the war against corruption as instituted by government.

    In his presentation titled “The Integrity Imperative in the Workplace”, the resource person from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr. Ahmed Abdul, discussed corruption in the workplace – the definition, forms, causes and consequences.

    He also stated the importance of integrity in the workplace and its positive impact on any organisation.

    Abdul enjoined the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment management to not only provide punitive measures for corrupt practices, but also reward officers for outstanding performance as a motivation to members of the staff.

  • PENGASSAN to tackle oil firm on staff disengagement

    members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) may have resolved to challenge ExxonMobil over its plan to disengage its workers.

    The association, in a statement by its President, Comrade Olabode Johnson, said the union was disappointed with fresh disengagement letters served many Nigerian executives in the oil firm, saying the union would confront the management with a protracted labour dispute.

    He said the union had on three occasions warned the multinational to desist from its discriminatory de-Nigerianisation stance, which has, in the last three years, excluded Nigerians from performing strategic functions in the establishment.

    The union noted that membership of the entire special review, which determined the current spate of sacks, retirements and job losses are whites, saying there was no single Nigerian in the team.

    PENGASSAN sources early said the company had demonstrated impunity in its activities, to the extent of ignoring court summons and appearances and gone forward to relieve top Nigerians of their positions.

    The union said: “It is unfortunate that reported intimidation, harassment, bullying, witch-hunting and unethical practices, reported against the special review or investigation team by PENGASSAN was not investigated and addressed by the firm.

    “The demand of PENGASSAN communicated through our letter dated November 21, 2018 to suspend the review, was ignored and treated with utmost disdain.

    “Our sources can reveal that the company, which is now inundated with several legal issues relating to this, is not relenting in its plots of de-Nigerianisation, and has replaced its Nigerian security employees with a new arrival of over 30 foreigners posted within and outside the establishment. This development trails the occurrence, few months ago, where a good number of some lower employees were replaced in the same manner.”

    Johnson said the action attracted a protracted legal tussle which the company eventually lost, even though it went on to accomplish its bidding.

    “Our investigations indicated that the current spate of replacements and terminations are grossly against the Presidential order recently released by the Federal Government, which, among other things, seeks to enforce local content in procurement and employment among companies operating in Nigeria,” the union said.

    However, Media and Communications Manager, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPN), Oge Udeagha, said: “It is MPN’s policy to provide equal employment opportunities, in conformance with all applicable laws and regulations, to individuals, who are qualified to perform job requirements.

    “All matters relating to our employees are private, and we therefore, decline to comment further on this issue.”

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

    • Press Director Olowookere retires

    The Ministry of Labour and Employment Permanent Secretary, Mrs Ibukun Odusote, has urged new employees of the Ministry to see their employment as an opportunity to contribute to national development and add value to the Federal Civil Service.

    The Permanent Secretary, who spoke in Abuja at the induction organised for newly recruited officers, urged them to be patriotic Nigerians, strive to bring glory to the nation by imbibing positive work ethics and shun vices inimical to the service.

    “You are different from the person sitting by you because where you are going is not where the next person is heading, you must remain focused and add value to yourself through capacity development in both computer application, labour laws and public service rules,” she said.

    Mrs Odusote enjoined the inductees to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by the induction to keep abreast of information on basic principles and ethics of the Federal Civil Service. “Make the best of this induction course. We have done our part by organising this course, and it behoves on you to reciprocate this kind gesture by not wasting this opportunity as we have put together eminent resource persons to prepare you on your voyage into the Federal Civil Service,” she said.

    Director, Human Resources Management, Mr Ajibola Ibrahim said  the induction course was aimed at building the capacity of the staff for tasks ahead.

    Ayokunle Oluborode, who spoke on behalf of the inductees, appreciated the government for the employment opportunity and the Permanent Secretary for the opportunity to be part of the induction course, believing that it would enhance their efficiency to deliver on the task ahead.

    In another development, the Ministry’s Press Director, Samuel Olowookere, has retired after 35 years of meritorious service to the nation.

    In a statement by Assistant Director (Press), Rhoda Iliya,  Olowookere was employed on January 19, 1984, and his service in the Federal Civil Service  spanned the Office of the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Dodan Barracks, Lagos, April 1984-1985, Office of the Chief of General Staff, General Staff Headquarters, Dodan Barracks, Lagos, August-December 1985, Office of the Minister, Federal Ministry of National Planning, Ikoyi Lagos, January–August 1986, Office of the Minister, Federal Ministry of Finance, Ikoyi, Lagos, September–October 1986, The Presidency, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, October 24, 1986-October 2006.

    “He was deployed to head the Press and Public Relations Unit Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in 2006, a responsibility he discharged efficiently to the admiration of the nine ministers and 11 permanent secretaries of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, he had the privilege of working with,” the statement said.

  • NDE empowers 300 women, youths

    The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has empowered 300 unemployed women and youths in Edo State, with N300,000 each after they completed a training under its Micro Enterprise Enhancement Scheme (MEES).

    Its Director-General, Mr Nasir Argungu, made this known in Benin, after the training, aimed at creating decent jobs.

    Argungu, who was represented by the Deputy Director of NDE’s Vocational Skills Development Programme, Mrs Roseline Olawunmi, advised the beneficiaries to take advantage of the programme to improve their living conditions.

    He said the Federal Government was determined to tackle the challenges of unemployment through empowerment programmes.

    “In Edo, under the stewardship of the Director – Gerneral, Dr. Nasir Mohammed Ladan Argungu, NDE is determined to train 10,000 women and youths.

    “Today I’m happy to inform you that out of the 700 persons we have trained in various skill acquisitions, 300 people would be empowered.

    “They will go home with N10, 000 with which to start a small business in what they have learnt from the training, with certificate of participation,” he said.

    Meanwhile, President of South-South Solidarity Movement of Nigeria Chief Donben Donyegha has praised President Muhammadu Buhari and the Special Adviser on Presidential Amnesty Programme, Prof. Charles Dokubo, for empowering over 1,000 youths of Gelegele communities in Ovia South West Local Government of Edo State with Starter Packs.

    The Presidential Amnesty Office had given an order that impacted communities in the Niger Delta region, comprising host and access communities be empowered with starter packs such as deep freezers, generators, welding machines, gas cookers, sowing machines, baking and hair dressing equipment.

     

  • ILO: decent work vital to development

    DEcent work is key to achieving sustainable development, social justice and foundation for lasting peace, International Labour Organisations (ILO) Director-General, Guy Ryder has said.

    Ryder, who stated this in his message  to governments across the world at the United Nations (UN)  “World Day of Social Justice”, re-echoed ILO’s mission to the world.

    He said: “If you want peace and development, work for social justice,” adding that for a century, ILO has pursued its mandate to promote social justice through the world of work.

    He reminded world leaders and policy makers of the avoidable economic depression that may befall the society should the world continue to turn deaf ear to ILO calls and warnings. He said: “Undoubtedly, there has been much economic and social progress. Yet the fruits are often unevenly distributed.”

    He continued: “Many people have been lifted out of poverty but many are in danger of falling back. Technology has generated jobs, opened up opportunities and alleviated drudgery, yet billions are still barely surviving in the informal economy. Many societies are scarred by deep social and economic divides; populations are torn apart by war and conflict.”

    The ILO, he said, will continue to be an advocate for the rights and standards that underpin decent work as well as the policies that foster decent work world over, noting that for 100 years the ILO has pursued its mandate to promote social justice through the world of work.

    “Undoubtedly, there has been much economic and social progress. Yet the fruits are often unevenly distributed. Many people have been lifted out of poverty, but many are in danger of falling back. Technology has generated jobs, opened up opportunities and alleviated drudgery, yet billions are still barely surviving in the informal economy.

    “Many societies are scarred by deep social and economic divides; populations are torn apart by war and conflict. And in a changing world of work, established relationships, norms and standards are being called into question and fundamental rights at work are still to be fully realised,” Ryder said.

    He said it is no less certain today than in 1919 that lasting peace and stability must be built on a foundation of sustainable development and social justice.

  • Maritime retirees protest ‘non-payment’ of pension

    Pensioners of the defunct Nigeria National Shipping Line (NNSL) have protested the non-payment of their pension arrears by the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) since last April.

    Their protest,  they said, was to draw attention to their suffering because of the non-payment of their accumulated arrears.

    Their President, Comrade Patrick Azu Ogobuegwu, who addressed the protesters at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Marina, Lagos, said over 200 of his members had died of hardship and lack of care.

    Ogobuegwu recalled that in 2012 they joined other pararstatals, including NITEL, NICON, and Delta Steel Company, Aladja, to mount pressure the Federal Government to reinstate them into the pension payroll in accordance with the Pension Act.

    He said although their request was granted, PTAD accidentally omitted NNSL later corrected it via a letter to the Ministry of Finance dated December 22, 2017, which also directed Finance Ministry to carry out verification and biometric capture of beneficiaries.

    While the pension of other parastatals had since been effected, Ogobuegwu said his members had been left to their fate.

    He said: “We are asking to know the crime NNSL pensioners committed that has made PTAD to deny us verification and payments as was done to others.

    “It is necessary to state here that NNSL is the forerunner among other parastatals liquidated, and the pensioners’ strength is about 800. The total estimate of pension arrears is about N3billion made up of five years’pension arrears, including 33 per cent on payment made in 2008.”

    The Chairman of the committee of the aforementioned parastatals, Mr. Solomon Nyorere, said NNSL members did not deserve the kind of hardship the government was making them to go through.

    One of the pensioners, Mr. Joseph Otsamira, said the situation has left him broke. “I borrowed N70,000 for hospital bill for my wife when she was sick in December, and another N40,000 for my children’s school fee. We are going through an ugly and unfortunate treatment meted out to us by PTAD,”he lamented, asking, “What is our offence?”

  • Labour chief urges Saraki to address minimum wage bill

    A Labour leader, Issa Aremu, has urged Senate President Bukola Saraki to toe his father’s footstep on the minimum wage Bill. The late Dr Olusola Saraki, was the Senate leader in the Second Republic.

    Aremu, who spoke with reporters in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital,  recalled that the late Saraki, presided over the Senate committee that midwived the first minimum wage in 1981 under the late President Shehu Shagari.

    Aremu, who described the late Saraki as “a wonderful symbol of democracy,’’ said he showed concern to the plight of workers. Aremu urged the Senate President to also write his name in gold by reconvening the Senate to pass the bill.

    “Senate President Bukola Saraki should be on duty regarding this all important Bill. I remind him to emulate his father.

    ”Today, he is going up and down as campaign Director-General of the Peoples’ Democratic Party’s candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, but  he should remember that he has not resigned as the Senate President.

    “He should resume his work to pass the bill to concur with the House of Representatives,’’ he said.

    Aremu said the Senate President must see the bill as a commitment and, therefore, suspend partisanship to resume his statesmanship work in the National Assembly.

    “He must declare his position on the N27,000 and N30,000 recommendations. He must act fast like the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara did, so that we can make it a reality and the President will sign the Bill into law,’’ he said.

    Aremu, the former National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria Secretary-General, hailed the House for passing the bill.

  • ECS: NSITF defers employers’ sanction for non-compliance

    The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) did not sanction employers for non-compliance with the Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS) to allow them more time to understand its implementation processes,  its Managing Director, Mr. Adebayo Somefun has said.

    He said in Abuja that the Fund was more interested in the growth of the scheme and not prioritising punishment of defaulters.

    Somefun insisted that sanction would eventually be meted to defaulters, adding that the Fund is  adopting the carrot and stick approach.

    He said: “We are not relying on the legal aspect to get employers to comply with the ECS yet. We are at this moment concentrating on selling the inherent benefits of the scheme. Eventually, there will be sanction for defaulting. But we are not going into that right now because the scheme is still young. We need to keep talking, persuading and enlightening all our critical stakeholders.”

    He said employers not participating in the scheme were not only depriving their employees the benefits of compensation when injured, but are denying themselves the opportunity of getting paid for loss of productivity when their workers are injured, and in no position to execute their tasks optimally.

    His said: “All employers of labour in Nigeria who are not participating in the scheme are denying their employees as well as Nigerians of the benefits of the compensation that this scheme offers. There is no need to worry about occupational hazard because we know that accidents are not planned occurrences and can happen any time.

    “In such times, the employer is insulated from settling medical expenses. In fact, the NSITF pays employers whose staffers are involved in accidents and loss of productivity due to the inability of such workers to perform their duties.

    “Again, if an employee dies in the course of duty, 90 per cent of his total remuneration is paid to the spouse until the last child is 21 years old or graduates from the university.

    “For example, if a worker dies while his last child is six months old, for the next 21 years, that family will receive 90 per cent of the terminal income of the deceased. So, there is no need to run to any uncle or family members when a worker dies in the course of work.”

    Somefun said the scheme seeks to protect family integrity, boost education and insulate families against becoming destitute after the demise of their bread winner.

    He said: “With 90 per cent of remuneration of the deceased paid directly to his wife, the standard of the family will not drop drastically. The beauty of this scheme is that the money is paid directly to the spouse and not to any extended family. So, families cannot get their hands on it. It is not a next-of-kin matter at all. Other benefits like gratuities and group life assurance are paid to whoever is the next-of-kin.”

    He also hinted that the Fund would reinforce its safety activities in 2019. “We have placed about 1,000 of our staffers on safety management. This will empower us to descend into the work arena to exercise one of our major mandates, which is to enforce health and safety in the work environment,” he said, adding that the Fund pays death benefits to 332 families monthly.

  • Workers reject Fed Govt‘s move to privatise public health institutions

    The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has rejected moves by the Federal Government to privatise public health institutions.

    Its National Chairman, Comrade Joy Bioblemoye, said at a rally against happenings in the sector at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Abuja National Hospital and Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, that privatisation was not the answer to the problems.

    He noted that the challenges facing the sector included corruption and lack of fair management in the system.

    The rally, he said, was to express displeasure over the health sector workers’ plight. He accused the Federal Ministry of Health of withholding workers’ salaries for last April and May.

    The workers, he said, would shut  down the sector, if nothing happens after the rally.

    Calling for President Muhammadu Buhari‘s intervention in the matter, Bioblemoye said over 90 per cent of Chief Medical Directors of public institutions have private hospitals.

    Such practice, he said, led to the rot in the system because of clash of interests.

    According to him, the rally was to sensitise the public and government that workers are not strike mongers.

    “We want the Ministry of Health to respect court order and release our salaries for April and May.

    “While the court asked both parties not to do anything that could jeopardise the peace process, the ministry went ahead to implement the ‘no work no pay policy’.”