The Nation Newspaper

Category: Labour

  • ILO asks countries to ratify labour conventions

    To mark its centenary, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has called on governments to ratify at least one international labour standard in 2019.

    According to Director,  International Labour Standards Department, Corinne Vargha,  since its founding in 1919, ILO labour standards have improved the working lives of millions of people.

    She said from eliminating forced and child labour to ensuring the rights of seafarers and promoting gender equality, the 189 Conventions and 205 recommendations adopted by member states during the last 100 years have formed the bedrock of the ILO and its mandate.

    “However, many issues in the world of work remain, and with new challenges being created by globalisation and cross border activities, international labour standards are needed more than ever. Therefore, to mark its Centenary, the ILO is urging its 187-member states to ratify at least one additional ILO Convention or Protocol in 2019.

    “We hope that as many member states as possible will step up to the plate and ratify this year. Ratifications and the full application of ILO global labour standards will ultimately lift up millions of workers whose livelihoods today, like 100 years ago, are facing substantial challenges. The implementation of international labour standards ensures that no one will be left behind in the world of work,” she said

    To gauge progress towards this goal the ILO will track all 2019 ratifications in real time on a new dashboard. More than 30-member states have already made a head start, having signed Conventions or Protocols in 2019 or ratified instruments that will enter into force this year.

  • ’Labour won’t accept retrenchment over new minimum wage’

    Last week’s election of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)  during its 12th Quadrennial Delegates Conference would go into the annals of the congress as the best organised since its constitution in 1978.

    Workers could still recall the ugly incident that characterised the same election four years ago at the labour house.

    One lesson from the 12th National Delegates’ Conference is the smooth process and the fact that it was rancour-free unlike what happened in 2015.

    The crisis that characterised the 2015 delegates’ conference ended in creating factions in the congress. It  forced two unions, National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas of Nigeria (NUPENG), out of the NLC to form the United Labour Congress (ULC).

    The re-election of Comrade Ayuba Wabba amid fanfare has  renewed the hope of workers.

    Wabba was also recently elected as the President of the World’s International Trade Union Congress (ITUC). He will lead the 16-member National Administrative Council (NAC) in the next four years.

    Others elected NAC members included three Deputy Presidents. They were Amaechi Asugwuni, Muhammad Nadir Idris and Najim Usman Yasin. Ibrahim Khaleel was elected National Treasurer.

    Four officials were elected Vice Presidents. They were Abdrafiu  Adeniji, Peters Adeyemi, Lawrence Amaechi and Oyelakan Lateef.

    Others were Marwan Adamu,  the National Financial Secretary and Adewale Adeyanju, National Trustee. Comrade Wabba.

    In all, 15 officials were returned unopposed.

    The conference with the theme: ”Towards a decade of activism for the promotion of labour unity; national rebirth and development.”

    In his acceptance sppech, Wabba vowed to confront the challenges faced by the workers. He said: “We will ensure that the challenges workers face are confronted headlong. Workers are treated as slaves while those that don’t even work hard take higher pay.”

    He said the new leadership must build workers power to change the equation and confront the political power to ensure that workers live decent lives.

    On the new minimum wage, he pointed out that the organised Labour would not allow governments at any level or private employers to hide under the increment to sack.

    Read also: Union urges members to vote out anti-workers governors, politicians

    The NLC President insisted that the struggle would be to ensure the implementation of the new minimum wage by federal and state governments.

    He, therefore, charged all the affiliates and the state councils as well as the partners to be ready for the battle ahead for the implementation of the minimum wage without retrenchment.

    As a leader, he pointed out that his executive would not take unilateral decisions on issues affecting the workers, but assured that the Labour movement would continue to take instructions from the rank and files.

    He said his leadership would always speak the truth to the government to protect the interests of the working class.

    “The new leadership of NLC will respect the will of members and consolidate on what we are doing. We will continue to conform to the tradition of the union and speak the truth to those in power. The daily challenges of workers at work places will be confronted. We have been able to work assiduously in the past four years and we will move forward to build workers poser. I assure our members of our commitment and dedication to the resolutions of the conference.”

    NLC’s General Secretary Comrade Peter Ozo-Eson said the congress had learnt from its past mistakes.

    Asked why all the positions were unopposed and if it was a predetermined arrangement to forestall a repeat of the 2015 crisis, Ozo-Eson said there was no election because there were no constestable positions.

    He said since there were no positions, the candidates were presented by the Credentials Committee at the conference by acclamation; through a motion moved because “there are no positions that is contested”.

    “Every organisation learns from its own mistakes. What happened in the last one, perhaps, influences how people took their positions, but that is a process of politicking and a process of preference.

    “For us, ours is to take what we see in nominations and we processed them forward. We have received the nominations, and as we published it, it is one slate. So, that is what we have seen this time. It is being done before, it has happened before, so it won’t be the first time,” he added.

  • Union urges members to vote out anti-workers governors, politicians

    The Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) has asked its members not to vote for governors and other candidates who are anti-labour and anti-people in the general elections.

    The Union affirmed Comrade Lawrence Amaechi as its president and dissolved the caretaker committee.

    Rising from its Special National Delegates Conference, the union called on its members and Nigerians to vote wisely.

    The  National Industrial Court (NIC) had ordered the immediate past leadership of the union to back their successors, an action which was complied with, before the leadership stepped down, following the expiration of their tenure and a caretaker committee, when the union went on appeal.

    The conference confirmed Comrade Idris Yahaya Ndayako as the union’s general secretary.

    In a communique signed by the union’s President Comrade Lawrence Amaechi and General Secretary Comrade Yahaya Ndayako, the union commended the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) leadership in ensuring that the new minimum wage of N30,000 bill is passed into law.

    The conference also elected  Comrade Kabiru  Gaya as the new national auditor, following the resignation of Comrade Aliyu Mutazu who had retired from the Civil Service of Katsina State.

    The communique said: “On the other hand, Special National Delegates’ Conference reiterates NEC’s directive that an impostor, Mr. M. Z. Nzidee who had been since expelled from the union, must be prosecuted from wherever he is hiding for his recent act of hooliganism, culminating into vandalism of the  National Secretariat, stealing huge sums of money and molesting Staff of  the union with his collaborators.

    “Special NDC decried the activities of politicians as relate the February 2019 General Elections, particularly on their campaign strategies.

    Read also: First aircraft lands in Bayelsa airport

    “Conference reiterated its position that governors that are anti-labour and anti-people must be voted against. It called on its members and Nigerians to vote wisely in defence of democracy

    “The NEC passed a vote of confidence on the national Leadership of the union led by Comrade Amaechi L. U.  for its commitment, initiatives and purposeful Leadership since assumption of leadership of the union”.

  • Union praises Fed Govt for tackling influx of ‘expatriates’

    The National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE) has commended the Federal Government for addressing the influx of expatriates.

    Speaking with The Nation, the union’s President, Comrade Lateef  Oyelekan said prior to the election of President Muhammadu Buhari, the country was bedeviled with influx of foreigners, who disguised as expatriates to corner the scanty jobs  meant for Nigerians, thereby making more competent Nigerians them second class citizens.

    He said: “However, with the introduction of Executive Order ‘5’ by President Buhari, the despicable practice of expatriates quota abuse and influx of all manners of foreigners to take few jobs meant for Nigerians is steadily and consistently fading out.

    “President Buhari’s patriotic action was a reaction to our union and other industrial unions’well-articulated protests and memorandum forwarded to the Presidency through the Minister of Labour and Employment , D’r. Chris Nwabueze Ngige to draw the attention of the government to the dangerous implications of uncontrolled expatriates influx.

    “For this spectacular action, our union leadership and, indeed, all our members shall remain eternally grateful to President Buhari.”

    Oyelekan said the Federal Government has demonstrated its commitment to transforming and revolutionising infrastructure, electricity and rail transportation system.

    “Indeed, the government has excelled exceedingly in massive investment on infrastructure, electricity and rail transport development more than any government in history,” he said.

    He said the prioritisation of investment on these key sectors of the economy represents a giant step in the right direction considering the fact that the key sectors is the main catalyst to drive and stimulate economic transformation.

  • TUC to Fed Govt: don’t intimidate voters

    The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has urged the Federal Government to avoid intimidating Nigerians in the general elections.

    Its President-General, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, gave the advice in a communique at the end of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Lagos, which deliberated on the state of the nation and the challenges confronting the labour movement.

    The NEC called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be impartial, and have the interest of Nigerians at heart.

    It tasked on the police, the military and other security agents to be diligent.

    Read also: Bankers’ Committee assures funding for creative, IT industries

    The congress reiterated the rate of insecurity, urging the Federal Government to intensify efforts to wipe out killings, kidnapping and insurgency.

    NEC commended the government for the fight against corruption but urged it to respect the rule of law.

    Meanwhile, the NEC has commended the House of Representatives for approving N30,000 as minimum wage. It urged the Senate to do so without delay.

    In a related development, NEC frowns at the proposed increase of international passport and drivers licence by the Federal Government. It asked the Federal Government to maintain the status quo and formulate policies that will be more beneficial to the masses.

  • Falana to workers: fight governors who resist N30,000 minimum wage

    Human rights activist Femi Falana (SAN)  has called on the organised labour to “fight” any governor who is unwilling to pay the N30,000 minimum wage.

    Speaking at the 12th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja, Falana said the first part of the new minimum wage battle had been won; the second is to compel state governments to pay.

    “Labour should unite to fight any governor who may not want to pay the N30,000 minimum wage. States should cut their expenses and engage in income generating ventures.

    “As for the workers,  let the general elections be the last time that it will be left for our leaders to decide. Workers should come together. They should be the one to decide,” Falana said.

    The NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, reiterated the urgency for the need to pass the minimum wage bill by the National Assembly.

    “For millions of workers, an increase in the minimum wage is urgently needed to ensure a living wage that covers the cost of basic needs for a family.

    “Workers must be able to freely bargain collectively through their union for wages that reflect the tone value of the work they do and for decent working conditions.

    “On January 29, this year, the House of Representatives passed into law a new national minimum wage of N30,000. It is expected that upon the passage by the Senate, a conference of the two chambers of the National Assembly will harmonise the bill and send the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act to Mr. President for signing into law.

    “We appreciate and commend the House of Representative for the expedited action taken on the new national minimum wage bill,” he said.

    Wabba commended the Federal Government for releasing about N1.9 trillion to states for bailout, budget support and Paris club refund.

    He said: “The release of about N1.9 trillion in the form of bailout, budget support and Paris Club Refund assisted greatly in addressing the non-payment of salary, pensions and gratuity in many states especially worker-friendly governors. In some few instances, the funds were diverted and the situation has not been fully addressed.”

    Wabba said the economy given its vast potential, amid diverse challenges, showed some promises in recent times.

    “According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 1.81 per cent in real terms in the third quarter of 2018.

    “This is slightly better than the growth of 1.17 per cent achieved in the third quarter of 2017. The recent GDP growth and increase in internally generated revenue are signs of the steady recovery of our economy from recession. Despite these results, our economy remains largely import driven and dependent. The growth in the size of our economy – the biggest in Africa – is still non-inclusive as the gap between the rich and poor continues to widen. Though described as mixed, our economy is essentially rent-seeking and still suffers from systemic distortions,’’  he said.

  • NECA decries late passage of budgets

    THE Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has decried the delays in the passage of budgets.

    At a briefing in Lagos, its  Director-General, Mr. Timothy Olawale, described as disheartening the delays, noting that they were worrisome and had become major sources of concern to the private sector.

    Olawale said the importance of quick passage of budget could not be overemphasised, adding that budgets play a very critical role in economic development.

    He said: “Looking at the trend from 2014, the earliest time the budget was passed was in 2016 and that was in March. Nigeria’s fiscal year begins in January and ends in December; hence, we cannot begin to imagine the dire consequences of the late passage of the budget on national development and business growth.

    “In Ghana, for instance, the budget for the 2019 fiscal year was approved in November 2018; in Ethiopia, the budget for the 2018-2019 fiscal year was approved few days before the commencement of the fiscal year in July 2018.

    ‘’Similarly in Egypt, the budget for their 2018-2019 fiscal year was approved about a month to the commencement of the fiscal year.

    “The stability and predictability of the budgetary process of these countries could be one of the reasons they are becoming the new desired destination for foreign investments,” Olawale said.

    On some of the adverse effects of late passage of the budget, he said: “For some years, the process leading to the approval and passing of budget has always been a victim of the proverbial fighting of two elephants.

    “A critical component of the budget, such as capital expenditure, which, to a large extent, plays a major role in economic development, suffers. Infrastructural reforms, which are meant to attract investments and improve the lives of the populace, are put on hold and business decisions, which could translate to expansion and employment generation frustrated.”

  • NUPENG, PENGASSAN urge Buhari to accelerate PIB assent

    Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) have  appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to assent the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

    The oil workers argued that the bill, when passed into law, would end political interference in the sector and optimise value chain in the upstream, midstream and downstream of the petroleum industry.

    They said it would also separate the role of policy makers from the regulator.

    Giving more instances, the unions noted that in the Bill, roles and accountability are better clarified; governance and transparency strengthened, and inefficiency, maladministration, corruption and secrecy are tackled.

    According to them, these are important and must be upheld. The unions said this why they commended the Federal Government for its milestone with the flag-off and official commencement of crude oil search in the Kolmani Well River-II, located near Barambu, Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

    They said the feat achieved was a reflection of government’s resolve and commitment to grow Nigeria’s economy, boost capacity and provide energy sufficiency as well as strengthen the country’s oil and gas industry.

    The initiative, according to the workers, would go a long way in galvanising the current government’s national drive for jobs creation, youth empowerment and human capital development.

    They also extended their commendations to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, and the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru,  for their contributions to the ceremony.

    “The untiring and fantastic efforts of our irrepressible members to the realisation of the noble dream are also highly commendable and we praise their uncommon contributions to the growth and development of our dear country.

    “There is no iota of doubt in our minds that workers have capacity and ability to deliver even much more than their counterparts in other climes when given the right tools and right working environment and conditions to do so.

    “This historic flag off is without doubt, a full demonstration of Nigerians’ resilience, doggedness and determination, and the entire productive oil and gas workers are very proud of this great achievement and we promise to keep raising the bar with other committed stakeholders.”

     

  • ASSBIFI advises Ngige to inaugurate NSITF board

    Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIF) President, Comrade Oyinkansola Olasanoye, has urged the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, to inaugurate the board of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) without delay.

    Speaking with The Nation,  Olasanoye augued that the law that set up the fund made it clear that it should be managed by a board.

    Olasanoye asked the minister to inaugurate the board to enable it  curb corruption and protect workers’ benefits.

    She lamented that though the minister had been appointing committees to either investigate, or review, urging stakeholders to join hands, the minister had not inaugurated the board.

    Olasanoye said the union was seeking a peaceful path to press home its demand to avoid the negative effect of industrial action on the sector and the  economy.

    While stressing that ASSBIFI had opted for negotiations, she said the group believes in collective bargaining and will not allow anything that would tarnish its image or work against workers’ welfare.

    ‘’We appeal to the minister to inaugurate the board of NSITF. The Act that set up NSITF states that there should be a board and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour should  represent the minister.

    “So, if there is a board and the permanent secretary represents the minister on the board.The minister should not say there are corrupt practices in the organisation when he has a representative there. We do not think that it is now that he is refusing to inaugurate the board that there will be no corrupt practices there. We feel the more people are there, the better, ” she said.

    She appealed to the National Assembly to amend the Labour Act to arrest casualisation, which, she noted, could encourage corruption.

    She said the union had negotiated with banks that laid off their staff to ensure that the workers got their severance packages.

    Olasanoye noted that despite the wealth created by global economy and technology in the working place, workers were left behind.

    According to her, with the global economic crisis hitting workers, work can only be decent when it has fair income that enhances workers’ standard of living, with social protection for the family, without greed dictating the rule of the economy.

     

  • NIQS praises govt on tax for infrastructure

    The Nigerian Institution of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) has praised the Federal Government for signing the Executive Order No. 007 of 2019. The order has to do with Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.

    The Executive Order number 007 is aimed at enabling private companies to build infrastructure such as roads in the country and be rewarded with tax credits in return and was signed by President Buhari on January 25.

    The President, NIQS, Mr. Obafemi Onashile, in a chat with media men, said this initiative makes Nigeria the first country in Africa to look into providing critical infrastructure through the use of fiscal policy such as tax breaks, rather than the usual government direct funding or lease and concessional arrangement through the private sector.

    “The NIQS wishes to commend the President Muhammadu Buhari for this bold step and initiative which the NIQS had clamoured for in the past few years. This confirms that this government is listening and ready to think outside the box in finding workable solutions to infrastructure and housing problems in Nigeria,” he said.

    Onashile, while commending the President Buhari for this bold step and initiative, said it represents what the NIQS had clamoured for in the past few years.

    “This confirms that this government is listening and ready to think outside the box in finding workable solutions to Infrastructure and housing problems in Nigeria. This initiative could also make social housing provision easy, especially the multi-family type of housing.

    However, to make the Order a success, Onashile charged the Federal Government to include quantity surveyors in the proposed management committee to be saddled with the responsibility of overseeing the implementation of the Order. He explained that the Quantity Surveyor, as financial, contractual and administrative experts in engineering infrastructure and construction projects, have a lot to contribute to its success.

    “Members of the NIQS identify with the new and innovative project delivery method. The QS, being professionals focused mainly on finance and completion of projects only, with no conflict of interest in project designs or supervision, can surely bring a lot of expertise to bear in ensuring the success of the Order 7,” Onashile stated.

    Consequently, the institution, he said, would like to enjoin the Minister of Finance to consider very importantly the inclusion of numerous quantity surveyors in the Management Committee as stipulated in the signed Order.

    Expressing the institution’s concerns, the NIQS President said the body is concerned about getting professionals that would creditably monitor and verify the construction and the total development costs such that the country would not be shortchanged from its income that was being used on her behalf, just as it is worried about professionals that would set the cost yardsticks to be used to determine the volume of infrastructure a private company must deliver in a year to equate to pre-determined tax level.”This innovative Order while very good in principle could however fail due to many possible abuses and some lacunae that the NIQS has observed and which needed to be tightly closed from exploitation. Investor companies are to pay taxes yearly, so how is the quantum of the project delivered in year by an investor being equated to estimated tax liability for the year? If an investor company is not making sufficient financial injection into the project, how can this be quickly detected because the implication is that such company is not paying tax as and when due,” Onashile said.

    He warned that infrastructure delivery contracts are peculiar and require certain basic components of construction procedures to assure a smooth administration that cannot be exploited to the detriment of the government. “It is not the typical “business contract of sale” that lawyers draw up. It requires construction law expertise – quantity surveyor,” he said.

    The body urged the government to extend the Order on road infrastructure development and refurbishment investment tax credit scheme to the housing industry to close the gap in the sector.