The Nation Newspaper

Category: Labour

  • Minimum wage, maximum trouble

    How did organised labour fare in the outgoing year? Its leaders feel labour was shortchanged, citing the rise in the unemployed from 3.3million – from 17.6million in quarter three of last year to 20.9million during the same period this year. There is also the unresolved minimum wage crisis. TOBA AGBOOLA writes.

    Labour leaders  are not happy. Reason: Workers’ experience in the last 12 months has been harrowing.

    They lamented that workers were made to suffer for the failings of the political elites.

    Although they acknowledged measures taken by President Muhammadu Buhari to rebuild the economy, they are unhappy that not much has been achieved.

    Below is the chronicle of the minimum wage.

     

    National Minimum Wage

    Early this year, workers were  optimistic that the Federal Government would give them a living wage.

    President Buhari in November 2017 approved a 30-member tripartite National Minimum Wage Committee to negotiate a new national minimum wage.

    The committee was made up of  public sector (Federal and state governments) and the private sector. They include the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA).

    Others were the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME).

    The committee started work last March with unveiling of a new national minimum wage  slated for last  August.

    • On September 12, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) warned that would start a nationwide strike on September 26, 2018, if the Federal Government refused to pay a new minimum wage of N56,000.
    • Governors wondered how they could pay N56,000 when they were finding it difficult to pay N18,000?
    • With organised labour threatening to shut the economy, Minister of Labour Chris Ngige promised that the tripartite committee set up to review the minimum wage, would reconvene on October 4 and continue negotiations.
    • NLC declared that the governors who were opposed to the new minimum wage would lose the February 2019 elections as workers would be mobilised against them.

    “Majority of governors that fail to implement the minimum wage may not come back for their second term. Instead they will be voted out of office, because of lack of political will,” said Adamu Garba, NLC vice chairman in Gombe.

    • On September 27, NLC warning strike began. It succeed in several states; business activities were paralysed.
    • The Federal Government called for an emergency meeting with labour to resolve minimum wage brouhaha.
    • On September 30, NLC called off the strike.
    • October 8, 2018, NLC President Ayuba Wabba said the Federal Government would soon announce a new minimum wage.

    “I want to assure workers that all has been concluded and will be passed for signing within the week.

    “I also want to appreciate the Organised Private Sector, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) for their resolve to pay the new minimum wage when it is signed into law,” Wabba said.

    • Federal Government declared that new minimum wage would be N24,000, on October 10.

    “The state governments’ figure last time was N20,000; the Federal Government had a figure of N24,000 and that was where we all stood.

    “These negotiations took into account these irreducible offers from the different governments but we could not arrive at a consensus,” Ngige said.

    • Labour urged the Federal Government to accelerate implementation of new minimum wage.
    • With everyone going quiet again, labour called for crucial meeting.
    • On October 18, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State said governors could not pay a new minimum wage.

    “But, the problem of states is the capacity to pay what is agreed. As we are talking, we are struggling with N18,000. Some of the states are paying 35 per cent, some 50 per cent and still some states have salary arrears.

    “So, it is not about only reviewing it, but how we are going to get the resources to cater for it?”Yari asked.

    • Labour threatens another strike.
    • The Federal Government pleaded with labour to accept N24,000 as the new minimum wage. Labour said it’s either N30,000 or not.
    • On October 19, NLC threatens Federal Government with strike.
    • The Federal Government threatens workers with “no work, no pay” policy, if strike holds.
    • Labour gets angry, says the “no work, no pay” policy is madness. “The threat of “no work, no pay” will not deter us from embarking on strike, when necessary”, labour fires back.
    • Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun said governors were not magicians, couldn’t pay a new minimum wage.

    “With N18,000 minimum wage, only seven or eight governors are able to pay full salaries.

    “We are not magicians or miracle workers that will turn things around. We only make do with what we have, nobody has the money,” Amosun says.

    • With labour re-iterating that it’s going on strike on November 6, 2018, Ngige briefs President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the steps taken to avert strike.
    • Meanwhile, labour asked Nigerians to stockpile food because the looming strike would be total.
    • On October 30, governors said they would hold an emergency meeting on the new minimum wage.
    • Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom promised to pay the state workers any amount agreed upon as new minimum wage. “I am known for championing improved welfare for workers,” Ortom assured.
    • Governors agree to pay N22,500 as minimum wage. “It is in this sense that we feel strongly that our acceptable minimum wage must be done in such a way that total personnel cost does not exceed 50 per cent of the revenue available to each state.

    “Governors therefore agreed to pay a national minimum wage of N22,500,” Yari says.

    • Labour insists it’s N30,000 or nothing. Threatens government with election loss if it doesn’t pay up.
    • Ngige comes out to say labour doesn’t agree with N22,500 agreed by governors.

    “The governors have not even done enough. I told them that this N22,500 was even rejected by the Federal Government.

    “The national minimum wage is a national legislation being driven by the Federal Government in pursuance to item 34 of the exclusive legislative list. But you don’t go and make a law which people will disobey at the initial,” the minister says.

    • Osinbajo held a meeting with the Economic Management Team on the minimum wage.
    • Meanwhile, labour doubles down on strike. “We wish to reiterate our position adopted at our National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on October 23 that any figure below N30, 000 will not be accepted by us.

    “We call on our members to continue to mobilise in preparation for the commencement of an indefinite strike on November 6, if by then necessary steps are not taken to adopt the recommendation of the tripartite committee,” Wabba said.

    • November 6. After a meeting with the Federal Government, which lasted for about 10 hours, the Organised labour called off its strike.
    • December 19. President Buhari, during the presentation of the 2019 budget to the joint National Assembly, announced plans to set up a high- power technical committee to look into the implementation of the minimum wage.
    • December 21. The organised labour rejected the committee, saying the government’s plan was diversionary and a delay tactic.

    Wabba said: “As far as we are concerned, all the issue has been addressed by the tripartite committee. This one is a delay tactic by the Federal Government and it will not work.”

    ULC President Joe Ajaero said it was not the duty of the Federal Government to know how the states or private sector would implement the minimum wage.

    “The Federal Government should allow the labour union in each state to discuss with their respective state government on how to start the implementation,” Ajaero said.

    They, however, said if the government failed to transmit the bill to the National Assembly for implementation on or before December 31, labour would re-open the suspended strike.

     

    Other events

     

    Unpaid salaries and pensions/retrenchments

    The union tackled some state governments over the non-payment of outstanding wages and pension of workers and pensioners.

    Union leaders said one of the legacies of the misrule of the preceding years was the  irregular and non-payment  of retired civil servants, which he said amounted to 12 months’ arrears in many states.

     

     Unemployed rises  from 17.6m to 20.9m

    The number of unemployed Nigerians rose by 3.3 million to 20.9 million in the third quarter of the year, a report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has shown.

    According to NBS, unemployment and underemployment report for Q3’18, indicated that year-on-year (YoY) the rate of unemployment rose by 3.3 million or 19 percent to 20.9 million in Q3’18 from 17.6 million in Q3’17, while on quarterly basis, it rose by three percent from 20.3 million in Q2’18.

    The report showed that unemployed and under-employed female population far outpaced that of the men folk.

  • NLC demands respect for ILO principles

    Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Comrade Ayuba Wabba has urged the Federal Government to respect the International Labour Organisation (ILO) principles and the rights of workers in order to ensure peaceful industrial relations.

    Wabba made this known in a lecture titled: Industrial relations in Nigeria today: challenges and prospects, organised by the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, in Abuja.

    He said: “If the government does not respect such principles, then peaceful industrial relations will continue to elude us.”

    According to him, the ILO Declaration of 1918 is about social justice. This implies that workers are not slaves. Workers work to earn a leaving and therefore, there must be social contract and social relationship that must be respected by all parties.

    He said: “Even in the best economy, workers do go on strike to drive home their points. As we speak, workers in France are protesting and demanding for fairness and justice.

    “This is the trend and tradition around the world. If we sit down and wish, we will have a peaceful industrial relations without respecting the fundamental principles of ILO, then we are not yet there.

    “If we must make progress, the government needs to continue to take the totality of workers as partners in progress, as creators of wealth and not a liability or as minority as presumed by some elite.”

    He further stated that in many other parts of the world, the principle of social justice must be respected especially in the healthcare sector, adding that healthcare delivery is the right of every citizen, a fundamental human right, like the right to life.

    “Security, welfare and health of the people are very fundamental. Among these principles and rights, health is the most important one,” he said.

    According to Wabba, many people have wealth but don’t have the health to enjoy it, adding that the key parameters to measure development in the whole world is health indices such as maternal and infant mortality.

    He, however, said that with accountability, transparency and respect to the rule of law with collective bargain, there will be very peaceful industrial relations.

    He said: “What us applicable in global best practices is to put in time of productivity to determine what your enumeration is.

    “When you go to hospitals in the United States, your clock is used to access your job evaluation. That is why nurses earn more. But in our case, they say once you are from this profession you must earn this salary; that is injustice.

    “We must look at the best global practices to make justice available to all”.

    Earlier, Professor Isaac Adewole, Minister of Health, said the organisation is an ideal, one manifesting the aspirations in the health sector.

    According to him, the topic is apt considering the frequent disharmony in the health sector which has exposed the citizenry to exploitation by private hospital owners and quacks.

    He added that dialogue is needed to enjoy the dividends of democracy and called on the union to maintain the legacy of unity.

  • NECA seeks support for ITF

    The Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has called on the Federal Government to fund the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) to enable it fulfil its mandate of empowering Nigerians.

    Noting that the government has not fully utilised the enormous capacity of ITF, NECA argued that the fund could not survive only on contributions from the private sector to train Nigerians to acquire skills.

    NECA’s Director-General Segun Oshinowo made this appeal at an interactive session with the organised private sector (OPS), on the challenges of the interpretation of the ITF Amendment Act 2011, in Lagos.

    Oshinowo said the government must finance the scheme to broaden its capacity given the expertise it has acquired over the years to train more Nigerians.

    “Government cannot just say private sector contribution should be utilised for training public sector manpower, it can’t work. Funding must come with capacity, there is a huge gap there for an institution that have come a long way that has built expertise, that has experience, all it requires is further contribution from government.

    “Funds coming from the private sector cannot be enough and the demand on ITF based on what stakeholders know in terms of its capability is enormous, and there is nowhere we would be able to respond to them if there are no other sources of fund,” he said.

    Among other issues raised at the meeting, Oshinowo said NECA would set up a committee with ITF to look at some of the issues as regards payroll contribution and come up with a definition to sum the basis of the collection to be taken from employers.

    On his part, the Director-General of ITF, Joseph Ari, called for effective collaboration towards improving the trainings and skills that could be exported to earn the country Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs).

    While ensuring that reimbursement of claims is not delayed, he said the scheme in 2017 paid over N2billion to over 1,000 companies.

    To bridge the skill gap, Ari said ITF will assist employers of labour to serve as a compass as well as continue to play its role in building the capacity of the Nigerian workforce.

    “There is a need work together to harmonise the issues of training and skills, where with the huge population of Nigeria, skills could be exported to earn FDIs. Imagine a population without skills leading to negative vices witnessed in the country today. Time has come for all of us to really join force to improve on trainings and skills of Nigerians,” Ari said.

  • PENGASSAN warns against sale of refineries

    The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has opposed the planned sale of refineries.

    PENGASSAN said selling was not the option, reacting to the plans of the candidates to sell the refineries, if elected.

    Speaking at the 5th NNPC Group Executive Council (GEC) Triennial Delegates Conference in Abuja, PENGASSAN President Francis Olabode Johnson urged the Federal Government to speed up the rehabilitation of the refineries and ensure that they work optionally.

    Johnson said: “We strongly appeal to the Federal Government to hasten work on the rehabilitation of the refineries as conflicting pronouncements are creating more confusion. We urge the government to fast track the rehabilitation of the refineries so that the intended sales as been propagated in certain quarters will not be accepted.

    “PENGASSAN’s position from time immemorial has been the NLNG Model and for the model to be accepted by the association. The rehabilitation of these refineries must be concluded, as this will go a long way in not short-changing the Nigerian nation.”

    Speaking at the Delegates Conference, with the theme: The role of labour in maintaining industrial and political stability in Nigeria, Johnson hailed the NNPC management for resolving the Joint Venture cash call conundrum and successful rehabilitation of depots in Mosimi, Ore, Aba, Gombe, Ibadan, Calabar, Ilorin, Kaduna and others.

    He said: “We will use this medium to sincerely appreciate the dedication and commitment efforts of the NNPC Management in their investment drive to position the corporation for greater efficiency.

    “We are again grateful to the management of NNPC and other subsidiaries units for their support on capacity development, improved staff welfare and career progression for some of our members of the GEC and our associations as a whole. We equally commend the management for their understanding in resolving issues involving some management staff recently.”

    Also in his speech, the GEC Chairman, Sulaiman Sulaiman, called on the management of NNPC to prioritise revitalisation of the downstream sector, especially the refineries, depots and the rising cases of pipeline vandalism.

    He explained that the three refineries in the country are almost grounded producing only at about 30 per cent of installed capacity with the proposed financier model being proposed by the NNPC management remained unattainable.

    He emphasised that this development is giving the workforce some concern, saying the other staff related issues that need urgent management intervention include deterioration of staff strength in almost every section of the corporation that include human capacity development, training and succession planning.

  • Ngige makes case for decent work conditions

    The Federal Government has charged employers to provide decent conditions for their employees.

    Minister of Labour and Employment Dr. Chris Ngige made the call in Abuja  when executives of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), led by Comrade Osakpamwan Eriyo, visited him.

    Read also: Negotiations with ASUU not aborted, says Ngige

    He charged the association to tailor its employment conditions on the provisions of the Decent Work Agenda of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

    The minister also encouraged the association to do a proper documentation of its employees by creating a data base, adding that it would simplify their recruitment process, as well as assist government in managing security.

    Earlier, RTEAN National President Comrade Osakpamwan Eriyo pledged the association’s continued support to government.

  • ‘Skill acquisition solution to youths’ illegal migration’

    The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has said skill acquisition is the solution to youths’ illegal migration

    Speaking with The Nation, its Director-General, Sir Joseph Ari, said one of the mandates of the ITF was to make Nigerians, especially the youth, self reliant in terms of skills acquisition, but the youths are yet to embrace the concept.

    According to him, many of the youth migrate to Europe and other African countries to eke out a living, subjecting themselves to humiliation and danger.

    He said: “Solution to the rising migration of Nigerian youths lies in skill acquisition. We are disturbed by this ugly trend and reports of mass casualties on the high sea, enslavement and other harrowing misfortunes being experienced by Nigerian youths, seeking to migrate to Europe.

    “The ITF is appealing to stakeholders to collaborate with ITF in order to equip more Nigerians with skills for employability and entrepreneurship.

    “Equipping Nigerians with relevant skills is not only in line with the Federal Government’s efforts to create jobs, but would stem the current wave of migration, especially by the youths that have culminated into loss of lives and enslavement of thousands of productive Nigerians.

    “I keep wondering why the mass migration despite the fact that several surveys by the ITF and other organisations have revealed that skills gaps exist that are being filled by foreigners.”

    Ari said it was with a view to equipping Nigerians with skills to fill existing vacancies that the ITF embarked on a number of initiatives and expanded existing programmes to ensure that more Nigerians are empowered with skills to check unemployment and promote entrepreneurship.

    He listed some of the programmes to include the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP), Passion to Profession, Training on Wheels Using Mobile Training Units, the Women Skills Empowerment Programme (WOSEP), the Technical Skills Development Project (TSDP) as well as the Vulnerable and Indigent Youth Empowerment Programme (VIYEP) among others.

    Ari said the ITF has trained over 100, 000 Nigerians since it commenced. He said under the current phase ongoing in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the ITF is training 11,100 with skills in welding and fabrication, tailoring, garment making, plumbing and pipe fitting.

    He said in the last one year alone, over 70, 000 Nigerians benefited from these skills acquisition programmes and all the beneficiaries were given starter packs to start their businesses.

    “About 90 per cent of the beneficiaries are either currently successful entrepreneurs or earning their livelihood as paid employees, according to the monitoring and evaluation of graduates conducted by the ITF. The state governments, for instance, could collaborate with the ITF towards the establishment of Industrial Skill Training Centres (ISTCs), which will be managed by the ITF on their behalf,” Ari said.

  • NLC to mobilise unions in 163 countries against politicians

    About 207 million workers across 163 countries will be mobilised against corrupt leaders, who cannot pay workers’ salaries, divert and stash stolen wealth abroad for personal use, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, has said.

    Wabba, at a surprise reception organised by the Medical and Health Workers’ Union (MHWUN) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to welcome him from Denmark, where he was elected the  President of International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), spoke on the value his new office would bring to Nigeria.

    He said: “It is a victory for Nigerian workers, who have been toiling to create the wealth of this nation, yet go home with little or no pay.

    “It is high time our politicians, looters and elite realised that once they loot our resources and leave Nigerian airports for overseas, with our collaboration with airport workers around the world, we’ll mobilise people to turn them back.

    “If they will not use our health facilities, but go elsewhere, they should be sure they will get a reception that is not funny. No hiding place for anybody, who wants to loot our resources and take them abroad and not pay workers’ wages, salaries, and pensions.”

    On government’s perennial threat to apply the ‘no work, no pay’ principle in industrial disputes, Wabba said: “That principle has no place in modern industrial relations. It has its basis in military Decree 54 of 1977 (now in Section 43 of the Trade Dispute Act).

    “No government in Nigeria has ever implemented the ‘no work, no pay’ principle’ because it cannot be looked at in isolation of the factors that brought about the disputes.

    “Government cannot have a solid collective bargaining engagement and renege on the agreements. Then, turn back to say it wants to apply the ‘no work, no pay’ principle. Such contradiction is strange to justice and cannot stand.”

    On the widening inequality between the rich and the poor in Nigeria, the NLC president queried: “If we are the leading economy in Africa, why should Nigerian workers be receiving the lowest wages in the continent?”

    He said Nigerian workers and pensioners are the most impoverished in the world. “It is another contradiction in our system. If there is abundance in the nation, the workers and their families should have a taste and feel of it as well,” he said.

    Wabba assured workers that his elevation meant more work, more action, more challenges, and more proactive steps in the promotion and protection of the interest of Nigerian workers

    “Initially we were alone, but now we have alliance in over 163 countries with a total of 207 million members that we can give instructions and they will mobilise in unity and solidarity with the Nigerian workers, who are the most underpaid globally even in the midst of our abundance,” he said.

  • ILO: Most countries are losing productive workforce

    The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has said some countries of origin are losing the most productive part of their workforce, as migrant workers hit 164 million, from 150 million in 2013.

    The ILO estimates that 164 million people are migrant workers, a nine per cent rise since 2013.

    According to the second edition of the ILO’s “Global Estimates on International Migrant Workers”, which covered 2013 and 2017, the majority of migrant workers – 96 million – are men, while 68 million are women.

    This, the report said, represented an increase in the share of men among migrant workers, from 56 per cent to 58 per cent, and a decrease by two per cent points in women’s share, from 44 per cent to 42 per cent.

    Director, ILO’s Conditions of Work and Equality Department, Manuela Tomei, said:“While a growing number of women have been migrating autonomously in search of employment in the past two decades, the discrimination they often face because of their gender and nationality, has reduced their employment opportunities in destination countries compared to their male peers.”

    The report stated that nearly 87 per cent of migrant workers are of prime working age, between 25 and 64 years old thus, suggesting that some countries of origin are losing the most productive segment of their workforce.

  • We won’t go on strike, PENGASSAN, NUPENG assure

    The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has said its members would not go on strike.

    Depot owners had threatened to shut down services over issues bordering on non-payment of outstanding subsidy claims.

    The statement by the union came at a time many Nigerians have braced themselves for the usual end of the year scarcity associated with petroleum products in the country.

    But, in a statement signed by PENGASSAN President, Comrade Francis Johnson, the union noted that after series of engagements with government representatives and marketers, coupled with the on-going meetings, consultations and negotiations between the government and oil marketers, they have been assured by the government that the first part of the debt payment will be made not later than December 14, 2018.

    “With this commitment and firm assurance from the government representatives, we have resolved to hold down on taking any action on the issues to allow government fulfil its pledge,” Johnson said.

    While assuring Nigerians that the decision was in the best interest of the nation, the industry as well as job security of its members, the union urged the public to refrain from panic buying or stock piling of petroleum products.

    “Our resolve and decision are purely nationalistic, patriotic and in the overall interest of our great country and we plead for understanding of the general public and all parties in this matter,’’ Johnson said.

    Also, the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) President, Comrade Williams Akporeha, has urged his members to remain calm and continue to provide their services as required always.

    The union leader assured his members and the public that the decision was based on upholding the overall interest of the nation, the industry as well as job security of its members. He urged the public to refrain from panic buying or stockpiling of petroleum products.

    Read also: FMC doctors threaten strike over kidnapping

    Speaking to newsmen after meeting with officials of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and oil marketers’ representatives, Akporeha said they had intervened in the crisis to protect the interest of its members, and that of the country.

    Saying if the subsidy debt issue was not resolved amicably, it might lead to the sack of its members by the oil marketers, Akporeha, however, cautioned its members against joining any strike action not called by the leadership of the unions.

    “Our members should note that until they hear from us, everybody should continue to do their work. If anybody goes against our directive, there are consequences; there are procedures for sanctions,” he said.

    Akporeha assured Nigerians that there would be an unhindered distribution of petroleum products during the yuletide, as its members will not embark on any strike.

  • PTAD pays N6.3b to parastatals, pensioners

    No less than N6.3 billion has been paid to parastatals and civil service pensioners by the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD).

    The amount, being six months arrears, is a 33 per cent pension increment, which covers 101,393 civil service pensioners on all grade levels and 76,310 parastatals pensioners across 186 agencies.

    PTAD Executive Secretary,  Sharon Ikeazor, who made this known in Abuja, during the week, noted that pensioners’ welfare was a priority for the present administration.

    The PTAD had earlier settled the inherited backlog of the 33 per cent pension arrears of the Customs, Immigration and Prisons as well as Police pensioners in 2016 and 2018.