The Nation Newspaper

Category: Labour

  • Kano NLC urges governors to cut cost of governance

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Kano State chapter, has urged governors to reduce spending, cost of governance and stop lamenting about the proposed N30,000 new national minimum wage.

    Speaking while inaugurating the NLC executives for the 44 local government areas of the state, Chairman, NLC Kano State Chapter, Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibir, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to over-rule non progressive governors to pass the tripartite committee recommendation to the legislature for action.

    He faulted claims by some governors that  they would not be able to pay N30,000 to their workers, blaming their reckless spending on governance and extravagant lifestyle as the major problem.

    He said N30,000 is not a living wage for a Nigerian worker, given the prevailing economic situation, and appealed to the President to use his prerogative powers to bring the lingering crises to an end.

    He, however, commended Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State for his willingness to pay N30,600 as new minimum wage to workers in the state.

    Governor Ganduje, who was represented by the Head of Civil Service, Alhaji Auwal Mohammed Na’iya, while congratulating the new executives, promised to continue to work in harmony with the labour oragnisations in the state for the benefit of the workers.

  • NULGE: governors frustrating plans for local govt autonomy

    The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has accused the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) of frustrating plans for financial autonomy for local government.

    The union said at its 40th anniversary celebration in Abuja that the governors were opposing the passage of the council autonomy Bill. The forum, “it said, was doing everything to truncate the people’s will on the matter.

    The union’s President, Ibrahim Khaleel, said the leadership of the union had directed their members at the state level to mobilise towards ensuring that opposing governors were voted out during the 2019 governorship elections.

    According to him, after the National Assembly approved local government autonomy and passed to states assemblies to also perform their constitutional role, 12 states approved the provision and passed it.

    He, however, regretted that as soon as the Governors Forum realised that the states were passing the bill, it intervened and summoned a meeting with Speakers of the state assemblies.

    He pointed out that the bill was  alive, adding that the union is strategising anew to ensure its passage soon. Part of what we are expecting to achieve tomorrow by bringing our membership from all the 774 local governments under one roof, look at our journey so far, our challenges and the way forward certainly is to have a fresh mandate, fresh resolution and eject more energy into our struggle to see how we can engage politicians across the board on how to achieve this even before 2019 election and we believe strongly that this struggle is achievable because the bill is alive at the state Assembly.

    “So, what we need is strong push and more so that the bill that was transmitted along this bill that frees state assembly from financial control of the state government are already being assented to by the President.

    ‘’So, the state Assembly are free to decide and do their work as legislatures without much interference from the state governors,” he said.

    Khaleel argued the local government workers were the most discriminated class of workers.

  • NLC backs ASUU strike

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has thrown its weight behind the ongoing Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike. It said the Federal Government and many state governments had resorted to bullying and draconian threats in dealing with industrial relations.

    In a statement by its Acting President, Comrade Lawal Dutsinma, NLC said the ASUU struggle for improved conditions of learning in  public universities was not the first over which the government is issuing the “No Work … No Pay” threat.

    “During the last warning strike by the NLC on the new national minimum wage, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige issued a “No Work… No Pay” threat against workers.

    “Also, during the last nationwide strike action by health workers, the Federal Government did not only issue a “No Work… No Pay” threat, it went ahead to implement it. Till now, government still withholds about three months of salaries due to health workers.

    “The Nigeria Labour Congress considers the application of the “No Work… No Pay” rule as an autocratic attempt to cow workers into abandoning their legitimate demand for decent wages, conducive work spaces and social justice.

    “As far as we are concerned, government’s invocation of the ‘no work, no pay” clause in the Trade Disputes Act is selective, erroneous and hypocritical,” the union said.

    He said the Federal Government and nearly all the states in Nigeria are owing workers varying arrears of salaries, allowances, pension and gratuity – some running into years.

    According to him,  workers have continued to endure such profound neglect by political leaders elected to prioritise the welfare of citizens. “Given the grand betrayal of workers by government, workers stand the higher moral ground to invoke a “No Pay… No Work” action.

    “Section 43 of the Trade Disputes Act of Nigeria has always been in our statutes but successive governments had hardly ever invoked it to punish an already impoverished workforce.

    “It is sad that the current government is making a lot of fuss on just one aspect of our laws while holding in contempt several provisions in our labour laws and even our constitution demanding just and humane treatment of workers,” he said

    He said it is important to reiterate that Nigerian workers will never accept slavery in their own country, adding that the right to strike is both a human and trade union right protected by our laws and international conventions particularly ILO Convention 87.

    “|It is the right to strike that distinguishes a worker from a slave. Do we need to remind government at all levels that Nigerian workers are worthy partners in nation building and not slaves? As a matter of fact, labour builds the commonwealth that political leaders and their cronies, more often than not, squander. It is, therefore, regrettable that government continues to behave as if Nigerian workers are slaves who have no rights or privileges to claim.

    “We warn government at all levels to desist from using the “No Work… No Pay” rule to shirk away from their responsibilities. We also demand immediate release of workers’ salaries withheld on the account of “No Work… No Pay” rule. Also, we ask government to respect agreements it freely entered into with ASUU in order to restore normalcy and sanity to our public institutions of learning especially our universities. Our children have suffered enough already! Enough is enough,” he said.

  • NECA: govt’s agencies, policies killing businesses

    The Nigerian Employers Consultative Association (NECA) has stated that most government agencies and policies  do not support businesses.

    NECA said there were too many regulations by the agencies.

    Its out-going Director-General (DG), Mr. Olusegun Oshinowo, made these known during his farewell briefing at NECA’s head office in Lagos.

    Oshinowo said the agencies were not supposed to be killers of business; rather, they are supposed to be supporters of businesses.

    Oshinowo said: “The policies and the agencies are killing businesses, we do not need such agencies and policies that do not support private sector at this time and age.”

    He pointed out that infrastructure was another threat to businesses in the country, stressing that Apapa grid-lock and Agbara night-mare is a great disaster to business.

    “The issue of Apapa did not happen in one day, the government should do the needful within the shortest possible time frame. If I was a foreign investor, and having heard the history of how business owners are treated in the country, I will take my money back.

    “We are too off-headed that we allow issues to creep on us and when it happens, we will have more challenges. Insecurity did not creep on us overnight, it is because we have structural problem. There is no structure on ground for security to flourish. We have always treated the issue of security with levity. The government swept the issues of state policing under the carpet. No matter what is being done now, it is not sustainable, except we accept restructuring for states and local governments to charge of their security.” he complained.

    Oshinowo regretted that the absence of good governance is the greatest challenge facing the country, noting that governments in other countries are committed to the welfare of their citizens.

    He said: “Any government that has no evidence to show that it has lifted its people from poverty has no business in government. The real strength of any economy is population of those that are gainfully employed and those that are living above poverty level.”

    Speaking on NECA objectives, he said that the association has over the years focused on the capacity training of youths, workers and women for the industrial sector of the  economy.

    His words: “We are involved in vocational and technical skills training as well as manpower development. We have today shown interest in the safety of employees in work places.”

    He regretted that Nigerian government does not see advocacy as a right for engagement with the private sector, saying that in countries like South Africa, it is a legal issue, such that when government fails to engage in advocacy with the private sector, it would be charged to court.

  • Wabba elected ITUC president

    The President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Philibus Wabba, has been elected President of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) in Copenhagen, Denmark.

    ITUC is the largest trade union federation in the world. It was formed on Novemeber 1, 2006, after the merger of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and the World Confederation of Labour in Vienna, Austria.

    ITUC represents 207 million workers across the globe with 331 labour centres in 163 countries.

    Wabba is the first African to be elected ITUC President.

  • Fed Govt decries deficiencies in civil service

    The Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, has decried the deficits in human capital building and development in the Civil Service, saying there is need for correction.

    She spoke in Abuja at the opening  of a training programme on Protocol Procedures for Official and Public Functions.

    Oyo-Ita, represented by the Director, Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), in her office, Mrs Anne Attah, said the training was organised to educate participants on Protocol Procedure for Official Functions and to learn best practices in image making.

    Seventy participants across the Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) attended the training as the pilot batch.

    “At the bedrock of implementing the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan is the issue of capacity building as human capital is the greatest resource the country has, even above oil. The civil service over the years has been faced with capacity deficit and I am afraid it may get worse if the challenge was not diligently tackled.

    ”As protocol officers you are also the image makers of the service and country. A little slip in protocol application and etiquette can become a monumental national embarrassment.

    ”As the popular maxim goes: ‘If you don’t train them, don’t blame them.’ I am happy the process of discharging our own part by delivering training has started with this batch,” she said.

    She warned the participants to make the best use of t mhe training as they would be held accountable for any slip after the programme.

    NOLKIN Consulting Executive Director,  Ambassador Akin Oyateru, said the training was aimed at restoring the lost glory in protocol procedure.

    Oyateru, who facilitated the training, added that over the years, some deficiencies had been noticed in protocol practice hence the need to bridge that gap.

    ”Protocol was an essential image making tool and a mechanism through which an organisation was presented to the world and trainings were the hall mark of any successful civil service,” he said.

    In a related event, the new Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Dr. Tukur Bello Ingawa and 12 new commissioners have assumed duty in Abuja.

    He took over from Dr. Chimaobi Odunze, the commissioner in charge of Imo and Abia states, who had been acting after the expiration of the tenure of Deaconess Ayo Joan.

    Ingawa promised a lasting legacy.

    According to him, he promote to make the commission a better place. He called for the cooperation of every one to enable him succeed.

    The Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations of the commission, Dr Joel Oruche, stated in a statement, that the new chairman was accompanied to the office by some retired Permanent Secretaries of Ingawa.

  • Ministry demands improved funding

    The Ministry of Labour and Employment has requested for more funds and improved budgetary allocation to fund its programmes and activities, which are very vital to economic development and growth of the country.

    The ministry made the request as the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Prof. Stephen Ocheni, declared that the Federal Government was poised to get many youths out of unemployment.

    Ocheni, who spoke during an oversight visit of the House of Representatives Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity to the ministry, said the ministry required additional funds to carry out its activities and programmes.

    He said the ministry’s activities were necessary for efficient economic growth of the country as they affect the most important factors of production, which are human resources. He added that the ministry needed to play greater roles in the development of skills for the teeming workforce.

    Ocheni pointed out that to effectively carry out its mandate, the ministry requires improved funding of its programmes and activities through improved budgetary appropriation.

    “I would like to use this opportunity to advocate for improved budgetary allocation when the time comes. The main focus of this ministry in line with the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (GRGP) of the present administration was to get as many people as possible out of unemployment.

    We are also focused on creating a conducive environment for the promotion of enterprise and decent work for citizens, while maintaining harmonious working relationship between the workers, unions and employers in workplaces nationwide,” he said.

     

     

    In his address, the Chairman, House Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity, Hon. Francis Ezenwa, stated that the committee was in the ministry for oversight visit and to see what the ministry has done so far on appropriation, and the progress made on its mandate.

     

  • Why we are against privatisation, by NLC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said it is against the privatisation of public enterprises.

    It said attempts by the Federal Government to sell public assets, would deny ordinary Nigerians access to services such as power, health and education, as they  would be out of reach of the citizenry.

    Speaking at its 17th Harmattan School for members in Abuja, NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, urged the government to adhere to global best practices as these services are considered as the fundamental rights of all citizens.

    “We still believe that these public institutions are established for public good and to serve as social service point for the fore runners. So, we say no to privatisation of public institutions and this is the position of the Public Service International, where they said all these services are not for sale,’’ Wabba said.

    While noting that no privatisation has ever worked in Nigeria, Wabba said privatisation under any guise, including Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), was not the solution to the poor performance of the public sector.

    He said more than 70 per cent of the population live below the poverty line. “In fact, a number of international economic reports forecast that despite the significant difference in our population size, Nigeria may soon overtake India as the poverty capital of the world,” Wabba added.

    According to him, the reasons for endemic poverty in Nigeria are not far-fetched. “Our economic structure does not provide the enabling space for mass industrialisation imbued with the capacity for sustainable jobs. Our public policies and consumption pattern still encourage the export of jobs and the import of poverty,” he explained.

    Wabba said unemployment rate in Nigeria increased to 18.80 per cent in the third quarter of 2017, from 16.20 per cent in the second quarter.

    According to him, unemployment has remained high with an alarming proportion of the youths jobless.

    His words: “The few that have a semblance of employment operate under very precarious conditions denoted by job insecurity, poor work conditions and gender discrimination.

    “The trend of factory closures has continued to spiral out of control, turning our once lively centres of economic productivity into worship and entertainment centres.

    “The crisis of widening unemployment in Nigeria has been exacerbated by indiscriminate sack and retrenchment of workers by some public and private employers.

    “Unfortunately, the different levels of government that should be more concerned about protecting our people are the ones leading the campaign to push more Nigerians into the unemployment market.”

  • Senior bank workers seek review of labour laws

    The Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) has called on the government to regularly review the country’s labour laws with a view to strengthening the provisions in protecting workers in the light of contemporary challenges.

    It said urgent review was needed because labour cannot rest on its oars when outsourcing and contract employment are becoming the order of the day, with consequences on organising rights; collective bargaining rights and retirement age rights, among others.

    ASSBIFI President, Oyinkan Olasanoye, who made this known at the 40th anniversary award ceremony and gala night of the union with the theme: “Our Struggles; The Gains, The Next Frontier”, said ASSBIFI was not just celebrating 40 years of existence, but celebrating having a voice in the work place.

    Olasanoye’s words: “Having a voice is not just about the functioning of our institutions; it’s about our values, our right, having a platform for dialogue, negotiating and bargaining, and understanding what we stand for. Workplace becomes easier and more productive when we speak the same language.

    “Over the years, we have presented representations that mediate among employees, and between employees/employers.

    “We have defended workers’ rights, campaigned for increased productivity, invested and managed assets for financial autonomy and partnered with policy makers, international affiliates, research centres, and other professional groups in pursuit of dignified world of work.”

    She said the next frontier is for ASSBIFI to remain a class-oriented union with active presence; a voice in the labour circle and policy intervention within and outside the shores of the country.

    The governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, said ASSBIFI has contributed to the success of the financial sector as no economy can survive without a vibrant financial sector.

    He said 40 years meant ASSBIFI has come of age after passing through challenges in the past. He said going forward, the association needs to ensure that members sharpen their skills to fit in the workforce as Artificial Intelligence (AI), technology and automation have come to stay.

    Represented by Supervisor, Banking Sector, CBN, Mrs. Omolara Fasoranti, Emefiele said the CBN will continue to support the union, which was why it aligned with the call for minimum wage increase.

     

     

    Emefiele was given the ‘Courage of Conscience Award’ for being the first managing director of a new generation bank to recognize ASSBIFI and for his contributions to the growth of the financial sector.

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was given the ‘Ace of Initiative Award’ in recognition of his prompt resolution of industrial conflict and ensuring peaceful co-existence across sectors in the socio-political economy of Lagos State.

  • Group decries workers’ poor working conditions

    The Public Service International (PSI) has decried the poor working condition with little or no salary in Nigeria.

    Its General Secretary (PSI), Rosa Pavanelli, who disclosed this during a solidarity visit to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja, said there was no excuse for any employer to deny his workers salary after such employees might have rendered their services, especially in a country like Nigeria blessed with so many natural resources.

    Pavanelli also frowned at the government’s plans to privatise the public sector, saying   it would impoverish the masses while leaving the common wealth for the few greedy elite.

    Speaking earlier, NLC President Ayuba Wabba decried the recent rejection of the proposed N30, 000 minimum wage by the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF).

    “Coming at this very late hour to talk about any figure outside N30, 000 amounts to trying to divert our attention and it is belated.

    “I think the process is very clear, as outlined in Convention 131. It’s a tripartite negotiation process and the process has ended.

    “It took one year. The process that led to agreeing on the N30, 000 minimum wage was a collective agreement and we have remained focused on that,” he said.