The Nation Newspaper

Category: Labour

  • Decent Work Day: ASSBIFI calls for job security

    The President, Association of Senior Staff of Bank, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI), Comrade Oyinkan Olasanoye, has reiterated the association’s commitment to fighting for the right of workers to ensure a conducive work environment and respect for core labour standards.

    Olasanoye, who made the call while presenting her speech during the 2018 World Decent Day workshop with the theme: “Change the Rules”, organised by the association in Lagos, said freedom of association, right to organise and bargain collectively, meaningful remuneration and non-discrimination in employment were important in the workplace.

    According to her, work can only be decent, when workers are valued to create value jobs.

    She noted that the struggle to continually alert the employers on decent work place was most essential despite the ratification of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions that dealt with right of workers.

    “We are still witnessing all manner of indecent treatment in the workplace. More and more demands are placed on workers while simultaneously facing ever growing threats to their pay, condition of work and safety, “she said.

    Comrade Olasanoye explained that it was high time organisations stopped believing that lack of decent job was as a result of globalisation or modern economy, rather indecent job were decisions some made for their benefits at the expense of the vast majority of the workers.

    She said that few conglomerates and individuals continued to amass the riches to appear the general populace.

    “This is why as noted by the ITUC General Secretary, Sharan Borrow, ‘the rules are stacked against working people and we have unprecedented and destructive levels of economic inequality and insecurity,’” she said.

    She said decent work must be at the centre of the workplace and for workers to bring back the economy and build a financial sector that would be the pride of the country.

     

     

     

  • Union: precarious work erodes basic workers’ rights

    The Industrial Global Union Federation (IGUF) Nigeria National Council, the world umbrella body of labour union, has lamented the precarious work as companies are replacing full- time workforce with temporary, casual, outsourced and contract workers at a frightening rate.

    The National President, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, an arm of IGUF, Comrade Akporeha Williams, stated this in Lagos as the union marked the World Decent Day.

    William noted that precarious work has led to increasing erosion of basic workers’ rights such as freedom of association and collective bargaining, stressing that the use of casual workers has depleted membership and capacity to organise all sectors, including the oil and gas, chemical and non-metallic, steel and engineering, electricity and textile.

    He pointed out that Mikano Nigeria Limited, Iron Product Industry Limited and others refused to recognise the union, in a bid to continue to perpetrate unfair labour practices – rendering over a thousand employees as casuals and contract staff.

    He stated; “Casual, out-sourced and contract workers are not protected and are exposed to all kinds of abuse, unfair and unjust practices, which are as follows; unspecified hours of work, low wages, denial or short payment of overtime, denial of sick leave and payment of sick leave, denial of annual leave and maternity leave, job insecurity, lack redundancy benefits, poor health and safety condition, non-payment of compensation for injuries sustained at work, arbitrary deductions and non-remittance of pension contributions and taxes, and denial of workers right of joining the union and collective bargaining amongst others.”

    He regretted that four years after privatisation of the PHCN, Egbin Power Plc, Ikeja DisCo, Enugu and Benin refused to sign and implement conditions of service for workers, negotiated over four years ago, stessing that distribution companies engaged in arbitrary lay-off of workers without laid down procedures.

    Williams noted that the Chinese employer in SINO PP Woven Sack in Kano where Textile Union has strived since 2003 was yet to respect the judgment of the National Industrial Court (NIC).

    The National President, National Union of  Chemical , Footwear, Rubber and Non-Metallic Product Employees (NUCFRLANMPE),  Comrade Olatunji Babatunde, said there was a huge cap between ideals and reality in the various sectors in the workforce.

    Babatunde said in his address on the World Decent Day in Lagos that employers hide behind what they call the ‘core’value of their business to casualise over 70 percent of their workforce through outsourcing and contract employment.

    He disclosed that the chemical and non-metallic sector and other industries were denying the union the right to organise.

     

  • NUBIFIE seeks support to tackle sector’s crises

    The lingering internal crisis rocking the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institution Employees (NUBIFIE) has been resolved.

    The union also sought the support of relevant stakeholders to tackle the numerous challenges in the sector.

    At a brief handing over ceremony at the union’s secretariat in Lagos, where the past president, Danjuma Musa handed over to the new executives, headed by Anthony Abakpa, the union announced that having reconciled its differences, it has resolved and determined to carry out its responsibilities of protecting the interest and general welfare of workers in the industry.

    In tackling some of the challenges in the industry, the recent policy by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), supposedly intended to strengthen the industry and protect the insuring public, NUBIFIE called on NAICOM to take another look at the policy with a view to reviewing it to address public concerns and apprehensions regarding the policy.

    The union, who described the policy as discriminatory and restrictive of choice, said it undermines level playing ground capable of driving aground many insurance companies, noting that it was not good for an under-insured economy like Nigeria.

    Musa said: “The new policy by NAICOM, categorizing insurance firms into tiers 1, 2 and 3 would throw the industry into chaos, which may lead to the collapse of many insurance companies.”

    Similarly, they also called on the management of Polaris Bank to take advantage of the already established relationship it has with the union, taking into cognizance the number of years spent in the defunct Syke Bank and incorporate into the system.

    The new president, Abakpa, who commended the members for their co-operation during its national delegate conference, promised to put in his best to move the union to greater heights.

     

  • ‘Disburse N8b earned allowances to varsity staff’

    The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has urged the Federal Government to disburse the N8 billion approved for the payment of earned allowances to non-teaching staff in universities

    It wants the money to be disbursed to the members of the three non-teaching staff unions in universities and the inter-university centres.

    Its National President, Comrade Chris Ani, stated this at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the union in Abuja.

    Ani also urged the Federal Government to address the issue of Peculiarity Allowances for workers in polytechnics, colleges of education, teaching hospitals and research institutes.

    He said: “We urge the government to put an end to the issue of payment of Earned Allowances by ensuring that henceforth the allowance is paid monthly and provision is made for the allowance in the 2019 budget. We also call on the government to put an end to the issue of payment of salaries in percentage to staff of universities in line with the MoU entered into with the three non-teaching staff unions in the sector.”

  • ‘ No going back on new minimum wage’

    The President of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Comrade Biobelemoye Josiah, has said the demand for a new minimum wage is a necessity due to economic policies introduced by the government, as well as market-driven forces.

    Josiah said this at a press conference recently in Abuja.

    He noted that under the present administration, the pump price of petroleum products had been increased, the currency devalued with consequential effect on workers and the citizenry, as well as unbearable electricity tariffs, which had led to rising cost of living.

    “Sadly too, we are yet to feel the effect of government’s promise to mitigate these hardships; even with the setting up of a palliative committee to fashion out mitigatory strategy, policies and programmes to cushion the vagaries of its policies,” he said.

  • NSITF spends N835m on injured workers 

    Workers injured at work have received about N835 million from the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) under its Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS).

    The Managing Director of the Fund, Adebayo Somefun, who disclosed this in Abuja, at the on-going Abuja International Trade Fair, said NSITF paid N203 million as medical refund, while N261 million was paid out for death benefits, disability beneficiaries got N74 million and N8 million was paid for loss of productivity for employers.

    He said the ECS covers injuries, mental stress, occupational diseases, hearing impairment, permanent or temporary disability and even vocational rehabilitation as well as benefits of deceased employees whose families’ fortunes are upheld even after the passing away of their bread winners.

    He argued that the social security scheme has served as an incentive for enhanced productivity and economic development as Nigerian workers are assured of a guaranteed livelihood.

    The NSITF boss added that the Fund procured 42 artificial limbs for workers who lost their limbs while carrying out their duties at work.

    “It would interest you to know that the 42 beneficiaries of the artificial limbs/parts are currently being fitted and trained on how to move on with their lives as we speak,” Somefun said.

    Somefun stressed that another 298 injured employees were on monthly or periodic payment, saying, “those on periodic payments are employees still in their productive years of 55 and below who are no longer functioning effectively because of workplace/related injuries. 20 persons above the age of 55 years have been paid lump sums on a once-off basis.”

    He further explained that in order to cushion the burden on families of deceased employees who died in the course of work, the Fund has paid 41 lump sums for accidents/diseases resulting in death of the employees and is currently paying 226 families monthly benefits, one of which receives N1.5 million monthly.

     

    also emphasises that failure to do so amounts to a breach of the law,” he said.

     

     

  • ASSBIFI hails CBN on Skye Bank

    The Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) has hailed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for revoking Skye Bank’s licence.

    The union said the N786 billion injected into the bank,  which has been renamed Polaris Bank, was a bold move at ensuring soundness and efficiency of the banking sector. It added that the bank’s sale process be done under best practices.

    ASSBIFI National President Comrade Oyinkan Olasanoye stated this while briefing reporters in Lagos. She said there was no need for panic by the public, customers and workers of the bank.

    Olasanoye noted that as at today, Polaris Bank has a clean balance sheet as it carries no toxic assets in its new balance sheet. “The Bank is well positioned to meet its obligations to all its numerous customers,” she said.

    She advised the bank’s numerous customers to continue to do business with the bank as there is no cause for alarm.

    Olasanoye said ASSBIFI, as a strategic partner in the banking sector, will study the purchase and assumption agreement, which established Polaris Bank and engage the management of the new bank in concrete discussions aimed at ensuring the realisation of its vision, goals and objectives.

    She said the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) should be allowed to undertake the sale exercise without undue interference from greedy party patrons and ensure that the exercise does not go the way of Mainstreet Bank, which was clandestinely sold to the defunct Skye Bank.

    The president advised that only healthy financial institutions with very clean balance sheets, which will add great value to Polaris Bank should be made to participate in the exercise and the best among them made to pay.

     

  • ‘Labour has shown enough patience on minimum wage’

    The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) has said the organised labour has exhibited the highest level of civility, patience and respect for due process in the  quest for a national minimum wage.

    It declared that the demand for an increase in the minimum wage and the nationwide strike declared by labour to achieve it was justified by all economic indices.

    Speaking to reporters in Abuja, MHWUN President Comrade Biobelemoye said: “Permit us to restate at this juncture that the justification for a new minimum wage cannot be overemphasised, while all the indices that justify wage increase have either been introduced by the government or market-driven forces have propelled their emergence.

    “Under this administration, the pump price of petroleum products have been increased; the currency has been devalued with consequential effects on workers and the citizenry. We have unbearable electricity tariffs, punitive exchange rate and hyper inflation, all of which have led to a rising cost of living for workers and other Nigerians.

    “Sadly too, we are yet to feel the impacts of government’s promise to mitigate these hardships even with the setting up of a palliatives committee to fashion out strategy, policies and programmes to cushion the vagaries of its policies,” he said.

    According to Biobelemoye, the government’s disregard for collective bargaining agreement reached with workers has earned it the toga of an administration that has no regard for the welfare of workers.

    He made reference to the crisis in the health sector and how the government has, till today, failed to respect all the agreements reached with health workers.

     

  • Non-academic staff seek unification of labour centres

    The Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Associated Institutions (NASU) has urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to lead the process of making organised labour one indivisible entity.

    NASU President Chris Ani, who spoke in Abuja at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the union, argued that a strong and virile unified labour centre would be in a position to champion better condition of service for workers.

    “We strongly believe in the unification of all labour centres into one strong and virile labour centre that will be able to deliver on the mandate of Nigerian workers. We urge the NLC to take the driver’s seat in the effort for the unification of the labour centres in Nigeria into one formidable united front,” Ani said.

    Calling on states to implement the peculiarity allowance to non-teaching staff employed in primary and post-primary educational boards, he urged its members to mobilise against state governors that are not sympathetic to workers’ welfare.

    Ani said: “NASU members in primary, post-primary and technical education boards across the length and breadth of Nigeria have suffered tremendous hardship as a result of the refusal of some state governments to accord the payment of salaries the priority it deserves.”

    Commending the affected NASU members for their resilience and perseverance, he urged members, who have been negatively affected by non-payment of salaries in some states, to ensure that they joined other workers in their states to vote out such governors and their parties in the forthcoming election.

    According to Ani, this is to replace them with those who will treat the payment of salaries as a priority. “NASU members are, therefore, advised to use their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) wisely as any attempt to return these insensitive politicians will amount to voting for continuous hunger and non-payment of salaries for another four years,” he added.

    The union commended the government for inaugurating renegotiation committees for the polytechnics and colleges of education, but expressed disappointment at the committees, which have failed to meet since inauguration.

    NASU President lauded the government for approving additional N8 billion for the payment of earned allowances to non-teaching staff in the universities. He urged the Federal Ministry of Education to facilitate the process of fund disbursement to members of the three unions in the universities and inter-university centres as soon as possible.

    The union admonished the government to put an end to non-payment of earned allowances by ensuring that henceforth the allowances are paid monthly and provision made for the allowances in the 2019 budget.

    NASU also called on government to put an end to the payment of salaries in percentages to staff of universities in line with the memorandum of understanding entered into with the three non-teaching unions in the education sector.

    The union described as appalling the nonchalant attitude of the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbe and other Ministers whose ministries supervise research institutions in the country.

    It added: “The lukewarm attitude shown by them on issues bothering on the welfare and conditions of service of staff of the sector does not indicate that they are interested in research and development of the country.

     

     

  • NLC: workers’ welfare should be priority

    The Bayelsa State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Federal and state governments to make workers’welfare top priority in their efforts to promote good governance across the country.

    Speaking with reporters in Yenagoa, the state capital, NLC Chairman, Mr. John Ndiomu, reiterated the importance of workers to nation building.

    Ndiomu, who described workers as the “engine room of the economy” of a nation, said regular improvement of workers’ welfare packages was necessary to enable them overcome economic hardship.

    On the recent protest by workers for the new minimum wage, he said: “We, however, call on the governments at all levels to listen to the cries of workers.

    “Imagine a situation in 2011, when workers were receiving N18,000 and look at the imbalance between 2011 and 2018, where workers still earn the same.

    “So, let us compare it. What was the cost of a bag of rice in 2011 and what is obtainable in the market?’’