The Nation Newspaper

Category: Labour

  • SMEs engine of growth, says group

    The Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) has identified Small and Growing Businesses (SGBs) in emerging markets as key drivers of the economy.

    The group said it is committed to supporting emerging market entrepreneurship because small and growing businesses could bridge the gaps of emerging economies, especially in Nigeria.

    As part of its objectives to identify relevant ecosystem actors in various cities, ANDE, with support from the Department for International Development (DFID), is mapping the entrepreneurial ecosystems in Ibadan and Port Harcourt.

    This is to understand the gaps and opportunities peculiar to the cities that can be addressed through specific interventions.

    To achieve this, survey distribution and stakeholder feedback meetings have been adopted to get detailed information required to map the Ibadan and Port Harcourt entrepreneurial ecosystems.

    According to a statement made available to reporters at the end of the stakeholders’ meeting, the meetings in Ibadan and Port Harcourt brought together capacity development providers, business development support and government officials in the two cities.

    The participants were presented with the initial findings from the ecosystem survey; they expressed their opinions on the status.

    Poor business skills among SGBs, low levels of philanthropy, low levels of collaboration between actors, concentration on the oil and gas sectors and negligence of other sectors, among other things, were identified by the stakeholders as the key challenges of the SGBs’ support organisations in the Port Harcourt entrepreneurship ecosystem.

     

  • Labour: policemen protest shameful

    United Labour Congress of Nigeria (ULC)  has condemned  the protest by policemen maintaining security in Borno State over unpaid benefits.It described the action  as a shame. and the height of insensitivity by the police authorities.

    The group made this known in a statement, demanding  a review of the law banning  the police  and  Customs and Immigration and the other  security agencies from joining a trade union.

    The  statement by ULC  President, Joe Ajaero, said: “We are worried that in these critical times when we are grappling with severe security challenges that those who we have entrusted our national security in their hands are being owed months in salaries.

    “How do we expect those who bear arms to have the needed confidence and commitment to protect the citizenry? This may explain the spate of accidental discharges and crimes committed by men in uniform.

    “ULC, therefore, demands a review of the law banning Police officers, Customs and Immigration and other men and officers of the various security agencies from joining the trade union movement.

    “It is only the unions that can speak on behalf of these denied and deprived Police officers and this is the danger which the refusal to allow them exercise their rights as Nigerian workers exposes the country to.”

    Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) President, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama expressed shock on hearing about the protest.

    He said: “If what we read in the dailies and saw on the televisions are anything to go by, we consider it unfair and inconsiderate on the part of leadership to deny security officers who have left their families to stake their lives for our peace and security.

    “It is unfortunate that our country has become notorious with everything that hinders growth and development. In saner climes, the welfare of security operatives are not taken for granted.

    “The reverse is the case here. An unpaid armed officer is a danger to himself, family, community and the society at large. It demeans us as a country that our security officers buy their uniform, shoes and other accessories. They do not have even decent accommodation. When you deny them six months allowances what then will motivate them in the war front?”

     

  • Aspirant against proposed airport concession

    A Presidential aspirant for the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Comrade Paul Igene, has said the proposed concession of the five major airports will not see the light of the day.

    He said concession was an ill- wind that would blow no one any good.

    Speaking with reporters in Lagos, Igene said, if elected, he would ensure that the concession was jettisoned by the government.

    According to him, the welfare of the aviation workers is paramount to him as workers well motivated will be productive and their morale boosted.

    He noted that in view of his experience as having served in various capacities as Deputy President NUATE, state council chairman, Branch chairman NUATE, he was aware of the challenges being faced by workers in their various organisations.

    He promised to encourage professionalism and ensure that administrative processes in the national secretariat was up to acceptable standards.

    He said the issue of the land of the National secretariat in Lagos, bought many years ago, when he served as Deputy President, would be revisited, adding that the National secretariat in Kano that caught fire would be renovated.

     

  • Wabba: unemployment major contributor to poverty

    The inability of the  political class to tame unemployment has not only led to a steady rise in social vices, it has made the country to become one with many poor people, President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, has said.

    He accused the country’s political leaders of not doing enough to create jobs that could put poverty at bay.

    He lamented the inability of the ruling class to fashion out policies that can drive sustainable development.

    He said: “Other groups and other countries have continued to manipulate our policies. We cannot on our own fashion out policies that can change our situation.”

    He argued that with the resources that God has given to Nigeria, there is no excuse for not succeeding in endeavours that other nations had made remarkable progress.

    Wabba said: “What is happening in our country is an unfortunate one because we have more than resources to develop our country. How we cannot take the huge advantage that our population has given to us is a mystery. I think that leadership challenge is the greatest problem we have as a nation. We are incapable of developing and implementing policies that can propel economic prosperity. Sometimes, I am tempted to ask what the problem is with the black man. There is virtually no African country that has peace and there is no way we can achieve development where there is no peace. Nigeria is assuming the capital of poverty of the world is worrisome and a position we should not be in in the first place.”

    Wabba lamented that the poor and non-regular payment of salaries to workers are formidable factors that are driving the growth of poverty in the country.

    The NLC helmsman, who alleged that about 350 Nigerians took loans of about N5.8trillion, which is haemorrhaging the economy,  called for the prosecution of the culprits.

    He said: “In the United States  that allowed bailout fund to rejig its economy, those that benefited from that largese have since paid back.

    “Why are those who took loans to revive their businesses not paying back? While we call for the repatriation of the money, they should also be prosecuted.”

    For Wabba, poverty would continue to ravage the continent until genuine peace was achieved and drum of war silenced.

     

  • ‘Skills development among youths ’ll promote job creation’

    Consumers Protection Council (CPC) Director-General Mr Babatunde Irukera has stressed the need to train youths in specialised skills.

    He said this would accelerate job creation and reduce skills gap through the mobilisation of investments between the public and private sectors.

    Speaking during the maiden edition of the Progressive Minds Forum (PMF) in Lagos, he advised youths to refrain from cyber crimes and deploy their creative energy to productive ventures.

    “Never in our history were fraud or any form of criminal activity celebrated as they are being daily celebrated today.

    “It is no longer a secret that the preponderance of Nigerian youths think that the quickest and easiest route to wealth is the infamous ‘yahoo yahoo’,” Irukera added.

    The CPC chief urged the youth  to explore their talents in the best possible ways they could rather than blaming all the problems on the environment.

    He said the forum, comprising a group of professionals, discovered that the myriad challenges facing the country began with negative mindsets that people had from young age.

    He called on youths to develop their talents for the benefit of the society positively.

    He said a country’s approach to innovations and creativity would determine how far it could grow, adding that the right mindset to such growth was to think through the nation’s talents.

    PMF Chief Coordinator, Mrs Omotayo Gbajabiamila-Olamona said  the country would get quality delivery from youths when they were prodded in the right direction.

    Gbajabiamila-Olamona said investment in infrastructure, without same in human capacity, would not make the country to get expected successful result.

  • Fed Govt to implement ratified ILO conventions

    The  Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, has promised that the administration  will all ratified International Labour Organisation’s (ILO’s) conventions will be implemented.

    Ngige gave the assurance in his Abuja office when he received a team of experts on a working visit from the ILO.

    He said: “It is important to express our efforts at aligning our labour laws with the contemporary issues in labour administration and in the spirit of ILO convention to which we are a signatory. In this regard, efforts are being made to fast-track the passage of the outstanding labour laws by the National Assembly with necessary review and amendment in tandem with development in International Labour Standards and the dynamics in Nigeria labour administration system, policies and practices.

    “To ensure that progress is made in updating the outstanding labour bills, officials of the Ministry of Labour and Employment recently undertook in-house validation meeting to effect corrections and inputs made during the tripartite meeting and prepare the bills for further scrutiny, validation and consensus building by all stakeholders. I want to assure you that we will again re-energise the various departments so we can speed up on the revalidation of the bills to see the one we can again get into law.”

    Ngige said Nigeria was one of the frontline member-states of ILO, having been elected into its governing board as a government representative, workers’ representatives and employers’ representative; hence, it cannot be seen to be lagging behind.

    “I want to assure you that with the technical assistance you have rendered, we will work diligently to ensure that we render outstanding reports in September as stipulated; we will do so and I want to assure you that we will not fail,” he assured.

    Earlier, the ILO team leader, Mr. David Dakenoo Kwabla, said the they came at the invitation of the Federal Government to come and build capacity for the ministry andother relevant stakeholders in the country. This is to enable the government to fulfill its obligation on the reporting on international labour standards.

    He stated that for the past two days, there had been an intensive training programme for both the ministry and other relevant stakeholders, such as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA).

  • Union kicks over SON’s rejection of election result

    A major industrial crisis is brewing at the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) following the management’s rejection of the  union election. It called for its cancellation and a fresh election.

    The management, it was gathered, was transferring the newly elected union officials and other vocal union members out of the headquarters in contravention of labour laws.

    The management, in a letter addressed to the FCT Council of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), signed by the Director, Human Resource Management, Usman Abdulkadir, said the conduct of the union election violated the rules for the conduct of such an election.

    The letter dated  June 14, this year said the management was rejecting the outcome of the election because it violates the rules of displaying posters and fliers and the nomination of a candidate on the floor of the election, after the closure of nomination among other actions by the contestants.

    Responding, the union’s General Secretary, Yusuf Lekke Zambuk told the management that since union election was not within the purview of management, the union was not obliged to honour its request, pointing out that the election was legally conducted.

     

  • PENGASSAN warns investors against Petrobras’ asset

    The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has warned the investing publics against purchasing any assets of the Petrobras Nigeria Limited.

    According to the senior staff trade union, Petrobras management had shown lack of respect  for the association as a viable stakeholder in the industry.

    In a letter signed by its General Secretary, Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa, major industry agencies, such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), related Federal Government agencies, including but not limited to the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), International Oil Companies (IOCs) and banks have been notified of the risks in buying Petrobras assets.

    PENGASSAN alleged that the company was involved in anti-union practices, such as severance of workers without due process, refusal to settle severed workers’benefits and abuse of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

    “The general public is hereby notified of the following practices by Petrobras Nigeria Limited in relation to PENGASSAN: Lack of respect and regard of the Association as a viable stakeholder in the Industry;unceremonious severance of our members in 2013 and 2015 respectively, following the unannounced divestment of 2013,without due settlement of their benefits; continued unilateral interpretation, and abuse of the extant Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in relation to our members severance benefits.

     

     

  • Pay our 36 months arrears, steel pensioners tell Fed Govt

    About 2,000 retirees of the Federal Government Inland Steel Rolling Mills, comprising Osogbo, Katsina and Jos, have appealed to the Federal Government to settle their 36 months arrears of pension owed them.

    The arrears cover January 2011 to December 2013, according to a statement endorsed by Comrade Rotimi Aiyedun and Alhaji Fatai Oladepo, chairman and secretary of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (Osogbo Steel Sectoral Group).

    The union also appealed to the government to settle the pension of its late members whose next of kins (NoKs) have completed and submitted relevant documents to the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) since November 2016.

    They lamented that non-payment of their pension arrears had caused untold hardship to their families  with someof them dying because of lack of money to take care of themselves or buy necessary drugs.

    The retirees said  they were happy in November 2016 when the NoKs of the deceased pensioners were invited to submit relevant documents, including Letters of Administration to Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate in Abuja. They, however, lamented that the hope was dashed when no money came from the government.

    “Sadly enough, some of the NoKs obtained loans to process their letters of administration through lawyers and their transportation with accommodation in Abuja for the verification in November 2016 with the hope of settling them in a short while.

    “We also wish to recall that after the nationwide biometric verification of 2016 and 2017 of all federal pensioners, we all believed that payment would come shortly after as promised by the Executive Secretary of  PTAD.

    “This prompted some of our members to obtain loans from different sources to settle their critical needs, including rents and school fees. By now, the accrued interest have almost consumed their anticipated arrears.”

    The pensioners lamented that more than 50 of its members across the three Rolling Mills  have died in the last two years as a result of inadequate medical care due to lack of fund while some of the children of the deceased had since dropped out of school due to lack of fund to continue with their education.

    The pensioners, however, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the regular payment of pension through PTAD since he assumed office.

  • ITF to train 13,000 youths on skills

    THE Industrial Training Fund (ITF) is set to train 13,000 Nigerians across the country in 11 vocational skills.

    This is in line with its renewed effort to equip Nigerians with skills in accordance with its mandate and ensure the achievement of Federal Government’s policy on job/wealth creation.

    Its Director-General/Chief Executive, Sir Joseph Ari, who declared 2018 as a year of delivery, said the implementation of the programmes will start on various dates between July and August and end in November.

    Ari, who was addressing a meeting of Area Managers of ITF Area Offices and Managers of the Fund’s Training Centres at the ITF Centre for Excellence, Bukuru – Jos, explained that the declaration was informed by the growing realisation that accelerated skills acquisition was the only way to address rampant unemployment, especially among the youth.

    He said governments all over the world have turned to skills acquisition, which is the universal currency of the 21st century, to arm their citizenry with skills for employability and growth.

    The DG listed the skills programmes billed for implementation to include the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP), the Women Skills Empowerment Programme (WOSEP), Skills Training and Empowerment Programme for the Physically Challenged (STEPC), Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, and Designing and Garment Making.

    Within the same period, he said five other training programmes, including Post-Harvest Techniques and Product Development, Aqua-Culture/Fish Farming, Manure Production, Crop Production/Greenhouse Technology and Poultry Farming, that are aimed at equipping  farmers with the requisite skills for improved farm yield will be implemented using the Galilee International Management Institute (GIMI) Model.

    Ari said: “The emphasis on skills for the agricultural sector was informed by the fact that it is the occupation of majority of Nigerians and a key component of the economic diversification agenda of the Federal Government.”