The Nation Newspaper

Category: Labour

  • Railway workers seek repeal of NRC Act

    The Nigeria Union of Railway workers (NUR) has called for the repeal of the Nigeria Railways Corporation (NRC) Act of 1955. The law gives the corporation the monopoly of rail transportation business. The union is praying the government to encourage private investment in the sector.

    It called for a law that would ensure a level playing field for public and private investors.

    Its President, Saidu Garba, said the union would not stop the government from selling its assets, but the sale should be done transparently in a way to address the infrastructure deficit in the sector.

    He expressed the hope that the National Council on Privatisation (NCP), which  was headed by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo would address breaches of due diligence in  NRC’s planned privatisation.

    “We have not been fortunate enough to get privatisation or concession really right in this country probably because of our policy inconsistency, corruption and lack of political will. With the hasty way railway concession is being pursued, we feel that caution should be taken.

    “We wonder why all the inventories on the entire assets of Nigerian Railways should be handed over to a preferred concessionaire whose document of expression of interest predates the newspaper advert for the bidding,” Garba said.

    The union alleged that the Ministry of Transportation (MoT) dubiously concessioned the corporation’s 3,505-kilometre narrow gauge system to the American consortium, General Electric (GE).

    Its Secretary-General, Segun Esan, in a statement, praised the government for NCP’s reconstitution, stating that the council would curtail MoT’s  excesses in concession of NRC to GE.

    It alleged that the ministry unilaterally concessioned the NRC to GE for 30 years.

    The process, said the union,  was not transparent and workers were not carried along in the exercise.

    The NUR called on Prof Osinbajo to probe the process.

    “GE’s expression of interest was dated September 2016 and advert for expression of interest for the bidding was in January 2017. Apart from this, GE requested for a zero per cent transfer of workers, while the Ministry of Transportation is saying that 20 per cent of the workforce would be absorbed by GE and the remaining 80 per cent of the workforce will be sent to a University of Railway Technology that will be established by the concessionaire,” said the workers’ union.

    It argued that this was bizarre and indicated dishonesty. “An honest and public-spirited concession would squarely address all labour engagement and disengagement issues. It would be transparent enough to accommodate the workers’ union representatives to determine what happens to them before and after concession,” the NUR said.

  • NECA unveils entrepreneurship scheme 

    The  Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) and Imagine Business Services have launched NECAPreneur to address youth unemployment.

    Speaking in Lagos, NECAs Director-General, Mr. Olusegun Oshinowo said: “The initiative in is tandem with NECA’s mandate to influence economic and socio-labour policies to create an army of gainfully employed youths who in turn would be employers of labour and ultimately add to national development. The target is getting youths to be wealth creators rather than job seekers.”

    Oshinowo deplored a situation where the youths are roaming the streets and available as ready tools for social ills.

    He said: “The NECAPreneur is, particularly, designed for youths and undergraduates in Nigeria and the whole idea is to create an environment where we can get our undergraduates to think entrepreneurship before they leave the university, while those who have left and are unable to get a job would be motivated to embrace entrepreneurship as well.”

    Oshinowo said Nigeria has a population estimated over 185 million, above 50 per cent of which is below 30 years, and over 13 per cent of this are unemployed.

    NECAPreneur, according to him, seeks to aggressively develop and make entrepreneurs of Nigerian youths by creating entrepreneurial consciousness among them.

    “As representative of employers, we have the statistics and the fact is that the jobs are simply not there. That is the truth.

    “Demand for jobs has by far outstripped the supply for jobs and this is going to continue for a while and we would want to enjoin our youths to take their destinies in their hands by embracing entrepreneurship.

    “The scheme is activated in tertiary institutions across Nigeria and also opened to the teeming youth that are already out of school. It will not only equip them to birth and successfully run their own businesses, but also lead them into avenues for start-up capital, mentoring, internship opportunities through NECA’s network and eventual certification of successful participants,” he said.

    The Entrepreneurship e-learning programme comes in three stages – Basic, Intermediate and Advance.

    It is delivered through video tutorial and texts which is structured into engaging modules. The curriculum is tested, practical and culturally relevant with the support of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

  • Wabba decries employers non-remittance of pension fund

    Wabba decries employers non-remittance of pension fund

    Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Ayuba Wabba has chided employers who failed to remit pension funds, saying their action is a threat to the contributory pension scheme.

    Speaking at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Trustfund in Abuja, Wabba, a director in the organisation, lauded the Pension Fund Administrator (PFA), saying the NLC had directed its sectoral unions to compile names of organisations that deduct workers’ money but fail to remit it.

    He said: “During my visit to some of our sectoral unions, I urged them to follow up on the employers that deducted but failed to remit, and ensure that the right thing is done for the benefit of the working class. Where any employer refuses to comply, the national secretariat will step in. It is criminal for any employer not to remit deducted money because the law makes it compulsory for every employer to remit pension funds.”

    He lauded Trustfund Managing Director Mrs. Helen Da-Souza for ensuring that the PFA stayed afloat, and declaring dividend in an unfriendly environment occasioned by the recession.

    “There are challenges with the remittances of deducted fund especially by the employers, including state governments as they often fail to remit these funds. Trustfund is able to overcome the challenges because of the ownership structure of the organisation. Labour presence on the board of Trustfund ensures that the policies and operations of the organisation are tailored towards enhancing the well-being of workers and guarantee maximum return on investment.”

    In a related event, Wabba has commended the National Assembly for passing into law a bill on  Local Government autonomy.

    He gave this commendation at a  briefing in Abuja.

    He said the National Assembly deserved commendations for voting in favour of local government autonomy, despite pressure from interest groups.

    Wabba was optimistic that, if assented to, the amendments would free the local governments from the strangle-hold of state governments, and widen the democratic space as well as restore the lost glory of local governments.

    “The local government system,  known by various names, is the oldest form of administration, and sadly, the most abused and exploited in our post-colonial history.

    “Until progressive decline and bastardisation set in, the local government represented the centre of administrative excellence, clinical efficiency, training, education, development, tax administration and effective commodity boards. Local governments also represented maintenance culture of infrastructure, including roads, environmental sanitation, functional health facilities, low incidences of corruption and violent crimes. The singular reason for this magical performance was that local governments were close to the people and ministered to their needs,” he said.

    Wabba urged governors “to sheathe partisan or insular considerations and support these amendments in national interest”.

  • Lawmakers endorse ITF’s building project

    Lawmakers endorse ITF’s building project

    The of House of Representatives has endorsed the building project of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) for training and other use.

    The project is 75 per cent completed.

    The building, they said, would boost ITF’s capabilities and capacities to train the nation’s workforce and meet its target.

    The Chairman, House Committee on Industry, Hon Abubakar Moriki, who led other members of the committee on a tour of the building in Lagos State during the week, extolled the initiative of the Joseph Ari-led ITF to ensure the building is completed  next year.

    Moriki promised to support the agency in its bid for the speedy completion of the  project whenever it needs their help.

    Ari said the seven-storey building, when completed, would not only serve the agency, but also provide accommodation to various companies as another means of revenue generation for  ITF.

    He said: “This building, when completed in 2018 will further boost our capabilities to equip more workers in the requisite knowledge needed to improve the skills and abilities of the labour force in the country.”

  • Ngige to labour: support Employees Compensation Act

    Ngige to labour: support Employees Compensation Act

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige,  has urged organised labour to support the Employees Compensation Act (ECA),  saying it is to promote workers’’- welfare.

    He advised ministries, departments and agencies to cooperate  to realise government objectives.

    The minister made the call in Abuja, while declaring open a two-day retreat with the theme: “Improving service delivery in agencies of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment,” for top management staff of the Labour Ministry and its agencies.

    He added that the retreat was  aimed at improving the capabilities of the management teams for effective goal delivery, noting that the productivity of any organisation rests on its top management.

    He said: “We ask you to go a step further. The Employees Compensation Act being implemented by Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NISTF) is for the benefits of workers and also for their employers. It protects workers from accidents, deaths and disabilities in the course of work.

    “It makes provision for their families to be protected financially too because dependants in families can be trained up to university level while the widows or widowers are given substantial amount of money that can sustain them.

    “It is a social protection that must be exploited by labour, NISTF being a tripartite organisation where labour and employers under the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) have representatives on the board; therefore, active participation of labour is required to ensure the fund is not mismanaged.”

    Ngige added that the public service was expected to redefine its roles, focus and build integrated service delivery models.

    He said all initiatives that would be introduced during the retreat were part of the bigger process of changing the norm in the service, stressing that participants needed to change from an inward-looking bureaucratic culture and focus on improving service delivery to the citizenry.

    Stressing the need for cooperation among the agencies of the government and their parent ministries, he said objectives as well as the processes of their realisation must be in harmony.

    He said: “MDAs should synchronise. In a forum like this, we let the parastatals know that when they say you report to the Ministry, it is not punitive, it is just for policies to flow.”

    Earlier, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Comrade Ayuba Wabba, and his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, assured that the organised labour would collaborate with the Inspectorate Department of  the ministry to ensure that minimum standards for factory workers were sustained.

    They emphasised the need for effective service delivery to address the alleged maltreatment of workers in some private organisations.

    They advocated the reinforcement of the department to ensure that it is able to carry out effective factory inspections

    They commended the ministry for organising the retreat, saying management staff should use the opportunity to gain knowledge and ensure implementation.

  • Firm, govt partner to create employment

    A company and member of some international bodies for credit rating agencies, Fagbadex Global Services Limited, has expressed its readiness to collaborate with the Federal Goverment to create employment in Nigeria.

    Its Managing Director, Chief Friday Agbabule, made the declaration at the corporate headquarters of the organisation while briefing reporters on programmes for the overseas credit report seminar hui  company is packaging to sensitise the public on its franchise to represent some international organisations in Nigeria.

    He explained making credit reporting and verification his priority was borne out of his desire to share his wealth of experience, garnered over two decades, on business information, credit reporting and verification, third party verification and due diligence from various experts and acclaimed guru of credit reporting.

    He said the other reasons for his choice of business was his passion to reduce the rate at which people were defrauded owing to fraudulent and inaccurate documentation, which, at various times, were not verified.

    “Let me express that my desire and willingness to pursue this noble profession was as a result of my innate desire to liberate several people, especially to share the experience I garnered spanning over two decades in this credit reporting and verification exercise from various notable gurus and highly respected experts in the field.

    “Also, my passion to reduce the rate at which people were defrauded owing to fraudulent, inaccurate,  incorrect documentation that were not verified. This time around, I am determined to contribute my quota to end that menace called recession in Nigeria,” Agbabule said.

    He said his company decided to organise a seminar tagged “ Overseas Credit Report Seminar”, scheduled for November, to acquaint business-oriented persons with requirements of gredit reporting.

    Agbabule said his company could  provide reports on foreign companies within a few days, at a minimal cost, as well as such customer’s address verification, due diligence, corporate search and verification and confirmation of information of any company before in2itiating business.

  • How to utilise recovered loot, by SSANU

    How to utilise recovered loot, by SSANU

    The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has urged the Federal Government to inject recovered loot  into the economy to create jobs.

    It appealed to workers to unite against poverty, deprivation and exploitation by the elite and the ruling class.

    The association, in a communiqué signed by its National President, Samson Ugwoke, and  National Public Relations Officer, Salaam Abdussobur, after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, said the country would gain more by staying together than disintegrating.

    SSANU bemoaned the precarious and pitiable condition of workers in the face of the present economic realities and urged government to take proactive measures to end hardship and suffering in the country.

    “NEC noted that the costs of food items and basic commodities are beyond the reach of the average Nigerian worker, while building materials have become so costly that the common man can no longer afford a decent home,” the union said.

    It also urged the Federal Government to plough back recovered funds into the economy to exit recession.

    “NEC advises the government to announce the huge sums of money so far recovered from looters and immediately plough back these huge amounts into the economy, as saving these money while Nigerians starve makes no meaning.

    “This will give verve to government’s transparency and accountability, especially in the fight against corruption,” it added.

    It called on the government to introduce policies that would attract investors and prevent oligopolies in the food and building industries to protect the masses from exploitation.

    SSANU decried the delay in the negotiation of the minimum wage and urged government to speed up the process.

    It also urged government to urgently implement the earned allowance owed its members, saying, “NEC in session demands implementation of the payment of earned allowances being owed members of SSANU arising from the SSANU/FGN 2009 Agreement as the continued delay is a breach of a Collective Bargaining Agreement and a dishonourable act on the part of government.”

    SSANU bemoaned the sack of its branch chairman  and secretary of the union at the University of Abuja.

    “NEC noted with dismay and shock, the breaches and administrative infractions perpetrated by the authorities at the University of Abuja, leading to the suspension and termination of appointments of the Branch Chairman and Secretary of SSANU at the university.

    “NEC noted that the process leading to these actions were un-procedural, unlawful and unconstitutional. NEC, therefore, urges the Minister of Education to prevail on the Governing Council of the university to immediately recall our illegally terminated officers to avert a national industrial crisis,” it stated.

    SSANU also decried the abandonment of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) owned by Oyo and Osun states, saying the action of the two state governments was jeopardising the careers of its members, students and other members of the university community.

  • NULGE prepares members for local govt autonomy

    NULGE prepares members for local govt autonomy

    The National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has trained its staff on financial management in preparation for the autonomy of local government administration.

    Speaking at a three-day workshop with the theme: Effective financial management of trade union finance, NULGE National President   Ibrahim Khaleel said the workshop was organised to enhance the capacity of the union’s financial officers.

    His words: “At this critical time, there is lack of capacity for local council workers as a tier of government and we believe that whatever affects local government administration affects us directly because without the third tier of government, there can’t be NULGE.

    “This workshop is meant to update our knowledge on how to keep our financial records. Financial records are our collective responsibilities as a union to be rendered at the end of every year to the Registrar of Trade Union.

    “Since the inception of this leadership, the national secretariat has been rendering our financial accounts to the office every year up to the 2016 financial year.”

    He stressed that the workshop, which was conducted by Nik-Seg Consultants, provided an opportunity for all the participants to learn new skills with the aim of understanding how financial records were done and also be in tandem with new trends.

    He hinted that plans were underway to organise women and youth conference, which would  enhance the leadership skills of women and youth wings of the union.

    Khaleel insisted that training union workers in financial management was part of the administrative steps that could curtail corruption within labour movement.

    “Training in financial management is apt at this time because we believe it will not only enhance transparency and accountability, but will strengthen the development and growth of our union.

    “It is even more critical for us to update our knowledge on financial management especially now that we are canvassing for financial autonomy for local government.

    “So, before we get the financial independence of local government, local government workers need to be more prepared, more equipped and update their knowledge on financial management for the challenges ahead,” he said.

  • Workers urge govt to vote more funds for infrastructure

    Workers in the construction sector have appealed to the Federal Government to allocate more funds for infrastructure development.

    National Union of Civil Engineering, Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFW) President Amechi Asugwuni  made the appeal when the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) leaders toured  some  affiliate unions.

    NLC leaders, led by its President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, were on a tour of affiliate unions to partner and find solutions to their challenges.

    According to Asugwuni, infrastructure development is slow and any country that does not build its infrastructure, the growth and employment creation will be stagnated.

    He advised the government to ensure the establishment of a fund for infrastructure development and fast track the construction of roads and other infrastructure.

    He called on the government to pay employers in the sector money owed them.

    The NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, said the construction sector was the pillar of every economy, adding that, no country could develop without adequate infrastructure in place.

    “How can we encourage small and medium scale enterprise if there is no steady power supply and good road network? The cost of doing business in Nigeria is higher than any other country.

    “The conditions of the roads are a nightmare, especially from Lagos to the Southsouth, and Southwest and the North. They are all in dire need of rehabilitation,” he said.

    Wabba said it was sad that the government did not prioritise development of infrastructure in spite of deficit in the budget.

    He said labour was focused on social justice in the system because without it, workers would not have decent lives.

    He said the NLC would ensure that the government committed enough resources to building important infrastructure in the country.

  • Emulate Imoudu, labour leaders urged

    Labour leaders have been urged to emulate the  leadership style of the late Michael Imoudu and shun pecuniary gains.

    Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of Legacy Insurance Brokers, Mr. Tunde Thomas, gave the advice at the inauguration of Pa Imoudu’s gallery at the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS) in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

    He said the commitment and integrity of labour leaders would attract followership rather than quest for money.

    “Nigerian workers and leaders should emulate spirit of selflessness of the late labour leader. With commitment and integrity but certainly not money, people would follow our idea. When you have integrity, followership is easy.

    ” Michael Imoudu was a great leader, and that is why he was able to get that followership. Labour leaders of today should put money aside. Let’s serve selflessly and with passion, then xyz of money would follow.

    “Let’s have the mind of the people at heart. Do we want our people to have a well meaning life, good education for our children, what about welfare of our people, good healthcare system? That’s what labour leader should be fighting for. Its not increasing salary. If you increase salary today, by tomorrow there will be corresponding inflation if not more than before. So, for me it should be about quality and passionate leadership,” he said.

    Thomas, a labour activist, said  the partnership between his outfit and MINILS was to develop the  institute to facilitate better training programme.

    “For one to change mindset, you need education. Also, we want to create a situation whereby the labour institute would generate enough revenue and not relying on government and expand training capacity of the institute by expanding number of students in diploma programme partnering with MINILS.

    “We should build human capital development at this point in our national growth. If we should achieve that in this country, then we can go to sleep. Then the system would be automated and run on its own. With good and sound training, Nigerian workers would perform optimally. We want productivity and not activity in Nigeria” he said.

    He said that his outfit discovered during visits to the MINILS in Ilorin that there are various programmes to unveil in MINILS considering impacts of late Michael Imoudu in labour struggle, “leading over 500,000 comrades to bring down strength of the British empire .

    “We saw that where his property was kept is not good enough. So we decided to intervene and contribute to the MINILS community and the man Michael Imoudu.’’