The Nation Newspaper

Category: Labour

LG autonomy will end insecurity, poverty, others, says NULGE

The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has said local government autonomy would bring solutions to insecurity, poverty and other social vices bedevilling the nation.

Speaking with reporters recently, the President of NULGE, Olatunji Ambali, said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has identified the vices and found local government autonomy as the solution.

“We are grateful to God that a courageous leader has been elected in the person of President Bola Tinubu who has understudied the challenges bedevilling Nigeria in terms of insecurity, poverty, infrastructure gap, unemployment and took the bull by the horns,” he said.

He noted that Tinubu’s position was also informed by the fact that Nigerians are not feeling the impact of the economic intervention coming from the federal government.

“You cannot also blame him because all his interventions in the past one year have not rubbed off on the community because somebody somewhere has been seizing local government funds and also diverted the IGR of local governments,” he said.

He said 70 per cent of Nigeria’s problem would be solved when autonomy returns to the local government.

The NULGE chief, who is also the treasurer of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), said the union was grateful to the President for his support of the union’s struggle.

“However, Mr. President has done the needful, we are happy and express our solidarity with him. We also pray for victory for the case in court.

Read Also: NULGE continues push for autonomy, hails Tinubu

“Once we have a functional local government system that has direct access to our allocation, and can carry out day-to-day activities, deliver dividends of democracy, more than 70 percent of Nigeria’s problems would have been resolved,” he said.

According to Ambali, the rural roads would open up, infrastructural challenges would reduce, there would be food security at the grassroots because it is the local government that owns the land.

He said women and youths would be trained in vocational skills, which would reduce unemployment and poverty.

On insecurity, the NULGE president said once there are functional local governments, “they can organise the locals, register traditional security outfits, kit them and remunerate them well”.

He said what Nigeria needs is community police and not state police. Highlighting the expectation of the union at the Supreme Court, Olatunji said the union “prays that God Almighty would give us victory”.

He added that the union would also want the court to scrap the joint account allocation committee, which has been a conduit through which money meant for local governments is siphoned.

The NULGE boss also lamented that there have never been credible elections at local government.

He said: “We hope that the state independent electoral commission would be scrapped and their functions transferred to a more credible and more acceptable umpire.”

Expressing his views on why some state governors have been resisting local government autonomy, Ambali said it was not only governors but other state political actors and those “who benefit from a corrupt system and would not want the change’’.

June 21, 2024
OPS threatens no work, no pay
- We can’t be intimidated by employers, says labour
The clause, ‘No work no pay’, has always been in the books. But, it has not been put to effective use. Now, it will, says the Organised Private Sector, which has threatened to invoke it should members of the organised labour resume their strike on the minimum wage and reversal of electricity tariff hike.

Director-General, Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Adewale Smart-Oyerinde, who spoke on the sidelines at the ongoing International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland, warned that employers would not hesitate to invoke the clause if the workers refuse the offer of N62,000 by the government.

He claimed that employers would find it difficult to get the money to pay, ias there would be no production during the strike.

“The employers under the Trade Dispute Act Section 43 have the right not to pay for work not done. It is part of our law.

“Where would the employer get the money to pay when work is not done? It is a rule of justice. Where do I get the money to pay from,” Oyerinde said.

He said international and local industrial laws do not give workers the absolute right to go on strike.

According to Oyerinde, the Trade Disputes Act regulates the right to strike in Nigeria, while at the International Labour Organisation (ILO) level it is being contested and has been referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for interpretation.

He said the parties must work within the legal framework, adding that there is a subsisting order at the National Industrial Court (NIC).

“The context of ultimatum, context of strikes, these rules were guided by law, were guided by framework. In the ILO, it is the convention. In Nigeria, it is the Trade Dispute Act. We will wait for ICJ to come back.

“We saw the letter by the Attorney-General of the Federation and our view is this, if you don’t align with it, you will go back to the court where he gets the order to contest it, but the moment I don’t context it, then I have gone way beyond the legal framework,” he added.

He said parties must work within the legal framework to have an equilibrium society devoid of anarchy.

According to him, the International Labour Convention 87 gives the right to organise, “but workers felt it includes the right to strike and that is what we are demanding interpretation from the ICJ’’.

“Our position is that we cannot be party to rubbish those institutions created to regulate the industrial process, we have the NIC and the Industrial Arbitration Panel (AIP), we must follow those institutions before escalating issues,” he said.

The NECA boss said the employers aligned with the Federal Government on N62,000 because that is what is feasible for the members of the OPS.

His words: “After going back and forth, the employers painfully came to N62,000. I say painfully, judging by the state of employers, business closing shops, business relocating. Two objectives inform our decision, can we afford to pay, jobs and create jobs and three, it is a deeper economic reason for us.

“Even in the ILO, the importance is to make sure that the developing economy is not left behind.This is done through transiting those in the informal to formal sector.”

Oyerinde said anything above N62,000 would be detrimental to the Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs) that form the bulk of the informal economy.

He said though the Governors’ Forum and organised labour have different proposals, the president has the final say.

“The work of the committee is to make recommendations to the Federal Government and not force anything down the throat of the Federal Government. What we are to negotiate is minimum wage. The economy must be able to drive it.

“It is left for the President to make his recommendation to the National Assembly. It is not compulsory that all the tripartite members should submit the same amount,” noting that in 2019, only labour and employer agreed on N30,000, while the Governors’ Forum said N22,000, but N30,000 was eventually approved by the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero has reiterated that workers could not be intimidated by employers from going on strike for the refusal to pay while on strike.

According to him, “the right to withdraw service is a fundamental human right. It’s a right that you can’t adjudicate. Clearly, even in a master/servant relationship.”

He noted that the ‘no work no pay’ clause could only work in a precarious casual employment, adding that a strike that was caused by an employer’s action could not be subjected to ‘no work, no pay’clause.

“You refuse to pay a good wage or salary at all. I protested and, then, you benefit from it by equally further denying me. These are common principles in law or in terms of morality and if you want to drive it further the ‘no work no pay, no pay no work’ clause that should be the end of it.

“I didn’t come to work, you didn’t pay me. You don’t pay me, I will not come to work. In industrial relations, there’s a right to lock out employers and there’s a right to strike by workers,” he said.

The NLC president said there was the need for the employers and workers to understand that industrial practice is about maintenance of equilibrium for peace to reign in the workplace.

Meanwhile, the Organised Labour has said the decision of President Bola Tinubu on the report of Minimum Wage submitted to him would inform its next line of action on the resumption of its relaxed strike. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have given the Federal Government a five-working day ultimatum to come up with the new wage acceptable to workers and retraction of the new electricity tariff.

Ajaero, who arrived at the venue of the ongoing 112th International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, on Monday, said Labour would not resume the strike yet.

“The NLC will wait for the next line of action based on how the president handles this matter,” he said.

He said the NLC will not have its position forwarded to the president and, then, go ahead to take certain action, “but when the president finally takes a decision on this, we will take action”.

He further said besides Tinubu, the National Executive Council would also have a lot to discuss as it will be presented to them on the table.

“Whatever direction they take, we will carry on with it,” he said. He noted that the committee report submitted to the President were two: one from the Organised Private Sector of N62,000 and another, Organised Labour, N250,000,” he said.

Ajaero said the import of the report was that the bill going to the National Assembly is an Executive Bill, which the president needs to consult widely before taking it to the highest law-making organ in the country.

He expressed that the last minimum wage submitted to former President Muhammadu Buhari was about N27,000, then after consultation it was moved to N30,000.

“So, it was expected that the President will make some other move because he has seen clearly that it was not just a margin, but a gulf between N62,000 and N250,000,” he said.

Ajaero said a lot is expected from Tinubu on this present issue as the position he takes will go a long way in solving the present national problem.

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Meanwhile, the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage, established by Tinubu in January, has concluded its assignment and submitted its report to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume

The submission of the report on Monday marked a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to address the minimum wage issue.

In a statement, the committee’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Segun Imohiosen, said they were tasked with recommending a new national minimum wage for Nigerian workers in the public and private sectors.

The committee, comprising 37 members, was inaugurated on January 30, this year, in accordance with the Minimum Wage Act of 2019.

He said the report would be presented to the president for appropriate action once the leadership of organised labour, government, and organised private sector representatives return from the ongoing International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conference in Geneva, Switzerland. The SGF expressed gratitude to the committee Chairman, Bukar Aji, and members for their commitment and sacrifices during the assignment.
June 14, 2024
Union seeks pay off for Heritage Bank workers
- Asks CBN to probe bank transactions, activities
The Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) has demanded thorough investigation into the transactions that caused the collapse of Heritage Bank PLC.

The union also called on the regulatory agencies to invoke appropriate actions to recover debts while applying sanctions and penalties against any institutions or persons found guilty.

In a statement, its President, Olusoji Oluwole, blamed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and other regulatory agencies for the failure and liquidation of the Heritage Bank, and called for steps to settle workers’ entitlements.

“The recent CBN order revoking the operational licence and liquidation of Heritage Bank PLC did not come to the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) as a surprise.

“This situation could have been avoided if the regulatory authorities had heeded to the various clamour from staff members, ASSBIFI, and the public on the plight of Heritage Bank. No decisive action was seen to have been taken to stem the fate that eventually befell the institution on June 3, 2024.

“You will recall that sometime in June 2021, staff members of the bank in Abuja gathered at the home of an alleged debtor, a prominent politician, to recover unpaid debts to the bank.

“In 2023, we called the attention of the public to the insensitive disengagement of over 65 workers under the guise of reorganisation, who had put in decades of service to the bank without commensurate compensation as stated in the Labour Act and ILO conventions.

“Rather than acting responsibly and doing the right thing through mediation with the Minister of Labour and Employment, the Management chose to hide behind the cover of the court of law. This has been its behaviour as reported in recent times through other court judgments against the management.

It continued: “In March 2024, the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) also raised the same alarm, yet no decisive actions were taken.

“While we are not opposed to the liquidation order on Heritage Bank as prescribed by law and to sustain confidence and assure the public of the safety of their money in banks, we are ‘seriously concerned about the fate of our members who have invested multiple decades of their active lives in the service of the bank’.

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“Their future hangs in the balance, as there is no mention of plans to settle the workers in the CBN and NDIC publications and liquidation process. We are genuinely perturbed, because the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions National Secretariat feels vulnerable workers should not be unfairly treated, used and discarded without settlement.

“While the NDIC Act excludes staff related accounts from the insurance premium, we appeal that the predicament of members is considered when payments are made to other depositors based on the harsh economic realities.

“As the statutory representative of senior employees in banks, insurance and financial institutions, and a critical stakeholder in the Nigeria Financial Sector, ASSBIFI implores the CBN and other regulators in the banking industry to deeply investigate the transactions and activities that caused the collapse of Heritage Bank, and invoke appropriate actions to recover debts while applying sanctions and penalties against any institutions or persons found guilty.

“Coming at a time the economy is in serious crisis with hyperinflation and high unemployment rate leading to job cuts, it is most disheartening that vulnerable workers who faithfully and committedly put in their best for decades in the bank would be abandoned to perish in penury. “We expect and believe that the NDIC would factor into the liquidation planned criteria for compensation and settlement of the workers.”
June 14, 2024
Union okays 3MTT launch
- Ask govt to address unfriendly policies
The Association of Telecommunications, Information Technology, Cable Satellite Network Operators and Allied Services   Employers of Nigeria (ATICEN) has commended the Federal Government for launching the 3MTT Programme, saying the initiative aimed at training three million youths in digital technology is laudable.

The union said the programme needs good implementation to foster more deserved digital skills for job creations and the passing of the Nigerian Startups bill into an Act and the Nigeria Data Protection Act.

In a statement, the union’s President, Comrade Adede John Williams, stressed that the need to support the industry’s stakeholders is very essential, adding that it is a crucial step towards building a sustainable digital economy that will be allied with the technological advancement of this administration.

Williams said: “Please, permit me to use this medium to call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, once again, to see the need to address the concerned issue of unfriendly policies that is being formulated by the industry regulators as these policies are creating more insolvency and snags for businesses.

“In earnest, this administration should understand the viability in placing more attention and courage to funding support to the critical issues affecting the telecommunications, ICT and   Fintech sectors, because if not well managed, it might continue to hinder the full realisation of this administration’s efforts towards achieving digital economy advancement.

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He said to achieve the digital economy implementation with tangible results, this administration must endeavour to engage the stakeholders in the policy formulation on industry affairs.

“If   not, the industry players will continue to face bureaucratic bottlenecks in place of digital transformation that is full of analog systems,” he said.

Williams said the unreliable source of power was also affecting the growth of the digital economy, telecoms, ICT and Fintechs.

“Also, it imperative to mention that in one year of this administration, there are still challenges that the industry operators face, like the Right-of-Way, multiple taxation, insecurity of the telecommunications infrastructure, the indiscriminate shutting down of telecoms   sites, bureaucratic bottlenecks and policies zip-zap, which continue to hinder the business development for Telecommunications, Information   and Communications Technology (ICT) and Fintech companies in Nigeria. These industry operators continue to operate in a very harsh economic environment,” he ssid.
June 7, 2024
‘Strike not intended as sabotage’

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has refuted accusations by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who described the strike as an act of economic sabotage.

In a response, the NLC argued that the true saboteurs are those misappropriating national resources.

In a statement, the Head of Information and Public Affairs for the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Benson Upah, expressed displeasure over Akpabio’s comments, labelling them as a misrepresentation of the labour movement’s intentions and actions.

Upah criticised the Senate President’s suggestion that the Senate might convene an Executive Session to discuss the strike, arguing that such a move would undermine the principles of transparency and open debate essential to parliamentary processes.

“The notion that discussing labour’s legitimate concerns behind closed doors is counter to the democratic ethos of transparency that should guide our parliamentary procedures,” Upah stated.

He said for over two decades, it is the political class, through pervasive corruption and misuse of authority, that has inflicted far greater harm on the economy than any strike action by labour.

The statement reads: “NLC strongly refutes Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio’s recent claims that the indefinite nationwide strike by the NLC and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, constitutes economic sabotage. Such accusations are baseless and deeply troubling for patriots and democracy advocates.

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“The strike, initiated on June 3, was in response to the Federal Government’s refusal to conclude the national minimum wage negotiations, reverse electricity tariff hikes, and end discriminatory consumer classifications. This legally conducted strike reflects the frustration of workers facing economic hardships and deteriorating working conditions.

“Senator Akpabio’s statements undermine the democratic principles the Senate professes to uphold. The National Assembly, being the closest arm of government to the people, should understand the people’s sentiments. This ought to guide their actions and pronouncements accordingly.

“Strikes are not only legal but a civic duty and a critical tool for holding those in authority and power accountable. It is a democratic right, essential for preventing dictatorship and social collapse. For the past 25 years, the political elite wilfully sabotaged Nigeria through acts of corruption and abuse of power, not the workers. The true economic saboteurs are those looting national resources, not the labour force.

“We, therefore, urge patriotic members of the Senate and the House of Representatives to distance themselves from these damaging remarks.Workers have the constitutional right to strike in response to unfair labour practices, and the NLC and TUC have exercised this right lawfully.’’

“The economic issues prompting the strike, like electricity tariff hikes and unfair consumer classifications, are burdens that exacerbate poverty and inequality but from which the political elite are insulated. The NLC will continue to advocate for fair economic policies and a national minimum wage that is realistic.

June 7, 2024
Fed Govt committed to oil and gas development, says PENGASSAN

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has expressed satisfaction with the level of commitment from the Federal Government towards promoting the oil and gas industry.

The union said this could be seen through the various policies put in place by the government. However, it called on the government to further exhibit commitment in the war against poverty, oil theft,insecurity and other forms of criminal activities.

Speaking with The Nation, the General Secretary of PENGASSAN, Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa, said policies such as Naira floating, removal of fuel subsidy are not bad provided the government tackled the challenges associated with them.

He said some of the policies mark a significant step towards unlocking investments in the sector.

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He said: “Some of these policies introduced by the government are very key to economic development. However, there are some things the government needs to put in place to address the immediate challenges

“For instance, the removal of fuel subsidy is already making smuggling unattractive. A situation where the nation consumes 40 million barrels of oil per day, and the government announced 70 million barrels per day. What it means is that the outstanding figure, which is 30 million barrels, is smuggled outside the country. It’s a big business for the cabals.

“The government needs to seriously tackle the issue of oil theft. This is one of the major challenges in the oil and gas sector. For instance, we are still producing far below OPEC quota and this is as a result of the oil theft. The government needs to tackle the cabals behind this. There must be a political will to tackle this.

“As you can see, many of the oil companies are running away because of insecurity. Nobody wants to invest in a place where their investment and life are not secure.

On the Port Harcourt refinery that is expected to start production soon, Okugbawa said this may not affect the fuel price as people believed.

He said what affects the prices of petroleum is the exchange rate and international oil price.

“The production of the Port Harcourt Refinery will not really affect the price of petroleum. The exchange rate and international oil price are the determinants of fuel prices. However, it will have a positive impact on the shipping cost, landing cost, and demurrage because we are producing locally. It’s a good development, especially when the four refineries are working.

Okugbawa also said implementing local content standards without compromising investments or cost competitiveness underscores the government’s commitment to promoting sustainable development and empowering local stakeholders.

The directives, he said, could pave the way for inclusive growth, knowledge transfer, and skill development within the Nigerian workforce by balancing local content obligations and investment incentives.

He added: “We commend the Federal Government for its commitment to driving positive change and fostering a conducive environment for investment in the oil and gas sector, These progressive policy directives mark a significant leap forward in our collective journey towards a sustainable energy future and bolstering security across Nigeria.”

On the union’s relationship with International Oil Companies (IOCs) and divestment going on, he said the welfare of its members are most paramount to the union.

“The union will not compromise the well-being of its members across the nation,” he said.

He reiterated PENGASSAN’s commitment to partnering the Federal Government to actualise the nation’s strategic energy objectives and focusing on leveraging gas as a crucial catalyst of economic prosperity and national development.

May 31, 2024
Minimum wage: ‘Prioritise job creation, workers’ safety’

The Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage has been urged to prioritise job creation and job security in view of the high rate of unemployment in the country.

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), which made the call, said it remains committed to the N57,000, which represents a 90 per cent increase in the National Minimum Wage, and will continue to support the welfare of workers.

The association affirmed that productivity should be a key driver of higher wages, following the on-going negotiations of a new National Minimum Wage by the Tripartite Committee.

The Director-General of NECA, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, said: “It is important to note that what the Committee was constituted to negotiate is a new national minimum wage.

”A minimum, not maximum that could be termed the floor wage, below which no employer should pay.

“Employee should be able to navigate their paths toward higher wages through increased productivity and value addition.”

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While explaining the realities of the Organised Private Sector, the DG averred that in the last three years, hundreds of companies have exited the country, shut or changed their model.

These companies include Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing (JSM), Procter & Gamble, Unilever Nigeria Plc, PZ Nigeria Plc, GSK Nigeria Plc, Sanofi Pharmaceuticals, Bolt Food, Nampak, Microsoft, Jumia Food, Equinor (oil & gas), Mayor Biscuits Company Limited, and Greif Nigeria, with other multinational companies declaring over N1 trillion combined losses.

He emphasised that the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN) listed about 767 manufacturing companies that were shut while over 335 experienced distress in the last three years.

Oyerinde, who is the spokesperson of the Organised Private Sector in the Committee, said: “In addition to this is a burgeoning N350 billion worth of unsold inventory of manufactured goods of which the same fate is faced by Small and Medium Scale Enterprises(SMEs).The Private Sector is on the precipice of jobs.’’

While calling on the National Minimum Wage Committee to refocus its effort on protecting jobs, boosting the capacity of the private sector to create more jobs and ensuring sustainability and ability to pay, Oyerinde said: “According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the combined rate of unemployment and time-related underemployment as a share of the labour force population (LU2) increased to 17.3 per cent in Q3 2023 from 15.5 per cent in Q2 2023.

“In specific terms, the unemployment rate increased significantly in Q3 2023 at five per cent. With these figures, more efforts should be concentrated on keeping more people in employment while the government continues to implement its planned interventions in transportation, food security and general macro-economic stability.

“With Organised businesses declaring over N1 trillion in combined losses and many shutting their businesses for different reasons, while others are relocating to other climes, the ability to pay the prevailing N30,000 was already compromised. It will be practically impossible to guarantee enterprise sustainability and job security with the demands of Organised Labour.

“Notwithstanding ongoing challenges, made worse by rising interest rates, astronomical logistics cost, increasing energy tariff and multiple taxes, levies and fees, the private sector remained committed to the N57,000.00, which represents 90 per cent increase in the National Minimum Wage and will continue to support the welfare of workers and the protection of their jobs, which can only be guaranteed by the survival of the enterprise,” NECA scribe added.

May 31, 2024
PenCom to retirees: beware of fraudsters

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has raised the alarm that scammers were on the prowl to defraud retirees.

In a notice entitled: “Beware of scammers”, the management of PenCom drew the attention of the public to the circulation of scam messages and calls by unscrupulous individuals, seeking to defraud unsuspecting retirees.

The fraudsters, who claim to be staff members of PenCom, request for money to be paid into personal accounts to fast-track pension payments, the commission warned.

“PenCom hereby reiterates that its staff will never request for gratification to facilitate any payment to retirees.

“Moreover, payments due to retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) are made strictly into individual Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs) and processed by the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs)”, the statement read in part.

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With this, the public has been urged to be cautious about the attempted scams, advising retirees to always seek clarifications from the cwommission.

It would be recalled that the Federal Government had released N16.676 billion for the payment of accrued pension rights.

The amount would take care of the accrued rights of pensioners for 2021. The government had earlier settled arrears of accrued pension rights payments to the verified and enrolled retirees up to December 2020.

Nigeria’s total pension asset value rose by N123.47 billion in July 2021 to close at N12.78 trillion compared to N12.66 trillion recorded earlier.

Already, the net asset value of Nigeria’s pension fund recorded a 0.98 per increase in July 2021, while 22,349 RSA registrations were recorded in the same month, increasing contributors’ number to 9.4 million.

May 31, 2024
TUC seeks people-friendly policies

The President-General of Trade Union Congress, (TUC), Comrade Festus Osifo, has implored the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to implement policies that are people-friendly that boost the value of money.

He spoke at the Southwest Trade Union Congress of Nigeria Labour Summit entitled; “Repositioning the Labour Movement amid Economic Decline In Nigeria”, at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State.

He lamented the poor standard of living of Nigerians, especially workers due to high inflation, adding that the economic challenge has drastically eroded the value of money, thus continually making workers to call for increase in minimum wage.

Osifo emphasised Nigeria’s abundant underutilised mineral resources. He criticised the frivolous expenditure of revenue generated from these resources, adding that the government must prevent further depreciation of the naira

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On ongoing minimum wage negotiation, Osifo stated that workers are seek a living wage, not a minimum wage.

He advocated the minimum wage to be renegotiated biennially.

He said: “We call ourselves the giant of Africa, yet we can’t pay a reasonable minimum wage. We are tired of the government telling us to continue coping.”

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, represented by his deputy, Bayo Lawal, said his administration will continue to prioritise workers’ good welfare. He added that the state is awaiting the outcome of the tripartite committe on the ongoing national minimum wage negotiation.

He called for the prompt payment of salaries, pensions, bonuses, urging for collaboration with the state labour centres for more development.

Chairman, Trade Union Congress, Oyo State Council, Comrade Bosun Olabiyi-Agoro, said the summit would be held periodically to discuss topical issues affecting workers in the region.

May 31, 2024
‘CNG initiative game-changer for job creation’

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has described the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative, which aims to transform 25,000 auto technicians, as a game-changer for the auto industry.

Onyejeocha said the initiative is aimed at revolutionising the transport sector with cleaner energy.

Speaking at the stakeholders’ event hosted by the Presidential CNG Initiative and factory tour in Lagos, Onyejeocha also described the initiative as a “beacon of hope and one set out to revolutionise the nation’s transport sector and to create opportunities for economic growth and citizens’ employment”.

The event comes days after President Bola Tinubu mandated Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to begin the procurement of CNG-powered vehicles.

The Minister commended the initiative’s commitment to upskilling and training the technicians, highlighting the importance of collaboration between the Presidential CNG Initiative and the Ministry.

She said the Ministry will not only serve as the custodian of labour data, ensuring that every job created and every skill imparted contributes to empowerment and progress but also deploy proper metrics to track the jobs created by the initiative, bringing together artisan associations and unions to achieve the technician target.

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Onyejeocha said: “The initiative aims to introduce 11,500 new CNG-enabled vehicles and provide 55,000 CNG conversion kits for existing vehicles, stimulating economic growth, creating employment opportunities and promoting a cleaner environment. “With a projected $2.5 billion investment by 2027, the Presidential CNG Initiative is poised to drive Nigeria towards a sustainable and prosperous future, where every citizen has the opportunity to thrive.

“In this journey towards a sustainable and prosperous future, collaboration is key. I am proud to highlight the collaboration between the presidential CNG initiative and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

“Furthermore, I want to emphasise the role of the Labour Ministry in bringing together artisan associations and unions.These associations and unions are the backbone of our workforce and by uniting them, we can amplify our efforts towards achieving the 25,000 technician target set forth by the presidential CNG initiative

“Our ministry serves as the custodian of labour data, ensuring that every job created, every skill imparted, is not just a statistic but a step towards empowerment and progress.

“Moreover, I want to address a fundamental issue that often plagues government-led initiatives – the lack of proper metrics to measure their impact. Historically, governments have been involved in numerous job creation programmes, yet the true extent of their success is often overshadowed by inadequate measurement and reporting.”

The minister further expressed confidence that under President Tinubu, the government is committed to a paradigm shift.

She added: “We recognise the importance of accountability and transparency in governance.That is why we are determined to not only create meaningful change but also to showcase our achievements with pride.

May 24, 2024