The Nation Newspaper

Category: Labour

  • Retirees defend union president

    Electricity Sector Retirees Association of Nigeria (ESREWAN) has denied allegation of corruption and violation of labour laws levelled against its President,  Chief Temple Ubani and other executive members by the electricity branch of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP).

    Reacting to a statement by the interim leadership of the Electricity sector branch of the NUP, asking security agents and the nation’s anti-corruption agencies to investigate and prosecute  Ubani and his executive members over alleged cases of embezzlement, the ESREWAN, in a communiqué by Chief Temple Ubani and his deputies said the allegation of disobeying the labour laws by suspending the National Secretary of the union, was baseless.

    The NUP had accused the ESREWAN president of relieving the sector National Secretary, Kayode Ogunbiyi of his post and has been personally administering the sector without a secretary.

    However, the statement said the association duly informed the NUP headquarters through series of letters of its intention to advertise the position in national dailies as the position was not an elective one, but through formal employment.

    ESREWAN recently broke away from the Electricity sector branch of the NUP.

    ESREWAN dismissed the claim that members  signed off their membership of the NUP when they decided to form a new union, pointing out that they decided long ago to pull out of the NUP as a result of persistent refusal to recognise and abide by the extant memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between them in 2006.

    The union said the decision to pull out of the NUP was taken at a special delegates’ conference in Asaba, adding that the conference resolved “that consequent upon the persistent refusal by the NUP to recognise and abide by the Extant MoU of June 2006 between NUP and their sector, we have resolved to ‘PULL OUT’ of the relationship with NUP Headquarters.

    ‘’That our sector leadership at all levels and organs as presently constituted shall continue to remain in office under the name: Electricity Sector Retirees Association of Nigeria (ESREWAN) or any other name to be approved.

    “That out association shall reserve the right to affiliate with any identified friendly organisation with similar interest and objectives for mutual benefits.

    “That the Special National Delegates Conference in session hereby totally and unequivocally reject the purported suspension of our National Sector President, Chief Temple Ubani and the National Sector Treasurer, Comrade Benjamin M. Amako.’’

  • Anti-labour practices: PENGASSAN issues 72 hours ultimatum to firm

    Anti-labour practices: PENGASSAN issues 72 hours ultimatum to firm

    Barely two weeks after the suspension of an industrial action embarked upon by Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) over anti-labour practices of the Neconde Energy Limited, the management has sacked workers who participated in the industrial action.

    The association, therefore, has issued a 72-hour ultimatum, starting from Tuesday to Neconde Management within which the five affected members be recalled to work or face monumental consequences as they may relate to the organisation and the oil and gas industry.

    According to PENGASSAN, this was a flagrant violation of the terms  of a communique signed on May 18,  between the two parties towards the suspension of the picketing of the company.

    In the communiqué which was signed by the representatives of the company led by its Company/Board Secretary, Mr. Val Uche-Obi, SAN, who signed on behalf of the Chairman Neconde Energy Limited- Dr. Ernest Azudialu, and the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Frank Edozie, among others and PENGASSAN representatives led by Chairman, PENGASSAN Lagos Zone, Comrade Abel Agarin, among others, it was agreed that nobody will be victimised on the ground of the industrial action.

    The senior staff trade union said the company terminated the employment of five members on June 1, based on the industrial actions. It would be recalled that the recent industrial  action began on May 15,  with the picketing of the premises of Neconde simultaneously in Lagos and Warri.

    The catalogue of grievances that led to the industrial action include forceful restructuring (evidenced in realignment, grade categorisation and harmonisation of salary structure and downgrade of conditions of service/contractual terms of employment) of Neconde to other non E&P subsidiaries of the Obijackson Group, lack of evidence (TCC) of employee tax (PAYE)  remittance in Lagos and Delta states since 2012, non- payment of 2016 13th month, non-payment of field allowances since August 2016, forceful and immediate transfer of union members (including pregnant women) from Lagos to Warri office with no consideration of impact on families, non-payment of transfer allowances (two months after the forceful transfer), and non-payment of severance benefits.

  • Lagos committed to building world class public service, says Ambode

    Lagos committed to building world class public service, says Ambode

    The Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, has expressed his determination to build a public service peopled by workers willing to deploy their leadership potentials in the greater good of the state.

    He said this is the only way the state workforce can continue to retain its leadership position in the country.

    He urged public workers to be willing to initiate actions, maximise efficiency of time and resources, provide guidance and instill confidence in the citizens, concerning the policies and programmes of the government.

    Ambode made this known while drawing the curtain on a five-day training for the newly employed officers of the state at the Public Service Staff Development Centre, Magodo, Lagos.

    The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr Akintola Benson Oke, said to achieve this, he would continue to increase access of all categories of officers to training and retraining in order to ensure that adequate capacity needed to drive the smart city ideals to push the state forward are imbibed by all.

    Oke, in a speech titled: Preparing for a career in the Lagos State public service, delivered by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary Mr Senayon Hundeyin, the governor expressed  hope that the training had exposed the workers to essential problem solving skills needed to excel in the public service.

    “By this training, we hope you have been exposed to how you can develop the mind set needed to deploying these skills as this is mandatory for your success in a rapidly changing world as this is in our quest to build a public service of our dreams.”

    In his remarks, PSSDC’s Acting Director-General, Mr. Olufunmi Ajose-Harrison, said the induction, which was the third in the series, was organised for 220 workers that cut across all Ministries, Department and Agencies of the state.

    The course, according to him, was primarily designed to re-orientate the new entrants into the state public service about laid down procedures and familiarise them with the work environment.

    He said the training has exposed the new officers to the vision and strategies of the government, the rules and regulations guiding their conduct in public service, delineate public finance techniques and the management of government resources and the development of requisite skills to improve their career in the public service.

  • NLC to workers: prepare to vote out public officers

    NLC to workers: prepare to vote out public officers

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on workers to obtain their voter card with a view to voting out anti-labour public officers, who contribute to non-payment of salaries across the states.

    Its President, AyubaWabba, who stated this in Abuja, while reacting to the complaints of non-payment of salaries by local government workers through the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE)President, Ibrahim Khaleel, urged workers to vote out political office holders who oppose minimum wage.

    His words: “We must prepare to vote out governors or any political officer holder, who is refusing to pay us salary. We must continue to lament. We have the power, so we must use it this time. Workers, pensioners and their households, who are in one way or the other suffering the inhumane treatment of non-payment of workers’ wages, must be voted out of office in the next election.”

    He urged unions and workers to unite for a vibrant struggle against oppressive employers, adding: “Every member of the labour movement, irrespective of the union, must understand that it is only in unity that we can achieve our objective.

    “Therefore, we all must in solidarity play our part in order to achieve success. So, commitment, which,  of course, will bring us to working together, is the key.

    “And every leader, no matter the union or association in the labour movement, must consciously see the welfare of its members as very essential in all we do. It is, therefore, important that anytime we have a need for national action, all affiliates must deem it sacrosanct to mobilise their members for such action.”

    Also, Wabba stressed the importance of local government autonomy, saying: ‘’Local government areas are very important to the social-economic welfare of every citizen in Nigeria, because we all come from one LGA or the other. So, granting autonomy to LGA system in the country will in so many ways make things better for us all. In fact, it will pay the political elite a lot if they strengthen development in LGAs. Both influxes of people from rural areas to the urban cities and other vices that accompany rural-urban migration will drastically reduce’’

    Khaleel, who appreciated the leadership of NLC for initiating the familiarisation visits, urged the  the Congress to strengthen its relationship with affiliates and see all of them as important aspects of NLC’s existence.

    He further stressed that capacity building and inclusiveness are crucial in the effort of the NLC to survive the challenges ahead and succeed as an umbrella body of labour movement, which every other union and association should look up to and run to in times of need.

    While he expressed worries about the persistent trend of non-payment of salaries, especially to local government council workers, he said the N6,000 minimum wage, which the Zamfara State Government has continued to pay its workers was worrisome and shameful.

    He then called on the NLC to specifically intervene in cases involving the NLC Chairperson in Ogun State and the state government, and the seizing of Akwa Ibom State’s NULGE chapter’s check-off dues for five months by the state.

  • Workers: we’ve not fared better under Buhari

    Workers: we’ve not fared better under Buhari

    The last two years of the Buhari administration have been challenging for workers because of falling oil prices,  the fluctuating foreign exchange rate and loss of jobs, writes TOBA AGBOOLA.

    The last two years have been uneventful  for workers due to some developments in the developments which tested the resilience as the people.

    According to the organised labour, the economic situation was compounded by the massive corruption and maladministration by the past administration in all tiers of government.

    According to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, the country  has since run into full recession that has wreaked untold havoc on the economy and brought indescribable pain on the citizenry, especially, workers.

    He said the recession has affected and provoked reactions from various sectors, including organised labour.

     

    N400b bailout for salaries

    Few weeks after this administration took over, it approved a comprehensive relief package worth over N400billion to end the lingering crisis of unpaid salaries.

    The money was sourced from  Nigeria Liqufied Natural Gas (NLNG) proceeds to the Federation Account, and its release okayed by the president. It was a soft loan made available to states to access the  backlog of salaries.

    And a debt relief programme proposed by the Debt Management Office (DMO), which was to help states restructure their commercial loans  put at over N660billion, and extend the life span of such loans, while reducing their debt-servicing expenditures.

    The Organised labour, however, praised the Federal Government for coming to the rescue of state governments by approving cash.

    They, however, advocated that the  government, through the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, should work out modalities through which the money will be re- paid.

    The labour advised that this be actualised through monthly allocations from Federation Account funds of the affected states.

    Trade Union Congress President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, expressed strong reservations about the liquidation of the excess crude account as reported in some newspapers, emphasising that it would have kicked against the bailout but for its mindfulness of the pains of millions of workers and their families who would benefit from it.

    He warned the administration to guard against fifth columnists in its midst so as not to give Nigerians any reason to regret voting it into power.

    Nigeria Textile Union Secretary-General, Comrade Issa Aremu,  said no state government had excuse for not paying the workers.

    “It is quite commendable and we hope that all states will learn from this,” Aremu said.

    He said labour was happy Buhari was leaving up to his mandate, adding that it should try and sustain it.

    Aremu called on the Federal and state legislatures to rise up to the challenge of making good laws and exercising their oversight functions creditably.

    Labour re-new calls for minimum wage

    Few months after this government came in, the Organised Labour renewed calls for the N56,000 minimum wage.

    The organised labour comprising the NLC, the TUC and the  United  Labour Congress (ULC), demanded a new national minimum wage of atleast N56,000, even at a time that no fewer than 26 governors  owing arrears of salaries of between two and six months.

    Comrade  Wabba decried the non-inclusion of the new wage increase in the 2016/2017 fiscal year presented by Buhari before the joint session of the National Assembly.

    The NLC chieft, who decried the poor remuneration of average Nigerian worker, who earns N18,000 per month, amid recession, argued that the Congress might not guarantee industrial peace, if the government failed to constitute the tripartite committee to put mechanism in place for the implementation of the new Minimum Wage on or before May 1, 2017.

    ”The issue of minimum wage remains sacrosanct because of the fact that by law and practice, the review is due and overdue. I have said clearly that we cannot guarantee any industrial peace any longer if necessary steps are not taken by government to try to resolve this issue before the next May Day. This is very clear because as we said, we have sent formal notice of demand as required by law to government to try to constitute the Committee.

    “Essentially, the committee to dialogue and negotiate the minimum wage, which is supposed to be tripartite has not been set up. If it is set up, all of you will be aware of the membership and also their terms of reference and the timeline given to them to actually dispose with this very vital issue.

    “The issue is so sensitive because of the fact that a lot of our members have actually been subjected to a lot of difficulties because the purchasing power of ordinary workers has been reduced to virtually nothing because of the inflation in the system, the free fall of the naira and to compound it with high cost of goods and services. More so, most workers now cannot meet up with their daily needs, they can’t pay their rents, they can’t send their children to school.

    “It is even more compounded because cost of goods and services have gone up. So, side by side with the issue of fighting corruption is also for workers to be paid a decent wage that they can be able to have a meaningful living, so, this is the challenge,” the NLC chief lamented.

    While reacting to the non-inclusion of funds for the new minimum wage, the NLC chieftain expressed optimism that Federal Government and National Assembly will see reason to accommodate the fund when the tripartite agree on the new national minimum wage.

    NLC General Secretary, Comrade Peter Ozo-Eson called for the setting up of a tripartite committee to review  on what should be the new minimum wage.

    He said the N56,000 proposal was no more tenable because the figure was arrived at when the economy situation was not as bad as this.

     

    Govt responds to proposal

    Few weeks after the labour’s demand, the Federal Government had proposed N45,000 as against the N56,000  proposal by the NLC.

    Ordinarily, the news should be greeted with enthusiasm, but instead, it was greeted  with scepticism. Some Nigerians express concern that they are not sure if the government would meet up with an increment in minimum wage.

    Surprisingly, both Buhari and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige refused to be dragged into the new minimum wage debate as they left out that aspect in their speeches.

     

    Indefinite strike over fuel price hike

    The NLC and the TUC in  May, last year, embarked on an indefinite strike to protest the hike in pump price of petrol.

    This was the resolution the groups made at a meeting held at NLC headquarters in Abuja.

    The strike, which started around  midnight on Wednesday, May 18, last year, saw the two unions embarking on an indefinite strike.

    The union in statement said: “Our decision not to suspend the strike was further fuelled by today’s injunction by the Industrial Court, restraining us from proceeding on the strike expected to begin tomorrow”.

    However, while the NLC resolved to go ahead with its planned strike over fuel price hike, TUC opted out.

     

    Construction workers’ indefinite strike

    In March, last year, the Union of Civil Engineering, Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers(NUCECFWW) went on an indefinite strike.

    This arises from the failure of the union  and their employers to meet with agreements signed by the two parties some months ago.

    At a press conference  in Lagos, the National President of the union, Comrade Amechi Asugwuni, explained that the strike was to seek redress to recalcitrant attitude of construction employers under the aegis of Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI).

    According to Asugwuni,a document known as  NJIC, containing agreements on terms and conditions of service for all junior employees,  must be reviewed every two years.

     

    NLC condemns 45 percent increase in electricity tariff

    The NLC condemned the 45 per cent upward increase in electricity tariff, stating that it was not justifiable.

    The Congress in a communique at the end of its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Abuja said such an increase was inappropriate at this point in time with the challenges in the economy, which it said have adversely reduced the purchasing power of ordinary Nigerians and slowed down businesses, including manufacturing.

    The NLC in the communique signed by its President, Ayuba Wabba, and General Secretary, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, warned that the increase will be an additional heavy burden on consumers as well as have a telling effect on business especially manufacturing, hence therefore it has resolved to reject the tariff increase.

     

    Labour shut down Disco over increment in tariff

    The Organised Labour , thereafter, shut down the  Electricity Distribution Company (DISCOs) in Alausa, Ikeja over the 45 per cent hike in the electricity tariif.

    The protesters, which assembled around 7am, marched from Ikeja under bridge to DISCO office in Alausa.

    This resulted in a traffic jam on the Awolowo Way/Alausa road in Ikeja.

    Comrade Wabba said the hike in tariff was inhuman, following the refusal of the electricity offices to follow the law, which stipulated that they should give out prepaid meter to every consumer within 18 months of assumption of duties. He said labour was ready to shut down the economy, if the increase is not reversed.

     

    Labour, Civil Society protest over hardship

    Early this year, thousands of protesting workers  called on the Federal Government to create policies that would reduce the suffering of Nigerians and also provide food on their tables.

    The workers marched from Yaba, in Lagos through Ikorodu Road chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards.

    The protest was organised by the NLC and TUC and also joined by the civil society groups.

    NLC Vice President, Amaechi Asugwani, said workers appealed to the government to make changes that would impact positively on people.

    According to Asugwani, creating people’s oriented policies would reduce the level of poverty in the country.

    He said the rally was necessitated by the people’s outcry who are worried about the increasing cost of food, goods and services.

  • 10,000 youths to undergo skills development training

    10,000 youths to undergo skills development training

    The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in collaboration with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) is set to begin the second phase of its National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP).

    The scheme is under SMEDAN’s National Enterprises Development  Programme ( NEDEP) training  in 18 states.

    A statement by the SMEDAN’s Corporate Affairs Unit said the flag off ceremony would be performed by the agency’s Director-General/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda.

    The NIDSP programme is under a tripartite arrangement among ITF, SMEDAN and the Bank of Industry (BOI).

    The training is designed to cover 10, 000 participants, who will be trained in 54 centres across the 18 states.

    Earlier this year, SMEDAN trained over 10, 000 graduates of ITF vocational skills training on entrepreneurship and business development under the NIDSP programme.

  • ‘Increase retirees’ enrolment in contributory pension scheme’

    ‘Increase retirees’ enrolment in contributory pension scheme’

    The  Interim Chairman of the Management Committee of the First Guarantee Pensions Limited Comrade Issa Aremu  has called on the new management of the National Pension Commission (Pencom) to increase contributory pension scheme enrollment figure. He made this call  at a news conference in Abuja.

    Aremu, who is also the General Secretary of National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, noted that the current enrolment of less than seven million subscribers in the National Pension Commission was inadequate compared to the over 80 million  workers in the country.

    He  said: “The over six million workers already captured under the reform is commendable. But this number is a far cry from over 80 million potential work force in Nigeria.

    “The N6.5 trillion  funds contributed so far can hardly meet the future income adequacy of retirees, which underscores the need for an intensified effort on the part of the incoming leadership.”

    He stressed the need for all retirees under the scheme to be  paid their benefits as at when due.

    Aremu said under the previous management, pension assets grew from N2.9 trillion in 2012 to over N6.5 trillion in 2017, due to  the efforts of the past leadership of the Pencom.

    He recalled that Pencom set up the management with the mandate to superintend over the affairs of the Pension Fund Administrators (PFA) under the direct supervision of the commission after the former management was dissolved “for unsound corporate governance practices, which had significant adverse implication for the pension assets under the management of the PFA”.

  • NECA decries agencies’ attitude over tax

    NECA decries agencies’ attitude over tax

    The Nigerian Employers Consultative Association (NECA) has decried the  overbearing attitude of some revenue generating government agencies. This, the association said, has negative effects on their performance.

    Speaking on the forthcoming 60th anniversary of the Association, NECCA’s Director- General, Olusegun Oshinowo explained that there was every reason for the employers’ body to celebrate the anniversary.

    He argued that regulatory agencies’activities were threatening the survival of businesses despite employers’ efforts to function in a harsh operating environment.

    “Businesses are confronted by regulatory issues, chief among is multiple taxations. The various demands from the agencies are expected to be met by one company without the agencies being concerned as to the cash flow of that company. The effects of the challenges faced by the companies or the fact that the demands are from different agencies of government on companies are the redundancy exercise experienced in the country and closing down of businesses, among others,”he said.

    He mentioned lack of access to foreign exchange by the real sector, lack of raw materials for manufacturing companies, volatile exchange rates, high interest rates and the fall in crude oil price as some factors adversely affecting employers across the country.

    According to Oshinowo, NECA was in consultation with the Lagos Inland Revenue Service (LIRS) against restraining any of its member companies on tax issues without first consulting with it, adding that NECA was equally institutionalising the same understanding with other state boards of internal revenue services.

    While reiterating the employers’ body support for a new minimum wage, he explain that such negotiations must not be done without considerating the survival of businesses.

    His words: “It is within the rights of labour and anybody or institution to clamour for increment in the national minimum wage. However, certain factors must be taken into consideration before arriving at a new national minimum wage for the country.

  • NUPENG warns govt over PH refinery

    NUPENG warns govt over PH refinery

    The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has expressed worry over the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) entered into by the Federal Government and Oando Plc management. The government agreed to allow the oil firm manage Port Harcourt refinery, which is under repair, operate and maintain (ROM) it.

    Speaking with The Nation, NUPENG’s General-Secretary, Comrade Joseph Ogbebor said the arrangement is faulty, not transparent and did not involve the other stakeholders, especially the two oil workers’ unions – NUPENG and PENGASSAN.

    He  cautioned the Federal Government on the takeover bid by Oando, saying that the union will resist it, if it leads to job losses.

    Oando Plc., he said, was not a worker-friendly organisation as it detests unionisation in all its subsidiaries and companies.

    “It is not against the Federal Government’s reforms to overhaul the Oil and Gas sector, but it should not be to the detriment of the oil and gas workers.

    “We vowed to resist with full force the arrangement by Oando, if the oil workers who have put the refinery working with poor funding and obsolete equipment are thrown into the unemployment market by Oando,”  he said.

    Ogbebor said the change promised by the present administration is to generate more jobs and not kill jobs and that Oando, he alleged, is known for outsourcing and contracting jobs where such workers have no conditions of service and are not allowed to unionise.

    He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to involve the two unions, NUPENG and PENGASSAN in the arrangement before it is signed by the end of July, 2017, in order to avert a major industrial crisis in the Oil and Gas sector of the economy.

    Last week, the Federal Government  entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nigeria’s largest indigenous energy group, Oando Plc to manage the Port Harcourt Refinery under a repair, operate and maintain (ROM) arrangement.

    Oando’s Chief Executive Officer,  Mr. Wale Tinubu, who at a presentation on the underlying facts of the group’s operations at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in Lagos, said the group has received approval of the government to oversee the Port Harcourt Refinery.

    He noted that the group has deleveraged its balance sheet through the divestment of its upstream services company, Oando Energy Services, and embarked on the expansion of its retail and gas footprint through a strategic partnership with Helios Investment Partners and Vitol Group to re-capitalise its downstream business for $210 million, and the $115.8 equity buy-in of its Gas and Power business by Helios Investment Partners.

  • Monarch backs NULGE’s call for autonomy

    Monarch backs NULGE’s call for autonomy

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi has supported the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) over the call for Local Government autonomy, saying the traditional institution was  ready to support every move by the union.

    Speaking during a courtesy visit to his palace, Oba Ogunwusi said the advocacy by the union through the traditional rulers was long overdue.

    “Your advocacy is long overdue. You should have engaged the traditional institutions to right the wrong because we are all interested in development of the entire population. The closest government to the people are the local government authorities.

    “I assure you we will work together to get it to a logical conclusion. This is because you are being denied your right and you keep quiet, it is not right. If all the 774 local governments can be properly funded, development will spread faster than envisaged,” he concluded.

    National President of NULGE, Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel, said the union has embarked upon nationwide advocacy campaign due to the poor state of Local Government administration across the country.

    According to him, “We are here to pay homage and take the advocacy to palaces and royal fathers and we are starting from here. The role of this palace in the country shows that it is not by accident or sheer coincidence, but deliberately chosen baring in mind how close the palace is to the people and God we all serve.

    “You will agree, your majesty, that the purpose of creating local governments has been defeated and we think as workers we must make people know. We want better constitutional reforms to make local governments perform better.

    “The process and the fund meant for local government administration have been hijacked and it is time for all Nigerians to come together and canvass through a peaceful process for a better local government administration.”

    Comrade Khaleel argued that local government administration has suffered in the hands of governors due to the lacuna in the 1999 Constitution as amended.

    He emphasised five major areas where he sought for Oba Ogunwusi’s support, which include: expungement of state independent national electoral commission and allows only the INEC to conduct state elections; expungement of constitutional provision that established state/local governments joint accounts.