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Tag: Ayuba Wabba

  • NLC to tackle governors over unpaid salaries

    NLC to tackle governors over unpaid salaries

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Thursday said it will tackle state governors over non-payment and cuts in the salaries of workers in some states.

    The NLC president, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the congress would meet with all its state councils to encourage them to respond effectively to some of the challenges in the states.

    “We may declare a state of emergency over non-payment of salaries and we are going to have a meeting with all our state councils to respond effectively to some of these challenges.

    “We want to take stock of exactly what the issues are and we will also put appropriate employers on notice.

    “We will declare a state of emergency because workers should not be made to bear the brunt of the challenges because they are not responsible.

    “When the economy was good they did not enjoy, now that there is a challenge, they are the worst-hit, it should not be so. These are our arguments.

    “But when they are taking such decisions, they also have to be very balanced in taking such decision. It should not only apply to workers.

    “Political office holders are still collecting their money even though they are proposing the reduction, they are still collecting the security vote we are talking about and they are still issuing bogus contracts.”

    He said most countries that had experienced economy recession, had to take all interests into consideration before deciding to either cut salaries or stop payment of workers.

    Wabba explained that salaries were not an allocation to workers, but remunerations earned in line with international best practices and in consonance with Convention 138 of the International Labour Organisation.

    He added: “Salaries of workers are not an allocation, therefore, the pronouncement by some of these governors, I think it is something that needs to be condemned.

    “We are condemning it in strong terms, how much is N18,000?

    “How much is the quantum of money that the governors are collecting and looting, let them compile it so that we can all see it.

    “Do not also forget, these workers need to leave a decent life and to work and provide such services.

    “If you do not pay them or pay them half of their salary, how would they leave a decent life?

    “How will these workers be able to take care of their immediate needs?’’

  • NLC to FG: Pay your debts to states

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Thursday asked the Federal Government to refund to the state governments money spent on maintenance of federal roads in the states to enable them settle outstanding workers’ salaries and allowances.

    Some state governors have accused the federal government of failing to refund several billions of naira spent on maintenance of federal roads and other federal institutions in their states.

    President of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba, said in a statement in Abuja that the federal government should verify such claims and make refund to the states.

    He added that such intervention will help in ensuring salaries and pensions are regularly paid by state governments.

    On the new Central Bank policy, Wabba said what the policy implies is that Nigerians will be forced to pay higher prices for goods and services without commensurate increase in salaries.

     

     

     

     

  • We are awaiting invitation to return for negotiation – NLC

    We are awaiting invitation to return for negotiation – NLC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said on Thursday it was standing alone in the ongoing protest against fuel price hike.

    The President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, who spoke on the second day of the strike called by labour to protest the price hike, said it was yet to receive any invitation from the government to return to the negotiating table.

    He said: “This is about policy engagement. This action is to resist a policy that has been imposed on us and therefore we have made the point clearly. NLC must be seen to be consistent in standing by the truth and by the people to the extent that those policies are not consistent with the ideas of ensuring social justices.

    “We will continue to resist the N145 fuel pump price which has been imposed on us because this is a further exploitation and increase to the hardship in the land. Therefore we thought that we should make this position known. We are not worried that we are fighting this battle alone, because historically NLC has always stand with people.

    “Let me also tell you one important fact that Nigerians do not known. This process of continuous importation, if we are not careful, the fuel cabal has now taken over and will determine how the product will be sold. That is why it will be difficult for refineries to be revived.  They said that it is only market force that can determine the price.”

     

  • Why states can’t pay workers’ salaries – NLC

    Why states can’t pay workers’ salaries – NLC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said on Tuesday that the inability of state governments across the country to pay staff salaries has nothing to do with over blotted civil service, but reckless spending by state governors and failure to save for the rainy days.

    Reacting to a statement credited to former presidential adviser on media. Dr. Doyin Okupe, asking states to sack civil servants, the president of the NLC, Comrade, Ayuba Wabba said in a statement that retrenching civil servants was a panacea to irregular payment of salaries.

    He said the congress believes that the states are where they are because of serial acts of corruption in the past, failure to save for a rainy day, high cost of governance (via employment of unneeded aides on criminally high salaries), unlawful and equally unacceptable severance packages for ex-governors and their deputies, cost of political expediency and failure to invest.

    The statement reads: “Ordinarily, we would not have responded to Doyin Okupe, former Senior Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan when he urged governors in a statement few days ago, to retrench civil servants as a panacea to irregular payment of salaries, because we know him.

    “In his jaundiced argument, very much unlike one who is truly deserving of his certificate from a medical school, Okupe said, “virtually all state governments in the country have over-bloated civil service.”

    “To underscore this point, he said between ‘2008 and 2009, Ogun State received N2 billion monthly from the federation account and paid out N1.8billion as staff salaries, wages and overhead costs’ to civil servants not more than 50,000 in a state with a population of 5,000,000.

    “In his view therefore it was ‘an obvious socio-economic absurdity and incongruity where 10 per cent of the population was consuming 90 per cent of the wealth of the state.’

    “Okupe is bandying political statistics and this is neither good for his health nor the health of those with whom he seeks to ingratiate himself. We at the Nigeria Labour Congress believe in the equitable distribution of the nation’s resources.  We will not subscribe to a situation whereby 10 per cent corner 90 per cent of the resources of the state.”

  • NLC, TUC propose N56,000 as new minimum wage

    NLC, TUC propose N56,000 as new minimum wage

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have jointly proposed N56,000 as the new minimum wage to the Federal Government as against the present N18,000.

    The NLC president, Ayuba Wabba, said this at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Wabba said both the NLC and the TUC made the formal demand on the proposed national minimum wage to the Federal Government on Tuesday.

    “I can say now authoritatively that as of yesterday (Tuesday) we made a formal proposal to the Federal Government of N56,000 to be the new minimum wage.

    “The demand has been submitted officially to government and we hope that the tripartite system to look at the review will actually be set up to look at it.

    “Our argument is that, yes, it is true that the economy is not doing well, but the law stated that wages for workers must be review after every five years.

    “So, the issue must be looked into by the Federal Government and workers should not be seen as sleeping on their rights,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the NLC president as saying at the forum.

    Wabba recalled that the last review of the national minimum wage was done in 2011, saying the setting up of a tripartite committee to review the newly proposed national minimum wage was long overdue.

    He said it was imperative that government should set up the tripartite committee for the review of the new minimum wage.

     

  • Senate inflated cost of cars for members – NLC

    Senate inflated cost of cars for members – NLC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday said the Senate leadership inflated the unit cost of the Toyota Land Cruiser jeeps it procured for Senators by over 100 percent, demanding that the cars be returned immediately to the suppliers.

    The NLC also accused the Senate of spending money without appropriation when it publicly admitted that its standing committees cannot carry out their functions due to paucity of funds.

    In a statement made available to The Nation in Abuja and signed by its President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, the congress said while the senate purchased each of the cars for N35.1 million, the actual market price of the vehicles stands at N17 million.

    The NLC said the Senate should prepare for a show down with Nigerian workers, civil society organisations, women groups and students if they fail to return the vehicles to the suppliers.

    The statement reads: “We consider appalling, insensitive and greedy the decision of the Senate to acquire 108 Toyota Land Cruiser jeeps (one for each member less the Senate President) after collecting car loans in August last year for the same purpose.

    “It is equally morally despicable and shameful that they are doing this after publicly admitting that the standing committees of the Senate are unable to perform their statutory functions due to paucity of funds.

    “We at the Nigeria Labour Congress equally consider it a willful and grievous criminal act, the inflation of the unit cost of each of the cars by over a 100 percent, as each car supposedly cost N35.1 million instead of N17 million.

    “Aside from this, Nigerians are keen to know from where they got money for the purchase of these cars without appropriation.

    “The defence offered by the Senate spokesperson, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, is laughable and childish. According to him, Special Advisers use jeeps, why not Senators or do Nigerians expect them to trek to work? And in any case, cars are capital projects!

    “Couldn’t this have been put to better uses such as the constituency projects of these same Senators?  At a time with severe economic challenges and deepening poverty in the land, can the Senate afford this level of reckless luxury and arrogance?

    “The answer is, “No.”

    “Their multiple acts of criminality, ranging from acquiring these cars after previously taking loans for the same purpose, spending money without appropriation and over inflating costs constitute not just corruption but a crime against the Nigerian people whom they claim to represent.

    “Accordingly, we demand they return those cars to whoever supplied them or the appropriate agencies prosecute them for corruption. In the event none of this happens, they should be prepared to keep a date with Nigerian workers and their civil society allies including market women and students. No one is above the law.”

  • NLC, NASS, govt meet over reversal of electricity tariff

    NLC, NASS, govt meet over reversal of electricity tariff

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Wednesday assured Nigerians that organised labour has commenced the process of compelling the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission and operators of the nation’s power sector to reverse the recent increase in electricity tariff.

    President of the Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said in a statement made available to The Nation in Abuja that organised Labour held series of meetings with the leadership of the National Assembly and the Government with a view to effecting the tariff reversal.

    He expressed gratitude to Nigerians for turning out enmass across the country to protest the increase in tariff, pointing out that organised labour still believe that Nigerians should not be made to pay for the inefficiencies of operators of the power sector.

    The statement reads:”The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and our colleagues in the Trade Union Congress wish to express our profound appreciation and gratitude to Nigerian workers and people for coming out en mass across the country on the nationwide protest rally we called to voice our opposition to the 45 percent increase in electricity tariff which came into effect on February 1, 2016.

    “We wish to, in particular, commend our civil society allies who stood firmly with organised labour through the planning and execution of the February 8th rally. We thank Nigerians from all walks of life who saw the wisdom of our action and identified with the campaign.

    “Since the nationwide rally, the leadership of organised labour and our colleagues in civil society have been meeting with the leadership of the National Assembly, with the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, being present to underscore the importance they attach to this issue which affects every household in the country.

    “We are also having a meeting with the Federal Government under the Chairmanship of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, Minister of Labour and Employment Senator Chris Ngige with a view to annulling the 45 percent tariff increase.

    “We wish to assure all Nigerians that we are focused on the main objective of our campaign to ensure that the tariff increase does not stand.

    “As we have argued in the course of the rally, we maintain that Nigerians should not be compelled to pay more for darkness, against the background of the flagrant disregard of the terms on which the distribution companies (DISCOs) and generation companies (GENCOs) were awarded our common patrimony in the name of privatisation.

    These companies have failed, for instance, to provide prepaid metres as stipulated in the terms of their contract. They have instead continued to violate this special clause by charging and forcing consumers to pay the arbitrary tariffs they have imposed, even as they fail most of the time to provide them the required electricity.”

    NLC President commended the governor for having the courage to reverse his action and recall the about 6000 workers wrongly sacked and expressed the hope that the committee set up to implement the agreement reached between labour and the government will faithfully carry out its assignment.

    He said: “The leadership of both NLC and TUC also wish to express appreciation to all affiliate industrial unions for mobilising their members to turn out in massive numbers for our action of closing down government and commercial activities in Owerri, the lmo State capital on February 10, 2016 to press home our demands for the recall of about 6000 lmo State workers in government parastatals wrongly sacked by the state governor, Rochas Okorocha.

    “While we thank the entire people of Imo State for their uncommon understanding and solidarity with our actions to protect the fundamental rights of workers in the state, we wish to acknowledge Governor Okorocha for having the courage to reverse himself once we convinced him that his action was unlawful and wrongheaded.

    “It is our hope that the committee put in place to implement the agreement entered into between us and the lmo State government will faithfully implement the terms of the agreement so that we could put behind us the ugly and unpleasant situation created by the purported sacking of the workers.

    “Our hope is that governments in other states, or even at the federal level, will learn from the lmo State case, to avoid creating situations that will bring organised labour to be at loggerheads with them on account of unjust and anti-worker policies.”

  • NLC condemns blowing-up of pipelines in Niger-Delta

    NLC condemns blowing-up of pipelines in Niger-Delta

    The Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) on Sunday in Abuja condemned the renewed blowing-up of major oil and gas pipelines by suspected militants in the Niger-Delta region.

    Mr Ayuba Wabba, NLC President, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the issue of national security should not be taken lightly. “Pipeline vandalism is highly condemnable; this should not be allowed to happen in a civilized society,’’ he said.

    According to him, oil and gas pipeline vandalism will contribute largely to the air and water pollution of the region and reduce the revenue base of the country. Wabba said that pipeline vandalism was a threat to national security; therefore, the issue should not be taken lightly.

    He advised the Niger-Delta militants to engage in dialogue with the Federal Government rather than confrontation in resolving issues. He urged the Federal Government to sustain the amnesty programme as it would serve as a means of addressing some of the challenges in the region.

    “I hope that the renewed blowing-up of major oil and gas pipelines is not as a result of the ongoing probe of some political leaders in the region.

    “ Our call is that the government should remain focus in its fight against corruption and it should not be tired by whatever pressure.

    “We also want to appreciate what the security agencies have been able to do in terms of protecting the pipelines in the region, they should put in more efforts to contain the crisis, ”Wabba said.

    He assured Nigerians that the NLC would give its support to the Federal Government to protect important installations in the region and the country at large.

  • ‘NLC not party to calls for Saraki’s resignation’

    ‘NLC not party to calls for Saraki’s resignation’

    The Nigeria Labour Congress said on Monday it was not party to calls for the resignation of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

    The body also called for an immediate investigation into death of Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.

    NLC in a statement signed by its president, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said it has never made any comment on the trial of the Senate President by the Code of Conduct Tribunal and has not made any call for his resignation.

    The statement reads “The attention of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has been drawn to the report on The Punch Newspaper of Sunday, September 27, 2015 captioned: “Resign now, labour unions tell Saraki.”

    “The report stated that “Nigerian workers, under the umbrellas of the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, have asked the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, to vacate his office pending the determination of his case at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.”

    “We wish to state categorically clear that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) did not issue any statement to that effect.  As a matter of fact, Congress has never made such a demand and therefore dissociates itself from the statement. We therefore urge the general public and our members in particular to please take note.

    “The recent mass rally by NLC/TUC and civil society allies in Abuja was to support the anti-corruption crusade of the current administration as well as enthronement of good governance in the country. While Congress will continue to support the anti-graft war, it will however not support the removal of any public office holder without recourse to due process.

    “Labour values security of tenure unless there is a proven case of guilt which clearly is not yet the case with particular reference to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, whose controversial matter of alleged false declaration of assets is still in court. Congress as a democratic organization presumes all Nigerians, workers inclusive are innocent until they are proved guilty by the courts of law of the land.”

     

  • NLC insists on capital punishment for treasury looters

    NLC insists on capital punishment for treasury looters

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has insisted on capital punishment for corrupt public office holders in the country.
    The labour union said it is opposed to life imprisonment for treasury looters, adding that the country is not ripe for that.
    NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba spoke with reporters in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital on Saturday during his condolence visit to former NLC vice president, Issa Aremu on the death of her mother, Hafsat.
    “For us change means food on the table of the ordinary Nigerian person and not money in the pocket of few. Today many people are living below $1 per day and over 70 per cent of Nigeria are living like that. Change means changing this equation where there will be food in the table of all Nigerians; where our children can go to public schools.
    ” Most of the people in authority went to public schools. What we are saying in essence is that we must canvass for positive change.
    “We must canvass for capital punishment. It is only people who are stealing that will go against it. If we are campaigning for capital punishment and people are kicking against it, we must be consistent because people are reaping from where they have not sown. Except we begin to do the needful, it will be difficult to change our society.
    “If you have followed up our argument, we have said clearly that part of why we are in this quagmire of challenges is that a lot of people have appropriated the resources that we need to drive development,” the NLC President stated.