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Tag: Comrade Ayuba Wabba

  • Minimum wage battle is not over, says Wabba

    Comrade Ayuba Wabba is the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). In this interview with Victor Oluwasegun and Tony Akowe, he speaks on the new minimum wage, unionizing the Police and other paramilitary agencies, and issues concerning the Nigerian workers and the country as a whole. Excepts

    MAY 1 is considered as a day for workers. What has been the progress made so far and the challenges?

    Symbolically, May 1 is to celebrate workers. It is a day set aside to look at the conditions of workers around the world. We have also used the opportunity of the May Day to canvass policy options that will bring about social justice in our system that will be able to address the challenges of workers. There has been some progress and challenges and progressively, most of the gains that workers have been able to achieve. It is given that when a worker works, he deserves his pay and so, the issue of his monthly pay should not be an issue. But recently, you have seen that in some states and local government and even in some private entities, the issue of workers’ wages is taken for granted. Regular payment of salaries is becoming a challenge because our political elites no longer prioritise the welfare of workers as it used to be. Therefore, it has become a continuous struggle between capital and labour. So, we have continued to make sure that policies are not made in such a way that it will put labour at a very disadvantaged position. Global wealth in the last two decades has more than tripled, but what is the condition of workers around the

    world, especially here in Nigeria. If you look at the previous years and what we have now, you will discover that we have not made progress and the little progress we have made are being eroded. If you look at the issue of the minimum wage, as far back as 1981, the N120 minimum wage was equivalent to $2,440. In 2011, the N18,000 minimum wage was hovering around 140 dollars. But today, we are even discussing to increase the minimum wage of N30,000 which is less than $100 and people are finding it difficult to pay that. Today, you have seen that there are lots of challenges, workers no longer have decent living, many workers cannot send their children to school, many of them cannot have three meals per day and many others cannot pay their bills.

    We have also used the May Day to make progress. The struggle for the first May Day was to ensure workers get eight hours of work per day. Before then, workers worked like slaves. If you fall ill, you’re replaced and business continues. It was through the agitation of workers that we were able to get the eight hours a day, forty hours per week, maternity leave, leave allowance, leave days among others. All these were not achieved on a platter of gold, but through our collective struggle as working class. Therefore, these have been some of the achievements and there are some challenges that are on ground.

    For Nigeria as a member nation of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), what have been the gains after 60 years as a member?

    Substantially, let me say that Nigeria has keyed into the adoption and ratification of the eight conventions. Nigeria is the first country in Africa to do so. Precisely, we did that in October 1960 under a democratic progressive government where the eight conventions were ratified by Nigeria. That is the foundation because you can’t put something on nothing. That is the foundation of the progress we have made. Despite operating under a military regime that didn’t want freedom of workers to be respected, but because those conventions were put in place, they found it difficult to either use force or try to undermine those conventions. Each time those conventions were undermined; ILO has

    come down hard on Nigeria. If you remember, on two occasions, the NLC was dissolved, but it was still recognised internationally as the trade union body representing the interest of Nigerian workers and within that period, the President of the NLC, Comrade Ali Ciroma continued to serve on the governing board of the ILO. So, without standards, the rules will not be respected and the rules have so far been respected in Nigeria and where there are infractions, we have avenue to lodge complaints and they will be looked into and addressed. So, progressively, Nigeria has been able to achieve a lot within the umbrella of the ILO. You will recall that we are the first country in Africa to host the field office of the ILO as far back as 1959 and Nigeria is the first country to host the regional conference of ILO.

    The issue of the minimum wage has practically been laid to rest with the signing of the law ad we are now going into the implementation stage. How do you intend to drive the process to ensure that it is implemented without any hitch particularly within the state and private sector level?

    I will say that it has not been finally laid to rest because it has three legs. We have been able to pass the first two huddles. The first huddle is agreeing on a figure and you will recall that it was an issue that went forward and backward. But because we were able to inform all those concerned that when you agree on a collective bargaining table, you take all issues into considerations, including the ability to pay as well as the interest of the organised private sector and the informal sector. That was how the NLC was able to negotiate and ensure that we have an increase. That is the rationale behind accept

    ing the N30,000. You could recall that our demand was actually N66,500. Even that was just to bring back the value of N18,000 minimum wage which was about 140 dollars. That is actually the logic in that argument. But on the negotiating table, there is always the process of give and take and that was how we agreed on the N30,000 which is not something that should be argued about.  But you saw how some people tried to twist the information, including trying to bend the truth. The beauty of it is that you can bend the truth, but truth will always remain and will surface at the end of the day. We presented the fact at the public hearing saying negotiations are like consent judgments. Once you concede to an issue, you can’t go back to court and say, no, I did not agree. We told them that this was like a consent judgment because all agreed on the N30,000. I want to thank NECA for their efforts. Despite the fact that they are in business for profits, they have not let us down. They are people that have remained very honourable and told the public hearing that the N30,000 was mutually agreed and that they stand by that. That was how we passed the first huddle with the two chambers of the National Assembly passing the bill. We must put on record, our appreciation to the House of Representatives because they assured us that once the bill is introduced to parliament, they will pass it into law within three days and they did just that in a celebrated manner. The bill was also signed by Mr. President and with that, N30,000 has come to stay. It is now legal and everybody that does not pay is infringing on our laws.

    Does that include the private companies?

    Yes. In fact, I don’t think the private companies have issues because most of them are very passionate and some of them are paying higher than that and they are ready to pay higher. Clearly, the issue is with the local government and states that are not ready to utilise the resources that abound in their domains, but rely on monthly handouts from the centre.

    But there is a law that says you can’t mine the resources within your domain.

    We are not talking about mining, but internally generated revenue. Every state can use their ingenuity to generate more revenue and augment whatever comes from the federal allocation. There is no state in Nigeria that does not have revenue, but the problem is accounting for the revenue. In fact, in most cases, the revenue has become pocket money for the boys and not accounted for. So, we want the internally generated revenue to be accounted for. We have also progressively put some recommendations in place on how the federal government can generate revenue and one is the issue of tax. We have looked at our tax to GDP and discovered that we are the lowest in Africa because it is only workers that pay correct tax. Our rich men don’t pay tax. We have many billionaires who only declare profit, but not what they pay as tax. We need to make sure that our tax to income is something that is progressively expanded to cover everybody. If we do this, there will be more than enough. In fact, most countries of the world rely so much on tax to develop their economies. In our own case, it is only workers that pay the tax. Second, is managing our God given resources. For example in the oil and gas sector, Nigeria has no basis importing refined product and exporting crude oil. Countries like Singapore that does not have oil, have a refinery. We now take our crude oil, transport it, pay taxes and levies to go and refine it and import the refined products does not make economic sense. That is why we have had tremendous wastage in the oil and gas. That is

    why the issue of subsidy is still there; that is why the issue of transparency has become a challenge in the management of those resources. As far back as 2008, NLC had a well-documented position on the so called subsidy or deregulation or whatever name you call it. We sat with government and they pleaded for a four year moratorium to fix our refineries and end the regime of importation. That has not taken place till now, nothing has happened and the situation has continued under different regimes. Therefore, that is the centrality of our problem. Our entire economic challenge is tied to this particular issue. It is an area where we have comparative advantage. There is no OPEC country today that does not refine crude oil for domestic use. The existing refineries can actually meet our domestic consumption need. Refineries can be upgraded. We brought one of the best Nigerians from Texas who consults for many countries including OPEC to give us a position paper on how to fix our oil and gas and he gave us a very good paper. We are trying to dust that paper now and write a white paper to government that this thing can be done. He told us how to ensure the security of the pipelines, how to ensure that our refineries are upgraded and are working optimally; what can be done to care for the entire West African market as well as the resources that will accrue to Nigeria and the jobs that will be created.

    There is also the issue of casualisation especially with the foreign companies. What is the NLC going to do to ensure they benefit?

    The law is very explicit. Once you are employing 25 workers and above, you should implement the minimum wage. We are aware that people actually under declare, but we’re going to make sure that implementation is enforced. Even if they are casual staff or the services are outsourced, that does not exclude them from the minimum wage. The exclusion from the minimum wage is very explicit. So, those categories of workers will still benefit from the minimum wage.

    Don’t you think that the wage increase will trigger inflation?

    I am yet to have an empirical date

    to link minimum wage to the issue of inflation in Nigeria. When the 2011 minimum wage was implemented, our inflation rate dropped and for two years, the inflation rate actually dropped and you can confirm that from the National Bureau of Statistics. There are many things responsible for inflation and not essentially minimum wage. If today the exchange rate is stabilised and we are able to get exchange rate of about N200 to the dollar, cost of goods and services will also come down. The issue is that most of the things we use in Nigeria are imported and they are tied to the exchange rate. At every point the exchange rate fluctuates, the cost is transferred to the consumer. So, there is no direct empirical data that links the issue of minimum wage to the hyper inflation that we have had. When the last minimum wage was implemented, the exchange rate was less than N200 and there are several reasons why the rate of inflation has gone up. So, I don’t expect that there will be inflation that will be out of proportion as a result of the minimum wage.

    The country is using the dual exchange regime whereby at CBN official rate and the parallel market rates are causing dislocations in the economy.  What is your take?

    Yes! We have dual exchange rates, one in the open market, and the one being sold by the CBN. I think the CBN rate is around N306 which, if you’re travelling, will be given a limited amount you can use. This regime has continued for quite some time. I think it has also assisted in stabilizing the exchange rate because the time the exchange rate was even going as far as N500 to the dollar. So it has assisted but it has not addressed the problem permanently because the fact that demand and supply are still regulating the system because the demand seems to be higher and the supply from Central Bank seems to be lower. In this case: the price will continue to fluctuate. That is why despite the fact that the official rate is N306, we have not been able to reflect that in the parallel market because the gap is still very huge from N306 to about N360 or N358. Therefore I think the way forward is to try to see how this gap can be eliminated. If the

    exchange rate can be brought down to 306, in the official level and parallel market level, then the cost of goods and services will also come down.

    Technology is taking over the jobs of humans. This is a big challenge for workers across the globe. At the level of ITUC, what do you think needs to be done?

    ITUC has prioritized three issues: democracy, workers’ rights, and the issue of peace. And the three are inter-related and the level of ITUC we are campaigning for a just transition. Just transition means that even as we progress into the digital world, the issue of workers’ rights must continue to receive the attention it deserves and that workers must continue to have better conditions of service. We’ve looked at the issue of also the new forms of work particularly the digital economy. I’ve seen clearly four companies around the world whose GDP is more than the GDP of the entire African continent, this includes Amazon. The GDP is over $20 trillion which is the GDP of the entire African continent. So clearly, going into the future it’s actually the digital platform that will control the entire world economy. Whereas the average growth in the entire African continent is between 3.5 to 5%.

    During the May Day you talked about unionising the Police, how do you hope to achieve that?

    It’s about our law because in South Africa the police is unionised, in Britain, our colonial master, the Police is unionised, but there was a law that was put in place, if you remember, during Babangida where they said that the paramilitary, including Police…remember we had a union for Customs and Immigrations Service, and even in the report of ILO, that proscription is still being challenged, and ILO has given a verdict that those workers have a right to be unionised.  In a country where even where without a union, the Police has gone on strike, it’s better to organise and unionise them to take their rights and interest.  We’re working on some laws that will allow those categories of workers to be unionised. We can only sleep with our eyes closed if those people are working and progressing. We need to know what are the challenges of insecurity.

    You’re recently re-elected. What would you say this office and the struggled have cost you?

    For us the struggle is our life and NLC is an organization that has a set of rules, a set of standards, and an ideology for a just society and that has been how our leaders have been elected. You must have politics, voters must also have some confidence in you. I’m happy that they have appreciated the little effort we have been making, working under difficult conditions in the past four years. We have done our best to make sure the plight of workers is heard and their issues raised. We have also been on the streets in various platforms to make sure that the workers issue is being given desired attention and that they are partners in progress. I think these are some of the things that the union has seen that made them return me back unopposed.

    Do you subscribe to the idea of part-time legislators?

    Certainly. Politics should not be an occupation. It is a service. Every politician should have something to do, a business. You must be a tested professional in many other jurisdictions. That is how you will understand legality and the importance of the office you have been elected into. But when someone has nothing to do, if elected, they will not be able to understand the importance of that office.

     

     

     

  • NLC insists on prolonged strike from Jan 8 if…

     

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has insisted on embarking on a prolonged strike from January 8 should government fails to implement the new N30,000 National Minimum Wage.

    Its National President Comrade Ayuba Wabba told our correspondent that the strike will become inevitable should the government fail to do the needful.

    He appealed to workers across the nation to support the action to succeed in the interest of their social and economic prosperity.

    Wabba called on Federal Government to urgently transmit the bill on the new national minimum wage to the National Assembly for.

    He said: “It is unfortunate that the Federal Government is yet to transmit to the National Assembly an executive bill for the enactment of N30,000 as the new national minimum wage.

    “Government’s dilly-dallying on the issue has strained Government-Labour relations with a potential for a major national strike which could just be days away.

    “I want to appeal to the government to do the needful by urgently transmitting the bill on the new national minimum wage to the National Assembly.

    “We also would like to use this same opportunity to urge workers to fully mobilise for a prolonged national strike and enforce their right.”

    Explaining the strike becomes inevitable the last option for labour, the NLC president called on all Nigerians and businesses to understand and support it.

    He however assured workers that their labour, patience and diligence would not be in vain.

    Wabba said the NLC leadership remains committed to giving all it takes to ensure workers get just and fair wages in a decent work environment appropriate to their well-being.

    He added that the NLC leadership is similarly committed to social protection for workers.

    “The new year presents great opportunities for workers, pensioners, civil society allies and their friends and families to put their numbers to good use.

    “This is by voting out, not on the basis of tribe or religion but purely policy, any candidate that cannot serve their interest.

    “In the year that is ahead of us, the NLC remains unequivocally committed to the national and workers’ goals which include the campaign for industrialisation, against selective enforcement of “No Work, No Pay” policy of government, among others,” he said.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Minimum wage: FG insensitive to workers, says NLC

     

    • Vows to mobilise workers against governors

    The delay in forwarding a bill to the National Assembly on the new minimum wage by the federal government is a demonstration of insensitivity to the plights of workers, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has stated.

    The Congress also condemned what it described as sustained deployment of brute force by political office holders to harass, hound and victimise workers and labour leaders.

    Such actions, it said, will no longer to acceptable to workers in the country.

    Rising from the National Executive Council meeting, the Congress said it planned to embark on sensitisation of workers beginning from January 8, especially against governors in the habit of not paying salaries.

    In a communique signed by the President and General Secretary of Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, the Congress said: “The continued delay by the Federal Government to transmit the Bill of the new national minimum wage to the National Assembly for enactment into law is unacceptable.

    “This leisurely conduct of serious state affairs is even after the National Assembly had passed a Resolution urging the President and the Executive branch of government to transmit the new national minimum wage amendment bill to it for consideration and passage into law.

    “The NEC expressed total dissatisfaction with the consequential delay and unacceptable lethargy in the process of regularizing and implementing the new national minimum wage of N30,000.

    “The calculated inaction of the Federal Government is a demonstration of acute insensitivity to the plight of Nigerian workers, their families and ordinary citizens.”

    The Congress particularly took strong exceptions to the unrelenting attitude of the Ogun State Government to frustrate efforts to peacefully reinstate NLC chairman in Ogun State, Comrade Akeem Ambali, who was sacked in the middle of a 2016 strike action to protest injustice against Ogun State workers.

    “The Comrade has been made to suffer unfair treatment for nearly two years on account of the performance of his legitimate duties.

    “This ugly situation has persisted despite repeated emissaries sent to the Ogun State Governor to reconsider his unsupportable position on the issue.

    “The entrenched insensitivity by some state governments and other political office holders to the plight of workers and pensioners especially in the States owing several months of salary arrears, unpaid pension and gratuity of retired workers.

    “It is most unfortunate that many of the governors diverted a significant part of the bailout funds and the Paris Club Refund initiatives meant to offset salaries, pension and gratuity owed workers and pensioners for purposes of personal aggrandisement and to fund non-impactful frivolous programmes and projects.

    “The NEC demanded a full investigation by the EFCC of the disbursement of all bailout, Paris Club Refund and Budget support releases to the States.”

     

     

     

  • Minimum wage: Organised Labour rejects FG’s technical committee

    Labour leaders have rejected plans by the Federal Government to set up another high-powered technical committee on the new national minimum wage.

    Leaders of the union comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the United Labour Congress (ULC) stated this in a communiqué jointly signed at the end of a national leadership meeting of organised labour in Nigeria.

    They dismissed the establishment of another committee in Lagos on Thursday as diversionary and delay tactics.

    They lamented almost two months after submission of the report by the national minimum wage tripartite committee, which included a draft bill, no bill has been submitted to the National Assembly for passage into law.

    NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said: “As far as we are concerned, all the issue has been addressed by the Tripartite Committee.

    “This one is a delay tactic by the Federal Government and it will not work”.

    ULC President Comrade Joe Ajaero said it is not the duty of the Federal Government to know how the states or private sector will implement the minimum wage.

    “Federal Government should allow the labour union in each state to discuss with their states government on how to start the implementation,” Ajaero said.

    They explained the Federal Government was expected to transmit the new national minimum wage bill to the national Assembly on or before the 31st of December 2018.

    They noted the Federal Government was planning to set up a high-powered technical committee, which they considered alien to the tripartite process and ILO convention on national minimum wage setting mechanism.

    They urged workers to be vigilant and prepared to campaign and vote against candidates and political parties not supportive of implementations of the new national minimum wage.

    TUC’s President Comrade Bobboi Kaigama said if government fails to transmit the bill to the National Assembly for implementation on or before 31st of December, labour will re-open the suspended strike.

    “Organised Labour will not guarantee industrial peace and harmony if after the 31st of December 2018, the draft bill is not transmitted to the national assembly,” he said.

     

  • Oshiomhole: I stand with workers on minimum wage

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has backed workers on demands for a new minimum wage.

    He said paying refusal to pay a living wage amounts to creating a circle of poverty for the masses.

    The former Edo State governor said improving the purchasing powers of workers cannot be overemphasised because when people cannot afford good and services, manufacturers are forced to close shops, leading to loss of jobs.

    He said there was no basis for governors to insist on not paying what he described as living wage to workers.

    He assured workers President Muhammadu Buhari will not do anything that will undermine their welfare.

    Oshiomhole spoke at a reception for President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Ayuba Wabba on his election as President of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and Financial Secretary of NLC, Comrade Safiyanu Mohammed, who was appointed as the Africa regional secretary of the International Transport Federation.

    He said if governors of the 36 states receive the same salaries irrespective of their revenue bases, there was no reason why wages of workers should not be the same across the country.

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    The former NLC President said: “I am sure you must have read some of my comments on the minimum wage. I have told people that even I was to become the Secretary General of the United Nations I am a creation of Labour and I will never, publicly or privately, do anything that will undermine or do anything that is designed to possibly affect the welfare of Nigeria workers.

    “I am a believer Nigeria needs to have a National minimum wage. I do not belong to those who say because we are in a Federation, we should have different wages.

    “I join in amplifying that we cannot apply the principles of federalism separately.

    “If we have the National Salaries and Wages Commission that makes it possible for me as governor of Edo State presiding over about 4.3 million population to earn the same salary as the governor of Kano and Lagos state who are presiding over 15 million, that argument cannot change when it comes to fixing a National minimum wage.

    “The primary purpose of government is the welfare of the people. The most portent asset of the people is the state that protects you from the oppressor.

    “This President is not about to put that asunder no matter the pressure from any section of governors or state.

    “I believe that we have to work together not only to get wages fixed, but to ensure also that they are paid. When the President makes public statements like the ones he has made, he has challenged you to take advantage and make sure that when he provide those resources as he has done almost four times, you ensure that they are used for the purpose for which he provided the money. If you don’t, I don’t think you have someone else to blame.

    On the position of governors that they cannot pay the N30, 000 demanded by labour as minimum wage, Oshiomhole: “Minimum wage is not about party but about Nigeria.

    “When I was a member of the governors’ forum, I did publicly advise my colleagues then that when it comes to the issue of minimum wage, I am not with them. Not only secretly but publicly too, I am going to dissociate myself.

    “I believe that we need a National minimum wage. I believe that Nigeria is capable of paying a National minimum wage.

    “I believe the primary purpose of government is the welfare of the people and that payment of wages is not a process of prosperity.

    “If Nigeria was to wake up tomorrow and there is no one liter of oil and you must employ a worker, you are obliged to pay.

    “Wages is a consequence of work. He who must employ must pay and even the Bible says a laborer is entitled to his wages.

    “I believe this view and I have canvassed them. I had an extensive interview on this and I spoke extensively on it.”

  • Minimum wage: Our patience is running out, NLC tells Buhari

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) wants President Muhammadu Buhari to take urgent steps to address the lingering issue or the new national minimum wage by immediately forwarding an executive bill to the National Assembly to legalise the recommendation of the tripartite Committee.

    President of Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said Nigerian workers were running out of patience with the government over the delay and we’re getting more and more agitated.

    The National Minimum wage tripartite committee put in place by the President to review the current N18.000 Minimum wage had two weeks ago presented its report to the president recommending N30,000 as the national minimum wage,  but the Nigeria Governors Forum has said they can’t pay the figure presented by the committee.

    Speaking at the 2018 Harmattan School of the Congress in Abuja, Comrade Wabba said workers are running out of patience on the implementation of the new wage.

    He described as unfortunate the position being taken by some Governors who are saying they can’t pay the N30.000, but are spending billions of dollars in the name of security votes which they can’t account for.

    The NLC President dismissed claims that the implementation of the new national  Minimum wage would lead to inflation in the country, adding that when salaries of political Office holders was increased by 800 percent in 2008, it did not cause inflation, and  wander why just N30.000 for workers can cause inflation.

    “We don’t know why the president has not transmitted an executive bill, the report of the tripartite committee to the National Assembly for an enactment into law, because Workers patience is running out.

    “We have maintained that any governor that said he can’t pay the N30.000 should go to his state, gather workers and tell them they are spending billions of dollars in the name of security votes but once it comes to payment of N30.000 Minimum wage, they are saying workers are just 20 percent.

    “How can they say that because without workers which include health workers, police, army and others, most politicians can’t sleep. Minimum wage is not a favour but a right of a worker because the law states that after 30days, a labourer is worthy of his wage”.

     

  • Minimum wage: Governors creating anti Buhari sentiment – NLC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to be weary of state governors who are out to portray him as anti-workers and orchestrate an anti Buhari sentiment among Nigerian workers with their posture on the new national minimum wage.

    Two weeks after the tripartite Committee on the new national minimum wage submitted its report to the President recommending N30, 000 as the new national minimum wage, state governors met on Wednesday insisting that if they must implement the new National minimum wage, Organised labour must agree to downsizing of their workforce.

    Read Also:Governors: states can’t pay N30,000 minimum wage

    However, reacting to the position of the governors, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba said the position of the governors was an affront on Nigerian workers and an after-thought and has no place in the collective bargaining process.

    While asking the President to speedily present to the National Assembly the bill on the National Minimum Wage for appropriate amendment and implementation, Wabba asked workers and their families to be prepared to vote out governors and Parties that have displayed anti-workers tendencies.

    He reminded the governors that the Nigerian constitution recognises individual state government and not the Nigerian Governors Forum, adding that while he was confident that workers friendly governors will pay above the N30, 000 minimum wage, they should go back to their states and inform their workers that they cannot pay the new wage.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Organized Labour, the Working Class, Pensioners and their families have been drawn to a statement credited to the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, the Governor of Zamfara State threatening to sack workers on the account of the New National Minimum Wage of N30, 000.

    “It would interest Nigerians to know that the New National Minimum Wage of N30, 000 was a product of intense and robust negotiations at the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Negotiation Committee that lasted for one year between November 2017 to November 2018. At the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Negotiation Committee, State governments were represented by six states, one state from each of the six geo-political zones of Nigeria.

    “A letter was sent by the Tripartite Committee to every state to send in their memorandum as their input to the national minimum wage negotiations. It is on record that 21 States responded by sending memoranda with figures.

    “Subsequently, public hearings were conducted in each of the geo-political zones in the country. The State governments were all represented at the zonal hearings and made their input to discussions towards a new national minimum wage. The demand of organized labour was N66, 500. From the memoranda submitted to the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Negotiation Committee by State governments, there were proposals by some states to even pay higher than the negotiated national minimum wage of N30, 000.

    “After extended and extensive negotiations by the Tripartite Committee, a final compromise figure of N30, 000 was agreed by all the partners – Government, Organized Labour and Employers in the Private Sector. This agreement took on board prevailing economic indices and factors especially as outlined in Convention 131 and Recommendation 95 of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention on Criteria and Procedure for Collective Bargaining especially towards arriving at a National Minimum Wage for any country.

    “It was on the basis of this agreement that the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Negotiation Committee concluded its work and submitted its Report to Mr. President on the 6th of November, 2018. This ended the process of negotiations for a new national minimum wage for Nigerian workers.

    “The statement of Mr. Abdulaziz Yari purportedly for the Nigeria Governors Forum, one year after the inauguration of the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Negotiation Committee, is certainly an after-thought and has no place in the collective bargaining process. We understand that Mr. Yari Abdulaziz’s position is at the instance of a few anti-worker governors. We are not in any doubt that many worker-friendly governors are ready to pay even higher than the negotiated N30, 000 new national minimum wage.

    “In view of the foregoing, Organized Labour wishes to firmly reiterate its stand that the process of negotiation by the tripartite social partners for a new National Minimum Wage has ended and a new National Minimum Wage of N30, 000 has been agreed upon by government, labour and employers in the private sector.

    “The 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended) recognizes individual states in the Collective Bargaining Process NOT Nigeria Governors Forum. The states, like the other social partners, have already defended their positions during negotiations at the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Negotiation Committee vis-à-vis counter proposals.

    “The threat to sack workers is not new in the struggle for review of the national minimum wage in Nigeria. Therefore, the current one by the Governor of Zamfara State cannot be used to intimidate labour. The consequences of workers retrenchment are too grievous for any political office holder truly elected by the people to contemplate.

    “We propose that since a few political office holders are bent on enslaving Nigerian workers with peanuts mislabeled as salaries, we urge such elected public officials to subject their humungous salaries and allowances, reputed to be among the highest in the world, pro rata with the minimum wage they want to force down the throats of Nigerian workers. We, therefore, urge each State Governor to go to their respective states and inform workers and their families their individual position on the new national minimum wage of N30, 000.

    “Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari should desist from using the platform of the Nigeria Governors Forum to seek political relevance. His tactics of blackmail against workers is already time worn and the stench is already offensive.

    “The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Organized Labour urge workers to remain steadfast and firm on our rights to decent wages and improved living conditions. To the oppressors, we have only one answer for you – We will never sleep on our rights!

    “We hereby reiterate our directive to Nigerian workers to vote out any politician or political party that refuses to pay the new national minimum wage of N30, 000. We shall continue to consolidate our efforts to strengthen already existing platforms and structures to give teeth to our resolve to vote out anti-labour governors and politicians in the forthcoming 2019 general election.

    “Finally, organized labour and Nigerian workers call on President Muhammadu Buhari to be wary of some people, especially in the Nigeria Governors Forum because they are wont, for selfish and personal reasons, to present him as an anti-worker President and by extension orchestrate anti-Buhari sentiments in the populace. In light of this, we call on him to speedily present to the National Assembly the bill on the National Minimum Wage for appropriate amendment and implementation.”

     

  • Labour to Ngige: You are economical with the truth

    Organised Labour has reacted to claims by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige that the tripartite committee on the new National minimum wage was yet to agree on a figure with Organised Labour, but was still negotiating with them.

    In a statement signed by Comrade Ayuba Wabba, Comrade Bala Bobboi Kaigama and Comrade Joe Ajaero, Organised Labour said the Minister was being economical with the truth, pointing out that the committee arrived at a figure which is to be presented to the President.

    He said the subcommittee on figure chaired by the Minister presented four different figures which the committee deliberated on for several hours before agreeing on a figure.

    The statement said “Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige claiming that no amount has been agreed by the Tripartite Committee recommendation to government. The report further claimed that the Minister said that government was still negotiating with Labour.

    “It is rather unfortunate and sad if indeed, the Honourable Minister made those statements. For the avoidance of doubt, organised labour representatives wish to state unequivocally that the Tripartite Committee concluded is work, adopted a figure through a formal motion moved, seconded and adopted in the absence of any counter motion.

    “This was after a thorough debate of a report from the subcommittee figure, chaired by Senator Ngige himself which presented four scenarios for consideration.

    “The subcommittee worked on the basis of a figure proposed by the Federal Government, figures proposed by a number of state governments: as well as proposals submitted by the Organised Private Sector and Organised Labour.

    “The Committee formally adjourned its sitting with a decision that a date will be communicated to members for the signing of the report and submission of same to Mr. President.

    “Organised Labour therefore frowns at the manipulation and bending of facts in an attempt to delay or derail the processes needed to promulgate a new National Minimum Wage. We call on the government to take immediate necessary steps to ensure the enactment of a new National Minimum Wage as we cannot guarantee Industrial peace and harmony.”

  • NLC condemns killing of health workers in North East

    …task security agents

     

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has asked security agents in the country to put in more efforts in stamping out insurgency in the country, and condemned in strong terms, the recent abduction and killing of health workers describing it as callous and inhuman.

    President of Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja that even though the security agents are trying to best, more efforts should be put into the fight in other to save the lives of aide workers who are carrying out humanitarian services in the region.

    Read Also:NLC to Nigerians: Interrogate political spending

    The statement reads: “The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) expresses utmost outrage at the recent killing and abduction of health workers by criminals suspected to be insurgents. This is the umpteenth time that such killings and abductions are taking place especially in North East, Nigeria. The NLC says without equivocation “Enough is Enough”.

    “We are particularly dismayed at this cruelty against very patriotic Nigerian workers who are daring impossible odds especially at the risk of their lives just to bring humanitarian comfort and relief to their fellow citizens.

    “Killing and abducting workers who are making such sacrifices is not only callous but also barbaric. So far, we have lost hundreds of workers to the senseless killings, insurgency and terrorism that is currently making a bold renaissance in the North East region of Nigeria.
    “We also want to use this medium to bring to the attention of the world, the huge challenge that workers and citizens are going through in the North East especially in the Internally Displaced Camps.

    “Now is the time to end the sufferings that they are going through in the North East and other parts of the country that are witnessing unbridled killings, mass murders and general lawlessness.
    “We call on the government to muster the required political will to stamp out the evil of insurgency and terrorism from our shores once and for all. The government should also make the welfare of workers in these troubled spots a top priority.

    “While we commend our armed forces for the huge sacrifice they are making in different conflict zones in our land, we urge them to increase their commitment in the fight against mass killings, insurgency and terrorism in our country. We also call on government to make the welfare of our armed forces a matter of topmost priority.

    “We implore our security agencies to intensify efforts to ensure that those behind the killing and abduction of our comrades are brought to justice as quickly as possible. Our security forces should also ensure that abducted workers are released to their families unharmed.”

  • Why we are picketing MTN, says NLC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said on Tuesday that it decided to picket all MTN offices nationwide because of the unfriendly Labour practice of the company, saying no amount of blackmail will deter them from continuing with the action.

    In a statement signed by its President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, the Congress said all its efforts and those brokered by the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association to address the issues of unfriendly Labour practices and disallowing its workers to unionize failed as the company fail to return to the negotiating table.

    It said even though the company makes 60 percent of its profit from Nigeria, it is only in Nigeria that MTN workers are not unionised and are subjected to casualisation in total violation of the Labour laws in the country and the ILO conventions.

    Read Also:Labour pickets MTN over anti-workers policies

    The statement reads: “Today, Tuesday, July 10, marks the second day of the picketing of MTN offices nationwide by the Nigeria Labour Congress and its civil society allies. This press statement is intended to explain the reasons for this action as well as debunk the false information being fed to the public by MTN that our members have been unruly in prosecuting this action which is intended to divert attention from the real issues.

    “MTN Nigeria, since it commenced operations in Nigeria and in clear violation of extant national and international labour laws, especially ILO Conventions 87 and 98 has denied its workers the fundamental principles of the rights at work.

    “It similarly indulges in other anti-labour practices such as casualisation for nearly all types of work, fixed- term contract work for Nigerian workers, worst forms of precarious work, etc.

    “It is on record that the Nigeria Labour Congress, on several occasions protested to the MTN and government about these unwholesome practices.

    The World Decent Work Day marked on October 7th last year marked a watershed in these protests as NLC briefly picketed their Maitama office in Abuja.

    “In response to this action of NLC, MTN reached out to NECA (Nigerian Employers Consultative Association) which brokered a meeting. However, due to inexplicable reasons, MTN opted out of the negotiations to the chagrin and embarrassment of NECA.

    “Thereafter every effort by NECA and NLC to get MTN to the negotiating table failed. Frustrated, NECA pulled out of the negotiations. Subsequent efforts by NLC yielded no response either. Left with no other choice, NLC served MTN notice of a picket in line with the provisions of the law. This action commenced across the country yesterday, Monday, July 9, 2018.

    “And in prosecuting this picket, our members have been peaceful and orderly.
    We have not destroyed the property of MTN and we do not intend to do so as that is not our objective anyway. There is no doubt that we are clear about our objectives and we shall not allow anything to distract us.  We are responsible workers and we are alive to our duties and responsibilities.

    “Even when MTN sponsored members of a private security company (with which it works) to attack and injure some of our members, we resisted the option of a proportionate response.

    “The Falomo police have in their custody one of the attackers and an ID card of one of the assailants.

    “MTN therefore, instead of resorting to cheap blackmail and propaganda should do the needful, give to Nigerian workers in their employ, their rights to freely associate, and hold an opinion as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution, the Labour Laws and Conventions 87 and 98 of the ILO.

    “It is equally important to explain that Nigeria is the only country MTN refuses to allow workers to unionise. In South Africa where the company comes from, workers are unionised. Indeed, our counterparts in South Africa are worried that we have allowed this matter to linger for so long as MTN may choose to try to impose similar conditions on them.

    “In Ghana, workers are unionised as in every other country MTN carries on business. It is important to point out that MTN makes over 60 per cent of its global money in Nigeria. Why then must it be so disdainful of our laws and people.

    “However, its acts of impunity are not entirely new. Nigerians may recall it was the same MTN in clear breach of national security that imperiled the lives of our security personnel in the Northeast over which it was fined.

    “We insist that companies, no matter how rich or powerful must obey the laws of the land. We insist they must treat Nigerians fairly and decently. No one should be above the law.  Let all Nigerians know we are committed to this operation. We have the will and the means to sustain it.

    “Finally, we commend the Nigeria Police so far for their exemplary conduct. We single out for special commendation the police in and around Falomo, Lagos.”