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Tag: Comrade Ayuba Wabba

  • NLC to name, shame Govs not using Paris Club refund well

    NLC to name, shame Govs not using Paris Club refund well

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said on Tuesday that it was prepared name and shame state governors who failed to utilize the Paris Club refund for the purpose it was meant for, insisting that the President demand the state governors to account for the money before any further release is made to them.

    Reacting to a statement by President Muhammadu Buhari accusing the governor of misdirecting the Paris Club refund, NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said it was unfortunate that despite their promises to use the money to pay workers salaries and pension, the governors have refused to live by their words.

    He said that some of the state governors have even refused to disclose how much they received and how it was utilized, pointing out that the Chairman of the Governors Forum who made a commitment on behalf of his colleague has, himself not utilize the money judiciously.

    Wabba said the President was actually reacting to its letter asking him not to approve the release of the third and last tranche of the fund to the governors until they account for what they have received. 

    He said: “It is our letter he was reacting to. At our CWC meeting, we called on him not to release the last tranche of the Paris Club refund  to the states because the governors have not kept their word. 

    “You remember that Chairman of the Governors Forum alluded to the fact that they are committed to using the money to address the issue of liability of pension and salaries. Unfortunately, the Chairman of the Governors Forum has not lived up to those words. 

    “As you are aware, our workers in Zamfara have shut down the state. He himself that ,are the pronouncement could not honoured the words that he pronounced on behalf of his colleagues. That is to show the level of deceit that is actually in the system and that is why we decided to write to the President to ensure that, there is a level of accountability to show that he is actually on the same page with the governors. 

    “Before the second tranche was released, they made commitments and used the payment of workers salaries and pensions as a bait to get the President to approve and get the money across to them. But immediately they got the money, majority of them diverted the money. Right now, we have a standard data as to what the situation is in all states of the Federation.

    “Let me make the point that some has actually judiciously untilise their own, but states like Ekiti, Kogi, Benue, Zamafara among is even refused to make available how. Ugh they received. 

    “You remember what happened at the Kogi state House of Assembly where a member raised a motion to demand accountability on the issue of the Paris Club refund and that resulted in the chaos we witnessed in the Assembly. That member had his head broken and the Speaker removed. That is the level of decay that is prevailing in some of those states.

    “It means that Mr President is in touch with the real issues that is happening in every state. The fact that he is aware that some of the governors have not utilized the money in the direction that he appealed to them means that he is aware of what is happening.

    “So, I think that going forward, we must demand for accountability. We are also aware that a lot of information is already in the public domain where a lot of them resorted to the use of consultants. 

    “We learnt that about 5 percent was deducted from source and used for the payment of consultants which eventually ended up in peoples pocket. We are also aware of those that diverted the money to build hotels and pay mortgages. It is really a bad situation. 

    “If we must fight corruption, those issues are issues that we must follow up and fight the, to their logical conclusion. Having made that pronouncement, I think k he should be commended, but we must also demand accountability from these people.

    “In some of the states, our members used the freedom of information act to demand how these money were utilized, but there has been no responses and I think that is most unfortunate. We have records of those states. We have also promised that we are going to name and shame those states that has not adequately utilized the bail out. 

    “We are working on the data and once they are ready, we will make the, available and we are going to engage states that has not transparently utilized the bail out fund for the purpose that it was meant for and for the benefit of their people. That is where we are now and it is not a good situation at all and that is why the situation of workers have not improved. 

    “Despite the fact that some efforts have gone in, the situation of workers have not I proved because there has been no transparency in some states in the utilization of those funds. Let me emphasized that some states have done extremely well and we are going to point this out very clearly.”

  • Attack on EFCC sign that anti-corruption war is being won – NLC

    Attack on EFCC sign that anti-corruption war is being won – NLC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said Friday that the attack on the Wuse Zone 7 office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was a clear sign that the won on corruption was being won, hence the resort to violence to stop the commission from concluding vital investigations.

    In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja and signed by its President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, the congress asked the commission not to be deterred by the attack.

    The congress also said there was the government to give the commission the needed technical support to build their forensic capacity without which good cases are lost or drag on indefinitely, thus exposing their personnel as well as set dedicated courts to try corruption cases.

    The statement reads: “We condemn the attack by gun men on the Area 7 office of the EFCC which houses key investigation units of the Commission. The attack represents the audacity of corruption and the shifting of the battle ground from the court room to the streets and should be condemned by all those who love this country.

    “The attack, clearly, was intended to deter and compel operatives of the Commission from carrying to a logical conclusion their ongoing investigations/prosecutions. In the light of an earlier attack during which an operative sustained injuries, this cannot be a lone incident. Indeed, we see it as the new phase of corruption fighting back!

    “While we are not insensitive to the manifest danger in this new phase of corruption fighting back, we urge the Commission and its operatives not to succumb to these desperate tactics or intimidation.

    “We have no doubt the resort to Violence shows they have come to their wit’s end. Accordingly, we urge the Commission and other related agencies to do all that is necessary to secure their premises and personnel.

    “They equally need technical support to build their forensic capacity without which good cases are lost or drag on indefinitely, thus exposing their personnel.

    “We also find it necessary to call on the government to give the Commission the requisite support including the setting up of dedicated courts for speedy disposal of corruption cases.”

     

  • Anambra church killing: Fish out perpetrators – NLC, UPP urges Govt

    Anambra church killing: Fish out perpetrators – NLC, UPP urges Govt

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the United Progressive Party (UPP) wants the government to bring to book those behind Sunday Morning killing of innocent worshiper at St Philip’s Catholic Church, Ozubulu, Anambra State.

    In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said the assistants must be identified and apprehended, describing the incident as shocking, bizarre and reprehensible.

    Wabba said: “Places of worship quite often in decent conflicts are sanctuaries. What makes this attack more confounding is the fact that Ozubulu is far removed from any known theatre of conflict at the moment and has had little or no history of violent conflict.

    “Whatever may have been the situation, this attack represents a descent into the pit of hell. It is animalistic, cowardly and shameful and all necessary steps should immediately be taken by security forces to bring the perpetrators to book.

    “Our heartfelt condolences go to the families of the victims, the Catholic Church, Governor Willie Obiano and the people of Anambra State. We urge our security agencies to step up security in and around places of worship. We similarly urge  worshippers to take the initiative of securing their premises.”

    On his part, National Chairman of the United Progressive Party, Chekwas Okorie said the party received with shock the news of the killing, describing it  as cowardly, detestable and abominable, adding that the  murder of these Catholic faithfuls inside the Church while worshipping the Almighty God was outrageous, a sacrilege and sadism of the worst order.

    He said “We are grief-stricken. Our hearts go out to the families of the victims of this man’s inhumanity against man. We pray that the sovereign Lord will comfort and strengthen them in this period of grief. We are consoled that they died in the Lord and have become martyrs of the Christian faith.

    “We encourage the Catholic faithful, indeed, all Christians in Ozubulu to remain prayerful, courageous and resolute in their service to God and humanity assured that their labour in the vineyard of the Lord will not be in vain.

    “We also commiserate with the leadership of Saint Philip’s Catholic Church, the Government and people of Anambra State and pray that God Almighty will give them the fortitude to bear the loss of these loved ones. We equally pray for the speedy recovery of those wounded in this senseless attack.

    “We urge security agents to fish out the assailants and their sponsors and bring them to book to serve as a deterrent to those who would contemplate this heinous crime against fellow compatriots. This madness must stop.”

  • FG has no funds to pay salary, promotion arrears, says Ngige

    FG has no funds to pay salary, promotion arrears, says Ngige

    The negotiation for new minimum wage may have been kept in the cooler until salary and promotion arrears owed civil servant are cleared, it was learnt Monday.

    This is coming as Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senator Chris Ngige, Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, Director General, Budget Office, Mr. Ben Akabueze and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, met Monday with the leadership of the National Assembly to find ways to clear salary and promotion arrears of civil servant.

    Also on table for discussion at the closed door meeting chaired by Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, was the issue of payment of transfer allowances of workers and death benefits.

    Ngige told reporters that they were at the National Assembly on the invitation of ledership of the National Assembly.

    He added that though some progress were made at the meeting, all sides were to go back and come back tomorrow with possible solution to the identified issues which is that “government does not have enough fund for now to tackle the issues.”

    Ngige said, “We are here on the invitation of the National Assembly, the joint committee on labour and employment and the meeting is chaired by the Senate President.

    “We are here to discuss issues relating to things that are meant for industrial disharmony in the public sector.

    “As you are aware the labour federations have said the governors have not been treating them well.

    “One of the cardinal issues of International Labour Organisation (ILO) is to give our workers decent jobs and we decided to discuss with them.

    Wabba on his own said, “We are here as usual to dialogue over a range of issues particularly the welfare and well-being of our members – the Nigerian workers. In particular, we have discussed issues bothering on arrears of allowances which have accumulated for some time and running into billions, which they have not paid.

    “Also, alongside is the issue of pension particularly the issue of bonds and the fact that some of the contributions by workers have not been remitted for time.

    “Those are some of the issues that we thought the National Assembly has led the process to bring all stakeholders on board and look at how these issues can be resolved in a win-win situation without allowing the industrial relation process to break up.

    “I think this is very healthy and commendable, and all of us are committed to a very peaceful process of resolving these issues.

    “As the minister said, we have adjourned to allow thorough reflection over some of those issues and to be able to come up with workable solutions that will address these issues.

    “Those are the totality of issues we are actually working on and it is a holistic process which you know that the processes require laws; they also require some budgetary provisions.

    “So, that is why we are here and the process is holistic, to look at how best those issues can be resolved amicably.”

    Asked why the issue of new minimum wage was not top on the agenda of the meeting, Wabba who was almost walking away said the process is holistic.

     

    On what labour is demanding, he said “Labour has spoken with one voice. We have made a formal demand which you are aware. It is N56, 000 there is no need repeating it.”

    Wabba categorized new laws and budgetary provision to clear the back log of the arrears.

    “It’s a tripartite negotiation. What we are doing here is tripartite plus because we have involved the National Assembly and when you do any such negotiations is plus.

    “We looked at the issues of salaries arrears, promotion arrears, death benefits, location expenses and transfer allowances, hotel allowance which overtime have accumulated and had ran into billions and this is what are owed to federal public servant and we started the meeting today to find a solution.

    “The labour leaders engage ourselves and we try to work out something that would help them and help us restore the confidence we have with them that is the employers and employees.

    “If we don’t have that confidence we may have break down of industrial harmony. So we made progress today and we have adjourned to reconvene tomorrow at 4pm, all sides are to go back and come back tomorrow with possible solution to the identified issues which is government doesn’t have enough fund for now to tackle the issues. So tomorrow we convey here and sort it”

     

  • Buhari’s economic recovery plan an affront on constitution – Don

    Buhari’s economic recovery plan an affront on constitution – Don

    A university Don and member of the NLC/ASUU Think-Tank on the economy, Prof. Omotoye Olorode Saturday picked holes in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) recently launched by President Muhammadu Buhari saying the policy was subversive and an affront on section II of the Nigerian constitution.

    Speaking at the 2017 Pre- May Day Lecture entitled “Labour Relations in Economic Recession: As Appraisal” jointly organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Prof. Olorode said the document was an extension of the assault formally launched on the nation under military dictatorship in the mid-1980s.

    According to him, it is the same policies that have being imposed on the country by neoliberal forces that were replicated in the document which was launched with fanfare by the President, insisting that the document cannot drive the nation’s economic recovery plan.

    He said “from President Shehu Shagari’s austerity measures of the early 1980s to SAP, to vision 2010, 2020 and 20-2020 to today’s 2017 ERGP, the commitment of the ruling class has been to neoliberalism-private sector led economy characterized below and enforced overtime by the same personnel.”

    Citing part of the ERGP document, he said the document was articulated with the understanding that the role of government in the 21st century must evolve from that if being an omnibus provider of citizens’ needs into a force for eliminating the bottlenecks that impede innovations and market based solution.

    Prof, Olorode said the ERGP document was “an unequivocal re-statement of market fundamentalist assault against chapter II of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, an assault formally launched under military dictatorship in the mid-1980s.

    “Nothing in the 2016 Strategic Implementation Plan to which the ERGP referred is new. Consequently, we must reiterate a segment of NLC policy document to show that the class interests of the succession of Nigeria’s ruling class regimes is antagonistic to that if the labouring people.

    “Given the continued neglect of education through underfunding and privatization, the claim of ERGP that the plan recognizes the need to leverage Science, Technology and Innovation and build a knowledge based economy is not just only sheer sloganeering, it is a cruel joke.

    “In any case, there is already a significant quantum of STI on ground in Nigeria to enable us address Nigeria’s most urgent needs in food production, safe and accessible drinking water, transpiration, energy, security, General education, housing, healthcare delivery and amelioration of environmental degradation.

    “It is this neoliberal programmes that the Nigeria ruling class is still peddling with the ERGP and the Nigeria Labour Congress and the entire Labour movement in Nigeria and at the global levels need to combatant in order to outlaw capitalist recession in Nigeria and throughout the world.”

    He insisted that the current war against corruption would not make any meaningful impact “as long as the Nigerian ruling class remains committed to private accumulation under new-liberal ideology which typically locates countries like Nigeria at the periphery of global capitalism.”

    In his remarks, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba lamented various government policies that has continued to impoverish the Nigerian people, adding that government policies has consistently favored employers against the workers and the Nigerian people.

    Wabba said “Today is a day of reflection and a day that we must recognize that no employer of Labour will be so generous to award us what we are demanding for. We have to get it through struggle and this is what we need to reflect on.

    “No politician seek office to actually better the lot of the people because they see politics as an investment. So is the issue of businesses around the world which is to make profit and so, we must continue as watchdog of the society continue to represent the interest of our members and the larger people.

    “No policy will be made that will serve our interest. That is why our duty has a,ways been policy contestation. Policies must be made to address our developmental challenges and address issues of inequality which has continued to be on the increase despite the fact that in the last one decade, global wealth has continue to increase. We create the wealth of every society, but what has been our bargain.

    “Poverty among working class has continued to increase. This year’s May Day calls for us to rededicate ourselves both as members and leaders to our collective struggle and continue to agitate for what is right to our society. There is no way the issue for insecurity will be addressed without addressing the twin issue from poverty and unemployment.”

    Wabba lashed out at former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar for opposing the idea of having uniform salary for workers across the country, adding that if political office holders can earn the same salaries irrespective of the resources available in their states, there was no reason why workers should not earn the same salaries across the country.

    He said: “in any case, we are not even canvassing for the same salary structure. We are talking of minimum and even in the most capitalist societies, you have minimum which is to protect the vulnerable and it cut across both public and private sector so that we don’t leave it to our respective employers to fix what they want.

    “We are saying that we must continue to maintain that minimum whereby no employer should pay below that. Today, even with the law, some employers are still paying below N10000 and that is modern slavery. They will try all means to divide us, but we should not be deterred because a people determined cannot be defeated.”

    President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Bobboi Kaigama said countries all over the world have always rejig their economy to make workers the priority of the state when the country is going through hard times, but lamented that the reverse has always been the case in Nigeria.

    He said: “We know that globally, countries go through tough times and that is when concerted efforts is made by the government to rejig the economy in such a way that workers are made the priority of the state. But in this country, the reverse is the case. As creators of wealth, we are seen as slaves to our slave masters.

    “During this year’s May Day, we intend to show the Nigerian government at all levels our displeasure. In the midst of recession, devaluation of the naira and the high cost of everything, the wage of the Nigerian worker is very constant.

    “We must remember that all the 36 states of the federation, except for the first generation states, all other states that followed through memos made it as their number one guarantee that they can pay workers’ salaries from their internally generated revenue. But the same states are the one reneging in the payment of salaries.

    “We will not stop calling on the governors that their states cannot pay workers’ salaries to resign because we strongly believe that no state in this country that cannot generate revenue internally to pay salaries except the governor is not serious. We are so lazy that we just sit down and wait for federal allocation while making our internally generated revenue our weekend fund.

    “If we continue that way, we will never go anywhere. So, we insist that any state governor that feels they cannot pay workers’ salaries through internally generated revenue should honorably resign because we know that we have the resources.”

     

  • We can’t wait forever on minimum wage – NLC

    We can’t wait forever on minimum wage – NLC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said on Wednesday that it was running out of patience with the government over the issue of new minimum wage for Nigerian workers, saying cannot wait indefinitely for the government to respond at its own time.

    Speaking at the 4th NLC National Gender Conference in Abuja, President of the Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said Nigerian workers were getting tired of government’s delay tactics in constituting a tripartite committee to negotiate a new minimum wage for the country and ask the government to act immediately.

    Wabba said that despite the fact that the minimum wage was due for renegotiation after 5 years, the Buhari administration was dragging its feet in constituting a tripartite committee as is the practice to negotiate a new minimum wage.

    He said further that “against the background of the harsh economic times and the impact on the working people, we cannot wait indefinitely for the government to respond at its own time.  Though we have been told by the administration that the panel will be constituted, we enjoined the government to urgently sort out whatever is the constraint it is facing and act on the matter before we are forced to take actions that may be unpleasant.”

    According to him, “It is no longer news that our Country is in a severe recession, and prices of virtually all consumable and non-consumable items have skyrocketed.  In the last twelve or more months, the inflationary trend in the economy has gone over the roof, and the mass of our people, the salaried and the teeming millions of the unemployed, are facing very difficult times.

    ayuba-wabba-nlc-president
    Wabba

     

    “Amidst these difficulties, we have contended with a number of state governments that have misplaced priorities and have regularly refused to pay workers in the State payroll, their salaries as at when due.
    “Similarly pension, of retired public servants have gone for several months, and in some cases, years unpaid.  We have over the last 15 months fought these State governments to pay up these outstanding wages and pension liabilities they owe workers.  We will continue to do this till all salaries and pensions across the country are fully paid up.”

    Wabba stressed the commitment of the Congress to promoting gender equity and gender participation in the affairs of trade unions in the country.He said: “the Congress has over the past three decades worked to promote women participation and involvement in the affairs of the trade union movement, in industrial unions and State Councils of the NLC nationwide.

    He said: “The Congress has over the past three decades worked to promote women participation and involvement in the affairs of the trade union movement, in industrial unions and State Councils of the NLC nationwide.

    “Against the background of the male-dominated nature of our society and the trade union movement, gender issues are still challenging issues within our movement; women workers are still very much disadvantaged within our organisations.  In the world of work, where both men and women are in employment, the chances are that women still suffer more discrimination than their male counterparts.

     “From a position where we used to have an almost all-male executive in most of our unions, the NLC gender equity policy has enabled the Congress and virtually all of its affiliates to have increased women representation at the level of leadership in all their structures.

    “To ensure that these changes are sustainable, the NLC constitution and that of affiliate unions were amended to ensure the inclusion of women representations at leadership levels.

    “At the NLC level, not only is the Chairperson of the National Women Commission now automatically a vice president of the NLC, in the 2007 delegates Conference of the Congress, two ex-officio positions were created at the level of National Administrative Council (NAC) of NLC, to be occupied by women.

    “As a trade union movement, we need to intensify our struggle for gender justice and gender equality and link it up to building our organisations.  We have to advocate and ensure that our government enforces better gender policies, health care and increase access to services to women as well as making the workplace women friendly.

    “We must deliberately support women leaders to build their capacity to meet up with the challenges of unions and the complexity in the world of work. We need to train women leaders on issues of the economic and policy debates, collective agreements and legislation, especially those that affect women.  We need to strengthen the National Women Commission to contribute and engage in the issues affecting women generally and national development.”

    Wabba stressed that in recent times, a lot of progress has been made in protecting and promoting women’s right, adding that according to UN statistics, a majority of the 1.3 billion who are absolute poor in the world are women.

    He said further that over the years, the International Women’s Day has been recognised as a time to reflect on the progress made on women advancement, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.

     The NLC, he said is committed to working with the Nigerian government in the spirit of achieving the SDG goals of ending poverty, promoting inclusive and reducing inequality and achieving gender equality and empowerment of women and girls.

    Chairperson of the NLC Women Commission, Comrade Offiong said the conference was aimed at gender mainstreaming in the Trade Unions; assess the level of implementation of the NLC Gender Equity Policy in the affiliate Unions; Identify and map out strategies for tackling the challenges facing women in the workplaces & Trade Unions; strategize on approaches and techniques of strengthening women participation in the Trade Unions and elect a new leadership for the NLC National Women Commission.

     She said even though the millennium has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women’s and society’s thoughts about gender equality and women emancipation, women still suffer from gender discrimination, stereotypes and abuses and call on the NLC and Affiliate unions to continue to be the voice of change for women not only in the trade unions but the larger society.

    She expressed concern over the safety of the girl child and women generally which she said has became of a major concern to all especially the working women who due to circumstance of their working life are forced to leave the care of their children to other persons, while the children become victims of rape and all forms of abuses.

    She, however, want employers of labour in the country to as a matter of urgency and in the spirit of corporate social responsibility, set-up child-care facilities in and around workplaces to safeguard these innocent and vulnerable children while their mothers are engaged in their legitimate employment.

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  • ‘Fed Govt owes pensioners N183b’

    ‘Fed Govt owes pensioners N183b’

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned that unless urgent steps are taken, the Contributory Pension Scheme (CSP) designed to ease the suffering of pensioners in the country may collapse, saying the government was indebted to pensioners under the scheme to over N183 billion.

    Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the Contributory Pensioners branch of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) in Abuja, NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said government attitude towards remitting the retirement savings bond for many workers who migrated to the new scheme is threatening the survival of the scheme.

    The CPS was put in place by the regime of former President Olusegun Obasanjo under the Pension Reforms Act of 2004 to replace the Defined Benefit Scheme which has made life unbearable for pensioners across the country.

    However, with over N183 billion unpaid contribution by the government, Wabba believes the time has come for both the pensioners and workers to join hands to ensure that the right thing is done by the government, saying “we must unite to fight this course because in unity lies our strength”.

    Wabba said: “The CPS is being threatened for obvious reasons. The president has narrated some of the challenges that the scheme is passing through and therefore, it is very clear and obvious that the scheme is under threat today and if you are not careful, the scheme may even collapse because where you have a liability of over N183 billion unattended to, is something that should give all of us course for concern.

    “As we use to say, retirement should be sweet, but I think retirement in Nigeria have turned out to be a nightmare where our very senior citizens. Instead of receiving attention they deserve having served their country diligently, it is now the other way round.

    “That is why I am extremely delighted that this forum is being put together. I am aware that another group is parading themselves as representing the interest of the contributory pensioners. I know that as a matter of fact, the NUP has the capacity and the strength and structure to accommodate your interest effectively.

    “The union has been in existence since 1978 and has structures in all the 774 local government areas in the country and in all states. Both the Defined Benefit Scheme and the CPS are passing through serious challenges.

    “Under the law, the pension union is supposed to protect your interest within the context of the law ad those laws states that you have the right. So, in your own interest and to protect your right, you have a right to belong to the NUP and try to unite because it is better to have a platform that is tested rather than trying to go solo or going in segment t pursue our course and at the end of the day, all of us will then suffer.

    “A worker today is a potential pensioner tomorrow and as NLC, we have taken your plight to be very core in the defence of workers right. If is very clear in our constitution that you take the issue of the worker and the pensioner side by side and we will do that.

    “The issue of payment of benefits in Nigerian has become a nightmare and both of the pension schemes we are operating today have come under serious challenge. The payment of benefits as and when due is seriously an issue that need to be consider d because presently pensioners under the contributory pension scheme go through serious stages to get paid their benefits.

     

  • Sack of 23 FUNAAB staff is vindictive, malicious – NLC

    Sack of 23 FUNAAB staff is vindictive, malicious – NLC

    … Demands immediate recall of affected staff

    Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for the unconditional recall of the 23 staff of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) who were sacked by the management of the Institution.

    In a letter to the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, dated November 15, 2016 and signed by the NLC National President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, the NLC described the actions of the management as bordering on “impunity, lawlessness and violation of the workers’ rights.”

    The apex Labour union said the anti – corruption crusade of the present administration would not succeed if whistle blowers are not protected from victimisation as was the case with those in FUNAAB.

    Many were sacked in FUNAAB following a petition against the Pro – Chancellor and Vice Chancellor, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe and Professor Olusola Bamidele respectively to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The letter reads in part: “we have it on good authority that between November 8 and 11, 2016, twenty three staff have been relieved of their appointments maliciously and in a vindictive manner.

    “Do permit us to observe that the actions of the Council and Management of FUNAAB do not only constitute impunity and lawlessness but a violation of the fundamental human rights of these workers as enshrined in Section 39 of the 2009 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “Honourable Minister Sir, in order for the war on corruption to succeed, whistle blowers must be protected by all means and not victimized as is presently the case of FUNAAB.

    “Accordingly, we request you to cause an investigation into what is going on at FUNAAB as well as ensure that the affected workers are recalled unconditionally.”

  • Fuel Price Hike: Don’t test our resolve, NLC warns FG

    Fuel Price Hike: Don’t test our resolve, NLC warns FG

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned the federal government against testing the resolve of Nigerians by contemplating an increase in the prices of petroleum product when Nigerians were yet to overcome the earlier increase.

    The congress also backtracked on its earlier support for the plan that the Buhari administration to borrow about $29 billion, saying the government should instead pursue and recover government funds stashed away and use same to fund infrastructural development

    Speaking at the opening of its National Executive Council meeting in Sokoto, President of Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba expressed concern over ongoing media campaign and contradictory statements from the NNPC and government official on the rumoured price increase of petrol.

    He said the congress was totally opposed to any form of increase in prices of petrol as such an act will further increase the suffering of Nigerians, adding that congress will mobilise Nigerians to resist any such increase.

    Wabba said: “While Nigerians are still struggling to cope with the severe hardship imposed on them by the last increase in the price of petroleum products, there are ongoing media campaigns and contradictory statements by the NNPC and government officials on yet another plan to review the template for the pricing of petroleum products.

    “We are totally opposed to any further increases as we are yet to seeing the benefits of the last increase even as the current Minimum Wage Act has not been reviewed. It would amount to unleashing further hardship on workers and the poor if any further price increase is allowed.

    “The government must not take us for granted; indeed the patience and perseverance of the entire populace must not be taken for granted as we will sure mobilise the entire citizenry for mass protests in addition to other legitimate actions to resist any further increase.

    “What is urgently required of government is not another increase but a downward review of the current pump price of petroleum products.

    “The current National Minimum Wage Act has long elapsed and as you are already aware, we have long submitted our proposal for a review but Government seems not in a haste to recognise the urgency in attending to our demands.

    “Nigerian workers and pensioners are as important to the growth of the economy and must not be allowed to continue to suffer further hardships. We therefore reiterate our call on government to treat the review of the minimum wage and pension with the utmost urgency they deserve.”
    While commending the Federal Government in its sustained battle against corruption and determination to ensure good governance in our country, Wabba said the battle should be more systemic and institutionalised with strong laws and institutions strengthened enough to sustain the battle, adding that “our country has been seriously harmed both in image and resources by the impunity with which public funds were looted for decades such that what we need is beyond a flash in the pan approach.

    “We will support government in all areas that will promote good governance at all levels and all facets of the Nigerian society as long as it sustains its commitment to delivering people driven governance that will promote decency and growth in all spheres of our socio economic and political endeavour.

    “But we will not support the plan by the Federal Government to borrow more money from anywhere as we obviously have enough to attend to our immediate needs.

    “For instance, if the government vigorously pursues those in possession of our collective wealth, especially multinationals who have refused to remit funds meant for corporate Nigeria, we would have enough to rejuvenate the economy and the quality of the lives of our people.

    “NEITI has already been quoted to have discovered that $22billion (Twenty two billion dollars) has not been remitted by multinational firms to the federation account. This amount alone can take care of some of the areas any new loan is expected to be expended on.

    “If we must borrow, perhaps such borrowings, on terms strictly not against our collective interests and in particular not designed to deepen our debt burden, it should be directed towards revitalising rail transportation and roads and not for servicing remunerations or tastes of public office holders. Loans must have specific targets in public interest and strictly directed to their original uses; that is if we must take any at all.

    “We are also opposed to the idea of giving public funds to bail out commercial banks or interests, especially the recent proposal to give out $7 billion as bailout funds to commercial banks without any repayment schedule whatsoever.

    “While we also support the need for budget reform, we urge the government to ensure that the process is all inclusive, transparent, accountable and in line with the principle of good governance.

    “Once more, we urge government to be very careful with the process of economic reforms and development as it has become clearer around the world that neo liberal prescriptions handed troubled economies has not been of any help but rather further unleashed mass poverty and infrastructural decay on recipient countries and their citizens.

    “The prescriptions only generate massive wealth for the tiny few rich while devastating the quality of lives of the citizens. Indeed, a prominent report by Forbes has alarmed that “unless it changes, capitalism will starve humanity by 2050”.

    “We should not be seen to be accepting alien economic recovery policies that have been proven to be responsible for our problems in the first instance as all previous prescriptions from the Breton Woods institutions have only ended up destroying our economy and impoverishing our people.

    “We have enough intellectual capacity in our country that can develop people driven policies that is truly rooted in our specific circumstance for the recovery of our economy.”

     

  • Labour, FG on collision course over violation of Public Service Rule

    Labour, FG on collision course over violation of Public Service Rule

    Organised Labour are set for a possible showdown with the Federal Ministry of Health over the decision to reinstate the Medical Director of the Federal a Medical Centre, Owerri, Dr. Angela Uwakwem in contravention of the Public Service Rules.

    Labour is accusing the Minister of State, Dr. Osagie Ehanire who over sees Federal Medical Centres across the country of contravening public service rule 030406 by reinstating Dr.Uwakwem five days after she was formally arraigned before an Owerri High Court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) along with two others.

    In reinstating her, the Ministry had said that after due consultation, they found out that Dr. Uwakwem has not committed any offence.

    President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba told newsmen in Abuja that organised Labour was surprised that the Minister would order the reinstatement of a public officer who was undergoing criminal trial for fraud instead of interdicting her.

    Wabba explained that the public service rules stipulate where a prima facie case has been established against a public officer, such an officer shall be interdicted.

    He said that rather than interdicting her, the minister of State wrote a letter asking her to resume duty as the Medical Director of the Centre and given a full complement of security agents that led her into the FMC, Owerri despite protest by the five unions at the centre.

    Wabba said: “there were two issues in contention at the FMC, Owerri. Last year, we succeeded in resolving the industrial relation issue and referred the one that has to do with corruption and mismanagement of resources to the relevant agency of government which is the EFCC for investigation.

    “She was then suspended from office, while a caretaker management was put in place. We did not even know that investigations were ongoing. The EFCC concluded their investigations and established a prima facie case against her. She was formally arraigned in court on an 18 count charge on October 11, 2016.

    “To our surprise, five days later, the Minister of State for Health wrote a letter asking her to return to her duty post from the suspension she embarked upon last year and we felt that something is wrong somewhere because the is against the rules.

    “She went to the hospital with security men, including Mobile Police and right now, she is threatening the whistle  lower who wrote the petition against her and all the witnesses listed against her by the EFCC. Together with my counterpart in the TUC, we went to the senior Minister, Prof, Adewale to complain and he claimed he was not aware and that we should get a copy of the court papers for him.

    “We have obtained a certified True copy of the suit filed against her by the EFCC and my colleague in the TUC has forwarded it to the Minister. All we are saying is that government must live by example. They should not been seen to be going against the laws of the land.

    “Infact, rule 030409 of the civil service rules require her to her to inform her employers who, in this case is the Ministry of Health that she has been charged to court. She has not done this”.

    “We are going to write to the President, the Presidential Committee on Corruption, the Minister of Justice and other relevant agencies of government putting them on notice. If nothing is done about this, we will have no option than to protest.”

    Wabba said reinstating her back to her position as Medical Director of the Centre while she is undergoing g trial can impede the course of Justice as it may give her the opportunity to tamper with evidence against her as well as intimidate witnesses.

    He said “immediately she resumed duty, she queried the staff who petitioner her and threatened the witnesses listed against her. She has even threatened not to pay their salaries”.

    Wabba said reinstating Dr. Uwakwem when a case of corruption has been established against her will rubbish the anti-corruption crusade of the zhuhai administration and warned that the union will not accept such an action.