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Tag: Indefinite strike

  • Niger workers begin indefinite strike

    Niger workers begin indefinite strike

    The Niger State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared an indefinite strike action beginning today, following a deadlock in negotiations with the Niger State Government Committee.

    This, according to the union, is in response to the government’s failure to address their demands, as stated in a previous ultimatum letter.

    The information about the strike was contained in a statement by the Niger state NLC Chairman, Comrade Idrees Lafene and the state Chairman of TUC, Comrade Ibrahim Gana.

    The statement read that “effective from 8am on Wednesday, February 21, workers across Niger State will embark on the strike until their demands are comprehensively met.

    Read Also: Enugu doctors set for indefinite strike

    The civil servants have reiterated their willingness to negotiate but have highlighted specific conditions that need to be met for discussions to proceed.

    “We wish to formally inform the government that effective 8 am on Wednesday the 21st of February 2024, Niger State workers shall commence an indefinite strike action until our demands are comprehensively met.

    “Meanwhile, we wish to reiterate that our doors are open for negotiation subject to: conveyance of formal invitation, reversal of all appointments in dispute i.e Executive Directors Finance, Executive Directors Admin and Executive Directors Operations, Chairmen, Members and Permanent Commissioners of Local Government Service Commission and Civil Service Conmission and Directors General (DGs) of some agencies.

    “We also wish to stress that the idea of appointing Permanent Secretaries who are not eligible and within the service will no longer be tolerated by the Organized Labour. Accordingly, we call on the government to withdraw the recent appointment of a Vice Principal on seconded as a Permanent Secretary to allow for career progression from within”, the statement read.

    The NLC then called on the government to refrain from victimizing teachers and members from the education sector.

  • Kwara health workers to begin indefinite strike

    The Joint Council of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) and the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Kwara State council will on Monday begin an indefinite strike across all the 16 local government areas in the state.

    This was contained in a statement jointly signed by the NANNM Chairmen, Joshua Adekanye and Muritala Olayinka Saheed, in Ilorin.

    According to the statement, “All the state health facilities/hospitals, including the ministry of environment and agriculture, should also join the strike as from Monday 21st January 2019 to press home the implementation of approved 10 per cent consolidated health salary structure for the workers at the councils.

    “This is as a result of the state government’s implementation of the approved 10 per cent CONHESS for state health workers since July 2018 and refusal to implement same for health workers at the local government level in the state.”

    The statement urged to health programmes members in family planning, immunisation, and HIV/AIDS to suspend their work during the industrial action.

  • Health workers threaten indefinite strike

    •Union issues 15-day ultimatum

    HEALTH workers under the auspices of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) have given indication that may soon shut down the nation’s hospitals, if the Federal Government fails to address their demands.

    The threat came yesterday about eight months after the workers suspended their strike to pave the way for a resolution of issues concerning their members, but no concrete agreement yet between the workers and the Federal Government.

    The government, last April, invoke the “No work no pay rule” policy to deny striking health workers their two months salaries for embarking on strike to press for the implementation of their agreement with the government.

    Minister of Health Isaac Adewole claimed there was no agreement between the union and government.

    However, the National Industrial Court, sitting in Abuja, stepped into the issue for arbitration, asking parties to maintain status quo ante.

    In a letter addressed to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige yesterday, the union said it would resume the suspended strike, if the issues in dispute are not resolved by Thursday, January 31.

    JOHESU Chairman  Biobelemoye Joy Josiah said the decision to issue a 15-day ultimatum to the government was in view of the apparent indifference of its top officials to permanently resolve  lingering issues

    The health workers insisted that some of the issues have persisted for over five years and that even though the court has asked for a return to status quo ante during the last industrial action, but government has gone ahead to implement “No work, no pay rule”.

    Some of the issues at stake are the upward adjustment of the consolidated Health salary structure, CONHESS, unjustified withholding of the salaries of JOHESU members for the months of April and May, 2018 and headship of hospital departments.

    Others are non-promotion of members on CONHESS 14 – 15 as Directors in some Federal Health Institutions and implementation of Consultancy Cadre to JOHESU members.

     

  • Poly lecturers begin indefinite strike

    THE Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has begun an indefinite strike over what it described as consistent failure on the part of the Federal Government to implement agreements it willingly signed with the union since 2010.

    Addressing a news conference in Abuja yesterday, ASUP National President Usman Dutse said since 2010 when the agreement was signed, they have consistently engaged with the government leading to the signing of several memorandums.

    But, he alleged that the government has failed to implement the agreement.

    Dutse said the issues in contention include: conditions of service for members of the union; review of obsolete legal regimes and other policy documents, which serve as governing instruments in the sector; nonexistence/ deplorable state of the existing facilities, including classrooms, libraries, students’ hostels, laboratories, workshops, studios and office accommodation.

    Others include: discriminatory policies against the sector and its products, victimisation of union leaders and non-payment of members’ salaries in several states.

    According to him, “For each of these outlined above, the government has always agreed to implement agreements aimed at the requisite interventions and a turnaround of the sector. Regrettably, it’s been a consistent story of woes and disappointments.

    “The issues in contention are well rehearsed, taking roots in the provisions of the originating document (2010 ASUP/FGN Agreement). To make matters worse, government has been making fresh inroads in its penchant for undermining the sector by pursuing the implementation of policies with the ultimate aim of treating symptoms of an ailment and at the same time allowing same ailment to devour the diseased sector.”

    He said other grievances of the union include the non-implementation of the NEEDS assessment report, non-payment of salaries of state-owned polytechnics, non-payment of allowances and shortfall in personnel releases to polytechnics, the non-release of the reviewed scheme of service and condition of service as well as the delay in assenting to the reviewed Polytechnics Act among others.

    He said the union has been left with no other option than the painful path of embarking on an indefinite strike in its bid to save the sector from collapse.

  • Anambra judiciary workers begin indefinite strike

    Workers of Anambra State Customary Court of Appeal and those of customary courts yesterday began an indefinite strike over non-refund of their housing and Pencom fund deductions.

    The state chairman of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Mark Ifezue, addressed reporters yesterday in Awka, the state capital, on the action.

    The labour leader said the union disagreed with the Customary Court of Appeal over the deductions, which he said lingered for about two years.

    He said the deductions from the workers’ salaries were not remitted.

    Ifezue said the remittances were either to the Federal Mortgage Bank, Trust Fund Pencom or into the account of the State Customary Court of Appeal.

    According to him, when the workers found out that the funds were not remitted into any of the relevant accounts, they demanded immediate refund of their money.

    The decision to begin strike, the labour leader said, was taken on May 5, after JUSUN’s congress, following what he called series of demands on the refunds without results.

    Ifezue said: “The congress, therefore, resolved that the workers of the Customary Court of Appeal and the State Customary Courts should stay at home, pending when the money is refunded.”

     

  • Kaduna teachers begin indefinite strike

    Kaduna teachers begin indefinite strike

    Teachers in public secondary and primary schools in Kaduna State yesterday began an indefinite strike, protesting job security and welfare.

    The strike was called by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).

    The government, on Sunday, threatened to sack any teacher that joined the strike.

    In some schools in Kaduna, only security guards were about.

    At the LGEA Primary School in Mahuta and Unguwan Boro, security guards were on the premises; the classrooms were locked.

    A security guard said no teacher had resumed and pupils returned home after hanging about with no teacher to attend to them.

    At LGEA Primary School, Unguwan Mu’azu, some teachers were about but no pupil was sighted.

    A teacher, who begged for anonymity, said pupils were told to return home, adding that the teachers were hanging about should there be a directive from NUT.

    At Rimi College in Unguwan Rimi, management workers were at their duty posts.

    However, at Government Girls Secondary School, Unguwan Mu’azu and Government Girls Secondary School, Independence Way, teachers and management workers, who resumed, said they did not see the NUT circular on the strike.

    Reports from Zaria, Sabongari, Makarfi, Soba, Giwa and Ikara local government areas, showed compliance with the strike as teachers and pupils remained at home.

    The NUT Chairman in Zaria council, Yahaya Abbas, said the strike was inevitable as the government ignored efforts to meet their demands.

    He contended that the sack of about 22,000 teachers, a reason for the strike, was done in disregard to civil service rules and regulations.

    El-Rufai: your strike can’t save sacked teachers

    Governor Nasir El-Rufai has told the union that its strike can’t return the 21,780 sacked teachers to work.

    A statement by his media aide, Samuel Aruwan, stressed that the government will not allow the “selfishness” of a tiny minority ruin the future of two million children.

    The statement reads: “The Kaduna State government hails the teachers who reported dutifully to their posts. Though NUT officials tried to unlawfully prevent teachers from working, many defied this intimidation.

    “The government is collating reports from its Education Administrators and all teachers who absented themselves from work will face the severest penalties applicable in the public service rules.

    “Across the state, the illegality of the NUT’s strike action is being compounded by physical attempts to frustrate those teachers who wish to work. No law permits any worker to tamper with another’s right to work.

    “The government is resolute in its determination to protect the future of the children of the poor. Ordinary citizens are entitled to expect public primary schools to deliver a decent standard of education. At least, two million pupils are enrolled in public primary schools and their interests come first.

    “The government is delighted to inform the public that marking of scripts of the 43,000 applicants for teaching positions is now concluded. The recruitment process to inject 25,000 qualified teachers into our public schools will now move to the next phase.

    “The Kaduna State government will not allow the selfishness of a tiny minority ruin the future of two million children.”

     

  • Benue workers prepare for indefinite strike

    Benue workers prepare for indefinite strike

    Benue State residents are preparing for an indefinite strike scheduled to begin tomorrow.

    Organised labour has directed workers to down tools.

    The strike, according to a circular made available to The Nation, is to demand payment of seven-month salary arrears, 11 month for local government workers and one year owed primary school teachers, including pensions and gratuities.

    Governor Samuel Ortom appealed to the workers for understanding, saying he met an over bloated wage bill of N7.8 billion.

    But labour is determined to go on with the strike.

    Investigation by our correspondent showed since the strike notice was given last Thursday, Makurdi residents had been stock-pilling foodstuffs.

    A resident, Peter Ayila, said he had filled his car’s tank and that of his wife with petrol ahead of the strike.

    At Wurukum Market, people bought food items in large quantities.

    A 40-year-old woman, who came to buy rice and tomatoes, Elizabeth Ugoh, told The Nation she didn’t know how long the strike would last, since workers had not been paid for months.

    “There is need to take precautions,” Elizabeth said.

    Shop owners at Katsina Ala, Vandeikya and Iyorikyaa Ako streets said they had experienced more sales in the last three days.

    The government is trying to convince labour to shelve the strike and come to the negotiation table.

  • Kogi Poly teachers embark on indefinite strike

    The Kogi State Polytechnic (KOGI POLY) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has declared an indefinite strike over non-payment of salaries. ASUP asked its members to stop going to work last Monday.

    The ASUP chairman, Comrade Boluromi Samuel Sunday, said the union took the action as an option of last resort to compel the government to look into the plight of the polytechnic’s teaching staff.

    He said although, the 21-day ultimatum earlier given to government to meet the negotiated demands before suspending the strike was not over, he said there was need for his members to get salaries and allowances.

    In a statement, Boluromi said: “Early this year, six state-owned tertiary institutions embarked on indefinite strike. The Kogi State Polytechnic was the first to accede to the government’s request. We suspended the strike and resumed academic activities, even when some refused to bulge.

    “When we reminded the government that the agreement we had with them to suspend the strike was not kept, we still continued with our work. It was when things got to a head that we issued a 21-day ultimatum to resume the strike or they should hasten the process to meet the agreement.

    “We were surprised when July salaries were being paid to our colleagues in other tertiary institutions across the state, but our members were left out. When we made enquiry, we were told that the state has no money to pay us, despite that the civil servants had received their salaries.

    “As of now, our members have exhausted all sources. They now borrow money for domestic use. Right now, our members are starving and we don’t have transport fare to come to work. No tools to work with, even essential materials, such as stencils are not provided.

    “We urge Governor Yahaya Bello to immediately commence the payment of July salaries to our members, because what is sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander. This is the only action that can be taken to abort the strike that can paralyze the academic progression of our students.”

    The ASUP chairman called on all well-meaning leaders in the state to appeal to the governor to pay July salaries to the union members.

     

  • Cross River workers begin indefinite strike

    The Cross River State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) will begin an indefinite strike tomorrow, its Chairman, John Ushie, said yesterday.

    The union leader said the workers resorted to the action due to their unresolved issues with the government.

    According to a bulletin signed by the Organised Labour Action Committee, the issues include the suspension of promotion to deserving civil servants up to 2016, the disengagement of payroll consultants, illegal deduction of workers’ salaries, full payment of gratuity to retirees from Paris Club refunds, release of monthly impress to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), resolution of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) impasse in the state and payment of newly appointed permanent secretaries’ salaries.

    The bulletin, titled: Commencement of Indefinite Strike Action, reads: “This is to inform you that at an enlarged Congress of Cross River State, civil/public servants workers unanimously voted to proceed on an indefinite strike over the following issues, with effect from Tuesday, May 30.

    “We are, therefore, calling on all workers, under the employ of the Cross River State government, to stay at home from May 30 until you hear from us.”

  • Ramat Poly embarks on indefinite strike

    Ramat Poly embarks on indefinite strike

    The Academic Staff Union of Borno state owned polytechnic, Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri has embarked on indefinite strike action with effect from Monday.

    The  ASUP Chairman , Comrade Baba Shuwa at a news conference in Maiduguri  informed  that the union took the decision  after due consultative meetings with all the relevant  stakeholders including those  affected  by the strike like the academic and non-academic staff of the school, the senior staff of the school  which all decided to embark on an  indefinite strike action so as to   press  home  their demands from the state government.

    According to him, the strike became necessary despite the payment of April 2017 salary to all those verified and cleared  because their demands were still not  met by the state Government, adding that all negotiations and warnings have failed.

    The demands he mentioned include the issue of academic staff retirement age of 65 years and non-academic staff at 60 years or 35 years of meritorious service as obtained in other institutions.

    Others include the issue of non-payment of salaries of  both academic and non-academic staff spanning to a period of  9-10 months despite been   verified and cleared by the biometric data capturing committee, just as there are others whose salaries have been stopped by the committee.

    The Chairman regretted that, “families of these staff who are our members are either dying or sick or starved for lack of food to feed their families or carry them to the hospitals for medical treatment or buy drugs for their children and wives.

    “That is why, we decided we should go on strike despite the fact that we have earlier gone on warning strike before a technical committee headed by Bukar Adamu Biu, mni was constituted to negotiate with us and still until date no White paper was produced from our sittings or negotiations and nobody talked to us up till now about our position or the government stand on the matter,” the chairman said.

    Speaking on the  issue of students examinations, Comrade Baba said,  “the unions  are aware that most students are to commence their semester exams today Monday while only a few started their practicals last week, we have to go on strike finally and indefinitely to make the government address our problems.

    “And we are not returning to the class for the students’ exams or lectures until the state Government meet up with our demands or we know our stand. We have been patient enough and we can no longer accommodate it,” he said.

    He narrated how the union made some efforts to avoid students protest in solidarity for their strike.

    “Last week Friday the Union leaders had to go round the Ramat poly mosques during the Congregational prayers to talk to the students not to protest as we gathered some students were planning to stage a protest to support our strike because an angry student can be hostile and uncontrollable that is why we spoke to them to allow us to handle the issues ourselves amicably if not, by now, the situation could have been different,” he explained.

    Some students who spoke to journalists expressed their displeasure with the situation and urged the state governor to intervene immediately in order for them to return to school and continue with their exams and lectures.

    While others called on the state Government as a matter of importance to listen to the Union leaders and address their problems in the interest of peace, unity and development of the state.