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  • 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.”

  • Our hope, fears over new minimum wage, by Labour

    The fact that some states are struggling to pay N18,000 as minimum wage is fueling fears over the feasibility of meeting the demand by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) for an increase to N66,500. TOBA AGBOOLA writes on the intricacy of the issue.

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart are insisting on a N66, 500 minimum monthly wage.

    Both unions have described the current N18, 000 minimum salary as a ‘death wage’, considering the prevailing economic realities.

    But, feelers from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), foisting a uniformed wage on the states for implementation may create problems, especially in states battling to pay the N18, 000 minimum wage.

    Some of the governors argue that the states should be allowed to negotiate with the workers on their payrolls based on their financial capabilities.

    There are also divergent views on the feasibility of the new minimum wage amongst workers with some saying the new wage would better their lots. Others see the proposed wage as illusory.

    A civil servant at the Federal Ministry, who identified himself as Mr. Sodiq, said workers have been expecting the wage increase, adding that if President Muhammadu Buhari allows N55, 000 and N65, 000 as minimum wage to sail through, his name will be written in gold.

    “We have for long suffered from poor pay and now that the organised labour is pushing for an increase in our wages, we can’t wait for it to be increased,” he said.

    Another worker, Mrs.  Damlong, said the civil servant monthly wage should be close to what members of the National Assembly earn.

    She argued: “We that are suffering and using all our strength to do the work are supposed to be treated better than those people, who sit under air-conditioner, discuss little and they give them money with ‘Ghana must go’. They know what is good and they should give it to civil servants. That is what I want to say.”

    Also speaking, Mr Ojabor, a worker on the payroll of the Lagos State government, said workers have been begging the government for a long time, on the need to increase the minimum wage. He said this is a promise by the government and it must be fulfilled.

    Ojabor said: “On the issue of minimum wage, we have been begging and praying to God that as they promised to give us the increment of the minimum wage, they should fulfil it. We hope and pray that the government keeps its promise.”

    Appreciating what the government’s effort so far, Mr. Ibrahim Olatunji, who teaches in a Unity School, Lagos, said: “But on the issue of minimum wage, we know that our liberal communists are asking for N56, 000, which if we look at the economic reality of the country, I think the demand is justifiable.”

    Another teacher, Mrs. Victoria Yinusa, spoke of the need for an increase in what workers earn presently, considering the frightening inflation rate.

    “Everything is so expensive. Even N100, 000 won’t be too much, considering what is happening in the country,” she said.

    Another civil servant, Victor Ochigbo, said the Federal Government has reneged on the agreement to review workers’ salary every five years. To him, paying a minimum wage of N60, 000 will not be a bad idea.

    He said: “The Federal Government is supposed to do the needful. The agreement was that every five years, the minimum wage would be reviewed upward. But, looking at it now, it is over five years and the workers are asking for that review and the government is foot-dragging.

    “The government shouldn’t be foot-dragging; it should go ahead and implement a new minimum wage. Sixty thousand naira is okay because prices of things have gone up and the current minimum wage is nothing, but less than minimum wage.”

    Tunde Olaogun said he is in line with N56, 000. “Labour demanded N56, 000 before. I believe that it is okay because the economy is generally bad and nothing is moving. There is no money anywhere and the inflation rate is going higher every day,” he said

    The Lagos chapter of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria aligned with the NLC and TUC in demanding N66, 500 as the new minimum wage.

    Its spokesperson Akeem Kazeem stressed the need for urgent upward review of the national minimum wage. He said it was long overdue because the current pay structure in the country had become unrealistic and inadequate, such that workers could no longer meet their basic needs, a scenario that is impacting negatively on their morale.

    “The sum of N18, 000, which is currently being paid as the minimum salary in the civil service is grossly inadequate. An officer at that level will, however, require about N66, 500 a month to survive. We are in total support of the demand for the sum of N66, 500 for a salary of GL. 01 Step 1 officer as requested by the organised labour,” he said.

    The real economic issue according to Ayo Teriba, the Chief Executive Officer, Economic Associates, an economic research firm, is whether the current minimum wage rate is optimal or sub-optimal.

    He said: “This means that do workers receive an income that allows them to live reasonably? In my opinion, if you divide 18, 000 by 30 days, that is N600 per day.

    “What can anybody do with N600 per day? If you go to N56, 000, that brings it to a little bit over N1, 800; and anyone who says that figure might be inflationary is exaggerating. That’s less than what people earn as unemployment allowance in some countries. The amount is not even significant enough to affect money supply. I don’t think we should be talking about inflation.”

    On the limitations of government revenue, he said, “they should find money. States are in the business of finding money to govern. If you cannot raise money, leave your seat for someone else who can.”

    A financial expert, Mr. Johnson Akintunji, backed the prposed increase and suggested that it could help in improving the country’s economic fortunes.

    Akintunji said: “An increase in the minimum wage allows workers to have more disposable income and that means the demand for goods and services will improve, which means consumer spending will also improve and in return stimulate business activity, in the sense that those businesses involved in producing the goods and services will need to produce more.

    “But because a lot of production is not domesticated, there might also be a trigger in the increase in demand for foreign exchange for importation. But, on a balance, I think an increase in wages will trigger positive economic activity as a result of the increased demand for goods and services.”

    He, however, noted that the increased burden on the government and some entrepreneurs might dampen the demand for labour. He said the N66, 500 is not really feasible, but the government can do far better than N18, 000

    The financial expert argued: “It also means that some states will be forced to retrench and it will discourage a lot of small companies from employing because they may not be in a position to meet such obligations.

    Going by the situation in the country, it may be hard for the government to agree to N66, 500, but they can do far better than N18, 000.”

    The General Secretary of the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Ayo Olorunfemi, N66, 500 minimum wage is inconsequential to the cost of living in modern times.

    Olorunfemi said that N66, 500 demand by labour leaders is and too small, adding that they can do better. According to him, the minimum wage is long overdue, stressing that whatever the government agrees to should have been done long time ago.

    He said: “Where lies our hope as workers toil day and night? Now we are talking about minimum wage, do you see the minimum wage being increased? I can tell you from here that rather than increase, it is going to be reduced.

    “The NLC and the TUC that formed the negotiating team have requested for N66, 500 as the new minimum wage, that equals to N18, 000 in 2011. Are we increasing or decreasing? Do you think the Federal Government will also wake up and say we are giving you N66, 500?

    “They will negotiate it and at the end of the day maybe they will submit whatever figure, but whatever figure they would arrive at is a minus to what we were getting in 2011.

    “When we get that, some people would say hurray we have done something good, and we are there as labour leaders thinking we have done something for the workers. We really need to know where we are coming from so that we know where we are and determine where we are going.

    “Calculate what N18, 000 will buy in 2011, put it side by side with what N66, 500 will buy today. As at 2011, a bag or rice was sold between at N6, 000 and N7, 000, but today, it is being sold at N15, 000, divide that bag of rice by a family of four.

    “Look at the price of food stuff generally, transportation and the amount spent in fueling our vehicles for those who own cars. When you put all these expenses in a month together, you will realise that it is more than N66, 500. So, what commitment are we talking about? Commitment to make us stagnant?” he asked.

     

    The governors’ position

     

    Not a few states are finding it difficult to meet their obligations on the existing minimum wage.

    Financial experts as well as organised labour argue that the time has come for governors to be creative in the management of public finances, rather than perpetuating the defeatist practice of blaming their predecessors for the present state of affairs.

    They said that since the governors are not planning mass sack in order to meet the pending obligations to be placed on them by the new minimum wage, they must put on their thinking caps to grow their revenue profile. Governors must demonstrate renewed commitment to cutting costs and eliminating wastages in the system, their said.

    A labour activist, Sunday Adebayo, said: “Every worker deserves to live decently and so, the Nigerians worker must earn a decent wage. But, the government must also ensure that the economy becomes productive.”

    Except Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo who pledged readiness to pay N28, 000 as minimum wage, before the tripartite committee submitted its report, there was no commitment from any other governor.

    There is palpable fear that complaints about paucity of funds, lack of political will and bickering among labour leaders on an agreeable amount may frustrate the implementation of a new national minimum wage.

    According to Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, Nigerian workers would be better off if states were allowed to fix their separate minimum wages in line with their financial capacity.

    Wike, who spoke in Port Harcourt during a public hearing on the new national minimum wage for the Southsouth, explained that a uniform minimum wage was unrealistic because states varied in financial capacity.

    He said: “And for us therefore, the single national minimum wage system is yet, another lie that betrays the distortions in our federation and the structured dislocation of the states in the power equation between the Federal Government and the federating states.

    “It is our view that the country and its workers will be better off if states are allowed to fix and pay their own minimum wages indexed to the prevailing cost of living and ability to pay.

    “When this happens, it is possible that some states may go beyond the minimum threshold to pay a living wage, which is what our workers truly need.”

    The governor pointed out that the previous review failed to give maximum weight to the existing disparity in economic potential and capabilities among the 36 states of the federation, adding that it has been difficult for most of the states to implement the existing N18, 000 minimum wage.

    He noted that majority of the states were within the fringes of financial viability and could not meet their salary obligations to civil servants without bailouts from the Federal Government.

    Wike explained that enhanced wages could only be possible when the Federal Government improved the economy of the federation.

    He said: “Here in Rivers State, we value our workers; we invest in their welfare in different ways and we want them to earn living wages that can keep them and their families as comfortable as possible.

    “The Rivers State government, therefore, supports the ongoing consultations by the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage for arriving at a new national minimum wage floor for the country.”

    Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State, however, gave a general advice to workers – they should demand for an improved standard of living from the government instead of calling for a new minimum wage.

    Masari argued that an increase in minimum wage without improvement in standard of living will make no impact.

    The governor urged the workers’ unions to “look at the fundamental issues that make salary meaningful, which include minimum standard of living that will make an average man live in peace. Talk about education, water supply, access roads, health, shelter and security. No development without peace because the moment salary is increased, everything will be increased.’’

    In his contribution during the public hearing, Akwa Ibom State Governor Emmanuel Udom called for a review of the revenue sharing formula.

    Represented by Ekerebong Akpan, the State’s Head of Service, the governor described the present minimum wage as inadequate for the workers.

    Udom said: “Today, workers’ wage cannot take them home. There is the need to note what each state can pay.”

    According to Udom, government will be able to “absolve” the difference between the N18, 000 minimum wage and the proposed N66, 500.

    He said the Federal Government could increase workers’ salary without publicity, adding that it could be done without announcing it.

    Also responding to a question on the possibility of Lagos paying a higher minimum wage, the state Commissioner for Establishments, Training & Pensions, Benson Akintola Oke, said it was within the purview of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration to decide what to pay workers in the state public service.

    Arguing that federalism was not well-structured, he said that each of the federating units ought to operate independently, but in synergy with the federal where both have concurrent responsibilities.

    At the last 107th session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland, the  organised labour re-affirmed its readiness to use every available means under labour laws “to confront the Federal Government, if it attempts to shift the implementation of the new minimum wage beyond September.”

    NLC President Ayuba Wabba, who dropped the hint, declared that the rank of the working poor in the country was expanding, exacerbating household, generational and gender poverty.

    Speaking at the same forum, Labour & Employment Minister Chris Ngige maintained that the implementation of a new minimum wage could not commence by the end of September.

    According to him, the tripartite committee, working on it would only complete its work in September and submit its report and recommendation to the government for consideration.

    But, Wabba, who was the leader of workers’ delegation to the ILO conference, said the NLC and the TUC will tackle the government with any other means legitimately allowed by law, if it failed within the stipulated timeline.

    The labour leader’s remarks were contained in his address before the ILO General Assembly.

    He said: “Mr. President, the rank of the working poor in Nigeria is expanding, thus exacerbating household, generational and gender poverty. One of the reasons for this is because wages are low, depressed and deflated.

    “Given that minimum wage administration has been proven as a time-tested tool to stem wage downward spiral, the NLC is currently engaged in tripartite minimum wage negotiation with the government. We remain eternally vigilant to ensure that the process is successfully concluded within the stipulated timeline by the government of the federal republic of Nigeria.”

    Fielding questions from reporters after his presentation, Wabba said the labour body has many ways of responding to issue, adding that both the NLC and TUC will consult their organs to address the issue in their own way.

    On the exact step labour will take, he said: “We have many ways of responding to issues and as we progress in the process, we will consult our organs and constituents and will be able to push the process through any other means that is legitimately allowed by law.

    “I don’t want to keep repeating myself. I have told you that at the tripartite committee, we are all committed to a timetable and timeline which are known and which everybody is aware of. So, labour, represented by NLC and TUC is committed to following that timetable and timeline.”

  • Labour pickets MTN over anti-workers policies

    The organised labour yesterday picketed MTN Lagos office and did same simultaneously across the country. It said it is in protest against the telco’s alleged anti-workers policies.

    Nigeria’s largest carrier was accused of casualising workers, non-unionisation of workers and homophobic behaviour to the Nigerian workers aside other anti-labour practices.

    The labour group, including the Nigeria Labour Congress  (NLC) to the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), the National Union of Postal and Telecommunications Employees (NUPTE),Lagos zone, the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees  (NULGE) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), said picketing MTN was in accprdance with the country’s labour laws.

    National President of NLC, Ayuba Wabba who led the campaign, said 80 per cent of workers in the telco are casual despite its being the biggest telecoms firm in Africa.

    Wabba said MTN is the worst employer of labour as it has violated all labour laws in the country. “No right to associate,   no right to have union, social protection denied workers as it hires and fires almost after three months and after series of letters written to them which they disregard,we have no choice but to protest,” he said.

    He said the protest will not stop until workers exploitation by the firm stops because casualisation of workers can’t be tolerated in South Africa, Ghana and other countries where MTN operates despite.

    “We have engaged them severally in the past and if you can remember,we picketed them in Abuja on October 7 which was the decent work day and after meetings held,they still went ahead to do what they used to do. They are capitalist,not ready for dialogue as  workers are treated as slaves,without benefit of employment.

    “No respect for our laws and since they don’t respect our laws,they don’t deserve to be respected and we will continue to challenge them until decency of workers is achieved.

    “We must say no to the exploitation of the country by them through  their illegal charges and non declaration of tax where they are milking the country dry,”he said.

    But MTN has denied any wrong doing. It lamented the attack and destruction of property that followed the action.

    Its Corporate Relations Executive, Tobechukwu Okigbo, said: “Today’s violence and the needless destruction of property is deeply saddening. As always our primary concern is the safety and well-being of our employees, some of whom were attacked by supposed NLC operatives and have sustained injuries.

    “We do not prevent our employees from associating amongst themselves as they deem fit and owe our employees the obligation to ensure they are not compelled to join associations. MTN supports the freedom of association as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.

    “All workers have rights that should be protected. We work hard to not only ensure that this is done but also to ensure that our company is a Great Place to Work. We will continue to champion our peoples’ rights, whether they are part of a union or not and work hard to minimise disruptions in service to our customers.”

    Also, the umbrella body of telcos, the Association of Licensed Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ALTON), called for caution. It warned against further vandalism of telecoms infrastructure as that would compromise national security.

    Its Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo said: “Damage to any telecom facilities will lead to the disruption of critical national security and economic services which will expose innocent citizens to great danger.

    “Attempts have been made to disrupt the network operations of some of our members through the shut down and vandalisation of critical network facilities. The implication of such disruption will lead to severe poor quality of services with attendant national security implications and far reaching implications on other services that are dependent on the telecommunications industry.

    “We hereby strongly request government and its law enforcement agencies to intervene expeditiously, otherwise we will advise our members to consider preventive shut down in order to avoid further damage to network facilities.

    “We trust parties will respect each other’s constitutional rights in the interest of our nation Nigeria.”

  • Oyo NLC shuts MTN offices in Ibadan

    Nigerian workers under the aegis of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Oyo State Chapter, on Monday, shut down the operations at all the offices of telecommunication giant, MTN across Ibadan, the Oyo state capital over the allegation that the company over the years refused to allow its members of staff unionise.

    Oyo State NLC Chairman, Mr Waheed Olojede, who led other labour leaders and members in the exercise, said the action became inevitable owing to continuous noncompliance of MTN to its calls for adherence to conventions of the International Labour Organisation which demands that workers be members of a union.

    The NLC boss who was accompanied by his counterpart from the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr Emmanuel Ogundiran, expressed optimism that MTN will within the next three days, sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), to the effect that the organisation will inaugurate leadership of their union.

    During the Monday exercise, MTN offices in areas like Idi Ape, Mobil and Secretariat were among those picketed, with Olojede assuring that more operational offices of the telecommunications company will be visited today (Tuesday).

    Speaking on why the labour union decided on MTN among other telecommunication companies, Olojede explained that the State chapter only complied with the directive of its national leadership.

    He warned that other telecom companies may be picketed next week if the needful is not done.

    Olojede said, “By the directive of the Central Working Committee of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), we are here to say no to the anti-labour practices of MTN in Nigeria. Over the years, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has engaged the management in negotiations, consultations on the need to allow workers under the employ of MTN to unionise.

    “Unionization within establishment is internationally accepted. It is captured by the conventions of the International Labour Organisation. Here in Nigeria, the laws of the federal republic of Nigeria, Article 30 allows it. The constitution also allows for freedom of association. It worries NLC as to why MTN is not allowing its workers to unionise.

    “When all negotiations between the management of MTN and the leadership of NLC is not producing the desired result, hence the need for this action. The meeting in Kaduna decided to employ legal instrument of picketing and lockout to tell the management of MTN in Nigeria that their actions are illegal, anti-labour and uncivilized.

    “Within three days, MTN is expected to enter a Memorandum of Understanding with the NLC in ensuring that unionization is allowed. It is a three day action nationwide. Once they sign an agreement and we see those organizations inaugurating leadership of their union, we will suppress action.

    “One thing some employers of labour do not know so well is that peace, decorum and tranquility resides in an environment where you have industrial union. This is an opportunity for the two key parties to negotiate dialogue and create industrial peace and harmony. Almost all telecom companies are guilty of this offence. But MTN being the largest of them all, they are the first we are picketing and the instruction is narrowed down to MTN.

    “I believe the Central Working Committee of the NLC will decide the next line of action concerning other telecommunication companies. I am sure this action is sending signals to other telecommunication companies that their practices are illegal and the labour movement will not stand akimbo to watch all these actions continue unabated,” Olojede said.

  • Labour warns Fed Govt over killings, insecurity

    The organised labour has warned the Federal Government over the killing of innocent citizens across the country.

    The organised labour in separate statements expressed worry over the insecurity threatening the nation.

    The United Labour Congress (ULC), in a statement signed by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, described the recent killings in Plateau State as the most barbaric and wicked.

    He lamented the insensitivity of the government and security agencies.

    “We have watched with heightened fear as lives and property of Nigerians are wasted daily in our communities especially in the North East and North Central. We have raised alarm severally but our leaders seem to have become deaf and insensitive to the bloodlettings and the butchering of innocent lives in these communities. It is like we have bred a crop of leadership that are inured to the deaths and sufferings of fellow Nigerians to the extent that they have become impervious to the cries of anguish from Nigerians.

    “The galling reports of the slaughtering of men, women and children and the recent sacking of whole communities in Plateau State has left us panting for breathe and wondering whether we still have a group of people whose duty it is to ensure that lives and property are protected”.

    Ajaero said the mindless butchering of about 200 persons was the height of the exacerbated insecurity challenge threatening the nation.

    He said it was a clear demonstration of a total system failure in governance at all levels.

    “It shows that the government in Nigeria has collapsed completely. The near helplessness and wringing of hands by those in charge; the buck-passing and the blame game leave us deeply worried and aghast. A serious sign of a failing state if not a failed state.

    “It is mind-boggling to see the entire national security apparatus lying prostrate in the face of this rabid wantonness. It is unbelievable that the same security agencies to which billions of naira were allocated annually cannot stop the continued extermination of lives of fellow citizens in these numbers. It is completely paradoxical that same security operatives, who can swiftly harass, intimidate and arrest sitting Senators and Supreme Court judges cannot gather enough intelligence to stop these killings that have become a daily occurrence and a signpost of the depth of governance failure and decrepitude in Nigeria,” he said.

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) described it as senseless, saying that it threatens to shatter, once and for all, the bonds of brotherhood and peaceful co-existence.

    “We are disturbed by the range of targets, the duration of these attacks and the scope of casualties and destruction. Even in a full-scale war with another country, the statistics are numbing.

    “Therefore, for the umpteenth time, we condemn these killings in their entirerity. They are senseless and barbaric and threaten to shatter, once and for all, the bonds of brotherhood and peaceful co-existence.

    “Accordingly, our security, though stretched, must be seen to do more to restore the confidence of the civil populace. If the emerging allegations are true that the attacks went on unchecked for hours, then something needs to be done about the reaction time of our dedicated internal security operations in the state,”Ayuba said.

    He said the Federal and Plateau State Governments, in consultation with the parties to this bloody conflict, should design a framework for an enduring peace, including taking pro-active measures.

    He said governments should quickly move to rebuild these communities and restore shattered lives as well as put an end to the anarchy.

  • Labour ministry too weak to check excesses of oil companies- NUPENG

    The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers ( NUPENG ) has said that the Nigerian Ministry of Labour and Employment was not making concrete efforts to check the protracted labour issues concerning the operations of the multinational oil and gas companies in the country.

    The union is also accusing Dutch oil giant, Shell of pioneering the practice of casualisation and precarious work in the Nigerian oil and gas industry and has stopped employing workers on permanent basis for the past 20 years.

    In its presentation to the ILO Committee on the Application of Standard signed by President of the Union, Comrade William Akporeha, NUPENG said the Ministry appeared overwhelmed by the ever changing and manipulative policies in the various Human Relations departments of these stakeholders who never wanted to halt precarious work claiming that their role is only advisory

    The Union said as at today, SHELL alone has close to 2000 contractors with over 20,000 precarious workers from their three subsidiaries of SNEPCo, SPDC and SNG, adding that there is no single direct staff member of NUPENG in SHELL Nigeria.

    NUPENG said the management of Shell continuously frustrated union activities in their contracting companies which run their contractual policies, ranging from 6 to 12 months.

    The union said “the struggle against this form of workers exploitation is almost three decades old, and it has been a herculean task, membership of the union has been seriously depleted, indecent work entrenched resulting into upsurge in crime and social dislocations and defiant behaviours”.

    According to NUPENG, the International Oil Companies, through various policies and practices entrenched anti-labour/ union organizing situation in the Nigeria oil and gas industry, include refusal to allow unionization of Contract and service contracts workers.

    It said the policies also include “fragmentation of Contracts into thousands to frustrate the efforts of the union in organizing precarious workers, making worker to sign pre engagement non membership of union, and this makes precarious workers dread associating with the union, treating labour relations issues with contempt and disdain to the extent of refusing implementation on rulings of Industrial Arbitration Panels whenever it goes against the company”.

    The union said that the wages these IOCs pay workers in Nigeria are so poor and very ridiculous; an average precarious worker is paid less than $200 per month.

    As a result of the prevalent practice of casual/contract employment policy by these Multinational companies, NUPENG said the workers are denied collective bargaining power and in some instances, where a CBA is signed, the all-powerful multinationals through their contractors refuse to implement despite all entreaties.

    “The wicked elopement of Contract workers severance benefits by Contractors to these IOCs. A Nigerian would work under harsh and hard conditions for several years receiving peanuts and yet while the contract ends, his/her severance benefits are taken away by contractors hired by an international oil company. Most times when confronted they feign ignorance of the where about of the contractor

    “The health and Safety conditions of work of these worker is disheartening, they are constantly exposed to hazardous chemical, no Personal protective equipment, no access to medical facility, no annual vacation, no insurance cover, long hours of work with no time off from work.

    “The repressive anti-labour activities of these multinational oil and gas companies generally accentuated the social upheavals in the Niger Delta region, revolts in the form of organized attacks on installations, hostage taking and community insurgence, as prevalent today in the Niger Delta region, and other parts of the country where there is mass unemployment and under-employment”.

  • Labour to Buhari: Reverse Electricity Privatisation

    Organised Labour has restated its call for the reversal of the power sector’s privatisation.

    Reacting to President Muhammadu Buhari’s speech on Democracy Day, the United Labour Congress (ULC),  said the power sector has failed Nigerians.

    Its President, Joe Ajaero, said the power sector privatisation was a failure.

    “It has been a harvest of woes. The United Kingdom has done the needful with their railways on seeing the woes the sector was bringing to the nation, the government has started reversing the privatisation of that sector. The government should emulate this and do the most sensible thing at this time by mustering the needed courage to reverse the nation’s electricity sector privatisation,” he said.

    Ajaero said labour considered it  embarrassing that the country has continued to pay the individuals that captured the DISCOs and GENCOs, despite repaying the nation with darkness.

    He said: “Our  findings showed that the government has paid about N1trillion to these private entities and this is most befuddling.

    “It is, therefore, better to reverse the sale so that instead of paying these companies, Nigeria can manage its funds for the purposes of generating and delivering power to our homes and organisations.”

    The ULC chief said workers were surprised that Buhari did not find it necessary to address the myriads of problems confronting them and the  workplaces.

    “We had thought that the President will recommit to ensuring that the minimum wage quickly become a reality but he never did.

    “We had thought that the President would have talked about the infrastructure deficit. We had hoped that the President would have addressed the crisis of unemployment and the increasing business shut down; alas, it did not happen,” he said.

    He, however, called on the government to move towards delivering the benefits of democracy to the people, especially workers, adding that the country’s testimony of harvests of benefits would be the demonstration of the government’s service and commitment to the people.

  • Labour criticises Ngige over shift in minimum wage implementation

    Workers have expressed disappointment on the statement by the Minister of Labour and Employment Dr Chris Ngige, that the new minimum wage cannot be implemented in September.

    They described the comment as not only insensitive, but also provocative.

    They expressed dismay over  the delay in the implementation of the new minimum wage, noting that the expected increase in salaries would dampen workers’ morale.

    Ngige, who earlier raised the hope of a new minimum wage, also dashed it.

    The minister said going by the work rate of the tripartite committee, it was most unlikely that a new minimum wage would take off in September.

    Ngige said all that could be achieved by the committee was the submission of report to the Federal Government in September while it might take a few months for the processes to be completed.

    Besides, the minister also pointed at the inability of some states to pay as well as the private sector.

    Ngige said there were differentials in the figures that were arrived at by the major stakeholders that ranged between N22, 000 and N58, 000 while the labour movement was holding out for N66, 500.

    Reacting, a female civil servant, Juliet Adaji, who commended the Lagos State government for the prompt payment of salaries,  urged the Federal Government to speed up the implementation process.

    “Our salaries are not enough to take care of the high cost of living. Things are expensive; people are suffering.The government should not extend the September target,” she said.

    Another worker based in Kogi State, Adole Kenneth, said things were difficult for them as the government could not pay its workers promptly, adding that it would be difficult for it to implement a new salary structure.

    “As I speak, the government is owing me up to five months. When I follow up on the debates of the increased wage workers are canvassing, it makes me look as if I am dreaming because even with the meagre N18, 000 minimum wage, Kogi State is still not meeting up. I wonder about the N66,500 new minimum wage workers are clamouring for,” Adole said.

    Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Ayuba Wabba, said Congress would resist any move to re-negotiate the minimum wage, insisting that the proposed minimum wage must be paid to workers.

    He urged the Federal Government to ensure that federal allocations were not released to states and local governments that refuse to implement the new wage.

    Wabba said: “We are battle-ready against public and private organisations that would refuse to conform to the new minimum wage. At our disposal is the power of our votes. We shall ensure that the government that refuses to pay the new minimum wage will not receive the support of the working class, pensioners and their families.”

    He argued that the N66, 500 national minimum wage would at best meet only the basic needs of the average worker, if inflation were kept at a single digit.

    Struggling to reconcile non-take off of the new wage in September with  declarations by the minister as well as the Vice President, Wabba said there was an urgent need by Ngige to clarify his ‘double speak’ on the planned minimum wage to avoid confusion on the issue.

    Wabba queried the sudden change in the proposed implementation date, noting that Ngige had without any prompting, informed the world that the Federal Government would start paying the new wage in September.

    United Labour Congress (ULC) berated Ngige, adding that it would not accept anything that would affect workers adversely.

    It described the Ngige’s statement as unfortunate, saying he should have consulted members of the tripartite committee on the minimum wage before announcing the wage.

     

  • Federal Govt planning to proscribe NLC – Wabba

    The Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ) has reported the Nigerian government to the International Labour Organisation, on alleged back-door plan  to proscribe the Congress and undermine collective labour relations in the country.

    President of the Nigeria Labour Congress and representative of workers on the Governing Board of the ILO, Comrade Ayuba Wabba told the Committee on Application of Standard that the government has forwarded a new bill to the National Assembly which will distort the nation’s industrial relations landscape.

    The NLC also reported the Kaduna and Kogi state governments to the world Labour body over total disregard for the principle of collective bargaining which constitute violations of ILO convention 98 for sacking workers indiscriminately and refusal tom pay salary of workers.

    Wabba told the Committee which meets to review industrial relations in member countries that part of the bill sent to the nation’s parliament seek to proscribe the NLC if it fails to amend its constitution to conform to the bill two years after being passed into law.

    “A new version of the Collective Labour Relations Bill is not a product of consultation and largely different from the one we have made inputs to some years ago. Strangely, this new version was to be surreptitiously passed into law, but for our vigilance and the candor of the parliament to undertake due diligence.

    “Evidence of our claim that the intentions of the amendment were to undermine trade unions and unnecessarily distort our industrial relations landscape and temperature can be seen in one of the portions of this new bill which says “if after two years of commencement of the application of this Act, and the Nigeria Labour Congress has not amended her constitution to conform to this Act, it shall stand proscribed”.

    He added that “the mention of the name of our organisation in a draft proposal for amendment betrayed the undisguised malicious intention of the amendment.”

    The NLC President maintained that “interference in collective negotiation process in the private sector has been a cause of worry to the Committee since 2009. The government continues to claim that sectorial collective bargaining agreement must have its blessing before it becomes implementable so that there is no “undue economic disruption” and so it has benchmarks for wages. This clearly contradict Article 4 of this Convention for which the Committee has sharply pointed in this report being discussed by this Conference Committee.

    “The Collective Labour Relations Bill the Committee of Experts refer to started over 10 year ago. Still, no end in sight. Aside the process being very slow and delayed, the intention of government with respect to the review and amendments are giving us cause for concerns.

    “As against the advice of the Committee of experts to bring labour laws in conformity with the Convention, we can report that, sadly, this is not the case at present. Rather, the government is seeking to use the process to weaken and destroy trade unions and at the same time claiming to expand “freedom of association and volunteerism”.

    He also said “few days ago, another infraction to this convention was committed by the Ministry of Labour. The Minister was reported in some national dailies as saying that workers should not expect the National Minimum (still under discussion) to be finalised by September. When the minimum wage negotiation started, it was agreed by all partners that it will terminate with an outcome in September. The Minister is thus unilaterally determining the negotiation outcome.

    “We ask that this Committee call on the Nigerian government to allow for genuine and good faith engineering of the intended reforms of the labour laws so as to bring them in conformity to the provisions of this convention. We also pray this Committee to ensure that the Nigerian government work genuinely with the High Level Mission that the Committee of Experts has severally proposed, which we know will benefit Nigeria, her industrial relations practices and ultimately, her economy”.

    Turning to the issue of Kaduna and Kogi states, the NLC President said “In 2017, the government of Kaduna State, Northwest Nigeria, sacked with a slant of disingenuous manner 38,000 workers comprising of 22,000 teachers, about 5,000 Local government Councils, and over 8,000 from ministries, departments, agencies, as well as those in the tertiary institutions under the guise of a vague reform.

    “The sack was carried out without recourse to respect and consideration for established rules in handling such process, including the provisions in the existing public sector collective bargaining procedures. The Nigeria Labour Congress officially reported this violation to the Ministry of Labour.

    “We wish to report that the disregard for collective bargaining extant laws and practices was total. For instance, the Nigeria Union of Teachers challenged this illegal sack in court and got a restraining order that the proposed sack should be put on hold until the substantive suit is decided. The court order was blatantly disregarded and disobeyed by the state government.”

    He accused the Kaduna state government of also violating section 16(A) of the Trade Union Act, by withholding seven months deductions to all the unions, while also going ahead to stop such deductions through a government circular.

    “In Kogi State, North-central Nigeria, the government is refusing to abide by collective bargaining agreement concerning the payment and protection of wages. Workers and pensioners in that state are owed over 7 months salaries and pension benefits. This is in spite of repeated genuine efforts by the Federal Government to ameliorate this problem through the granting, three times, of financial bailout to all the affected states.

    “In July 2017, the Kogi state government rather than negotiate with the teaching staff in the tertiary institutions in the state, it illegally proscribed and confiscated the assets of the affected unions. These actions are also violations of section 40 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, which was equivocal that “all persons shall not only be free to assemble and associate, but in particular, shall freely form or belong to trade unions and other associations for the protection of their interests,” Wabba stated. 

  • Workers losing faith, hope in Nigerian project, says labour

    Organised Labour, made up of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) said yesterday that the Nigerian worker has continued to lose faith and hope in the Nigerian project because of the harsh living condition on the country.

    Addressing a pre-May day press conference in Abuja, Chairman of her May Day committee and Deputy President of the NLC, Comrade Najeem Yasmin, said the living condition of Nigerian workers and citizens have continued to deteriorate in the past few years without corresponding action to better their lots.

    Yasin, who is also the National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, said to worsen the precarious condition that workers have found themselves in is the absence of meaningful social cushioning, especially by way of decent wages and dignified working conditions.

    He said that even the minimum wage promised by the government is yet to materialise, while the broader economic and political dynamics in the country has continued to tempt many workers to lose faith and hope in the Nigeria promise.

    He said further that it is under these dark clouds in the country that Labour seeks to inspire strength, confidence and hope in the Nigerian worker and ordinary citizens who currently feel shortchanged.

    Also speaking, the co-Chairman of the May Day committee, Amodu Olayinka, said measures have been put in place to ensure that the rowdy atmosphere that characterized the 2017 May Day celebration does not repeat itself.