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Tag: labour

  • Amosun, Labour end rift over wage deductions

    Amosun, Labour end rift over wage deductions

    The two-week acrimony between the Ogun State government and labour leaders in the state has been resolved.

    The state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and labour chiefs in the state have reached an understanding on the controversy relating to workers’ cooperative deductions, unremitted contributory pension scheme and gratuity.

    This followed a meeting with the Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, Akeem Ambali, and his counterparts in the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JNC), Abiodun Olakanmi, held last week at the governor’s office.

    At the end of the meeting, the labour leaders said they were satisfied with the facts presented by the government about the financial situation of the state.

    The governor, who also spoke to journalists, disclosed that the state got about N1 billion from the federation account for the month of February, while its wage bill stood at over N9 billion monthly.

    He said, “We have seen the financial position of our state and it is not just Ogun State. The economy is down. For example this month, the allocation that came to the state is almost N1 billion and our commitment, the one that we can safely say that ‘this is just for personnel’ either for civil service, public service, house of assembly and our workers, is about N8.4 billion and there are some we must do which put the money at over N9 billion monthly.

    “This month alone, all that we were given as a state is over about N1 billion and the local government got about N1.4 billion. Why I speak on local government all of the time is because they don’t have anywhere else to go. If the total that was given to local governments this month is about N1.4 billion, the primary teachers’ salary if we have to pay is about N2 billion. That mean, there is a problem and of course and we are not magicians.”

    In his comment, the NLC boss said: “We had a very instructive meeting and I want to commend the government. For the first time, we were down to earth with one another and facts were presented. We looked at it and the labour also presented some credible facts to the government and at the end of the day, we agreed that government should go back and do some assignment while labour should also do its own part.”

  • Fed Govt lauds labour’s support for continental initiative

    The Federal Government has praised organised labour for its role in the launch of the United Nations’ (UN) Ecosystem-based Adaptation for Food Security Assembly (EBAFOSA) in Abuja last Friday.

    EBAFOSA was formed following  the Second Africa EBA for food security conference convened by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in collaboration with the African Union (AU) Commission and partners on last July 30 and 31, where 1200 delegates from Africa adopted the Nairobi Action Agenda and the Constitution, which gave birth to the first ever Africa Ecosystems Based Adaptation for Food Security Assembly (EBAFOSA).

    The international body will serve as the continental policy platform to foster and nurture partnerships through branch formation in each African country.

    Some African countries have since launched their programmes. In Nigeria, the theme for the launch is: ‘Re-shaping Nigeria food security and climate resilience through EBAFOSA”.

    During the committee’s meeting, a representative of the secretariat of the body in Nigeria, Mr. Abass Abdullai of the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning, said labour unions could facilitate  logistics necessary to make the launch possible.

    The unions, which sponsor most of the items for the event, include the National Union of Food Beverage Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE); National Union of Hotels and Personal Service Workers (NUHPSW); Food Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB) and Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI).

    The ministry said it had various opinions on what unions stand for, which was activism, adding that it has understood that unions play vital roles in national development.

    EBAFOSA’s National President , Mr. James Oyesola, said the body is the first pan-African policy framework that provides a platform for stakeholders in the country to collaborate in developing and implementing policy solutions to upscale EBA-driven agriculture, its value chains, industrialisation and job creation in a sustainable way.

    EBAFOSA’s implementation, he said, is categorised into three – introductory, growth and maturity.

    “The introductory phase is considered as the most-crucial as it aims to secure commitment of the vital stakeholders, who will be the foundation of EBAFOSA,” he said.

    Oyesola said EBAFOSA is a treaty and not an organisation, adding that it is a peer-to-peer review to reflect policies that would be acceptable globally.

    He said when launched, EBAFOSA would ensure all hands were on deck with synergies looking at the ministries and stakeholders.

    The president added that EBAFOSA would work with associations, such as All Farmers Association of Nigeria, women allied organisations, including weather agencies, to make food production sustainable.

    Those expected at the launch include international organisations, ministers of Agriculture, Environment, Budget and National Planning.

     

  • Labour, angry customers besiege Ikeja Electric

    Labour, angry customers besiege Ikeja Electric

    FROM almost every part of Lagos, customers yesterday besieged the Alausa, Ikeja headquarters of Ikeja Electric (IE), complaining about blackout.

    With the support of Labour, the protesters, who came from Mushin, Agege, Oregun, Ikeja, Ojota, Alimosho, Ikorodu, Iyana-Ipaja, Oshodi and Oke-Odo grounded commercial activities at the power distribution firm.

    The Nigeria Labour Congress and its affiliates, the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) barricaded the company’s entrance to protest the sack of 400 workers.

    The protesters said blackout was affecting their businesses.

    Mr Joseph Adewole, a barber in Ikorodu, said he was no longer working because of power outage.

    “My area has been in total darkness; I can’t buy fuel to keep my business on; the hardship is much and customers are not coming.

    “You see, when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. Everyone knows that business is dull but the outage has added negatively to it.

    “It is sad when customers come around and there is no power to give them the service they deserved,’’ Adewole said.

    Some of the protesters said they would continue the actions until their demands are met, adding that they are tired of paying for darkness.

    Ola Mustapha, a community leader from Ijeshatedo in Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area, said: “The electricity industry has completely fallen into the abyss of corruption and fraudulent activities which has further compounded the inability of the sector to produce steady power supply”.

    Folarin Olorunosebi popularly called Sir Folly from Ilasamaja in Mushin Local Government accused Ikeja Electric of fraud, saying: “They have collected money from us without restoring light; whenever our transformer develops fault, the community will have to provide another one itself as Ikeja Electric will ignore our plea for another transformer. The wires and transformers are provided and managed by our community; whenever we call Ikeja Electric, they always turn us down. President Muhammadu Buhari should cancel the privatalisation of the power industry as it has only made issues worse. The heat is too much, yet no light in the day and night.”

    AbdulAfeez is demanding the cancellation of estimated billing.

    “How can we have stable power supply when those behind importation of electricity generating sets are smiling to the banks daily? We are here to say enough is enough,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in Gowon Estate, Ipaja and Abule Igbehin in Ilasamaja, Mushin, residents have been finding it difficult to pump water from their boreholes because of power outage.

    The problem is compounded by fuel scarcity which has made it difficult for many households to use their generators.

    A resident, who simply gave his name as Tobias, said: “There is no fuel to power the generating set, if you go to filling stations, attendants will not sell inside jerry can for you.

    “At present we can’t do anything without supply, I have locked up my shop because I cannot get water”.

    Mrs Damilola Akinpelu, a frozen food seller at Itunmoja in Ikorodu, said she had suffered a great loss because of the outage.

    “I bought frozen food worth N500, 000 on March 5 and kept them in the freezer so that I can sell the following week.

    “The non-availability of power supply caused the items to get bad.

    “I cannot sell them anymore because they are not good again, I tried to get petrol to power my generator but cannot get in all filling stations I went,” she said.

    Mr Adebayo Shitu, a landlord on Igbogbo Street in Ikorodu, urged the government to intervene in the matter to save businesses from collapse.

  • Police arrest labour leaders as Ogun workers remain adamant

    Schools, hospitals and the state Government Secretariat, Oke – Mosan in Abeokuta remained largely deserted as the indefinite strike embarked upon by civil servants Ogun state entered the second day on Tuesday.

    The striking workers who shunned their duty post on Tuesday over non-payment of pensions and deductions, said they would not resume until there is convincing evidence of payment of their deductions and other entitlements.

    But three labour leaders – Chairman of National Union of Printing Corporation, Kayode Wemimo, Chairman of Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Recreation and Technical Employee (AUCPTRE) identified as Ojeleye and another were arrested.

    They were tear – gassed and arrested at the South end gate of the government Secretariat at Oke Mosan, in an apparent move by the state government  to break the resolve of the workers.

    The government had on Monday through a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa, asked the striking workers to return to work, dismissing the strike as misguided but the workers were adamant.

    Adeoluwa stated: “we are at a loss as to what this small and unpopular group of workers in the state civil service really wants to achieve as Ogun is currently one of the few states in the federation that is able
    to pay workers salaries as and when due, in spite of the current economic downturn.

    “Despite the current financial crisis affecting the country, salaries have been paid up to February 2016 for all categories of workers in the state. In spite of the fact that Ogun is one of the states that
    receives the least allocation from the Federation Account, it pays the highest wages to workers in Nigeria.”

    Regarding the arrest, the Secretary of the Negotiating Council, Adebiyi Olusegun told reporters on Tuesday  that the Police accosted the three of their  leaders who were monitoring the strike at the main
    gate and were arrested shortly the arrival of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Taiwo Adeoluwa at the Secretariat.

    “It was peaceful initially until the SSG arrived. We exchange banters and just few meters away, the Police came telling us that we have only five minutes to leave the area. Then, came from nowhere there
    was tear gas. It was in that process that they drag the three leaders from the car and handcuffed them and drove them to the Trade Fair Complex Police station.

    “Thereafter, we got in touch with our state leaders and who came to intervene. They wanted them to write statement, but, we told them that would be done before the media.”

    The state chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Akeem Ambali who addressed reporters  briefed newsmen at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat, Abeokuta,  said the arrest of their
    members would not in any affect the dampen the resolve of the workers to continue with the strike.

    “We are not going to be intimidated by government move to arrest of some of us. We have told the Police that no statement would be written except his briefing at Iwe Irohin. We condemn the arrest and I can tell you that the strike is still on,” Ambali said.

    The Nation however  gathered that the arrested leaders were later released by the Police.

  • Sack of 400 workers pits labour against Ikeja Electric

    Sack of 400 workers pits labour against Ikeja Electric

    The Ikeja Electric (IE), a power distribution firm, has incurred the ire of Labour over the sack of 400 workers, including National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) deputy president.

    NUEE, Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG)  have issued a seven-day ultimatum to the company to recall the workers unconditionally or risk an industrial action, including the shutting down of Egbin Power station and related plants across the country.

    Egbin Power station and IE are owned by Sahara Energy. NUPENG said it had directed its members at the Nigeria Gas Company (NGC) “to commence a shutdown of supplies of gas to the thermal stations and plants if the 400 workers were not recalled before the expiration of the ultimatum.”

    Demanding for the recall of the workers, NUPENG said it would join NUEE when the timeline given IE to reinstate them lapses. The union said it would shut down NGC that supplies gas to thermal stations and plants all over the country.

    NUPENG President Mr. Igwe Achese, in a statement, said: “The union has put its members on notice in NGC to commence a shutdown of supplies of gas to the thermal stations and plants if the 400 workers are not called back to work when the seven-day ultimatum expires.”

    He said the 400 workers were sacked without due process and in line with relevant labour laws.

    IE, on February 26, sacked 400 workers, including NUEE Deputy President Mr. Christian Omemeh, allegedly without reason.

    Although the management said the action was a strategic step aimed at repositioning its business for better performance, the leadership of the three unions were obviously not impressed.

    The unions lamented that since the takeover of the company on November 1, 2013, the management  had not drawn  up a credible conditions of service for workers.

    Leaders of the unions said they had demanded from the management the parameters used, and it agreed to invite them to confidentially show them the parameters used and how the assessment was done. The union leaders, however, expressed regret that, no invitation had been extended to the union even as the management, contrary to best labour practices, went ahead to sack another batch of about 400 workers.

    The unions called on the relevant authorities such as the Federal Ministry of Power and Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to call IE to order so that the nation will not be plunged into darkness in the next one week.

    The management of IE has defended the sack. Its  Head, Corporate Communications, Mr. Felix Ofulue, said:  ”The key objectives of the company is to create a high performing organisation, which satisfies the needs of the stakeholders, especially our customers, as we reposition for growth.

    “In the last few months, the electricity distribution company has scaled up the metering programme in order to meet the expectations of our customers and further reduce the agitation on estimated billing.

    “It has also achieved significant strides in human capital development, which is critical to the repositioning programme.”

    Ofulue said as part of the strategic initiative, the company also embarked on a re-engineering exercise focused on aligning its structure with its operating model and optimising human capital capacity for better efficiency.

    “We wish to assure all our customers that the organisation has put in place processes to ensure excellent delivery of quality service to our customers in 2016 and beyond,” he added

    In a related development, the unions have called on the Federal government to quickly address the issue of non-payment of salaries to NUEE members across the country in the last 16 months. NUPENG also called on the Federal Government to intervene in the payment of severance benefits to 5, 000 NUEE members laid off during the last privatisation exercise.

  • NLC accuses Senate of undermining labour

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has accused  the Senate leadership of undermining labour movement. It alleged that the Senate leadership was holding discussions with individuals who are not representatives of unions in the power sector, describing the meeting between the Senate leadership and individuals as a move to hijack the sector for selfish motives.

    In a statement signed by the NLC Deputy President, Joe Ajaero, the Congress urged the Senate and the National Assembly to stop every “unholy romance” with such group of individuals on issues in the power sector without involving the leadership of the union.

    The Congress insisted that the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) remained the two unions within the power sector, adding that any agreement reached without NUEE and SSAEAC would not be binding on workers in the sector.

    “We know that the Senate may have meant well and is desirous of resolving all public interest issues arising from all sectors of the  economy of which the power sector is one. We also acknowledge and appreciate one of the key roles of the National Assembly, which is their oversight function over the activities of the executive arm of government.

    “In exercising these functions, we urge the Senate not to allow it to be misled into being used by some individuals to achieve certain hidden agenda. This is to protect the Senate from being ridiculed and unwittingly dragged into on-going crisis within the NLC. The Senate president should know that the NLC presently has two factions with each having a complete set of organs and officers thus capable of engaging any of our social partners on any issue effectively nationwide. He has to be reminded that though we are making efforts toward reconciliation, we are still unfortunately fractionalised.”

    Ajaero said continuing with the discussions in this context and structure would be viewed as a conscious effort by the Senate to undermine the union and collude with fourth columnists to scuttle ongoing reconciliation effort within the Congress. It will also keep Nigerian workers and the movement perpetually divided to the benefit of the ruling elite and employers.

    However, Senate President Bukola Saraki assured labour unions that the Senate would ensure due consultation on all issues that affect workers.

  • Saraki backs labour on tariff reversal

    Saraki backs labour on tariff reversal

    Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday threw the weight of the National Assembly behind the organised labour in the quest to ensure the reversal of the increase in electricity tariff.

    He said improvement in power generation and supply should not be done at the detriment of the masses.

    Saraki spoke just as organised labour under the auspices of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), said that they might be forced to resort to self help to force a reversal of the increase in electricity tariff, saying Nigerians could not continue to pay for what they did not consume.

    The Senate President, who spoke when he received protesting members of the organised labour and their civil society allies led by NLC President Comrade Ayuba Wabba at the National Assembly, said the lawmakers had earlier expressed concern over the increase in electricity tariff.

    He added that the National Assembly would stand with the Nigerian people and ensure that no policy would make life unpalatable for them.

    Pledging that the National Assembly would engage the Executive on the issue with a view to finding an amicable solution to it, the Senate President said there was need for wide consultation before decisions are taken on such issues that affects the welfare of the people.

    He said: “We are here to serve the Nigerian people. I want to assure you that the 8th National Assembly is for the people. Even before now, we have observed that this issue of tariff increase and some of the policies were not palatable. We have summoned the NERC, even before now.

    “We are with you, we will stand with you and ensure that no policy will in any way exist that is not palatable to the Nigerian people. Yes, we all want power, yes, we want improvement, but not at the detriment of the masses.”

    NLC President Comrade Ayuba Wabba told the National Assembly leadership that due consultation was not carried out as stipulated by law before the increase in tariff was announced.

    He pointed out that five years after the privatization of the power sector, Nigerians have continued to pay for darkness.

    Wabba said that the memorandum of understanding signed during the privatization of the power sector gave the Distribution companies 18 months to make electricity meters available to Nigerians.

    He said: “Governance is about the good of the people, the welfare of the people. The company was privatized five years ago and we expect that by now, they must have added value to the system. But instead of adding value, what we have seen is trying to exploit Nigerians by increasing tariff.”

    He added: “We are here so that there can be an engagement on how this issue can be reviewed. We are asking that there must be meters in every household that consume electricity. We are also saying that this tariff must be halted until due consultations is made and the views of Nigerians is taken into consideration.”

     

     

  • Devaluation not solution to economic woes, Labour tells govt

    Devaluation not solution to economic woes, Labour tells govt

    |The President, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Bobboi Bala Kaigama, has said naira devaluation is not the answer to the country’s economic problems.

    He urged the Federal Government not to embrace devaluation  unless the percentage of devaluation is equivalent to the percentage increase in the national minimum wage.

    Speaking with The Nation, Kaigama agreed that a combination of the after-effects of years of fiscal indiscipline, mismanagement of resources, unacceptable electioneering spending, corruption, policy reversals, unproductive borrowing, falling crude oil prices and serious issues of internal security had dealt a blow to the economy.

    He said inflation had hit double digit, while the value of the naira had collapsed against major international currencies, noting that as an import-dependent country, the implications for the ordinary Nigerian are enormous. Apart from forcing the cost of living to rise, the purchasing power has dropped and jobs are being lost.

    Charging the Federal Government to look inward, the TUC boss cited countries, such as India, China, Malaysia, South Africa, Indonesia, and others, which were nowhere in terms of development in the 1970s/80s, but have transformed into giants and premium net exporters of goods and services and are doing well today.

    He advocated for the re-negotiation of Nigeria’s current loans in the light of the burden debt-servicing constitutes to the budget –  about 23 per cent of the total budget.

    The United Action for Democracy (UAD), in a statement titled, “IMF never means well for working class-people, the poor must not bear the burden of “Recovery”, also warned that nothing good can be expected by working class people from the international financial institution.

    Its National convener, Baba Aye, said IMF would never throw its weight behind a developmental agenda that is beneficial and is driven by the working masses.

    He said: “The removal of fuel subsidy by sleight with the mask of price modulation is itself based on IMF policy advice calling for deregulation.

    “Without fixing the problem of domestic refining, fuel pump price is likely to rise despite falling global prices of oil, as a result of freight and related costs of fuel importation. Removing fuel subsidy instead of pulling down the house of corruption that has smeared it amounts to throwing away the baby with the bath water.

  • Labour to picket DISCOs, GENCOs Monday

    Labour to picket DISCOs, GENCOs Monday

    The Organised  Labour is set to  picket all DISCOs (Electricity Distribution Company) and GENCOs (Electricity Generation Company) across the country by Monday, next week.

    In a communiqué by the  Secretary-General, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Musa Lawal, on behalf of TUC and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the decision against DISCOs  is to drive home what they described as unilateral and unlawful hike of electricity tariff. The picketing is expected to be led by theTUC, NLC and the Civil Society groups.

    The communique, which read in part, said: “Please be informed that Monday, 8th Ferbruary, 2016 has been chosen as a day of action against DSICOs to drive home the fact that the unilateral and unlawful hike of electricity tariff will be resisted by consumers ably led by TUC, NLC and Civil Society allies.

    “You are, therefore, requested in furtherance of the above position to mobilise workers in your council to massively picket all offices of DISCOs in your states, on Monday 8th February, 2016.”

    NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, last week  noted as illegal, unfair and unjustifiable, a further exploitation of the already exploited Nigerians with the intention to increase electricity tariff.

    He said there  have been no significant improvement in service delivery with the fact that most consumers are not metered in accordance with the signed privatisation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) of November 1st, 2013, which stipulated that within 18 months gestation period all consumers are to be metered.

    He said: ‘’There is a subsisting court order dated 28th May, 2015 by Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, in the case of Toluwani Yemi-Adebiyi versus NERC, that no increment until the determination of the substantive suit.

    “The increment at this time negates the present biting and prevailing economic recession vis-à-vis an attempt to further impoverish the poor masses.”

  • Labour backs conditional cash transfer for the poor

    … condemns renewed bombing of pipelines in Niger Delta

    Organised labour has thrown its weight behind the proposed conditional cash transfer, a programme modelled after the social security schemes of developed countries by the Federal Government.

    National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) General Secretary Comrade Issa Aremu, who clarified the position of organised labour – Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) – said the unions supported it and would collaborate with the Office of the Vice President.

    At the 40th Day prayer for his late wife, Hajia Hamdalat Abiodun in Kaduna, Aremu praised the Muhammadu Buhari administration for setting aside N500 billion for direct social transfers in the 2016 budget before the National Assembly.

    “The Office of the Vice President as directed by the President, must work with NLC and TUC to realise this objective. There is a link between support for those who are losing out in this country’s callous market rat race and economic growth.

    “The organised labour movement is ready to assist the Federal Government to make this programme a success. The conditional, legitimate transfers should serve as the basis for a national comprehensive social security programme for Nigeria. As a worthy investment in our country’s human infrastructure, not stomach infrastructure, it is as important an investment as physical infrastructure,” he said.

    Aremu praised President Buhari for looking at the faces of about 70 million poor Nigerians, who are living on less than a dollar per day and making them to access national resources as a matter of right, not of abuse as some corrupt politicians do on the eve of elections.

    Aremu, who praised the school feeding programmes of some state governments, including that of Governor Nasir el-Rufai administration in Kaduna State, reiterated his call for gender mainstreaming in Nigeria.

    “It is time we intensified the advocacy for gender mainstreaming. Governments and corporate organisations must mainstream women in the families, at workplaces, government and society at large,” he said.

    Also, NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, condemned the renewed blowing-up of major oil and gas pipelines by suspected militants in the Niger Delta region, adding that the issue of national security should not be taken lightly.

    “Pipeline vandalism is highly condemnable. This should not be allowed to happen in a civilised society,” he said, pointing out that oil and gas pipeline vandalism will contribute largely to the air and water pollution of the region and reduce the revenue base of the country.

    Wabba said pipeline vandalism is a threat to national security, saying that the issue should not be taken lightly. He advised the Niger- Delta militants to engage in dialogue with the Federal Government rather than confrontation in resolving issues.

    He urged the Federal Government to sustain the amnesty programme as it would serve as a means of addressing some of the challenges in the region. “I hope that the renewed blowing-up of major oil and gas pipelines is not as a result of the ongoing probe of some political leaders in the region.

    “Our call is that the government should remain focused in its fight against corruption and it should not be tired by whatever pressure. We also want to appreciate what the security agencies have been able to do in terms of protecting the pipelines in the region. They should put in more effort to contain the crisis,” Wabba said.

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

    The NLC President led the social, religious and political leaders to the prayer that held at the Aremu’s residence in Kaduna.

    The prayer session also had in attendance: Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Justice Wale Abiru of the Court of Appeal, Abuja; General Zarmani Lekwot, Major- General Lawrence Onoja; as well as Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu of PENCOM and Alhaji Aliko Dangote, both of whom were represented.