The Nation Newspaper

Tag: labour leaders

  • How to retool the economy, by labour leaders

    How to retool the economy, by labour leaders

    The recent 33rd Annual Conference of National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees (NUCFRLANMPE) in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital provided labour leaders the opportunity to proffer solutions to the economy.

    The leaders canvassed the diversification of the economy as panacea for tackling rising job losses and declining workers’ welfare.

    According to them, inflation has skyrocketed, pushing the prices of essential goods like food, fuel, and medicine beyond the reach of ordinary citizens.

    Speaking on the theme, “Building human capacity for enhancing productivity and personnel welfare in the midst of economic hardship,” the Union’s President, Bolarinwa Sunday, warned that improving productivity was a herculean task that required policy interventions.

    READ ALSO: FULL LIST: World’s best countries for high earners in 2025

    He stressed that sustainable growth and improved welfare could only be achieved through diversification of the economy, investments in social infrastructure—especially power and roads—FOREX stabilisation, labour-inclusive recovery frameworks, and policies that support local production of finished goods.

    “Loss of employment as a result of redundancy exercise is on a daily basis, while precarious work is replacing decent work.

    “We, therefore, need to understand the state of Nigeria’s economy and strike the balance between productivity and workers’ welfare; hence the essence of this seminar,” Sunday said.

    The union president decried the rising wave of casualisation, outsourcing, and contract staffing, describing them as “obnoxious measures” being adopted by employers to replace regular employment. He urged stakeholders to promote decent work by creating more opportunities through value-adding strategies.

    “Labour organisations must form a cohesive band to strengthen organising and to make our politicians and policymakers accountable. High cost of governance must be addressed so that public resources do not end up in private pockets again,” he said.

    Sunday further spoke on disturbing findings as it said many companies on the Lagos–Sagamu–Ibadan axis operated “slave camps” under the guise of providing accommodation for workers.

    “The majority of these companies are owned by Chinese nationals, but our politicians are fronting for them, thereby making it easy to practise anti-labour practices. For instance, workers live under the strict control of soldiers and police who are manning the gates and apportioning inhuman punishment to dissenting workers. We have made frantic efforts to reach out to these workers, but they are not accessible. However, it’s not over until it is over; we are still strategising through the NLC and Ministry of Labour. The NLC President has made a statement on the anti-labour practices of these Chinese and with time, they shall be called to order,” he declared.

    President of National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria

    (NUTGTWN), Peters Godonu, said the seminar’s theme was timely, given the hardships confronting workers and their families.

    He said: “At a time workers and their families are confronted with severe economic hardship–rising cost of living, job insecurity, and eroding purchasing power–it is critical to invest in human capacity development. A well-trained, empowered, and motivated workforce is the surest guarantee for enhanced productivity and sustainable enterprise growth. But productivity must go hand in hand with improved welfare and the dignity of labour.

    “As trade unions, our mission is to ensure that while industries strive for competitiveness, the rights, welfare, and aspirations of workers are not sacrificed. At a time when workers face challenges ranging from precarious work, casualisation, outsourcing, to resistance against unionisation, the need for stronger bonds between our unions cannot be overemphasised.”

    He added that workers faced enormous challenges that required greater solidarity among trade unions.

    “We must resist every attempt by some recalcitrant employers to divide our ranks. By sharing experiences, strategies, and lessons, we are building a collective capacity to respond to new realities in the world of work,” he said.

    In his goodwill message, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, represented by Mr. Orodiran Micheal, the Controller, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, urged the union to sustain its efforts in building human capacity for improved productivity and better welfare for workers despite the harsh economic realities.

    “I recognise the importance of investing in our workforce. By empowering your members with relevant skills and knowledge, I believe this will enable them to navigate favourably through present-day challenges and thrive to improve their performance and by extension, our economy,” he said.

    Similarly, the Director-General, Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Issa Aremu, urged the union to demand subsidies for workers’ education.

    “There should be a special fund through the NLC to support workers’ education. By doing this, they are not only building themselves but also building the nation,” Aremu said.

    Also, the General Secretary of NCSU, Olowoyo Gbenga, cautioned that employers and employees were groaning under the current economic crisis.

    “We must not pretend. Investors are groaning while workers are crying loudly. The Federal Government must listen carefully. It should come to the aid of critical stakeholders in the industrial sector so that the Nigerian economy does not collapse totally.

    “The government should also provide friendly regulations, reconsider high tax rates on imported raw materials, and create policy incentives for private companies to sustain production and keep their workers productively engaged with decent salary packages,” he said.

    In his keynote address, the Executive Secretary, Chemical and Non-Metallic Products Employers Federation (CANMPEF), Femi Oke, underscored the need for unions to strengthen human capacity, skills, attitudes, and resilience to enhance productivity while safeguarding workers’ welfare amid the prevailing economic downturn.

    He emphasised that human capacity development means investing in people, building their skills, shaping their mindset, and equipping them with the tools they need to succeed.

    According to him, three dimensions of capacity skill include continuous training, upskilling, and acquiring new competencies relevant to the work environment.

  • Our expectations from govts, by labour leaders

    Our expectations from govts, by labour leaders

    For the Organised Labour, things are still hard, despite the increase in their salaries from the implementation of the new minimum wage and distribution of palliatives, among others, by the Federal Government. They have, therefore, called on the federal as well as the state governments to look into their new demands to enable them to really enjoy the dividends of democracy, TOBA AGBOOLA writes.

    To workers, things are not yet rosy. Despite the implementation of the new minimum wage that puts more money in their pockets, the cost of living, which is still high, has wiped out what is supposed to be their joy from the new wage.

    To this end, the leaders of the two labour centres, as the Bola Tinubu-led administration celebrates two years in office, which many termed half-year of the four-year tenure, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have outlined workers’ expectations, urging the federal, state, and local governments to address pressing socio-economic issues.

    The  NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, and TUC President, Comrade Festus Osifo, stressed the need for policy shifts, with the reduction of the exchange rate, industrial peace, respect for the rule of law, with adherence to the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act taking centre stage.

    They highlighted the importance of policies that deliver tangible benefits to citizens, as well as sought the imbibing of the principles of transparency, honesty, and inclusivity in governance.

    They also highlighted numerous challenges workers face, including escalating living costs, unemployment and insecurity.

    They stressed the critical role of industrial harmony, urging the Federal Government to engage constructively with labour unions.

    They insisted that workers must sit at the table during the formulation of tax policies that would affect them.

    The labour leaders had pushed for the implementation of a reduction in telecommunications tariffs from 50 per cent to 35 per cent, a promise they said was yet to materialise while expressing frustration with the continued prioritisation of corporate profits over the survival of the ordinary Nigerian.

    They called for reforms that would shift focus toward the people’s essential services such as energy, infrastructure, and public utilities, emphasising that they must be oriented toward serving the public interest rather than private gains.

    READ ALSO: Quick tips to get rid, prevent bedbugs in homes, beds, others

    Security

    Ajaero expressed concern over the safety of workers, in their workplaces and outside it, urging the government to prioritise the protection of lives.

    He said insecurity (banditry, herder raids on farms) has contributed to reducing agricultural output, causing food crisis and forcing increasing food imports and a dependency on foreign food donors.

    He called for improved working conditions, including safe workplaces, the right to organise freely, and protection from state and employer intimidation or violence.

    Ajaero called for an end to the killings and bloodshed across the country, labelling the violence as genocidal and intolerable.

    “It is evident that when governments and their institutions implement policies that uphold the dignity, unity, and aspirations of the people, they strengthen democracy and reinforce governance structures.

    “However, when they fail to do so, democracy is weakened, institutions become compromised, and crisis looms.The killings around the country: Uromi, Eha Amufu, Adani, Ondo, Owo, Zamfara, Bokkos and Riyom in Plateau; Benue; Kebbi states and unchecked kidnappings  continues to affect the country.

    “The number one duty of the Federal Government is to ensure the safety of lives and properties. The government must step up and fulfill its constitutional obligations to the citizens instead of these constant lamentations. We hear of the emergence of a new terrorist group named Mahmuda sect in the Middle Belt.

    “This calls for serious attention. We must approach the insecurity situation as a country in War.The choices we make today will define our nation for generations to come, “ Ajaero said.

    Economy

    Ajaero said the truest performance measurement of any economy is the nature of citizens’ welfare and the economy’s capacity to continue providing such levels of welfare now and in the future.

    He said action must be taken to provide effective support for the real sectors to jumpstart the economy.

    Ajaero said: “Deliberate steps must be taken to put more money in the hands of workers – who shop locally to stimulate the economy and reduce inventory creating deeper multipliers within the economy.

    “The ongoing tariff war sparked by President Donald Trump’s imposition of a severe tariff regime on all manners of imports into the United States should remind those that run our economy of the severe imperfection of the neo-liberal model.

    “We should learn the importance of developing a robust domestic economy to allow us the freedom to control our destiny, especially when the ones that are preaching trade liberalization to us are now leading trade wars which are counter to trade..

    Osifo called for a redoubling of efforts to tackle economic hardship, emphasising the need for practical policies to ease the burden on Nigerians.

    “We expect governments at all levels to redouble their efforts at addressing current economic hardships for the safety of everyone. The government must consider how its policies affect the micro-economy of Nigerians because that is what affects you and me,” he added.

    Energy sector/expatriate quota

    Osifo said any government that really wished to deliver an effective energy sector to Nigerians should sit with critical stakeholders to turn around this sector, so that it would play its critical role in  economic development.

    “While we are blessed with enough natural resources to drive a robust energy sector, we lack the requisite leadership capacity to make it a reality. We are still at a great loss on how to explain events in the oil and gas sector. We have crude, yet there are claims that the oil companies import crude to run their refineries. They export refined products, yet, we import refined petroleum products. This defies logic.

    “A nation that fails to harness and manage its energy resources efficiently is doomed to economic stagnation and systemic collapse. Nigeria’s energy sector remains a glaring example of mismanagement, corporate exploitation, and governmental negligence, leaving millions in darkness and stifling our industrial potential,“ he said.

    He called on the government to critically look into the issue of expatriate quota, saying that Nigerians were being deprived by the International Oil Companies (IOC)

    “We demand strict enforcement of the expatriate quota system, as the manipulation by International Oil Companies (IOCs) deprives Nigerians of employment opportunities.

    “We call on the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to act decisively — or workers will have no option but to down tools.

    “We still insist that power sector privatisation was a daylight heist and a monumental failure.

    “A decade after privatisation, Nigeria’s electricity sector remains in a shambles. Nigerians are forced to pay exorbitant tariffs for darkness, while estimated billing continues as legalised robbery,” Osifo lamented.

    Electoral reforms ahead of 2027

    On matters of governance, the workers’ leaders demanded democratic accountability, transparency, and urgent electoral reforms.

    The labour bodies condemned what they described as a sustained suppression of civic space and dissent, calling on the federal and state governments to stop actions that erode citizens’ rights and instead work to strengthen democratic norms.

    They demanded the settlement of outstanding allowances, pensions, and gratuities, stressing that retired public servants, who devoted decades to national service, deserve a dignified and secure retirement.

    The two leaders emphasised that no economy could make progress without a strong domestic manufacturing base.

    “We should learn the importance of developing a robust domestic economy to allow us the freedom to control our destiny, especially when the ones that are preaching trade liberalisation to us are leading trade wars which are counter to trade,” Osifo said.

    They reaffirmed the commitment of trade unions to national progress while emphasising their responsibility to workers and citizens.

  • Minimum wage: Soludo, labour leaders’ meeting ends in deadlock

    Minimum wage: Soludo, labour leaders’ meeting ends in deadlock

    The meeting between Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo and leaders of organised labour in the state over a new minimum wage for the state’s workers ended in a deadlock on Tuesday.

    The deliberations dragged into yesterday.

    The governor allegedly failed to fulfill his promise of paying the N70,000 minimum wage the Federal Government declared early this year after negotiations with labour leaders.

    The Nation gathered that during the Tuesday’s meeting, the governor reportedly said a Level Nine worker would receive less than the N70,000.

    The development angered the labour leaders who nearly staged a walkout on the governor.

    Despite the fact that some other states, like Rivers, Lagos, Enugu, Ebonyi, Ogun, and Delta, are paying beyond Federal Government’s N70,000, Anambra has reportedly pegged its minimum wage on the same amount.

    Read Also: FULL LIST: Nigeria’s 28 Chiefs of Army Staff since 1966

    The governor was said to have promised to begin the payment of the new minimum wage this month.

    But The Nation gathered that Soludo might be heading towards a showdown with the workers over his inability to fulfil his promise.

    Some labour leaders told our correspondent last yesterday before the continuation of the meeting that they were not happy with the governor’s “body language”.

    A labour leader, who spoke in confidence, said: “When we met with him last week, he made us happy by saying that nobody would go home with less than N70,000. We applauded him and the workers were happy. But today, he’s sounding a different tone that is not part of what we discussed earlier.

    “He cannot play on our intelligence. We represent the workers. How can people who have attained Levels Eight to 10 take home less than the Federal Government’s N70,000? Is Anambra different from other states?”

    The labour leader urged the work force not to panic as further negotiations continued.

    “We will address our people after the series of our meetings with the governor,” he added.

    Reply, Reply All or Forward

  • Labour leaders seek action on Africa’s rising debt profile

    Labour leaders seek action on Africa’s rising debt profile

    Labour leaders have expressed concerns about the rising debt profiles of African countries. 

    They said the perennial consequences of the growing debt of countries in Africa are suffocating workers and the living condition of the people, hence, a call for action.

    The labour leaders noted that the huge debt of countries in Africa has further weakened the liberation and development of the continent, worsening job losses, increasing poverty and hunger.

    They spoke at the ongoing African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) New Year School in Lusaka, Zambia.

    General Secretary, ITUC-Africa, Comrade Akhator Odigie called for decisive action to address the continent’s rising debt profile.

    Odiegie said: “As the General Secretary of ITUC-Africa, I am acutely aware of the profound impact that the debt crisis has had on the lives of millions of workers and citizens across our continent, including workers in Zambia. From wage freezes to dwindling social protections, the ramifications of unsustainable debt are far-reaching and deeply troubling. 

    “It is imperative that we take decisive action to address this issue and chart a path toward a more equitable and sustainable future for all Africans.”

    President, ITUC-Africa, Martha Molema said trade unions in Africa have resolved to constructively engage governments instead of lamenting, as they advance the transformational agenda of the continent.

    Molema said: “At the heart of our mission lies the recognition that trade unions must not be mere voices of lamentation and complaint but be voices for pragmatic solutions through education.”

    President, Zambian Congress of Trade Unions, Comrade Blake Malala who declared the four day workshop opened, said: “The borrowing affects the innocent citizens, the future and growth of our countries more than its benefits. It affects workers’ wages. Workers and the citizens at large are being suffocated by the dire consequences of the loans and the huge debt, this is because they don’t utilise it well.

    “We the trade unions in Africa are not going to spend our time lamenting, rather we will begin to carry out checks and balances on our governments. We will not leave the politicians alone to handle the affairs of our continent anymore. It is time for African leaders to govern to make Africa prosperous and developed to prevent our young ones from dying in the Mediterranean Sea all the time.

    “We are not a body of opposition against the government but we will provide checks and balances in the interest of good governance and a better Africa for all. We will support the government  but we will check its policies and ensure it doesn’t suffocate or mortgage our countries and the lives of our children. And this is the message we are sending across Africa to our governments.

    Read Also: Oyo Labour leaders hail Makinde on wage award

    “We will not vote in careless leaders that will further put Africa and its citizens into a sinking boat anymore. The debt issue is big. It has affected African governments’ bargaining process and power. Governments across Africa borrow money but how they use the money we don’t know. Time has come for trade unions in Africa to start asking questions on how our governments utilise the monies they borrow. Time has come for labour unions in Africa to play a rich role when our governments engage in this issue of borrowing, because the debt crisis is affecting the whole continent.

    “We urge the media to help us in louding our voice on this issue of our governments’ borrowing. Because of this borrowing and its consequences, many multinational companies in Africa don’t respect our labour laws. They treat our workers and people unfairly in the name of employment. This is a challenge that affects many workers specifically in the private sector across Africa. We call on those who support fair labour treatment across the world to join us in this crusade against indecent work practices in the African continent.”

  • Baba Lekki lambasts labour leaders on Workers’ Day

    To iconic and historic Epetedo on Tuesday to listen to verbal fireworks as a drunken Baba Lekki and a feckless Okon mounted a makeshift platform to deliver a damning verdict on the state of the nation and the state of Labour leadership in particular. It was around the same premises almost twenty five years earlier that MKO Abiola made his historic declaration against military tyranny prompting his arrest, incarceration and subsequent martyrdom.

    The whole place was bristling with out of work layabout, hawkers and hookers, half-employed flotsam, the certificated unemployable, syndicated kidnappers, equal opportunity pickpockets and other waste products of a dysfunctional society in its last gasps. As he launched one scurrilous attack after another, it was obvious that Baba Lekki had come to bury the system and not to praise it. But rather than grant his wish for martyrdom, the authorities wisely chose to ignore him.

    It was at this point that Okon chose to make his deliberately delayed self-important entry sporting the uniform of ancient bus conductors to wild, spontaneous applause from the star-struck assemblage.

    “Comrade Okon!!! Comrade Okon is here. The lion of Clifford Station has arrived”, the crowd enthused.

    “Ha ma people, ma people. Make I tell you something about dat one. I no be come raid at all at all. Dem no ask me to come before I don dey raid dem well well. So I be Raid Okon”, the crazy boy screamed as he clambered up the makeshift stage with the agility of a cat and to the quiet consternation of a drunken and sagging Baba Lekki.

    “Redi-redi Okon, you no see how dem useless Labour leaders dey do Maradona for us? “ a virtually toothless veteran troublemaker inquired with hardy cynicism written all over his face.

    “Baba Alausa, dem labour people no dey lead, dem dey deal. Some time sef I dey wonder why dem dey call them labour. Na only women dey do labour when dem wan comot pikin. Abi you don see where man dey labour before? Yeye people”, Okon snorted with wild relish.

    “As for….. as for, my pikin”, an old Edo man grunted with savage pleasure. It was at this point that Baba Lekki waded in with heavy duty Marxian dialectics.

    “Okon, point of correction. Those ones you see on television wearing funny uniforms and Aso ebi are not labour leaders. They are a bunch of bourgeois renegades working for government and looking to line their pockets with filthy lucre. They are answerable to no one but their masters in Aso Rock. When they see the real workers, they will run for dear life”. The old man intoned with magisterial severity.

    “Baba, see the plight of government workers in this land”, one man lamented.

    “On that one, I will not lie to you. I am a scholar of sick societies and not a labour propagandist. We have tell ourselves the truth and nothing but the truth. There are no government workers in this obodo in the real sense of the word. As they say in old Russia, people are pretending to work while government is pretending to pay them. Shikena, equation don balance. Liveable pay is the product of believable work. Three quarters of the workforce in the land are just an idle bunch of no-hopers hiding away in sinecure indolence”, the old man thundered.

    “And what about us factory workers?” one irate youth demanded in a rather threatening note.

    “Ah you see, young man, that is another lie we are living. To have factory workers, you must have functioning factories. You can count the number of functioning factories in the land. They have either been shut down or they are functioning well below capacity. Workers can only blackmail owners of functioning factories. Otherwise, they will just close the damned thing down and walk away. So you see, there is no functioning working class in the nation in the real sense of the word. We only have non-working underclasses or jetsam of collapsed industries”, Baba Lekki crowed.

    “Oga, but dem minimum wage no fit buy minimum food, abi your head no correct too?” one angry man demanded.

    “Ah you see, minimum wages are the wages of minimum people devised by minimum government of minimum nations. When you have a maximum nation ruled by a maximum government, you will get maximum wages. Please don’t ask me any further foolish question or I will place a curse on you”, Baba Lekki screamed.

    “Baba, and dem don thieve our pension finish”, one old man whimpered.

    “Nonsense, the real pension thieves are in the National Assembly with their humongous pay and humongous severance package. They need real severance before the nation can move forward. Tell your foolish labour leaders to go after those ones first”, Baba Lekki shouted as he jumped down and began to walk away with Okon in tow.

     

  • ACF to Labour leaders: don’t truncate democracy

    The  Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) yesterday faulted the planned strike by organized labour 40 days to the commencement of the 2019 elections.

    The forum said while it is all for the wellbeing of workers, it is worried about the “threat to industrial peace and harmony” posed by the planned strike.

    Labour is mobilizing workers to commence a strike over the stalemate with government on the N30,000 new minimum wage.

    The ACF in  a statement yesterday in Kaduna by its  National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim Biu,   said the public “is getting extremely alarmed by the risky method they (labour) have chosen to fight for the welfare of their members.”

    He said: “the Arewa Consultative Forum, (ACF) has nothing but sympathy and goodwill towards all Nigerian workers who continue to toil in an increasingly difficult economic environment. We also support whatever they or their unions legitimately do to improve on their welfare.

    “However, ACF wishes to draw the attention of the labour and trade union organizations to the fact that the public is getting extremely alarmed by the risky method they have chosen to fight for the welfare of their members.

    “It will be recalled that ASUU, ASUP and other unions in our tertiary institutions have been on “total, comprehensive and indefinite” strike almost 100 days to our general elections. And now, about 40 days to the elections, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, is threatening not only to call its members out on a “total and prolonged” strike but to “mobilize” them to paralyze the country.

    “The ACF is very much worried and concerned with this threat to industrial peace and harmony, and hereby appeals to the leadership of NLC and other trade unions to place the interest of the country above all other considerations.

    “Workers’ welfare can only be improved if the country is working and the general elections that is at the heart of our democracy is allowed to take place in a peaceful environment. We cannot afford to truncate our hard earned democracy at this material time when all hands are expected to be on deck to move the country forward.

    “We therefore urge the labour leaders to remain patriots and prevail on their members to suspend the proposed total strike and for ASUU and ASUP, we appeal that they call off the strike and return to the negotiation table.

    “ACF urges all interested parties to note that the issue of minimum wage transcends all sectors of the economy, hence the need for workers in both public, private sectors and governments to come together and agree on what the economy can accommodate, after which a bill to that effect can be transmitted to the National Assembly forthwith.”

  • Ekiti workers petition Assembly over Fayose’s N264m ‘grants’ to labour leaders

    Workers in Ekiti State have petitioned the House of Assembly Committee on Public Accounts calling for the probe of alleged monthly release of N6 million to labour leaders by former Governor Ayo Fayose for nearly four years.

    Acting under the aegis of Ekiti Workers Rescue Team (EWRT), the workers urged the Assembly panel to summon the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman Ade Adesanmi and his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Mr. Odunayo Adesoye, to explain how they spent the cash from 2015 to date.

    The monthly releases amount to about N264 million.

    In the petition, dated November 23, the EWRT claimed that N6 million monthly given to the labour leaders did not reflect in the union’s bank accounts.

    It regretted that “the wicked conspiracy and unholy alliance” between Fayose and the labour leaders showed why they could not fight for workers’ rights during the last administration.

    The group told the Assembly panel that this constituted a moral burden to the labour leaders, who failed to agitate for the payment of arrears of salaries and allowances under Fayose but consistently hailed him when workers were dying of hunger.

    The petition, which was addressed to the House Committee Chairman on Public Accounts, Gboyega Aribisogan, was signed by EWRT Chairman, Mr. Ojo Ayodeji and Secretary, Mr. W. A. Ajayi.

    Attached to the petition was the Auditor General’s Report for the year ended 31 December, 2017, which showed that the TUC received N1 million monthly and the NLC got N5 million monthly under Fayose as “running grants”.

    In the report, the Auditor General recommended that “trade unions, irrespective of their closeness to government, should not be treated as government offices”.

    It added: “The unions are umbrella bodies for workers whose responsibilities are to see to the welfare of their members.

     

  • Ambode hails union leaders for industrial harmony

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday hailed labour leaders for the industrial harmony in the state.

    Speaking at a training for unionists, Ambode said the programme would ensure a team spirit to address labour-related matters.

    The capacity building workshop was organised by the Ministry of Establishment, Training and Pensions, in conjunction with Tayinka Enterprises Nigeria Ltd, in Ikeja.

    The governor, represented by Establishment, Training and Pensions Commissioner Dr. Akintola Benson-Oke, hailed the unions for not embarking on strike since the inception of his administration.

    Describing the theme of the workshop: “Leadership Development and Organisational Effectiveness for Labour Leaders in Lagos State” as apt, Ambode said in terms of conceptualising the relationship between employers of labour such as the Lagos State Government and trade unions, certain misconceptions persisted.

    Said he: “Lagos State Government and organised labour have utilised the process of leadership development and organisational effectiveness for labour leader in the state, to promote mutual understanding, deepen trust and concretise a symbiotic relationship among stakeholders.”

    The governor noted that leadership is important to the development and progress of any society or organisation, hence the continuous training and retraining of labour leaders.

    “I am sure that within a short while and for a very long time to come, the good people of Lagos State will reap the dividends of the superlative services derivable from a public service that has been properly trained in the art of modern governing and administration,” he said.

    Ambode said leadership training, when properly executed and repeatedly carried out, would ensure that unions were effectively organised and administered, which would translate into smart decisions devoid of sentiments.

    The representative of Tayinka Enterprises Ltd, Mrs. Sidikatu Abiola, said everybody should search for knowledge everyday “to make us better leaders who can respond to the latest developments and challenges.”

    She urged the participants to utilise the opportunity of the workshop to learn things and utilise them.

    The Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Rhoda Ayinde, advised union leaders to use the training to educate workers in their ministries, agencies and parastatals.

     

  • 2019: More labour leaders join political race

    MORE Labour leaders have joined the race for political offices in next year’s elections.

    Some are contesting on the platform of Labour Party (LP), others are doing it under the umbrella of other parties.

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has assured them of its support no matter their platform.

    Trade Union Congress (TUC), President Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama is contesting for Taraba State governor under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The General Secretary of the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SASCGOC),  an affiliate of TUC, Comrade Ayo Olorunfemi, is vying for a seat in the House of Representatives, under the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    General Secretary of Textile Workers and member of the NLC National Executive Council, Comrade Issa Aremu, is eyeing  Kwara State governorship under the Labour Party.

    NLC President Comrade Ayuba Wabba said organised labour would encourage more workers and their leaders to go into politics.

    Wabba pointed out that the labour leaders were qualified and capable to deliver.

    He added that they would not insist that all workers or labour leaders should contest under the Labour Party.

    Wabba told reporters: “Let me tell you our approach to the whole issue; we are going to support workers and people of integrity to go into politics because if you say it is a dirty game and you leave it to few, it will continue to be so. So, whatever platform that those workers, or those our partners will be using, we will support it.

    “We cannot put our eggs in one basket. Yes, it is true we are working to revive Labour Party and we are making progress, but it is not only a party for election, no.  It is a party that will have a very clear ideology and philosophy to represent the interest of the working class, the poor and the downtrodden.

    “I think the approach now, if you look at the situation of Nigeria, is to look at our people, our workers, our members, whichever platform they choose, we will support them because if they are there, they can bring about change; but not to be fixated to say, no they have to be on Labour Party platform.”

    He said NLC would support such people, and that it was working assiduously to revive the Labour Party.

    Kaigama, who spoke on his aspiration after collecting his governorship nomination form, said his priority was to improve the living condition of the ordinary people of Taraba State and the development of the state.

    The TUC president, who condemned the failure of many of the state governors to pay salaries and pensions, blamed their failure on over-reliance on allocation from the Federation Account and corruption.

    He promised to work assiduously to improve on the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and provide jobs through agriculture and tapping into natural resources.

    Kaigama said there was no reason or justification for any governor not to pay workers’ salaries and ensure a good living for the generality of his people.

    As for Issa Aremu, he said he was motivated to join the governorship race because Kwara State needed a radical change from underdevelopment, mass hunger, and poverty.

    Aremu, who lamented that unlike first generation states such as Kano, Rivers and Lagos, which he said had advanced in roads, health, education, security and public welfare, Kwara, in recent times, is poorly governed through exclusive unaccountable governance.

    He said it was time for Kwarans to organise and enthrone inclusive governance for mass prosperity for all.

    Aremu recalled that, at creation, Kwara was the fastest growing state with bold development plans, which laid solid foundations for accelerated economic growth, increased productivity in agriculture, industrial development and improved the quality of life of the people through the provision of necessary infrastructure.

    Stating that “Kwara must return to development planning,” Aremu lamented that the state ranks 28th on the ranking of states by Gross Domestic Product (GDP), beaten  by newer states like Imo, Edo and Oyo.

    Also, Comrade Ayo Olorunfemi said with the little resources that would be available to him, if elected, he would liaise and partner with investors to open up his constituency by building cottage industries that would process the many raw materials in his area.

    He said his constituency has comparative advantages in many areas, such us agriculture and education, which he would use to create jobs and businesses.

    He pointed out that with an opportunity to be at the House of Representatives, he would intensify and do more on the education of his people to liberate them from poverty and lack.

    The labour leader stated that he was invited by the people, especially the youth in his constituency, because of the little he was providing for the people through the NCE, and he would not want to disappoint them.

    At the national level, Olorunfemi said he would work with like minds to raise the real issue of fundamental problems in the country.

  • Jurists, lawyers, labour leaders, others honour Adetola-Kaseem

    Jurists, lawyers and labour leaders gathered in Lagos last week for a day of tributes in honour of the late Chief Gani Adetola-Kaseem, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

    The theme of the event was: ‘The Development of the Nigerian Labour Jurisprudence: The Role of Chief Gani Adetola-Kaseem, SAN (1948-2018)”.

    It held at the Sheba Centre, Mobolaji Bank-Anthony Way, Ikeja and was organised by a group identified as the Committee of Friends.

    Professor Hakeem A. Olaniyan of the University of Lagos, delivered the Lecture, while the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Dr. Ayuba Wabba, was the Special Guest of Honour.

    Speaking as the Chairman of the occasion, President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Hon. Justice Babatunde Adejumo, lauded the efforts of the late Chief  Adetola-Kaseem, for his numerous sacrifices and remarkable role in the development of Labour Law Jurisprudence both in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

    Justice Adejumo extolled the late Adetola-Kaseem’s contribution to the realisation of the Third Alteration Act of the 1999 Constitution that conferred exclusive jurisdiction on labour and employment matters on the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) thereby enhancing social justice and economic development cannot be quantified.

    “He contributed significantly to the realisation of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria as a superior court of record today pursuant to the Third Alteration Act of the 1999 Constitution. History will forever be kind to him,” Justice Adejumo eulogised.

    NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba in his tribute to the late legal luminary, recalled the late Adetola-kaseem’s doggedness and relentless sacrifice to the growth of the labour unions in Nigeria, in offering pro-bono services to the union.

    He described the late ‘SAN’ as a strong advocate of internal dispute resolution mechanism, whose wise counsels were invaluable in both legal and general affairs of life.

    “The late SAN used his intellect and legal skills for the services of the union and in the course of such efforts he won many landmark cases that enhanced our jurisdictional scope, saved our union from being balkanised by some wolves, who masqueraded as union leaders,” Wabba said.

    Professor Olaniyan, the lead speaker, described the late Adetola-Kaseem as a thoroughbred and unassuming professional, who contributed in no small way to Nigerian labour laws and jurisprudence.

    “The late Chief Gani was an example of loyalty and fidelity to the nation. He worked tirelessly to build bridges across many lines. He epitomised integrity and thorough selflessness,”he said.

    On his part, the NICN Lagos division Presiding Judge, Hon. Justice B. B. Kanyip, in his remark commiserated with the family of the deceased and described the late jurist as a brilliant senior advocate, who always align himself with the truth.

    The Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) in a tribute signed on their behalf by Seyi Sowemimo, described the late Adetola-Kaseem as “a diligent and principled advocate with a warm and endearing personality. He consistently exhibited an abiding interest in the affairs of the legal profession. His commitment to the ideals of the profession often found expression in his organisation of workshops on the law, especially in relation to labour matters,

    “The law reports will for long bear testimony to his contributions to the law. He will be equally missed by the larger society for his philanthropic undertakings.”the body said.

    Fassy Yusuf, a lawyer, described him as: “A gentleman, learned silk and an epitone of humility, kindness and compassion is gone. Adieu.”

    His former Head of Chamber and Managing Partner, Adewunmi Adebayo said: “Baba, you lived a good and fulfilled life. I worked with you and you entrusted me with a lot and with so much confidence in me. I can never forget you.”

    President, African Women Lawyers Association, Mandy Asagba said: “The bar has lost one of its best. We will always miss your useful counseling, mentoring and generosity”.

    Other dignitries at the event were Judges of the Court of Appeal, Justice Habeeb Abiru; Justice Joseph Ikyegh; Judges of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Justice P. A. Bassi; Justice Mustapha Tijjani;  Justice E. A. Oji and the Chief Registrar, Olurotimi Daudu and others.

    The late Chief Adetola-Kaseem  died on Monday  January 8, 2018 and has since been buried according to the Islamic rites in his home town, Egbe, Ijebu-Ode.

    He was largely instrumental to the establishment of the Labour and Employment Committee, of the Section on Legal Practice of the NBA  and  would be remembered mostly for his exploits in Labour law, Medical law and Islamic jurisprudence.