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Tag: May Day

  • May Day: Doctors raise alarm over collapsing health sector, urge urgent action on ‘Japa’ syndrome

    May Day: Doctors raise alarm over collapsing health sector, urge urgent action on ‘Japa’ syndrome

    As Nigeria commemorates the 2025 International Workers’ Day, medical doctors in Lagos have raised the alarm over the deteriorating state of the country’s healthcare system, warning that it is on the brink of collapse due to worsening working conditions and mass emigration of professionals.

    In a statement signed by its chairman, Dr. Babajide Saheed, the Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) expressed grave concern over the continued exodus of doctors abroad—a trend widely referred to as the “Japa syndrome.”

    Dr. Saheed urged the government to urgently address the root causes driving this brain drain, warning that any reform policies that overlook the issue are bound to fail. 

    “Any government policy that doesn’t first resolve the issue of the Japa syndrome is a waste of time. Such a policy will not work without the driving force of human resources,” he stated.

    He added that doctors are not making demands out of convenience, but are facing harsh economic realities that have rendered their earnings insufficient for daily living. 

    “We are not just demanding salary increases for the sake of it. The economic conditions have worsened, and our take-home pay can no longer take us home,” Dr. Saheed said.

    The NMA outlined a series of urgent demands, including the payment of outstanding salary arrears—particularly the skipping and CONMESS arrears promised since 2024—improved remuneration, and inflation-adjusted professional and call-duty allowances that should be non-taxable.

    The association also called for comprehensive welfare reforms, such as access to affordable housing, car loans, and other support structures aimed at retaining medical professionals in Nigeria.

    Dr. Saheed explained why many doctors are leaving Nigeria: “A doctor who is overworked, underpaid, and has no chance of owning a car or house in Nigeria will naturally look for opportunities elsewhere. It’s not unpatriotic, it’s survival,” he said.

    He added that reforms must go beyond salary, calling for a better working environment with proper equipment, training, research grants, and inclusive health policies that promote respect and empathy.

    “Health sector development must be comprehensive. We need tools, training, and trust,” he said.

    The doctors are demanding structural reforms to improve the morale and stability of the health workforce. Key among their demands is an increase in the retirement age for healthcare workers, aligning with global standards to retain experienced professionals.

    They are also pushing for the harmonisation of salaries for doctors across all public institutions, including teaching hospitals, polytechnics, and universities, under the CONMESS salary structure, to ensure fairness and reduce inequality in the system.

    Additionally, the doctors want an immediate end to the casualisation of medical professionals through locum appointments, which they argue undermines job security and professional dignity.

    They also called for the withdrawal of the newly introduced consultant pharmacist cadre in clinical settings, insisting that it has created confusion, professional tension, and adds no real value to patient care.

    Read Also: Dearth of doctors hits Kwara hospitals

    “The consultant pharmacy cadre brings no additional clinical value and only complicates patient care. This must be urgently reversed,” the statement read.

    On a positive note, the group confirmed that unauthorised deductions from April 2025 salaries in Lagos have been reversed after they engaged the authorities.

    However, they reminded the Federal Government that promises must be kept, especially the long-awaited payment of CONMESS arrears.

    In their final plea, Dr. Saheed said: “Nigerian doctors are not asking for luxury, just dignity, fairness, and the tools to do their jobs. If these issues are not addressed, the brain drain will continue, and the health system will collapse further. There is still time to act, but that time is fast running out.”

  • May Day: Workers are backbone of democratic governance – Gov Yusuf

    May Day: Workers are backbone of democratic governance – Gov Yusuf

    Kano state governor Abba Yusuf has described Nigerian workers as the country’s backbone of democratic governance.

    The governor stated this while felicitating with workers in the state and across the country on the occasion of the International Workers’ Day on Thursday.

    “The labour force is the backbone of democratic governance, national development and societal progress,” he said.

    Speaking at the May Day celebration, held at Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, Yusuf reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to workers’ welfare, unveiling a series of initiatives aimed at enhancing working conditions, boosting morale, and positioning Kano as a model of labour-conscious governance.

    “Today is not merely a public holiday. It is a day rooted in history for sacrifice and the struggle for justice, equity, and the dignity of labour,” he said.

    Yusuf recalled that Kano was the first state to host an official May Day celebration in 1980 under the late Governor Abubakar Rimi. He expressed pride in continuing with the legacy through progressive policies that centre on workers’ interests.

    Governor Yusuf disclosed that Kano has officially adopted a new minimum wage of ₦71,000, making it one of the first states in Nigeria to implement a substantial wage increase for civil servants.

    “Through deliberate and determined efforts, we have successfully ensured that the new minimum wage for civil servants in Kano State stands at ₦71,000 to enhance workers’ welfare,” he said.

    He stressed that the new salary structure is designed to cushion the effects of economic hardship, raise morale, and improve productivity across the public service.

    He also highlighted the payment of ₦16 billion in pension arrears, an upward review of minimum pension from ₦5,000 to ₦20,000, and the release of ₦100 million to support pensioners’ activities.

    Governor Yusuf announced the creation of new ministries and agencies designed to improve service delivery and generate employment.

    Read Also: Gov Yusuf directs aides to declare assets

    These include the ministries of Housing Development, Internal Security, Solid Minerals, and Power and Renewable Energy, along with new agencies like the Kano State ICT Development Agency and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency.

    “These institutions are not just bureaucratic creations—they are strategic responses to the demands of a modern, inclusive, and secure society,” the governor noted.

    Yusuf called for unity and solidarity to overcome challenges. “While economic hardship poses challenges, it also offers opportunities for resilience, innovation, and solidarity,” he said.

  • Tinubu reaffirms commitment to workers’ welfare in May Day message

    Tinubu reaffirms commitment to workers’ welfare in May Day message

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s commitment to prioritising the welfare of Nigerian workers, describing them as the “engine of our economy” and key drivers of national development.

    In a message posted on his verified X handle, @officialABAT, on Thursday, the president acknowledged the vital role workers play in sustaining the nation’s progress and pledged continued support to their well-being.

    “Our administration has and will continue to prioritise workers’ welfare. Together, we will make Nigeria great again”, Tinubu declared in the May Day message.

    Extending his goodwill to all Nigerian workers across sectors and age groups, President Tinubu recognised the diverse contributions of individuals in both the public and private sectors.

    “Here’s to everyone, young and old, entrepreneur or employee, private or government employed, whose meaningful contributions help in no small way to the development of our homes, communities, and our dear Nation,” he wrote.

    Read Also: Tinubu visits Katsina Friday, inaugurates agric mechanisation centre, others

    The President celebrated the occasion of Workers’ Day by saluting the resilience and dedication of the nation’s workforce, adding, “You are the engine of our economy and the secret to our nation’s growth.”

    His message comes amid ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to improve the living conditions of workers through economic reforms, infrastructure development, and the implementation of social intervention programmes.

    President Tinubu’s statement aligns with his administration’s broader agenda of inclusive growth, job creation, and labour-friendly policies, which have been central to recent government engagements with organised labour.

  • May Day for Labour

    May Day for Labour

    Last Wednesday, Nigerian workers, like their counterparts the world over, marked the International Labour Day. It was a day reserved for celebrating the heroism and dignity of the average worker and for affirming the intrinsic nobility of human labour. There were vigorous and animated protests at the universal plight of workers and imperialism in different parts of the world.

    In Nigeria, amidst unprecedented hardship occasioned by the dwindling purchasing power of the national currency, crippling fuel shortage, savage power cuts and nation-wide food insecurity, the few remaining members of the vanishing workforce, relics of a glorious and heroic tradition, trudged out in ritual obeisance rather than genuine conviction. The Nigerian labour hegemons have lost a lot of legitimacy, authority and credibility to their shilly-shally and namby-pamby posturing in recent times.

    Since we live in a world full of incredible ironies, we might as well point out that May Day is also the ultimate distress signal from ships and aircrafts close to disaster. It is a modish and modernized version of the old SOS. For some time, the labour union in Nigeria has been letting out loud distress signals, particularly since the advent of the current administration which the labour leadership did its best to prevent from winning.

    The situation became tragically absurd after its current leader, against wiser counsel, allowed himself to descend into the rowdy arena of partisan politics in his home state where he was promptly pounced upon by irate party honchos and henchmen. His reward was a nasty and bulbous black eye which he displayed like an unworthy trophy. So far, there has been no reaction from the teeming eponymous masses of Imo proletariat. His opponent romped to victory with an unprecedented majority.

    Read Also: IPOB threatens to chase EEDC out of southeast

    Never one to let go of the political opportunity arising from unforced errors, the president, a tested grandmaster of political chess, baited Joe and his accomplices mercilessly and a tad gleefully asking them to shelve the garb of labour and join partisan politics but with the ringing proviso that elective offices are no longer available until 2027. With the PDP in terminal disarray having been displaced from its center right national positioning by the ruling party, labour has become the most recognizable opposition to the dominion of the APC behemoth.

    It is a measure of how far the labour leadership has taken a plunge in public esteem. This degenerate drama of a national leader of labour being pounced upon by party partisans would have been unthinkable in an earlier epoch or during the era of distinguished icons of labour such as Pa Michael Imoudu, Alhaji H.P Adebola, Wahab Goodluck, Hassan Sunmonu, Malam Ali Chiroma and a host of others. But in fairness to labour, it is also unthinkable that earlier-era civilian governments would appear to be so blase and cack-handed about the fate of the nation’s workforce.

    Let’s face it, Labour has paid its universal dues. All the glittering monuments associated with civilization, from the Egyptian pyramids, the spectacular palaces of oriental kings, the alluring and enchanting architectural wonders of multi-faith worshipping to the dazzling skylines of the modern metropolis, are tributes to the powers of human labour often enacted in tragic and gruesome circumstances of toiling and sometimes the most demeaning and dehumanizing of conditions.

    In Nigeria, the colonial workforce consisting of able-bodied men and women as well as physically precocious children were often assembled at gun-point and dragooned to provide the cheap labour for the building of roads, bridges, rail lines and jetties to facilitate the evacuation of colonial plunder and rapine. Many perished.

    King Leopold’s Free State of Congo remains the most cruel example of this genocidal Leviathan of primitive labour. Millions died and many more had their hands lobbed off for refusing. Almost two hundred years after, the Congo remains essentially what it was under the monstrous Belgian king: an apocalyptic landscape of horrendous suffering and human wastage.

    The tragedy of labour that we have been tracking suggests a global overhang to things after all. As we have repeatedly canvassed in this column, the national trajectory to tragedy is unique and country-specific. Every unhappy country is unhappy in its own unique way. What labour was in Nigeria about forty years ago is not what it is at the moment.

    The current Nigerian labour aristocracy is a poor and miserable copy of its old self. Compare for example, the carriage and comportment of Joe Ajaero with the fiery, uncompromising swagger of Pa Imoudu, the patrician polish of Alhaji H.P Adebola, the cerebral self-confidence of Hassan Sunmonu, the  shrewd conviviality of Wahab Goodluck , the forbidding austerity of Ali Chiroma and the savvy political gaming of our good friend, Adams Oshiomhole.

    Since history is permanently unfurling, you cannot blame the epigone for lacking the heroic virtues of his forebears. It is like condemning Soyinka’s Elesin Oba for lacking the will to follow his sovereign to the grave, or blaming Achebe’s Nwoye for not being a proud and manly warrior like his famous father. It is the telltale sign of a society in the throes of turmoil and unmanageable contradictions. The solution normally comes from antagonistic logic supplied by conquering outsiders or by internal reconfiguration.

    Every ascendant protagonist must reflect the material, spiritual and political basis of the society that has thrown him or her up. In the last forty years and as a result of a combination of global economic adversity and internal mismanagement of resources, there has been a de-industrialization and de-education in Nigeria which have impacted negatively on the workforce as a result of the closure of many thriving industries and the very quality of labour leadership and its mode of apex recruitment.

    You cannot plant cucumber and expect to harvest cocoa yam. Sometimes, it is better not to be educated at all than to be miseducated. Here comes the double jeopardy. When many of our labour barons are sent abroad for further education in western power sanctuaries, they lack the intellectual discerning and the ideological nous. Consequently, they come back mouthing the same shibboleths and neo-liberal redundancies responsible for the original plight of their country.

    Labour lost the plot a long time ago when Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan romped home to emphatic victories in their respective countries. Both were unabashedly rightwing warriors and ideological militants who felt the arrowheads of western civilization were in danger of being overwhelmed by the Soviet empire. This infiltration of western ramparts, they insisted, was aided by anti- Christ leftwing elements using privileged and over-pampered trade unionists and the loony Stalinist press.

    It was the last hurray of old labour and the old left. In a famous advert which spelt doom for the embattled Labour Party, Saatchi and Saatchi came up with the ultimate slogan of wartime evisceration: Labour Is Not Working. It struck a chord and resonated widely with the British people. Once in power, Margaret Thatcher carried the battle to Arthur Scargill and the trade unions. She did not leave the trenches until they were completely routed. No one has heard from them ever since.

    Margaret Thatcher, the thrifty, piously restrained daughter of a Methodist alderman, could not understand how a society founded on the Calvinist principles of thrift and self-denial could succumb to such degeneracy and abject self-indulgence. She was initially dismissed as Thatcher the milk-snatcher. She would end up snatching more than unmerited milk.

    However, if the dynamics that power the political evolution of western society are closely examined, it will be seen that whenever the unrestrained enthusiasm of leftwing governments for equality and economic empowerment of the lower masses carry them too far in a particular direction, there is always a rightwing backlash which claws back the lost ground often by bending the stick in the other direction.

    Sometimes, the British resort to a typical political fudge such as when they go for a deodorized and demilitarized version of Thatcherism represented by Tony Blair’s reconditioned Labour Party. As part of the make-over, the original owner of the new Franchise, the dour and doleful but far more intellectually gifted Scotsman, Gordon Brown, was persuaded to step down for the smarmy blue-eyed English public school boy.   

    Our readers may be wondering what the collapse of leftwing ideology and the triumph of Thatcher and Reagan have got to do with the situation in Nigeria as at that point in time. That is precisely the point. Absolutely nothing, but that is if we had responsive, responsible and right thinking governments and political elites. It would have been difficult to fault the impressive data and the clinical clarity of the analysis which made western governments to embrace market fundamentalism.

    The Keynesian economic revolution with the state as the arrowhead of massive intervention to revive a comatose western society and an infrastructure devastated by the Second World War had run its course leaving in its wake a near bankrupt state, the collapse of private initiative, infrastructure in dire need of revamping and an over pampered and overprotected work force in need of a shock therapy.

    The situation and circumstances in Africa and in particular in Nigeria could not have been more different at that point in time. Emerging from the trauma of colonization with a weak state, weaker institutions and massive infrastructural deficits, what was required was not market fundamentalism and a harsh rolling back of government but a state fundamentalism such as practiced till date in China, Japan, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia and others in which government takes a driving seat in pushing all aspects of national development and the empowerment of citizens.

    If the federating governments of the First Republic, particularly the Awolowo-led Western Region, got this right, it is unfortunate for Nigeria that it was at that point in time that a succession of authoritarian military regimes fell prey to the blandishment of the IMF and the Bretton Woods lobby.

    Even at that, monetarist dogmatism has subsequently been pursued half-heartedly and with a lack of conviction except in its punitive anti-people aspects. It has led to a severe economic decline, a sharp accentuation of class divides and grave social consequences for the nation.

    So when next old Joe Ajaero calls out his remaining labour faithful in his perennial confrontation with the federal authorities – which could be as early as this week – the platform will be swarmed not by the old disciplined cadres of labour but by the urban déclassé made up of a teeming mass of city vagrants and hobbledehoy spawned by de-industrialization and de-education. Who knows, they may even give him another black eye. But if the situation tips into anarchy, we may be talking of something nastier.

  • May Day: Gov Eno declares work free, farming days in A’Ibom

    May Day: Gov Eno declares work free, farming days in A’Ibom

    As part of efforts to actualize the food security and sufficiency aspirations of the ARISE Agenda, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno has declared every first and third Friday of the month as work free days to enable workers effectively engage in farming activities.

    Governor Eno made the declaration at the 2024 May Day celebration held at the Uyo Township Stadium, Uyo, with the theme, “People first.”

    He noted that since the assumption of office, the government has made efforts to prioritize the welfare of workers, adding that his administration will continue to take care of workers’ welfare.

    Governor Eno who is reputed for his compassionate disposition, said that N16.1 billion has so far been released for the payment of arrears of gratuity and also ordered immediate release of two billion to further defray the backlog of gratuity to retired workers in the State, bringing the total amount paid so far, by his administration to 18.1 billion Naira.

    He appreciated the organised labour for the good working relationship saying, “in the course of our successful campaign, I made a pledge to continue to strengthen the cords  of our relationship and I make bold to say that almost one year after, I have kept our promise. We’ve even exceeded your expectations. 

    “Let me also use this opportunity to thank the organized labour for your massive support during the March 18th elections, and that support made me stand here today as elected Governor of this State. We will continue to do our best to ensure that workers’ welfare receives priority attention.

    “Today, I believe we have fulfilled some of those promises. As of today, we’ve disbursed over 16.1 billion Naira gratuities to our workers. Today, I am approving another 2 billion Naira for payment of gratuities across board for the month of April. We will continue to monitor this payment, we will continue to audit this payment, and we will continue to ensure that this payment gets to the right people. please keep us informed when you notice that things are not going in the right direction.

    “We have approved and granted refund of outstanding N7.5% contributory pension scheme, we have paid 3 months promotions, we have released 2023 promotions, we granted approval for the conduct of service examination, we have invested in affordable housing unit for our workers in Ibiono Ibom Local Government.

    “I have authorized and work is ongoing at the 3rd Ring Road so that we can link our workers there to Uyo. We have approved your land allocations, and so you can begin your building at any time. We recently swore in Permanent Secretaries, and we would appoint more as some are soon to retire.        “Of course, the 13 months’ salary is ongoing. We have approved the recruitment of health workers in the State for the Primary health centres,” he added.

    On the issue of minimum wage for workers;  he said, “We will wait on the federal government to provide more details and we will implement the new minimum wage for our workers.

    “For the Bulk Purchase Agency, it is a short-term intervention. For a more sustainable solution, we must go back to the farm, working with the Ministry of Agriculture. I am therefore declaring the first and last Friday of every month Farm days in the State. It won’t be a day for funerals. We will monitor to ensure everyone goes to the farm,” he said.

    In response to an earlier by labour, the governor presented two vehicles to the chairmen of NLC and TUC.

    Earlier in his remarks, the State  Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Sunny James appreciated Governor Umo Eno for fulfilling his campaign promises to Akwa Ibom workers, stressing that organized labour is never quick at praising Governors but said that given the strides of Governor Eno in less than one year in office, he deserves a louder ovation.

    He specifically appreciated the Governor for prompt payment of gratuities to retirees of the State, local government and primary school teachers; approvals for the refund of 7.5% contributory pension from workers and many other gestures which according to him are answers to  prayers of Akwa Ibom workers.

    Similarly, his Trade Union Congress counterpart, Comrade Dominic Abang, specially appreciated the governor for always putting the people of the State first in line with the theme of the celebration.

    In their separate solidarity messages, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Elder Udeme Otong, State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Ekaette Obot represented by Hon Justice Aniekan Akpan, Head of Civil Service, Elder Effiong Essien, Commissioner for Labour and Manpower Planing, Aniefiok Nkom, and the State controller, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, congratulated the workers on their successful 2024 celebration and described the workers as pilars of social growth.

    They commended Governor Umo Eno for prioritising the welfare of Akwa Ibom workers as well as retired ones through the 13th month salary, palliatives, and regular release of funds for payment of arrears of gratuity; and pledged to always support the governor in his efforts to do more for Akwa Ibom workers through the ARISE Agenda.

  • May Day! (2)

    I am going to speak from many sides of my mouth today. The first May Day! article was written many years ago. Today, I am glad to be able to add a second installment, a tribute to all workers on Workers’ Day. I must warn you that in raising it to the power of two, it is doubly potent and even bitter, considering the many sides of my mouth involved.

    Jerome K. Jerome, the English writer said, ‘I like work; it fascinates me; I can sit and look at it for hours.’ Too true. I find I stare at my computer for hours before I can put in a word for you. Honest. When I read Oscar Wilde’s statement that ‘some people will do anything for money, including work’, I also nodded in agreement. Obviously, I am not one of those. For me, work is what I do to justify the air I take in. So, you see, me and them are not in the same category, like Fela Anikulapo-Kuti sang.

    However, as H. L. Mencken said, ‘I go on working for the same reason that a hen goes on laying eggs.’ I think he means that, one, laying eggs is habitual for the hen – she can’t help it; two, there will be a hue and cry if she fails to produce those eggs; and three, her body will betray her were she to fail to produce. Am I not glad I’m not a hen right now!

    Today, dear reader, we are greeting all workers in the world, great or small, including the hens that lay the golden eggs. Oh yes, reader, golden eggs are now being laid in Nigeria. Have you heard the story behind the killings in Zamfara, the golden fields of blood? I don’t know much about it but I understand that the discovery of tonnes of gold is at the bottom of it. Yet, the big guns said to be gaining from it all do not go anywhere near the veins where the nuggets are mined. Dear reader, some poor workmen are the ones working and dying.

    You know what work is, don’t you? It’s that bit of labour you undertake in order to get something done so that something can enter your mouth as a result of something that you do so that something can… You get the drift, don’t you? Peter Dunne, an American humorist said, ‘Work is work if you’re paid to do it, and it is pleasure if you pay to be allowed to do it.’ The end result of work of course is productivity, which in turn attracts remunerations whether you’re paid or you pay.

    Don’t get me wrong. I love work. I love the pay-end of work, you know, the remunerations end. It’s the middle part of it that gives me problems, you know, that part that says ‘if you mix labour + sweat + rolling up your sleeves + getting off your bum, you might get results’ … yeah, well, that’s the part I don’t so much like. That’s the part that makes the hen cluck-snarl, ‘you think the egg just pops out? Come on!’

    For some reason, people do not seem to like their work. That reminds me of a joke about a man who was fed up with his work and decided to do something about it. So, he went to a bar and put his question in the air. ‘Is there anyone here who does not like his work?’ Everyone in the bar raised their hand, including the barman. ‘It’s called Everybody!’, they chorused to him. Abe Lincoln, the American president said, ‘My father taught me to work; he did not teach me to love it’. Like the hen, I do not like my work either but I do it.

    Today, we greet Nigerian workers. Unfortunately, Nigeria is one of the countries in the world with one of the most unsatisfactory work environments. Workers’ remunerations are so low they disappear too quickly into the market. The new minimum wage of N30,000 has just been signed into law but I’m not too sure how much comfort that will bring to many families considering many factors.

    To start with, there is inflation. Then there is the fact that this monthly minimum wage is going to struggle with the other maximum wages such as National Assembly men’s (and women’s) monthly wages of N39m in the same market. Do you seriously think this is a fair fight? There is something very seriously wrong with our wage system in Nigeria which allows this huge disparity. No economy can expect to grow if this stands. The average Nigerian worker is the end loser in this very unfair fight.

    Then, there is the matter of the worker’s security. The worker is not only not valued; he/she is practically unprotected. Very few workers in high-end-dangerous jobs such as electricity, mining, painting, drilling, food swallowing (that’s me), etc., are insured by their employers. Many work concerns are not bothered about the safety of their employees unless they are forcefully reminded. I suspect though that many Nigerians are too busy being content with the illegal monies they make from their jobs to truly appreciate their precarious positions.

    All together, the Nigerian worker has a bad deal from the government’s inability to regulate wages in line with the factors that determine work remuneration such as the nature of the work, the productivity, the power of the economy to carry burdens, or the quality of the worker. It does not make sense that elected officials in the land should get (not earn) as much as N39m for sitting for some days in the month while a worker exposed to the vagaries of life gets only a paltry sum. It is important that the economy be made to grow so that the burden of inflation can be less cumbersome on the worker.

    Having said that, I have a few bones to pick with Nigerian workers. If truth be told, many Nigerians no longer do their work. Period. Teachers do not teach as they should. Civil servants do not serve as they should. Engineers are not engineering our roads or bridges. Health workers are not doing enough. The few people still working in Nigeria now are tax collectors, lawyers, armed robbers, kidnappers, assemblymen and women …. And they are happy on their jobs mainly because they are making others miserable.

    When other Nigerians work, you can be sure it is because they are getting an illegal fee somewhere. No one really values their job again in this land. Yet, should those jobs be touched, heaven and hell will be turned over to get them back.

    Have you noticed the spike in insecurity again in Kogi and Kaduna States especially? Yeah, the kidnappers are back after a small hiatus. I think many of these kidnappers are under the illusion that seizing people and making their families buy them back, kind of like holding private slave auctions, is work. I think it is all a fallout of our political market economy: make money at the people’s expense, and live like politicians … We have reached rock bottom all right.

    Work is that thing you do that brings in a legitimate income which enriches you. Illegal proceeds from our jobs do not count; neither do proceeds from kidnapping. Those never ever end well. It is the work experience that enriches and builds us. We should enjoy that more than the accruements from it. Don Herold, another American humorist said ‘Work is the greatest thing in the world, so we should always save some of it for tomorrow’. Honestly, I don’t know what he is talking about there, but, reader, we should know that work is the greatest thing that ennobles the soul. Legitimate work should be respected.

  • 8 surprising facts about May Day

    Workers all over the world have been celebrating May Day on the first day of May, which shares a date with International Workers’ Day since the 1880s.

    At the time, labour movements around the world were fighting for fair work accommodations like eight-hour workdays and unions.

    To most people in the Northern Hemisphere, May Day conjures images of brightly colored twirling ribbons and promises of warm days ahead.

    That’s not the whole story, though: May Day is also a day of protests and riots that traces its modern roots back to a world-changing explosion in Chicago.

    Here are some interesting facts about May Day that you might not have known were true:

    1.    The month May was named Maia, the Greek goddess of fertility.

    2.    The origins of May Day date back to Pagan earth worship celebrating the start of summer.

    3.    Another theory ties the holiday to the Roman festival of Floralia, a festival that honoured Flora, the goddess of springtime. As Rome conquered other countries, the tradition spread.

    4.    Puritans in the United Stated looked down on May Day. As a result, the holiday is not celebrated as extensively in the United States.

    5.    In Medieval England, May Day celebrations centered on the maypole, which is a pole made from wood, decorated with streamers, which are held by dancers circling the pole.

    6.    In May of 1886, activists in the United States organized a national strike to promote an eight-hour workday. One of the protests, in Chicago’s Haymarket Square, turned violent, with days of clashes between police and demonstrators. The incident came to be known as the Haymarket Affair.

    7.    To honor those who participated in the Haymarket protest, the International Socialist Conference declared that May 1 would be a day designated for labour, called International Workers’ Day. The holiday was established at a meeting in 1889.

    8.    In the United States, Labour Day is celebrated on the first Monday in September. It became a national holiday in 1894.

  • ‘The Platform’ holds talk growth on May Day

    As Nigerians commemorate workers day today “The Platform” is holding talks at The Covenant Place, beside the National Art theatre, Lagos, by 9am.

    With the theme: “The Drivers, Enablers and Obstacles to our Growth”, the event will be looking at the components that drive, enable and obstruct economic growth from a personal, organisational and national level.

    It will be outlined by our strong line up of local and international speakers who will speak and do justice to this subject.

    The Platform is a non-profit initiative of the Covenant Christian Centre designed to facilitate growth in the areas of personal capacity and productivity as well as foster national development in Nigeria.

  • May Day: Workers intensify push for living wage

    Workers yesterday trooped out in large numbers to mark the International Labour Day known in local parlance as May Day. TONY AKOWE (ABUJA), OGOCHUKWU ANIOKE (ABAKALIKI), ERNEST NWOKOLO (ABEOKUTA) and KOLADE ADEYEMI (KANO) report that the demand for a living wage was the singsong nationwide.

    The demand for a new national minimum wage echoed nationwide yesterday as organised Labour mobilised workers to celebrate the International Labour Day popularly known as May Day.

    From Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to the nation’s industrial hub in Lagos; to Abakaliki in the Southeast; the North’s political headquarters in Kano. Ado-Ekiti in the Southwest and Calabar in the Southsouth, it was the same song all through. The workers, under the auspices of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) renewed their clamour for a living wage.

    A 30-member tripartite committee under the chairmanship of former Head of Service of the Federation Ms. Ama Pepple is reviewing the minimum wage.

    President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to implement the panel’s recommendation, billed for submission in the third quarter of the year.

    The workers’ umbrella unions are demanding N66,500 as minimum wage.

     

    Fed Govt’s commitment

    unequivocal, says Ngige

     

    Labour and Employment Minister Chris Ngige restated President Muhammadu Buhari’s unequivocal commitment to the enhancement of workers’ welfare and prosperity for all citizens.

    Appealing to the workers to support the government, Dr. Ngige assured them of better days ahead.

    In his goodwill message, the minister recalled the historic role of the workforce over times and urged it to further stand firm with the President in his efforts to return Nigeria to the path of greatness.

    Ngige said: “The cardinal objective of the present administration is the revival of the economy; enhancement of the security of the nation and zero tolerance for corruption. The Federal Government has so far covered a considerable millage notwithstanding teething challenges. I therefore solicit your continued support towards bringing these national goals to fruition.”

    He urged the workers to use the occasion of the May Day to reminisce on the positive outcomes of the labour’s struggle for a better working rights and decent work environment.

    The minister said: “This is an administration that places a lot of premium on the welfare of workers and all citizenry and has done so in very transparent manner. Our openness is to provide enough windows for all Nigerians to appreciate the state of the nation and the efforts of the government.

    “Our modest achievement in creating equable condition for job security and improved welfare for workers, as evident in the fact that no federal civil or public servant has lost his or her job in the last three years of the administration despite economic downturn, as well as the on-going effort to give effect to a new national minimum wage easily bear out the government’s commitment to the upliftment of the workforce.

    “This year’s celebration therefore presents an opportunity for a collective reflection on the contributions of the labour movement to national growth on the one hand and the steadfastness of the Buhari administration to the welfare of workers on the other.”

     

    Ambode: Govt/labour

    harmony good for development

     

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode commended the workers’ unions for the uninterrupted and industrial harmony that his administration has enjoyed since he assumed office.

    Speaking at the workers’ rally at the Agege Stadium, Ambode attributed the industrial harmony and peace to the maturity and responsibility of the labour unions, applaudind them for adopting alternative dispute resolution mechanisms rather than resort to industrial actions.

    The governor said: “It is on record that we have never, since the inception of this administration, had any dispute with the organised labour and I will be the first to admit that the labour unions in the state have been most responsible and while, at the same time, being dogged in their advocacy for the promotion of the interests of workers in Lagos State, both in the public and private sector groups.

    “In proof of the maturity and responsibility of the labour unions in our State, the organised labour has consistently met with members of our administration under different fora designed to identify and address possible areas of tension and disagreement before they fester into open conflicts.

    “This approach has resulted in an unprecedented three-year period of uninterrupted industrial harmony and peace in Lagos State. For this, I most sincerely commend the labour unions in Lagos State.”

    In their remarks, chairmen of the Lagos chapters of the NLC and TUC, Idowu Adelakun and Francis Ogunremi, commended the governor Ambode for his massive infrastructural drive across the state, security of lives and property, as well as prompt and regular payment of salary among other welfare for workers in the State.

    Adelakun said: “The governor must be commended for prompt and regular disbursement of salary to workers in Lagos State. The State Government is not indebted to her workers. Today, Lagos is a big construction site, courtesy of our progressive and development-oriented and people’s governor.”

    Ogunremi said it was gratifying that Ambode has ensured payment of about N10 billion to over 2,500 pensioners, while the present administration had equally performed well in the areas of road construction, security and traffic congestion, among others.

    The TUC chief said: “Your Excellency, your listening hears to the concerns of workers and the labour centres as representatives of the workers, is quite commendable. During this time last year, the two labour centres requested the governor to replace the secretariat buses for smooth running of the unions in the state.

    “Today, I make bold to inform that both TUC and LUC including all affiliate unions in public service have been presented operational buses.”

     

    ‘Nigerian workers courageous’

     

    Lagos State Speaker Mudashiru Obasa commended the workers for their diligence and commitment to duty, assuring that their welfare would be enhanced by the government at all levels.

    Obasa’s assurance was contained in his May Day address according to a statement by his media aide, Mr. Musbau Rasak.

    In the statement, the speaker was quoted as assuring the workers that the All Progressives Congress (APC) at all levels has concluded plans to initiate and implement programmes and policies that will not only improve their standard of living but also enhance their wellbeing.

    The statement reads: “The Nigerian workers are marvellous. I, on behalf of my colleagues in the Lagos State House of Assembly, salute your diligence and commitment to your duty and we are also appreciative of the courageous way you perform your duty. Indeed, your courage and diligence are attributes that have made you compete favourable and positively with your counterparts anywhere in the world.

    “I want to assure you that the APC government at all levels will continue to put in place policies that will enhance your welfare and improve your standard of living.”

    He, however, urged the workers in particular and Nigerians in general, against relenting in their support for the government.

    “We need your understanding, cooperation, support and prayers all the time and we will not relent in seeking for all these from you. On behalf of the honourable members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, I wish you all a happy May Day celebration,” he said.

     

    Falana: It’s time to defend

    welfare laws, democratic rights

     

    Activist-lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Femi Falana urged the labour leadership to defend the welfare laws and democratic rights of the workers.

    He said the demand for it view of the depreciating quality of life for a new minimum wage by Nigerian workers was long overdue in view of what he caused “gross mismanagement of the Nigerian economy by the ruling class with the connivance of imperialism”.

    Falana urged the various labour unions to take advantage of this year’s May Day celebration to adopt concrete measures that will compel the federal, state and local governments to implement all extant welfare laws and policies.

    The senior advocate identified the extant welfare laws and policies as the products of the collective struggle of the labour movement and other progressive forces in the country.

    He listed the National Minimum Wage Act,  National Health Act,  National Health Insurance Act, National Housing Act, Federal Morgage Act, Pension Reforms Act, Compulsory, Free and Universal Basic Education Act, Nigerian Education Bank Act and People’s Bank Act as some of the welfare laws.

    According to him, the deliberate policy of successive governments to breach the provisions of the welfare laws was compounding the crisis of youth unemployment and mass poverty.

    He said: In fact, the criminal diversion of public funds earmarked for social services by unscrupulous public officers has accentuated official corruption which has continued to expose the country to global ridicule.

    “For instance, the inadequate funds budgeted for the provision of education and health, have been diverted by a few public officers and contractors. While public schools and hospitals are underfunded, public officers are allowed to receive medical treatment in foreign medical centres while workers and other poor people die cheaply in all the ill-equpped  public hospitals in Nigeria.

    “Similarly, top public officers also educate their children and wards in expensive local and foreign educational institutions while the children and wards of workers are forced to attend abandoned public schools in the country.”

     

    Ebonyi: I’ll pay new

    wage, Umahi promises

     

    In Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, Governor David Umahi promised better pay rise for civil servants on the government’s payroll. He assured that his administration will pay the proposed new national minimum wage when fully implemented by the federal government.

    Addressing a crowd of workers in the state at the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki, Umahi recalled that workers welfare was atop his campaign promises, reassuring on his commitment to the implementation of policies that would improve the workers’ welfare.

    He disclosed that outstanding pensions and gratuities owed workers since the creation of the state would be paid on or before the May 15.

    The governor gave a directive to all relevant ministries to work out the new promotion entitlements and ensure that they reflect in the salaries of the newly prompted workers on or before the middle of the month when salaries are usually paid.

    Umahi said: “May I also assure you that Ebonyi state shall adopt proposed new national minimum wage when approved and that we shall do in keeping with our promise which we made to the workers that we shall treasure their support and repay them for their support.

    “Our administration has in keeping with the mandate of exterminating poverty out of our land and from the civil servants has secured a loan of N4 billion from the Bank of Industry (BoI) with a single digit interest for our workers to access and engage themselves meaningfully in agricultural programme that will have serious impact in their economic standing.

    “We have also organised the first-ever agricultural summit for our civil servants to get them acquainted with our new programme of returning back to agriculture as the main stay of our economy in the face of the dwindling oil price.

    “Our state have had our own share of the challenges arising primarily from the dwindling allocation from the federal government due to the oil downfall but we have kept hope alive and have taken the welfare of our workers as the topmost priority and this includes, payment of their salaries and other entitlements even in the face of the above challenges.”

    The local chapter Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Leonard Nkah, described this year workers’ day as the best and memorable since the creation of the state, adding that the governor has met the needs of the workers.

     

    Ogun:  We’ll pay what is

    within our ability, says Amosun

     

    The civil servant in Ogun State demanded for a “living” wage, saying that N18, 000 as the minimum monthly could no longer address their basic needs.

    They urged the Federal Government to expedite action towards approving the proposed N66, 500 new minimum wage proposed by the NLC.

    But, Governor Ibikunle Amosun, who restated his administration’s genuine concern for the workers’ welfare, said the state will only pay wages and salaries within its financial capability.

    The state chairman of the NLC, Akeem Ambali, who made the position of the workers known at the celebration of this year edition of the May Day at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, also called on the governor to offset gratuity of retirees before leaving office on May 29, next year.

    Ambali, whose speech was delivered by Dare Ilekoya appealed to Amosun to recall the dismissed labour leaders in the state, including himself.

    Ambali said: “It is painful and regrettable to recall that the NLC chairman had not received salaries in the last 19 months of his travail.

    He said: “We therefore join our leaders across the country to plead for your (governor’s) forgiveness and normalise labour-government relationship.”

    Also speaking, the local Chairman of the TUC, Olubunmi Fajobi, urged the state government to restore monthly payment of running cost to agencies and public schools in the state.

    Fajobi said this would ensure proper management of the institutions.

    He said: “When running cost is restored to agencies and public schools in the state, these institutions will experience proper management and fast development which will in turn result in the development of the state.

    “In most of the field offices, public servants levy themselves to pay for electricity bills in order to avoid disconnection and buy papers to generate reports to the Headquarters,” Fajobi said.

    Represented by his deputy Princess Yetunde Onanuga, Amosun reiterated his administration’s commitment to the workers’, saying that workers would be promoted as and when due with benefits.

    He, however, added that the government would only pay minimum wage the finances of the state could carry.

    The governor said: “Let me also note that we are back in the season of minimum wage negotiation. Employers can only pay according to their ability – Ability is dependent on Workers’ productivity.

    “Productivity flows from capacity. It is clearly simple logic that capacity development is the fundamental platform for workers’ reward and general welfare. Any other approach is putting the cart before the horse.

    “A higher minimum wage without corresponding fiscal capacity of the employer remains an academic exercise. It is my wish that the energy and passion that fuel the agitation for minimum wage could be channelled into productivity matters of capacity development.”

     

    ‘Workers are key drivers

    of development’

     

    In its message, the All Progressives Congress (APC) extended good wishes and greetings to the workers in celebrating this year’s International Workers Day.

    A statement by the party’s national spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, reads: “Unarguably, the Nigerian worker remain one of the most dedicated, resilient and hardworking in the world. They remain a key driver of the country’s multi-facet development.

    “Despite challenges particularly on the economy, we celebrate Nigerian workers for staying positive and being a partner in nation-building as well as contributing towards efforts to take the country to its deserved heights.

    “While we felicitate with the various workers unions in the country on the occasion of the International Workers Day celebration, we call on labour and trade unions in the country to continue ongoing dialogue with the government aimed at improving workers’ salaries and general welfare.”

     

    Anambra: we’re banking on

    improved resources

     

    Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano assured that his administration would lift the workers’ conditions of service when the resources of the state improve.

    In an address in Awka, the state capital, Obiano, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke, affirmed that his administration places high premium on workers’ welfare.

    He said that showed in the establishment of a committee on labour matters to review the numerous workers’ demands to guide his government in addressing them.

    Throwing light on the committee’s terms of reference, the governor said the panel was designed to address the lingering labour issues, including an upward review in salaries and pensions, review of responsibility and hazard allowances for specific categories of workers, increment of retirement age for Nwafor Orizu College of Education staff, distribution of vehicles to directors and commencement of the contributory pensions scheme, among others.

    Assuring that his administration had developed a comprehensive welfare package for the workers in his domain, Obiano regretted that lack of funds had stalled the implementation of his plans. He promised that as the state’s resources improve, the plan would be implemented.

    He, however, revealed that promotion for all workers had been updated for 2016, while approval has been obtained for that of 2017.

    The NLC Chairman in the state, Jerry Nubia, expressed the hope that the governor would avail the opportunity of his second term to improve his members’ welfare to reward their massive support to him during the last governorship election.

    He identified the implementation of the minimum wage, non-payment of arrears of gratuity owed retired local government employees and primary school teachers since 2015, disparity in salary structure of the state and council workers, training needs of workers and low cost housing, among others, as issues for remedial measures.

    Nubia’s TUC counterpart, Ifeanyi Okechukwu, urged the government to depoliticise the minimum wage issue, even as he commended the release of the N200 million owed by the state to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) since 2010 to kick-start the construction of the Isiagu Housing Scheme.

     

    Kano: Ganduje backs

    workers’ agitation

     

    The Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje threw his weight behind the ongoing agitation by the NLC for an increment on the N18, 000 minimum wage, describing it as legitimate.

    Ganduje, who spoke during the May Day celebration at Sani Abacha Stadium, said his administration’s has submitted a memo/position to the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage constituted by the presidency in support of pay rise for the workers’.

    The governor said: “Mindful of the persistent agitation by the organized labour/NLC for the review of the current national minimum wage of N18, 000, which we, indeed, believe is legitimate, arising from our deep concern for workers’ welfare, and cognizance of the inconvenient truth that the existing workers earnings, especially, those at the lower segment is no longer realistic.

    “The Kano State government has already submitted a memo/position paper to the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum wage constituted by the presidency supporting the salary increase of the national minimum wage of workers.”

    Ganduje implored the various organised labour unions to be guided by the actual financial situation of the states which he said is generally precarious.

    According to him, “your peculiarities while pursuing your demands should be reasonable, affordable, and implementable consensus that could be reached at the end of the negotiations.”

    He, therefore, hinted that his administration has settled the outstanding payments of pensioners in the state from 2015 to date with the total sum of N12 billion, adding that, he would continue to encourage workers for the overall development of the state.

    The NLC Chairman in the state, Kabiru Ado Minjibir, hailed Ganduje for his labour-friendly disposition to workers, adding that, “we have observed with a unique sense of responsibility, the rare commitment you have exhibited in the conduct of the affairs of this state.

    He said: “Our strategy of adopting the principles of dialogue and constructive engagement with the state government, has also resulted in the steady payment of salary, which is the primary right of the workers in the state.

    “To guarantee the comfort of the worker after retirement, the Congress has successfully pursued the approval of our N4 billion by His Excellency from the Paris Club Refund that was received by the state government.

    “Out of which N2.5 billion have been released and paid to the beneficiaries accordingly. We want use this opportunity to strongly call on His Excellency to kindly direct for the release of the balance of N1.5 billion to continue with the payment.”

     

  • Workers’ anger on May Day

    Workers’ anger on May Day

    A workers’protest marred the May Day celebration at the Eagle Square, Abuja on Monday. Their grouse was what they described as the government’s insensitivity to their plight, TOBA AGBOOLA and TONY AKOWE report.

    With the large turnout, last Monday’s Workers’ Day rally at the Eagle Square in Abuja was supposed to be the biggest and the best, but it turned out to be the worst May Day celebration in recent times.

    As early as 8:am, all the seats at the venue were filled with many people hanging on the wall and looking for where to stand.

    No doubt,  the workers came with high expectations to hear from President Muhammadu Buhari what has become of  the minimum wage proposal, which was tabled before his administration even before the 2016 May Day celebration. Also on the demand list was the issue of pensioners, among others.

    Apparently, a few workers came with the sole aim of ensuring that the event did not record the huge success it was set to achieve. Unlike some political rallies where huge iron barricades are always provided to protect dignitaries from people, movement around the square was free. Although it was difficult to gain access to the venue because of the huge security presence and the number of check points, nevertheless, everyone was free to move around inside the venue.

    From the outside of the venue, there were indications that a high government functionary would address the workers, considering the security presence around the venue. A physically-challenged worker bitterly complained that even when former President Olusegun Obasanjo was in power, people were never made to pass through such horrible security check and cordon. Workers were made to walk long distances before accessing the venue. From 9.00am to about 11.am, it was non-stop traffic for workers. They sat quietly waiting for the event to commence.

    By the time the celebration started, some workers, who had no place to seat inside the square, began to gradually make their way towards the podium. They came so close to the extent that their voice could drown the voice of any speaker even with the microphone. This was the situation when the Acting Permanent Secretary, who dressed more like a businesswoman, was called to address the workers on behalf of the Minister of Labour and Employment, who was also seated.

    The workers felt slighted and as she stepped forward, a shout of no, no, rent the air and this went on for almost 20 minutes before the minister stepped forward. Not even the  style adopted by Senator Ngige could persuade the workers as his shout of great Nigerian workers was greeted with a loud no!.

    The event was disrupted for more than one hour by workers, who barred officials of the Federal Government.

    Interestingly, while some of the workers were just expressing genuine anger, it soon became evident that a script may have been prepared and was being executed by a handful of workers, who defied directives from their leaders to return to their seats. Of course, they had no seat and as the Minister told  newsmen later, the rally may have been infiltrated by those determined to sabotage it. He said intelligence reports available to him indicated that some people “who are not workers” and a handful of workers that did not belong to the faction of labour infiltrated the rally.

    Ngige said the workers had no reason to be angry with the present administration because it had been very friendly with them.

    His words: “The Federal Government has been friendly to workers to the extent that it even went ahead and initiated the bailout fund. No government has done that before and that was because we did not want to lay off any worker.

    “So what happened today is that some people, who are not really workers, infiltrated this arena and started causing some problems. Be that as it may, we are going to address the issue of minimum wage, we are also going to address the issue of backlog of promotion areas and allowances of all sorts.

    “We captured them in the 2016 budget, but for some reasons the releases are not forthcoming but the president of the Senate has assured us now.

    “So, we are going to capture them in the 2017 budget appropriation and once it’s captured in the appropriation, the Minister of Finance will handle the rest.”

    Ngige insisted that the venue was infiltrated by non workers due to some fractionalisation within the labour federation, adding that the conclusion was reached based on intelligent report.

    But the question is, at what stage did the Minister get this information? The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, later attributed the incident to the growing workers’ anger over the current economic hardship in the country.

    More than 90 per cent of the workers had left the Eagles Square by the time riot policemen, civil defence personnel and soldiers were being drafted in.

    Although the event continued with the parade by a few workers remaining, this happened after the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Speaker Yakubu Dogara and other dignitaries,  including the Head of Service of the Federation had sneaked out of the venue through the security at the state box. The Minister of Labour stayed back for a while before leaving also through the security exit.

    Speaking with reporters on the incidence, Comrade Wabba said the workers have today expressed their sadness, challenges, as many of them have not earned their salaries, so it is a demonstration of anger on the situation in the country.

    “The challenges workers are passing through are enormous, workers have expected that either the President or the Vice President would have been present to respond to workers’ yearning and aspiration.

    “Workers’ attitude today have shown that it is an accumulation of anger, and that the economic situation is biting very hard on them as many of them cannot pay their bills,” Wabba said.

    Some workers, who spoke with The Nation, believed that there was no infiltration of the venue by non workers as claimed by the minister. To them, what played out was an accumulation of grievances against the government.

    Mrs Asaba Lydia, a unionist of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, said the workers were taken for granted by the government, hence the reason for sending representatives rather than coming themselves.

    Lydia said the issue began with the minister’s act of sending the permanent secretary to represent him while he represented the President, adding that it was not fair to the workers.

    “On a  day such as this, the government could not even honour workers by attending the event themselves. If the president is not available what about the Vice President?

    “We have tried to follow the norm as workers and it has not worked, so now we are saying we are tired of failed promises, enough is enough,‘’ she said.

    Mr Dassey Heblom, a civil servant, said they (workers) refused to listen to the speeches of the government officials because it has always been stories every year without action or implementation.