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Tag: Minister of Labour and Employment

  • ‘2017 budget not implemented as expected’

    ‘2017 budget not implemented as expected’

    Senate Leader Ahmad Lawal on Thursday reiterates the National Assembly (NASS) support to the executive arm of government for an to an appreciable implementation of the 2017 budget.

    Speaking to State House correspondents in Abuja, Lawal expressed reservation over the way and manner the 2017 budget was being implemented so far.

    The Senate Joint Committee on Finance and Appropriations had on October 3 frowned at the poor implementation of the 2017 budget, describing as “unacceptable the release of less than 15 percent of the N2.177 trillion voted for capital projects in the 2017 budget.”

    The Senators warned that if not corrected and improved on, it might affect the electoral chances of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the next election.

    The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, on Oct. 26, told State House correspondents that the Federal Government has so far released N450billion for capital projects in 2017.

               Also Read: Buhari to present 2018 budget on Tuesday

    The Senate leader, however, lamented that the 2017 budget had not been implemented as expected.

    “We are supposed to be working on the same page; working for the same people of Nigeria and we will like to see the National Assembly working in tandem with the executive arm of government.

    “We are still working to ensure that implementation of the 2017 budget continues, so far it hasn’t been able to be implemented the way we thought it would be.

    “You remember that there are certain things that you don’t just get them to happen at once, some processes must take place before you finally have projects kicking off.

    “So I believe between now and when the 2017 budget circle will be completed much would have been done and achieved,’’ he said.

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, who also spoke to correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, said he briefed the president on the activities of his ministry.

    He reiterated the determination of the federal government towards the provision of additional employment opportunities to Nigerians irrespective of their socio-political backgrounds.

  • Ngige faults US report on Child Soldiers

    Ngige faults US report on Child Soldiers

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen Chris Ngige has faulted reports by the United States of America Department of Labour alleging that Nigeria was engaged in the use of child soldering in its fight against Boko Haram, saying the country does not encourage child soldiering or the participation of children in the Civilian JTF.

    The Minister who speak while receiving the new Labour Attache of the United States of America in Nigeria, Mirna Torres however sought the collaboration of the US government in its effort at eradicating the menace of child labour and the provision of decent employment for its teeming unemployed youths through collaborative efforts between Nigeria and United States Department of Labour (USDOL).

    Ngige said the Nigerian government “will continue to ask for collaboration from the government of the United States of America, nothing stops you from assisting us in building more schools as well as collaborate with us in the implementation of the school feeding and conditional cash transfer programme of President Muhammadu Buhari which is aimed at bringing succor to the vulnerable group.”

    While faulting the US report on child soldiers, the Minister said: “Nigeria does not recruit child soldiers, rather Nigeria is fighting Boko Haram terrorist group that captures children and use them as child soldier and shield to fight the Nigerian Army. We do not allow children to participate in the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) as well.

    “Similarly in the mining and agricultural sector, we have put in place centres that monitor, report and discourage the use of children for mining. In view of these deliberate efforts of the Federal Government, there is a significant decline in child labour in Nigeria. As much as I don’t want to fault your data but I know it is over blotted nevertheless it will spur us to put more efforts towards the eradication of child labour.”

    In addition, he emphasized that Nigeria is a signatory to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 138 and 182 that prohibit child labour. Furthermore, Nigeria has not only ratified (ILO) Convention 138 and 182 but has domesticated them into laws, the review of which is currently before the National Assembly for enactment into law.

    Minister of State Labour and Employment, Prof. Stephen Ocheni attributed the reduction in child labour in Nigeria according to the 2016 child labour report as presented by the Labour Attache of the United States of America, to the deliberate and coordinated efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari. 

    He assured the envoy of the commitment of the Federal Government to the eradication of child labour in the Country.

    Speaking earlier, the Labour Attache of the United States of America in Nigeria, Mirna Torres revealed that Nigeria has made progress and improvement in the fight against child labour, she added that towards consolidating on the achievements made so far, the United State is seeking to partner Nigeria in the area of workplace inspections to understand the kind of work and environment under which Nigerians work with the aim of getting first-hand information.

    She said “we see Nigeria having made modern advancement and has improved on the matter of child labour, the only thing I want to mention is if it is possible for us to work together in the future on the issues of inspections. 

    “We have not been able to receive much information as to the numbers of inspectors currently working in the Ministry, where they are deployed and the kind of inspections they carried out. This is not aimed at critic but to know the kind of work Nigeria is doing and ensure we give you the credit.” 

  • FG, ASUU: Another strike looms over Oct 31 agreement

    FG, ASUU: Another strike looms over Oct 31 agreement

    Another round of strike action is looming in the nation’s Universities as academic staff counts down to the deadline for the implementation of agreements reached with the government which led to the conditional suspension of its indefinite strike action in September.

    The government had signed an agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities as a result of the strike action embarked upon by the union to press the implementation of the memorandum of understanding entered into between both parties in 2013 as well as the 2009 agreement.

    A timeline of October 2017 was reached between the government and the unions for the implementation of some components of the agreement, especially the payment of shortfall in salaries and Earned Academic Allowances.

    But some lecturers informed The Nation that barely one week to the end of the October timeline, the government has not implemented any aspect of the agreement, even when they claimed during negotiation that implementation has commenced.

    While suspending their strike action in September, ASUU President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi had said that the union was suspending its action conditionally to pave way for government to commence implementation of the agreement, stressing that the union will not hesitate to resume the action if the government fail to meet its own aspect of the agreement.

    One lecturer who would not want his name in print told The Nation that “the government has not done anything. We have not heard from them and it is just one week to the end of the October deadline. I can assure you that we are warming up and there is the possibility that from November 1, we will resume the suspended action.

    “They (government) told our leaders during negotiations that they have prepared everything for the implementation. They were even brandishing some papers, especially on the earned Academic Allowance. But we have not seen anything nor heard from them.

    “They were also supposed to carry our verification because of those who employed workers without permission so that the issue of shortfall in salary can be addressed. Many of us have been verified, but nothing has happened. We have not been paid. They should not take us die a ride because when we resume the suspension action not are not going to listen to any discussion. 

    However, ASUU President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, however, declined to say whether or not the union will call out its members at the end of October if they are not satisfied with the level of implementation of the agreement.

    Prof. Ogunyemi told The Nation over the telephone that members of the union will determine the next line of action based on the level of implementation of the agreement reached between the government and the unions.

    He said both parties were making progress in the implementation of the memorandum of understating signed between them, adding that the union is still engaging the government and expressed the hope that the government will keep to their promise.

    He said: “We are engaging them and we are making some few progress and we hope they will keep their promise. Otherwise, our members are ready to activate their action. We are still in October, but we are on our guard. 

    We believe they will follow the process through and implement it fully. That is why we still engage them and we are talking. We are working with them and we hope they will continue to cooperate.

    Asked whether they will embark on any Industrial action at the end of October, he said “I cannot say whether there will be any action at the end of October or not. It is what our members say that we shall do. I hope I am very clear? Our members shall determine what we shall do at the end of the deadline based on the level, of implementation”.

    The government had promised to meet the demand of the unions with a promise to release of about N220 billion to the universities not later than October 2017 to fund the revitalisation of federal universities in the country and the payment of the shortfall in their salaries as well as payment of earned allowances which has accumulated.

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige who promised that his Ministry will monitor the implementation the agreement reached had told newsmen after the conciliatory meeting in September that “We have concluded negotiations, the government and the leadership of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU. The ASUU negotiating team and the government discuss salient issues and most of those issues are well-known to the media but for the purposes of clarity, I can go around the grounds again. 

    “There’s one funding for revitalization of public universities and the issue of Earn Academic Allowances, the issue of University Staff Schools on which that there is a court judgement, the issue of National Universities Pension Management Company, and the issue of salary shortfalls for lecturers and staff of universities. There is the issue of TSA exemption and the problems in the state universities. All are the issues that ASUU felt that government should address. 

    “Most of these issues stemmed from the 2009 agreement that government had ASUU and also from the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding, that the government had with ASUU. Government is a continuum, most of those issues were not issues that cropped up from the Buhari administration, we inherited them.

    “But be that as it may like I said, the government is a continuum. So we are to really address those issues, we inherited them but there are issues concerning the welfare of our people. So, on the issue of funding for the revitalization of public universities, this negotiating team discussed in detail and extensively on that.

    “This is the fund that would be needed for the revitalization of public universities in terms of their working tools and other things needed for the effective performance of their duties. 

    “There was an agreement from the MoU of 2009 and that of 2013, for government to be making some quarterly payments into this fund. And from 2014 to date, it has not been possible for the government to pay or they didn’t pay. But this government has been negotiating with ASUU since last year. Today, there is a government proposal which we all agreed id workable.

    “But ASUU has to take back this our proposal to their organs, so we decided that there’s an agreement for government to make some funds available in September and October to show that they are not repudiating their agreement and to also show sign of good faith. 

    “However, because of the inability of the government to pay the required amount which is at N220 billion, a seven-man committee was proposed and ASUU leadership is expected to send in three nominees into this committee. It’s a technical committee so to say, a working committee and they would send in the three-man nomination, the Minister of Education will appoint three persons to represent the federal government and the chairman, making four to bring the number to seven. ASUU will also send in their proposal for testing terms of reference for the committee to the minister.

    “We expect that that will be done today since today is already a Friday. This committee is expected to work out the ways and means for the government and ASUU to actualize the aspirations as per the 2013 MoU. 

    “This is without prejudice to the Babalakin committee on the re-negotiation of the 2009 MoU between the Federal Government and ASUU. 

    “On the issue of Earn Academic Allowances, we have listened and payment has started in that direction.Same with staff schools. Government is though not appealing, we have agreed that the decision should be conveyed to the various universities. 

    “The Issue of NUPENCO was addressed and ways have been fashioned out for the registration of that company. Salary shortfalls for lecturers and university staff were also addressed and the government has shown their commitment and evidence that payments have started in order to liquidate the outstanding allowances. 

    “The issue of TSA exemption was also discussed and an agreement or proposal was muted by which the Central Bank would a special account for that in order for endowment funds and research grants will be exempted. 

    “State universities which have been the concern for ASUU and everybody who has been looking for quality education in the country was also discussed and the Minister of Education was mandated to take the memo to the council of state and the Federal Executive Council. 

    “Based on these discussions, ASUU leadership will consult with its organs and revert back to government within one week. They will consult with their organs with a view to calling off the strike.And we expect them that within one week, they will get back to government. These are the highlights of the meeting and I can tell you that the meeting took place in the very cordial atmosphere.” 

  • APC best option for Igbo presidency – Oyegun

    APC best option for Igbo presidency – Oyegun

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief John Odigie-Oyegun said on Thursday that the party remain the best option for actualizing a south-east Presidency in the nearest future.

    Oyegun spoke while inaugurating a fifteen-member campaign committee for the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra state challenged the committee to work to bring the South East into the mainstream of Nigerian politics and into the progressive family.

    He also challenged the committee led by Bauchi state governor, Mohammed Abubakar to mobilize the entire citizens of Anambra state for victory as the state was very important to the APC, pointing out that a victory for the party in Anambra will help address the cries of marginalization from the south-east ego political zone.

    He said: “we must change the narrative in the south-east and we must start with Anambra because the APC represents the most viable root for any south-east person to the presidency of this country.”

    Oyegun said that the party recognized the fact that the election will not be a bed of roses in view of the fact that there is an incumbent governor in the state, adding that “if the APC can defeat an incumbent President, we can also defeat an incumbent governor, we have done it before in Kogi and Ondo state.”

    Oyegun welcomed former Deputy National Chairman to the Modu Sherrif led-faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the party, saying his presence in the committee showed that he has a lot to contribute to the development of the party.

    Chairman of the committee and Bauchi state governor, Barrister Mohammed Abubakar said even though the task given to them was daunting, the members recognized the fact that it was necessary to win the Anambra governorship election and bring the zone into mainstream national politics.

    He said there was the need for the party and its members to work for the success of the party in the election, pointing out that it was necessary to avoid a repeat of the defeat the party suffered during the Senatorial election in Osun state.

    He said the party should capitalize on the age of the candidate to campaign for a generational shift, adding that his victory will give the youths a say and assured that the campaign committee will work to bring the state into the fold of the APC.

    The leader of the party in the state and Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige assured that all the people of the state will work with the committee to ensure victory for the party in the election.

    Gov. Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi, Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Nasir ElRufai (Kaduna), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Godwin Obaseki (Edo) and Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Ministers of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu.

    Others are former governors Orji Uzor Kalu, Jim Nwobodo and Segun Oni; Bolaji Abdullahi, Senator Ostia Izunaso, Babafemi Ojudu, former Speaker of the House of Representative, Agunwa Anaekwe among others.

  • Strike: FG, non-teaching staff of universities reach new agreement

    Strike: FG, non-teaching staff of universities reach new agreement

    Non-teaching staff of Nigerian Universities and the federal government signed a new agreement with a view to ending their two weeks old strike embarked upon to press for the implementation of their demands.

    After a conciliatory meeting with the three union which lasted for over eight hours, ending in the wee hours of Thursday, Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige assured the unions under the Joint Action Council that government will implement  the agreements reached.

    He said the government has agreed to address all twelves issues raised by the striking workers, including the payment of salaries shortfalls and the Unpaid earned allowances for the striking workers.

    The non-teaching staff includes the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of universities (NASU).

     

  • Ngige to NARD: Your strike breaches trade act

    Ngige to NARD: Your strike breaches trade act

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige has told member of the National Association of Resident Doctors that in embarking on their indefinite strike action which commenced on Monday, September 4, they violated the tenets of section 18 of the Trade Dispute Act and should have returned to the negotiation table rather than going ahead with the strike.

    The Minister also accused the doctors of intimidating their employers, the Federal Ministry of Health by going ahead with the strike after signing a memorandum of terms of settlement with the government and adjourning to allow for implementation of the agreement reached.

    Senator Ngige who spoke at the resume meeting between the government and the leadership of the Resident Doctors said that the Trade Dispute Act stipulates that once the Minister of Labour has began conciliation, no party in a dispute can take any action that violates the provisions of the law.

    The Resident Doctors has rejected the memorandum of terms of settlement signed with the government after their meeting last week and commenced an indefinite strike action to force government to yield to their demand.

    The Minister also told the striking Doctors the government has already began implementation of the terms of settlement contained in the memorandum which they rejected, pointing out that if they had consulted widely, they would not have embarked on the strike.

    Senator Ngige said: “We are here for an emergency meeting to try and resolve the strike embarked upon by the National Association of Resident Doctors. You will recall that last Thursday, we were here and we had very fruitful deliberations and produced a memorandum of settlement. 

    “We all signed that agreement which was like a collective bargaining agreement. One of the clauses there was that NARD should revert back to their National Executive Committee, present the agreement which was a CBA with a view to shelving the strike that they had proposed. We adjourned the meeting to November 2 with which period we expected the implementation of the items on the agreement. 

    “We were surprised that at the NEC meeting, the CBA that was enter d into was repudiated and the Association embarked on strike. We had to contact the leadership of NARD and the leadership of the NMA and agreed to reconvene today. Therefore our meeting proposed for November 2 was brought forward so that we could meet today. 

    “We are meeting today in an atmosphere in which in industrial dispute relations, I do not think is very fair to the Federal Ministry of Health who are the employers of the doctors. In this ministry, we act as conciliators and in such situation. 

    “Even though I am a government minister, I am a Chief Conciliator. If the government is wrong, I will tell them that they are wrong. If the employees is wrong, I will say so and at the end of the day, we will find a way to conciliate and make for a equitable industrial relations.

    “We are all gathered here and the Ministry of Health looks like they are already being short changed because by section 18 of the Trade Dispute Act of the Federation, T8, T9, 2004, once a conciliation starts by the Minister, no party is allowed to stage a lock out either for employees by locking them out or embark on strike against the employers. 

    “It is based on this ground that I say that the federal ministry of health is already being short changed because as it were, it is like the worker is trying to intimidate the employer. So, as a chief conciliator, I have drawn a line and say let us all come back and look at the issues. 

    “If there are issues in the CBA that NARD feels that their interest has not been properly taken care of, they would have written to the ministry and come back for this type of meeting. The alternative would not have been to embark on a proposed strike. That is not industrial relations.

    “I want to pay tribute to the President of NMA for making out time to come and all areas of dispute will be resolved in this meeting so that the doctors can go back to their patients. 

    “For me, any other strike can be handled in a way that you don’t care about the little time you lose. But in essential services, especially in medical service, we can’t replace lives that are lost. That is why we had to reconvene this meeting few hours after you started your strike and we hope that this meeting will resolve the rough edges in the CBA if there are any.

    “I can assure you even before e start this meeting that we have had a government side meeting and reviewed the agreement and want to say that within 48 hours, everybody has started implementation of this CBA. 

    “The Accountant General’s office has done what they are supposed to do and remitted the money from the short fall to the CBN. I feel that if you had done more consultations, you would not have taken the steps that you took. I don’t want to be legalistic about it because you have breached section 18 of the Trade Dispute Act, but all these are the sacrifices we have to make.”

  • Indefinite strike: FG, resident doctors sign MoU

    Indefinite strike: FG, resident doctors sign MoU

    The Federal Government has signed a memorandum of understanding with members of the National Association of Resident Doctors aimed at preventing Resident Doctors in federal government owned health facilities across the country from embarking on their planned strike action which was scheduled to commence on Monday, September 4.

    In the memorandum signed by government representatives and officials of the association and the Nigeria Medical Association and made available to newsmen at the end of a meeting called by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, the government and the association stressed that some of the issues being complained of by the association were already being addressed by the government.

    The memorandum was signed by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, Minister of Health,  Prof. Isaac Adewole. Minister of State Labour and Employment. Prof. Stephen Ocheni, National President of the Nigeria Medical Association, Prof. Mike O. Ogirima, President of National Association of Resident Doctors, Dr. Onyebueze John and Chairman of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, Chief Richard Egbule among others.

    Other signatories to the memorandum are representatives of Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and the Budget Office of the Federation.

    The National Association of Resident Doctors had informed the government that it embark on an indefinite strike action beginning from Monday, September 4, 2017 due to failure of government to pay salary shortfall for 2016 and between January and May, 2017.

    Other issues in dispute according to the association are Failure to rectify the salary shortfall from August 2017; failure to circularize House Officers’ entry point; failure to correct the stagnation of promotion of our members and properly place them on their appropriate grade level; failure to enroll and capture our members on the Integrated Personnel Payment Information System (IPPIS) and failure to budget, deduct and remit both the employer and employees’ contributions our pension to our retirement savings account since 2013.”

    A memorandum signed at the end of the meeting reads in part: “The meeting noted that some Federal Tertiary Health Institutions (FHTI) have paid a percentage of salaries to Resident Doctors and are consequently in arrears of salary payments to members of NARD and Honorary Consultants.

    “It was also noted that the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) had started the process of paying the shortfall of salaries owed in batches. It was therefore concluded that the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) should forward the list of the recipient FHTI to the Honourable Minister of Health to ensure that the released fund was used for its intended purpose. The payment for other FHTI not captured to be implemented before the end of October 2017.”

    On the issue of shortfall in salaries, the meeting mandated “the Director Hospital Services is to address a circular/letter to the Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) and state therein that the released funds should be used solely for salaries and shortfalls. The Federal Ministry of Finance should ensure that monthly salaries are paid in full.

    “Reference was made to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reached at the 7th Senate in 2014, and House of Representatives with the Speaker presiding in 2016, where Parties agreed to use the quantum of monies contained in CONHESS 9:4 for CONMESS 1:1.

    “It was concluded that effect should be given to previous Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) reached on this issue so that CONHESS 9:4 would be in parity with CONMESS 1:1. The Chairman NSIWC to get this circularized, after getting the quantum from FmoH. All matters on this issue should be finalised before the preparation of 2018 Budget is concluded.

    “Issues of skipping and matters ancillary thereto were discussed. The meeting noted that the Federal Ministry of Health had appealed against the ruling of the National Industrial court of Nigeria (NICN) on skipping and that a date has been given by the Court of Appeal for Hearing in March, 2018.

    “It was further noted that a major issue is the improper placements on appropriate Salary Grade Levels. It was concluded that a proper guideline should be provided by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) and that Item 4 of the MoU of December 16, 2013 should be adopted.

    “The Item 4 states that ‘the FMoH, NSIWC, NMA should urgently review the NMA’s proposal on skipping of CONTISS 10/CONHESS10/COMESS 2 in the new Scheme of Service with a view to amending it to reflect the suspension of the circular on unauthorized skipping of equivalent of CONMESS 2 for Medical Doctors in the Public Service.

    “The amended proposal shall be forwarded to the HCSF through the FMoH for an onward presentation to the forthcoming National Council on Establishment (NCE) on 24th January, 2014 in Ilorin.” In view of this earlier position, it was concluded that the Honourable Minister of Health (HMoH) should drive this issue and that no circular should be issued on the matter until it is concluded by the HMoH.

    “In view of the expected meeting of the Council of Establishment, the end of October was given as the tentative time limit to conclude the assignment by the FMoH and Office of the HCSF. Hospitals that are yet to implement skipping for doctors are to commence and henceforth, promotions should be in accordance with the Public Service Rules.

    “Based on the information given by the members of NARD, it was noted that only 18 Federal Tertiary Health Institutions had so far submitted their Nominal Roll. The meeting concluded that NARD members should be on the IPPIS platform and that the CMDs as well as the MDs should be requested by the FMoH to submit their Nominal Roll to the Office of the Accountant General of The Federation (OAGF) and copy to the FMoH and FML&E on or before September 15, 2017. It was agreed that all Resident Doctors should be captured on IPPIS platform by the end of October 2017.

    “It was concluded that NARD members are on Pensionable appointment and as such the FMoH in conjunction with OAGF and Budget Office of the Federation (BOF) should take necessary steps to ensure that adequate budgetary allocations are made to cover the Pension requirements of NARD members.

    “Furthermore, FMoH should issue a letter in that regard to the Head Civil Service of the Federation who would correspond with the Budget Office of the Federation for necessary action, as the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) had in a letter of February 12, 2015, Ref.PENCOM/INSP/C&E/CCPA/66/15/1167 to the Honourable Minister of Health affirmed that members of NARD are “Employees”. The letter went further to define an employee as any person employed in the service of the Federation, the FCT, a Government of a State of Nigeria, Local Government Council or private company or organization or firm.

    “In view of the foregoing terms of settlement, NARD agreed to meet in an Emergency Session before Monday, September 4, 2017, for the presentation of this Memorandum to her National Executive Council with a view to averting the scheduled strike.”

     

  • Strike: Govt, ASUU to meet Thursday  

    Strike: Govt, ASUU to meet Thursday  

    The meeting between leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU ) and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige aimed at prevailing on the striking university lecturers to call off their strike is to resume on Thursday, the Ministry of Labour has said.

    The decision to resume the meeting was taking on Tuesday after a meeting between the Minister and the leadership of the union at the Minister’s Conference Room, Federal Secretariat.

    A statement last night signed by the Deputy Director Press in the Ministry, Samuel Olowookere said the Tuesday’s meeting took significant steps towards the quick resolution of the issues raised by ASUU.

    The statement said that the meeting particularly agreed on the forensic audit of the sum of 30 billion Naira earlier given to ASUU in 2010 and further agreed on monthly remittances to ASUU while the audit lasts.

    “The Minister hence wishes to assure members of ASUU; in deed all Nigerians that government is already at work   to resolve all outstanding issues in line with the resolve of the present administration to cast any form of disruption of universities’ academic calendar into the dust bin of history.”

  • FG not sincere about paying backlog of salaries – Labour

    FG not sincere about paying backlog of salaries – Labour

    Organised Labour has said that the federal government was not sincere about paying the over N290 billion arrears of salaries and promotion arrears owed workers in the federal civil service, saying they may not be able to stop the workers from taking action for too long.

    Labour said while the federal government was pressuring state government t and assisting the, with bail out to pay salaries and allowances owed workers in the various states, it was silent on the plight of workers in federal service whose promotion and other allowances dating back to 2007 has not been paid and has accumulated to over N290 billion.

    Secretary General, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Comrade Bashir Alade Lawal who disclosed this in an interview on the sideline of the 106th session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland,

    said since 2007, the government has failed to pay the workers arrears of promotion, transfer allowance and shortfall in salaries among others.

    Comrade Lawal said the Federal Government was not sincere about the issue of the payment, adding that it was an irony that the Federal Government would give bail out to the state governments to pay the salaries and arrears of their workers while leaving its workers unpaid.

    The labour leader said the workers are now restive, warning that the leadership may not be able to control them anymore, as the situation in many federal ministries and parastatals is getting out of control.

    He said: “If you look at the ‎entire problem, you will agree that government is not sincere with workers. This indebtedness date back to 2007, and you want to imagine that workers who are working are being promoted as at when due, but government is refusing to pay them their promotion arrears.

    “Somebody that has been promoted from level 8 to 9, from 9 to 10, from  10 to 12 and so on, is still earning level 8 salary because the employer, which is the Federal Government has refused to do the right thing. So, this issue has brought this arrears that runs to N290 billion.

    “The insincerity of the Federal Government is demonstrated in the first instance, when they gave bailout funds to states totaling about N734 billion. They asked the states to use their share to pay arrears of workers’ salaries. But the Federal Government failed to pay its own workers. That is the height of insincerity. Now, the Federal Government has accepted that there is a problem.

    “As I speak with you, the situation is very tensed, workers are very restive and no labour leader can guarantee that the situation will not go out of hand. We are just trying to manage the situation, knowing some of the other challenges facing the country.”

    Comrade Lawal expressed hope that the recent efforts by the National Assembly, Labour and the executive arm of government will resolve the issue and forestall imminent crisis, adding that Labour and the National Assembly had offered a window to be utilized to address the issue of N290 billion debt.

    He said: “Now we have come together, including the National Assembly on the issue of this N290 billion. The National Assembly has offered a window that we should utilise what is currently in the budget. What is in the budget is N30 billion and so the two side would then meet and look at the possibility of packaging a sort of loan or bond to be able to sort this out.

    “The N10 billion released by the government is just in the interim, to just start doing something. The N30 billion in the budget is not what is readily available because of the process involved before it can be accessed.

    “However, the agreement we have with the National Assembly and other stakeholders is that as soon as the budget becomes law, the money will be released immediately. So, from the N290 billion, you would have sorted out 40 billion, remaining N250b billion.

    “With the National Assembly, we are hopeful with the kind of interest shown, because most of the lawmakers saw what happened during  May Day in Abuja where they were evacuated into their vehicles during workers’ reaction as a result of frustration.

    “So, let us see the result of all these initiatives and hopefully the way we are looking at it that we will be able to sort it out this year. Anything short of that or should they decide  to foot drag on this, I bet you even with the leadership of the union, peace will not guaranteed. ”

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige had assured, that the government will go into bond market for funds to off-set all the arrears of salaries, promotion arrears and pension.

    “We have taken step and initiated payment in that same direction. Before I left home, N10 billion was already being processed for promotion allowances arrears,before I left home sum of N14.6 billion has been expended in the areas of shortfall of salaries and as we go back home we have other machinery and plans to even go into bond market and get some funds to off set all these areas,” Ngige said.

     

  • Nigeria to contest membership of ILO governing board

    Nigeria to contest membership of ILO governing board

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige Friday announced that Nigeria will be seeking a return to the governing board of the International Labour Organisation during the forthcoming in 106the session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva.

    Speaking while inaugurating members of the various committees to articulate Nigeria’s position at the conference said his Ministry’s ground work and diplomatic shuttle in this regards has yielded positive result as Nigeria candidacy into the ILO Governing Body has been approved by other African Countries.

    He said the country must “harness all resources as a country, hence my Ministry thought it imperative for Nigeria to get back to the Governing Board of the ILO.

    “We have started the ground work and diplomatic shuttle and am happy to announce to you that we are going to Geneva this time around with Nigeria having been nominated by other African Countries under the auspices of Africa Union Commission for a place in the Governing Board of ILO with all the attendant benefits that accrue to countries that are in the Governing Body. We are going to represent West Africa at the Governing Board meeting. ”

    Ngige added that the meeting will be very momentous for Nigeria as a lot of benefits will accrue to Nigeria in terms of technical assistance, human and material resources that will assist the Nation’s drive towards economic recovery.

    He said further that “The big idea is for us to represent Nigeria well. Nigeria is going to the Conference at a very critical period when our nation is just coming out of recession.”

    The inaugurated committees include Committee on the Application of Standards, Committee for Labour Migration, Committee on Employment and Decent Work for the Transition to Peace, Committee for the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and Finance.