The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mr. Bobboi Kaigama

  • Nigerian women advised on healthy living

    Nigerian women advised on healthy living

    The President of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr Bobboi Kaigama, on Friday, advised women to take their health seriously as they pursue their goals in attaining successful careers.

    Kaigama gave the advice during a seminar by the TUC Women Commission with the theme “Women and Trade Union: The Gains and The future” in Abuja.

    The union boss, represented by the President of PENGASSAN, Mr Francis Olabode, said the life and health of any career woman was important to the labour movement, as well as her immediate family and the nation.

    He said “Nigeria is so bright; women are seen as good managers of resources, especially during austere periods.

    “I will implore you all to take your health issues seriously as the saying goes health is wealth.”

    Read Also: ‘Women short-changed in politics’

    He said women were at the receiving end and bore the brunt in the home front with the increase in unemployment rate.

    Kaigama said “the role of women cannot be over-emphasised and their achievements unquantifiable,” noting that the union had provided opportunities for women in leadership positions.

    The Chairperson of TUC, Mrs Oyinkansola Olasanoye, said women were usually disadvantaged and discriminated against, saying they should be given opportunities in leadership positions.

    She, however, advised women to be supportive to their spouses, adding that their career should not affect their home.

    The Women Leader, National Auditor of TUC, Mrs Esther Ahmadu, said women should remain focused, united and stop the ‘pull down’ syndrome.

    She said the aim of the seminar was to address some of their challenges and proffer solutions to them.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that TUC Women Commission consists of women from the union affiliated to the TUC of Nigeria.

  • Sovereignty of Nigeria not negotiable -Labour

    Sovereignty of Nigeria not negotiable -Labour

    Organised Labour Movement in the country has urged Nigerians to stand up with one voice and fight those promoting division on the basis of primordial affinity in the country.

    Mr Ayuba Wabba, President, Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC) gave the advise at a news conference jointly addressed by the Trade Union Congress, (TUC) and Civil Society Allies on the state of the nation in Abuja.

    Wabba said it was to make their positions clear in unequivocal terms on the unity and sovereignty of Nigeria on the drum beats of war in the country.

    “You have been witnesses to the degeneration of the national conversation into threats and counter-threats; pulling down the federation by some desperate forces and which are being conveyed in vile and base language.

    “These persistent hot exchange and attacks tend to threaten the foundation and integrity of our sovereignty and unity.

    “These do not represent the true feelings of patriotic Nigerians for one another.

    “Rather, they symbolise the intensity of greed, implacable arrogance, and desperation of the elites, some of whom have been sponsoring the hate campaigns that can only lead to the disintegration of our dear nation.

    “Thus, those fanning the embers of disunity needs to be discouraged and schooled on the realities of war, we appeal to all Nigerians,” he said.

    He, therefore, called on Nigerian workers, pensioners and peasants not to allow themselves to be used as cannon folders for the selfish interest.

    Wabba said that over the decades, labour had stood for “one Nigeria” and still committed to the values of the founding fathers.

    He said that the labour movement was determined to stop those throwing the nation to another avoidable civil war.

    He further decried the escalating social and economic injustice, poor living conditions of people, inability of several states government to pay living wage or even ensure the payment of salaries as and when due.

    The labour leader listed others as massive unemployment, lack of productivity as a result of de-industrialisation, galloping inflation, devaluation of the currency among others.

    “We should therefore look at positive options, peaceful, rigorous and altruistic of reforming the system.

    “We will continue to underscore the need for good governance in our country as a basis for any realistic development and eventual emancipation of our people.

    “As the issues in contention can be resolved through good governance, sustainable and transparent fight against corruption and addressing inequities and injustice in the system,” he said.

    Also, the TUC president, Mr Bobboi Kaigama, while speaking on true federalism, called for the accountability of the electorate in the country.

    Kaigama called on government to set up a strong think-tank to look at the 2014 National Conference report as it was vital for development and stability of the country.

    He noted that the current government only had 30 per cent participation in the National Conference and that the report should not be abandoned.

    Speaking, Mr Femi Falana (SAN) called on Nigerians to look at the things that bind them together and not things that will separate them.

    Falana said that there was no nation without challenges and problems, but the ability of the country to overcome the challenges remain the main issue.

    On the issue of restructuring, `We cannot be having political restructuring without economy restructuring. “If you are talking about restructuring, you cannot be selling the assets of the country to individuals.

    “Those who are talking about restructuring are not interested in the Chapter 2, of the Constitution, which is the fundamental objective that states shall be made justifiable towards the right to education.

    “The right to health, the right to unemployment benefits and the right to a living wage and we must remind them to address these social services of our people,” he added.

  • Don’t celebrate criminals — TUC President

    Don’t celebrate criminals — TUC President

    Mr Bobboi Kaigama, President, Trade Nigeria Congress (TUC), has called on Nigerians not to celebrate corrupt individuals who have embezzled public funds meant for the development of the country.

    He made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at interactive session with newsmen on preparation to hold one-day rally on good governance and anti-corruption.

    He said that the rally, to be held on Feb. 9, in Lagos and Abuja simultaneously, would be in collaboration with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

    Kaigama said: “for instance if you go to court in developed countries, you will never see a criminal being escorted to court being celebrated on his way to court or being celebrated at an event.

    “But what we find in Nigeria is a different thing.

    “So it is not just the issue of prosecution or investigation, Nigerians must own the fight against corruption.

    “We must fight it jointly and we will take to the door steps of the criminals.

    “Not until we do that, those in the executive, legislative and judiciary arms of government and the three tiers of government will never see this fight as a major issue. ‘’

    The TUC president said that Nigerians must own up to the fight against corruption without fear or favour.

    He said that the rally was an opportunity to enlighten Nigerians on the consequences of corruption and the best way out of it.

    “Corruption is killing us, what we are experiencing now is a product of bad leadership; we want to install good governance at all levels especially in states and local government areas.

    “The fight against corruption must start somewhere and end up somewhere at the door step of the criminals.

    “The issue of corruption has taken another dimension.

    “How can somebody who served four years or at most eight years get humongous pay at the end of the day when a public servant who served meritoriously for 35 years or attainted 60 years can never get such in his life; where is equity?

    Kaigama said that TUC, NLC and their civil society allies were ready to partner anti corruption agencies to “say enough of the era of celebrating criminals.’’

    “We want the EFCC, ICPC and the Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption to be strengthened.

    “We want this fight on corruption to be holistic; we want good governance, so each of these agencies must do their job holistically without interference from any of the arms of government, ‘’he said. (NAN)

  • Don’t separate offices of Minister of State Petroleum, GMD NNPC – Group

    Don’t separate offices of Minister of State Petroleum, GMD NNPC – Group

    The Niger Delta Youths Coalition on Tuesday opposed the call for the separation of the office of the Minister of State for Petroleum from that of the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

     

    The NDYC in a statement made available to our reporter in Abuja said that the insinuation that the combination of the two offices as presently constituted is too demanding for the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, lacked substance and is not founded on facts.

     

    Endorsed by Comrade Ebipade Jackson (Bayelsa), Comrade Eghosa Idehen (Edo State), Comrade Tony Gbemudu (Delta State), Comrade Amezhinim Ekiye (Rivers State), Comrade Aniebiet Nsikan (Akwa Ibom State) and Comrade Odey Christopher (Cross River State) statement said that the merger of the two offices is also not the cause of the current fuel scarcity.

     

    NDYC said that it is on record that the relationship between the two offices when they were separate, was characterized with friction, power tussle and policy inconsistency.

     

    It added that fuel scarcity had been a perennial occurrence in the country’s history at those times when the offices of Minister of State for Petroleum and the GMD of NNPC were under separate management, as was the case in the era of Funsho Kukpolokun, Austin Oniwon, Andrew Yakubu, Joseph Dawha, and others.

     

    “We wish to condemn in strong terms the call by the President of the Trade Union Congress, Mr. Bobboi Kaigama for the separation of the office of the Minister of State for Petroleum from that of the Group Managing Director of the NNPC because, according to him, the office as presently constituted is too demanding for Dr. Kachikwu.

     

    “Such an argument lacks substance and is not founded on facts. The merger of the two offices era of Funsho Kukpolokun, Austin Oniwon, Andrew Yakubu, Joseph Dawha, and others.

     

    “It is common knowledge that the cause of the present fuel scarcity is as a result of the inability of fuel importers to source enough foreign exchange for the importation of fuel.

     

    “The Central Bank should as a matter of urgency grant these fuel importers access to foreign exchange to alleviate the pains being experienced by all as a result of the scarcity of petroleum products.

     

    “We wish to utilize this opportunity to call on the ordinary Nigerian to rally round Ibe Kachikwu.

     

    “It is on record that Dr. Kachikwu has made some far-reaching changes since assumption of office.

    “His re-engineering of the NNPC to make it more profit oriented and a veritable revenue earner for Nigeria is a great feat which past administrations failed to achieve.

     

    “As a matter of fact, the NNPC has been running at huge losses over the years and was mostly dependent on the finances of the country for sustenance.

     

    “Another major feat recorded by Dr. Kachikwu is the jettisoning of the fraud called fuel subsidy which had served as a drain pipe on the resources of this country for years.

     

    “Available records show that fuel subsidy payments gulped over N5 trillion between 2011 and 2015. With the recent down-grading of the fuel subsidy regime, the system is now free for fair and competitive businesses that can grow the economy unlike in the past where a very few held the system hostage and continually made false declarations on the quantity of products brought into the country.

     

    “Dr. Ibe Kachukwu has been very proactive in the management of the Petroleum sector since assumption of office and we urge him not to be deterred because  President Muhammadu Buhari’s change agenda as is being brilliantly prosecuted by Dr. Ibe Kachikwu through revolutionary policies geared towards revamping the oil and gas sector.

     

    “We also want to use this opportunity to thank and commend His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari for finding in Dr Kachikwua worthy change agent who has the capacity and skills to deliver on the determination of his administration to restore hope to Nigerians.

     

    “We therefore thank Mr President for his unwavering support for Dr. Ibe Kachikwu’sprogrammes in the petroleum sector since assumption of office and urge him to discountenance and disregard all negative insinuations which without doubt, are borne out of greed and mischief.

     

     

    “South South people are solidly behind Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and we remain profoundly proud of his outstanding achievements in life, including the giant strides he has already recorded in the Nigerian oil and gas sector where, on resuming office, he has characteristically grabbed the bull of corruption and inefficiency by the horns, and began a transformation of the NNPC to a modern and more efficient oil company.

     

    “We finally urge Dr. Ibe Kachikwu to remain focused and unrelenting in his commitment to justify the confidence placed on him by Mr President.

     

    “Dr. Ibe Kachikwu remains one of our best brains in the Niger Delta region and we are glad to note that this administration recognizes the importance of engaging our best unlike in the past, to head sensitive positions in government and thus bring good governance to bear not just on the Niger Delta region but in Nigeria as a whole.

     

    “For the avoidance of doubt, it must be put on record that for the first time in the history of this country, the era of profligacy in the management and administration of the oil sector is now over and this is as a result of the dexterous application of the world acclaimed professional skills of a sincere and honest administrator, against all the odds placed on his way by devious persons in the industry who are opposed to the change agenda.”

  • TUC to FG: increase minimum wage, reverse sale of DISCOs

    TUC to FG: increase minimum wage, reverse sale of DISCOs

    The Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Tuesday demanded the Federal Government to review upward the current N18,000 minimum wage.

    This is part of the presentation made by a TUC delegation led by its President, Mr. Bobboi Kaigama, during a visit to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Noting that the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2011 would be five years old in March, he said that in accordance with the International Labour Organisation’s Minimum Wage Fixing Convention 131 of 1970, an ad hoc committee should be raised every five years for the review.

    He said: “We use this opportunity to serve notice that it is time for the Federal Government to set up that committee and mandate it to kick start work on a new minimum wage.

    “We trust that this will be done immediately to save Nigerian workers from the harsh effects of present day economic realities which are taking tolls on their meager incomes.”

    He also urged the Federal Government to reverse the sale of the electricity distribution companies (DISCOs), stressing that the current operators had demonstrated lack of will, capacity and competence to invest in the power sector and provide power to consumers.

    He said the current increase in electricity tariff is “anti-people” describing the Act of the National Assembly empowering the electricity regulator the unilateral power to increase the tariff as “very lame, too simplistic and misleading.”

    He said: “Any Act that preys on the masses that it is supposed to protect negates the very essence of public policy.

    “In the same vein, any act that compels the citizens to pay for services not delivered is not only flawed and undemocratic but ultra vires to the power of the National Assembly to make laws for the good of the country.”

    Stressing that the telecommunication operators brought funds, expertise, service delivery and competition in their business which Nigerians were happy about, he pointed out that the sole aim of the DISCOS “is profiteering through fraud.”

    According to him, the DISCOs have failed to implement their own part of the contract as poor electricity supply and non- availability of meters are experienced nationwide.