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Tag: Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)

  • Attack on Kogi Assembly is height of impunity – NLC

    Attack on Kogi Assembly is height of impunity – NLC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked the Federal Government to immediately commence investigation into the disbursement of the Paris Club loan refund by states, describing the attack on the Kogi state House of Assembly as height of intolerance, insensitivity and impunity, and a precursor to dictatorship and anarchy.

    President of the Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said government can no longer fold its hands, look the other way while things get out of hands in Kogi state, reminding the government that the development in Kogi state represent strong threats to the nation’s democracy and should not be condoned.

    Wabba said the Government should not be under the illusion that the developments in the state will simply peter out with time. It will be a criminally negligent assumption, and therefore dangerous.

    The state reads: “We are appalled by the developments in the Kogi State House of Assembly in particular, and Kogi State in general.

    “For those who may not have been in the know, last week, the speaker, Honourable Alfa Imam was forced out and a more pliant one installed. The offence of the former Speaker was that he had initiated a legislative process to look into the disbursements of the Paris Club refund following non-payment of salaries and pensions and the industrial tensions in its aftermath.

    “But the former Speaker was lucky to have gotten off “lightly” as the House Member who moved the motion for this process ended up in Plaster of Paris (POP) courtesy of the thugs dispatched to disrupt the House proceedings.

    “The Kogi State mess represents the height of intolerance, insensitivity and impunity, and a precursor to dictatorship and anarchy and should be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians and apprehended by the Federal Government before the situation spins out of control.

    “Accordingly, we call on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, commence investigations into the disbursements of bail-out funds (50% percent of which it had directed should be applied for payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities); continuous non-payment of salaries and pensions; endless staff audit which has become a convenient alibi for owing salaries and pensions.

    “We also believe that the Federal Government should be concerned that the state-contrived industrial disharmony in the state is slowly, but steadily degenerating into a political crisis as exemplified by the clamp down on ASUU and the State-sponsored violence in the House of Assembly and other acts of witch-hunt in the State’s socio-political space.

    “We need not remind the Federal Government that these represent strong threats to our democracy and should not be condoned. Government should not be under the illusion that the developments in the state will simply peter out with time. It will be a criminally negligent assumption, and therefore dangerous.

    “We at the Nigeria Labour Congress similarly consider ourselves duty-bound to remind the Federal Government that it should not sacrifice the interests of the people of Kogi State on political considerations or convenience. The Kogi State situation has dragged on for too long and the Federal Government cannot continue to look the other way. The time to act is now.

    “We are guided by the dictum that it is better to build strong institutions instead of strong individuals, because whereas strong institutions protect our democracy, strong individuals threaten it.”

     

  • NLC calls for collaborative effort on new minimum wage

    NLC calls for collaborative effort on new minimum wage

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for collaborative efforts to achieve a new national minimum wage for workers.

    The NLC Assistant General Secretary, Mr James Esutace, made the call at a one day- symposium on “N56,000 Minimum Wage; Implication for the Nigerian Workers.”

    The symposium was  organised by the Socialist Workers League in Abuja on Thursday.

    The league is an organisation of activists within the labour movement and  civil society organisations.

    According to Esutace,  if the N56, 000 minimum wage is implemented, it will help to reduce the suffering of  workers.

    “There is no alternative to the N56, 000 minimum wage which is long overdue for review,’’ he said,  adding that although it was underestimated, Nigerians would enjoy it.

    “This is why the organised labour, collectively put a demand on the Federal Government.

    “If Nigerians do not rise up as workers to canvass for their right, by 2018, they will not be able to talk of  a new national minimum  wage.”

    Esutace  said that the National Assembly was on the verge of removing the minimum wage from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list.

    He said if the effort of the National Assembly succeeded, the implication was that the country would not have a minimum wage but a segregated wage system.

    “The national minimum wage is supposed to set a minimum benchmark. The philosophy behind the wage is to protect the unorganised and the vulnerable workers who do not have strong bargaining powers.”

    Also, a former Chairman of NLC in the Federal Capital Territory,  Mr Yahaya Abdullahi, decried the untold hardship that Nigerians were facing due to the economic  recession.

    Abdullahi said the situation had contributed to the poor wages that Nigerians earned.

    He said that the N56,000 minimum wage proposal was not enough to provide the basic needs of the citizens.

    “Even the N56,000 cannot take care of our needs in this present economy but it is better than the N18,000 currently paid by government,” he said.

    Mr Drew Povey, a Financial Consultant for the group, said with the social inequality in the country, Nigeria’s economy would not grow.

    He said the problem with Nigeria was not that of development but inequality between the rich and poor.

    Povey called for collective action in pushing the demand for the new national minimum wage to the government.

  • 2019 General Elections: NLC urges workers, pensioners to obtain voters’ card

    2019 General Elections: NLC urges workers, pensioners to obtain voters’ card

    As part of preparations for the 2019 general elections, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged workers and pensioners in the country who are yet to register to do so and obtain voters card.

    Ayuba Wabba, NLC President said this when he paid a familarisation visit to the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) National Secretariat on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Wabba said this was imperative as governors and other political office holders with anti-labour tendencies were on the increase.

    He said the political elites had the notion that pensioners and workers do not have any political value, adding that it was the reason why the payment of salaries and pensions were not being taken seriously.

    “A lot of politicians say workers and pensioners do not have political value and therefore it is a big challenge, they even claim that we do not have voters card.

    “We are going to embark on a vigorous campaign for workers and pensioners to register and obtain their voters card.

    “Because a process has been opened for workers, pensioners and their families to acquire voters’ card, where it is missing, revalidate it. We have the number.

    “In NLC alone, we are over eight million Nigerians without the pensioners and so, we have the number to challenge any politician and make them realise that we are a force to reckon with.’’

    According to him, let us awaken this consciousness and make sure we do what is right because we also have to engage the process and be able to represent our members.

    “Because the notion also is that we are very comfortable and that we do not have voters card. It is very important for us to engage the system,’’

    He called on the leadership of the NUP to as a matter of urgency issue a circular to pensioners in the 744 Local Government Areas to ensure that they have their voters’ card.

    “Even if a pensioner is on a wheel chair, he must get his card because we must also exercise our value and contribute to the system for our benefits.’’

    The NLC president described as unfortunate and a challenge that workers and pensioners were continually agonised as some states do not pay them their entitlement regularly, adding that it must be stop.

    “The constitution has made it very clear that pension is a right after working diligently for the service of your nation for 35 years and having attained the mandatory age of 60.

    “Retirement ought to be sweet, but in most cases retirement these days is not sweet, you are always on one verification or the other.’’

    Wabba added that NLC’s National Executive Council would meet to deliberate on a campaign strategy that would ensure that all workers, pensioners, their family, and dependents have a voter’s card.

    He also assured the NUP that the problem of minimum wage for workers and pension would be tabled before governments at all levels.

    Responding, Mr Abel Afolayan, NUP President decried the non-payment of the arrears of 33 per cent pension increase since 2010.

    According to Afolayan, civilian pensioners are being owed 18 months arrears, while the police pensioners are owed 39 months.

    “To be frank with you, some pensioners go home monthly with as low as N4,000 only. This is highly unfair and greatly inhuman.

    “We also have issues with some states governments over slash in pension arrears, among other issues and we will want you to assist us,’’ he said.

  • NLC to governors: Utilise Paris Club refund to pay outstanding salaries

    NLC to governors: Utilise Paris Club refund to pay outstanding salaries

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) asked the governors to use substantial part of the funds to offset outstanding salaries, allowances and pension of workers.

    General Secretary of Congress, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson told The Nation that the right thing to do was those state governors who are owing workers to use the money to pay up, pointing out that the congress will continue to engage the governors on the welfare of workers.

    He said “as you are aware, we have been engaging the governors on the welfare of workers and we take each state based on their peculiarities. Last week, we engaged the Rivers state government because of pension related matters and we will continue to engage them.

    “With or without Paris Club refund, it is the responsibility of the governors to pay him the salaries and allowances as well as pension of workers. Where they renege in doing that, we engage them and where they refused, we encourage the workers in that state to declare industrial action.

    “So, our position remains the same and has not changed. The governors should pay what they owe to the workers and now that they have more money, they should honour their obligation and pay their entitlement”.

  • Labour unions resolve to support LG autonomy

    The leadership of labour unions in the country have resolved to support Local Government Autonomy.

    The unions are National Union of Local Government Employee (NULGE), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Medical Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN).

    Mr Ayuba Wabba, the President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said this in a statement jointly signed by him, Mr Ibrahim Khaleel, President NULGE and Mr Michael Alogba- Olukoya, President of NUT.

    Wabba said that the decision was taken after exhaustive deliberations at a meeting convened by the National Leadership of the NLC.

    He said the meeting was to address some concerns raised by the unions with respect to the ongoing agitation by NULGE for Local Government Automotive.

    Speaking on primary school education in the country, the NLC president said it should be seen as a stepping stone and the foundation of all forms of education that deserved a national policy.

    He said the funding should be the responsibility of the federal, state and local governments in order to ensure, guarantee and effect regular and timely payment of teachers’ salaries, entitlements and benefits.

    Wabba also stressed the need for  teachers’ salaries to be a first line charge on the federation account.

    He, however, said another alternative was that the Constitution should strengthen the Supreme Court judgment in the Attorney-General of the Federation versus Attorneys-General of the 36 states, NWLR 6th May, 2002, Part 764.

    According to him, Part 764 stipulates  that removing in the process every ambiguity, lacuna or impediment, ceding responsibility for payment of teachers’ salaries to states wherein it is stated inter alia.

    “It also states that ” as far as primary education is concerned, a local government council only participates with the State Government. The function obviously remains with the State Government”.

    “It stated the tha ” existing agencies such as Universal Basic Education Commission, State Universal Basic Education Commission should be strengthened and empowered to play their roles and discharge their functions”.

    “It also states that the autonomy of local government councils shall be total, comprehensive with all the rights, structures, duties, functions, privileges and obligations.

    “It is clearly spelt out as is the case with the federal and state governments.

    “It stated that Clauses 7, 8, 162 and any other clause in the 1999 Constitution that compromise the autonomy of local government should be deleted, he said.

    Wabba explained that this was in order to give free and unfettered meaning to “autonomy” and make local governments function as third-tier governments.

    According to him, it will also ensure that  Local governments are directly funded and tenure of their executive and legislature stated.

    “It will also ensure unfettered establishment and functionality of the Primary Health Care Boards and Authorities that include salaries, training, programme funding such as immunization, among others,” he added.

  • NUT opposes handover of payment of teachers’ salaries to LGCs

    NUT opposes handover of payment of teachers’ salaries to LGCs

    The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), says the union is opposed to handover of payment of primary schools teachers’ salaries to the local government councils.

    Mr Simon Ozo, Ebonyi NUT Chairman, stated this on Monday in Abakaliki in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    According to him, the union’s opposition to the planned handover of payment of teachers’ salaries to local government administration is hinged on the Supreme Court decision, which granted payment of salary of primary school teachers to states.

    “There is need for the Federal Government to respect the 2012 Supreme Court’s judgment on the responsibility of state and federal governments to primary school education in Nigeria.

    “The plan if allowed to sail through will pose serious threat to the foundation of education in Nigeria, and every genuine and bold attempt must be made by education loving Nigerians to rescue and save primary education from imminent collapse.

    “We do not want the payment of salaries of our primary school teachers to be joined in the autonomy that will be granted the local government.

    “The Supreme Court made it very clear that the management of primary school is in the hands of state governments and we stand on this verdict.

    “We don’t know why anybody in his right thinking senses will want primary school teachers’ salaries to be joined with local government areas.

    “We know the excesses of our local government chairmen and their administration, they will not remember the teachers, they will prefer to marry new wives, build new houses, buy new cars and take care of their girl friends rather than pay our salaries.

    “This is why the union is opposed to the plan and as teachers we say, have your autonomy, but allow our salaries to come from state governments or let it go through Universal Basic Education Commission direct so that we receive our salaries promptly, “Ozo added.

    He said that the protest which took place on June 22 in Ebonyi, also took place in other parts of the country.

    Mr Leo Nkah, the President, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Ebonyi Chapter,who spoke on the issue, supported the NUT’s position.

    Nkah said that the teachers only want to secure their future, stressing that they were not against local government autonomy.

    Nkah, who is also the Acting Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC ), Ebonyi Chapter, noted that the local government councils were saddled with the payment of teachers’ salaries.

    He stressed that it should not be so, adding that the local government council were required to participate in the payment of teachers’ salaries.

    Nkah said that any constitutional arrangement should ensure that this participatory clause is respected.

  • 2017 Budget: Workers welfare not properly captured – NLC

    2017 Budget: Workers welfare not properly captured – NLC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says workers welfare is not properly captured in the 2017 national budget.

    The NLC President, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, said this while speaking with newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.

    “Our budget system is not transparent enough, if you look at the estimate of this year budget, a lot of issues have arisen, especially the allocations for capital and current expenditure.

    “But importantly, the fact also is that a lot of issues pertaining to the welfare of workers have not been properly captured.

    “On the issue of pension, we are very certain and convinced because there is a liability presently of over N300 billion that is supposed to be accommodated in the budget for the payment of pensions.

    “Especially the contributory pension scheme which actually we have interfaced with the leadership of the National Assembly to try to see how this can be accommodated.

    “And we are all aware that this has not been captured adequately. There are also some earned allowances which also have not being earned but a portion of it has being provided in the budget.

    “So, in terms of how the budget directly affects the workers, I think some of the issues certainly have not being captured very effectively,” he said.

    On the overall performance of the 2017 budget, Wabba noted that time was of essence.

    He, however, decried the late implementation of the budget, saying that substantial time has been lost in the preparation that ought to have taken effect.

    “Therefore our position is whatever needs to be done, needs to be done properly.

    “Especially, the capital projects that have to do with putting in place our very importantly critical infrastructure need to receive the most desired attention.

    “So that those issues can then kick start the economy and then stimulate the economy and create jobs for the teeming unemployed youth in the country.

    “Because, one, we are not producing and ones those critical sectors are not working then we will remain in pathetic situation that we will not be able to get out of it,” the NLC president said.

    Wabba added that the process and the manner of implementation of the national budget has certainly not being encouraging to Nigerians.

    He noted that a study of the figures in the budget shows that, major priorities were given to areas that do not address the fundamental issues that Nigerians are passing through.

    “I think there is a need for a transparent budget process where it would start very early and it will be open for public scrutiny and also the input can be made into the process.

    “This will be able to address the very critical issues of our development, because if you look at some aspects of the budget, the overhead seems to be much more than the capital budget.

    “I think that is not good for us, that is not good for our system and that is why we are in this situation,’’ according to Wabba.

     

  • AUPCTRE advises FG to reintroduce payment of gratuity

    AUPCTRE advises FG to reintroduce payment of gratuity

    The Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) on Thursday advised the Federal Government to reintroduce payment of gratuity to workers under the pension Act.

    The FCT Council Chairperson of AUPCTRE, Mr. Benjamin Anthony, made the call in a communiqué issued at the end of the union’s State Governing Council meeting held in Abuja.

    It would be recalled that there had been protracted controversy over continuity in payment of gratuity after the enactment of the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2004.

    Some employers argued that the PRA and the Contributory Pension Scheme had abolished the payment of gratuity.

    However, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) insisted that gratuity had nothing to do with pension and therefore, the PRA, which had been silent on gratuity could not have been abolished.

    The AUPCTRE chairperson expressed concern about the poor state of workers when they retire from civil service and appealed to the three tiers of government to look into the situation to assist retirees.

    He frowned at the exclusion of certain categories of public officers from the Pension Act, saying “if government desires to exempt certain categories of workers, then the scheme has outgrown its usefulness and should therefore be abrogated with immediate effect.”

    “Similarly, AUPCTRE observed that workers are subjected to untold hardship in the process of obtaining Tax Clearance Certificate from Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).”

    He, therefore, urged government to mandate FIRS to issue tax clearance to workers whose taxes were deducted at source on monthly basis without workers coming to ask for it.

  • Strike: Nasarawa invokes ‘no work no pay’ policy

    Strike: Nasarawa invokes ‘no work no pay’ policy

    The Nasarawa State Government has invoked the ‘no work no pay’ policy on striking public sector workers, the state Head of Service, Mr. Thomas Ogiri, announced on Thursday.

    Ogiri said in a statement issued in Lafia that the action was in line with the labour law which stipulated that worker on strike would not be entitled to wages or remuneration throughout the period of the strike.

    The official, however, assured that civil servants not participating in the ongoing strike would be paid their salaries.

    The government directed all Permanent Secretaries and Accounting Officers of Ministries, Departments and Agencies to undertake table payment for May 2017 salaries to “deserving staff.”

    Reacting to the order, Ahmed Naibi, Secretary of the state chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said the government had no right to take the action.

    According to him, the no work no pay policy applies only if workers abscond from duty for no good reason.

    The NLC scribe stressed that the law quoted by the government also gave workers the right to embark on strike, adding that the striking workers would not be intimidated.

    He explained that the strike was over non payment of February and March 2017 workers salaries.

    “The government only paid January 2017 salary then jump to pay April salary without paying the February and March salaries,” he said.

    The state NLC scribe, therefore, called on the workers to ignore any threat by the government and remain at home until otherwise directed by the union.

  • Bauchi: Govt establishes creches to enhance productivity of female workers nursing babies

    Bauchi State government has concluded arrangements to establish two crèches in aid of female civil servants who are nursing babies.

    State Head of Service , Alhaji Liman Bello, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi on Tuesday that the crèches (day care centre for babies), estimated to cost the government N20 million, would be located at the state secretariat and the Ministry of Education premises.

    He said the crèches were being established on the request of the Women’s Wing of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Bauchi State chapter.

    According to him, the two crèches will serve as pilot projects, after which more will be established in other office premises across the state.

    He expressed optimism that the project would boost productivity of nursing mothers in their places of work as their babies would be in safe hands, thereby enabling them to concentrate on the work.

    “The two crèches will be a pilot programme; one will be located at the state secretariat and the other at the Ministry of Education premises.

    “If the programme proves to be successful, it will be extended to other office premises across the state, until each office gets one.

    “Civil servants nursing babies will not be charge for the services as this is a State government programme aimed at enhancing productivity of nursing mothers in their places of work,” he said.

    Bello said the state Ministry of Works had already designed the projects which were to be undertaken through direct labour, at the cost of N10 million each.

    “The Ministry of Work has designed the projects and estimated the cost; they are to be undertaken through direct labour and the document is in the due process office for certificate.

    “As soon as funds are made available, work on the projects will start,” he said.

    He said that the crèches would be under the supervision of the Establishment department of the the Office of the Head of Service, adding that about two or three nannies would be engaged for a start.

    Speaking on the issue, chairperson of NLC, Women Wing in the state, Mrs Rakiya Balan -Malam, said NLC was part of the discussion during the designing to ensue meeting of standard.

    She said that the establishment of the crèches would ensure the non-disruption of nursing mothers in the discharge of their duties, thereby paving way for quality service delivery.

    “Mothers are more composed when with their babies are close to them; this will give them the ability to concentrate and be more productive in their work places.

    “Furthermore, the issue of spending less time in office will be addressed and on the part of the babies, they will be breast-fed adequately as their mothers are close by.

    “Exclusive breast-feeding will be ensured without difficulties,” she said.

    Balan-Malam called on the state government to engage retired nurses who could manage babies in times of sickness, and could also identify symptoms of childhood diseases, especially the communicable ones.