The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)

  • Minimum wage: NLC wants Buhari to communicate approval to NASS

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Plateau chapter, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to promptly communicate his approval of the N30,000 minimum to the National Assembly.

    Mr Jibrin Banchir, its chairman, made the call on Tuesday in Jos, when members of the NLC staged a peaceful protest to seek a legal endorsement of the new minimum pay package.

    “It is pertinent for the President to send his approval to the National Assembly to ensure that the new minimum wage is legalised.

    “The approval of the increment cannot be implemented without being legalized. The President should do this without any hesitation,” he said.

    Read Also: Minimum wage: We have not declared strike, says NLC

    The chairman regretted that the fight for better wages had been on for four years, pointing out that workers in Ghana had their wages increased without such hassles.

    The workers held various placards with inscriptions such as “N30,000 minimum wage is a right, pay it before elections or be voted out”, “we demand full implementation, we say no to percentage implementation”, among others.

    The workers took their protest to the Government House where the Plateau Deputy Governor, Soni Tyoden, commended them for the peaceful protest and expressed the state government’s readiness to pay the new amount.

    He, however, urged the workers to be orderly in their conduct and allow due process to prevail.

    NAN

  • Strike: Cleric pleads with FG, NLC to resolve problems

    The national chairman of the Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunna (JIBWIS) Shiek Muhammad Yahaya Jingir has appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and federal government to put the common men and country at heart and resolve the plans nation wide strike to avoids any suffering may cause to the peolpe in the country.

    Shiek Muhammad Yahaya Jingir made the appeal on Monday in Dutse the capital city of the state while fielding question to newsmen shortly after the closing of the National Camping and Appeal Fund Launching, Sheik Jingir pleaded with the NLC to rescind on their decision on embarking on a nation wide strike on 1, January 2019.

    The religious group leader maintain that the strike action may likely bring about more hardship than respite to the public.

    He said the NLC ought to have considered that many more Nigerians are not employed and are patiently praying hoping for their turn to come.

    According to him “I’m not saying that the labour union don’t have the right to demand for increase in workers salaries however they ought to also consider that many more Nigerians that have other rights in the system that are not employed are waiting patiently at home.”

    “Nigerians have the right for jobs from government but when that is not forthcoming they should look inward and create opportunities for themselves through farming that is currently one of the cardinal drive of the government”, he stated.

    Read Also: NLC to governors: include N30, 000 wage in your budgets

    The leader also charge the federal government to create the enabling environment for proper dialogue over the new minimum wage being advocated by the NLC and other Nigerians.

    He then called on the electorates to scrutinize those seeking for elective offices and settle for the ones that have the utmost fear of Allah, sincere and ‎committed to nation building than their selves.

    Commenting on the forth coming general election the cleric  called on Nigerians to vote in leaders and representatives that are reliable, responsible, courageous, trust worthy and God

    In his wards “Nigerians should elect credible leaders that can bring developments to your door steps, those that are not corrupt not those that can divide the nation’s resources, elect those that can fulfil their campaign promises, trust worthy, reliable and responsible as well as provide adequate security for the country”

     

  • Minimum wage: Organised Labour rejects FG’s technical committee

    Labour leaders have rejected plans by the Federal Government to set up another high-powered technical committee on the new national minimum wage.

    Leaders of the union comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the United Labour Congress (ULC) stated this in a communiqué jointly signed at the end of a national leadership meeting of organised labour in Nigeria.

    They dismissed the establishment of another committee in Lagos on Thursday as diversionary and delay tactics.

    They lamented almost two months after submission of the report by the national minimum wage tripartite committee, which included a draft bill, no bill has been submitted to the National Assembly for passage into law.

    NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said: “As far as we are concerned, all the issue has been addressed by the Tripartite Committee.

    “This one is a delay tactic by the Federal Government and it will not work”.

    ULC President Comrade Joe Ajaero said it is not the duty of the Federal Government to know how the states or private sector will implement the minimum wage.

    “Federal Government should allow the labour union in each state to discuss with their states government on how to start the implementation,” Ajaero said.

    They explained the Federal Government was expected to transmit the new national minimum wage bill to the national Assembly on or before the 31st of December 2018.

    They noted the Federal Government was planning to set up a high-powered technical committee, which they considered alien to the tripartite process and ILO convention on national minimum wage setting mechanism.

    They urged workers to be vigilant and prepared to campaign and vote against candidates and political parties not supportive of implementations of the new national minimum wage.

    TUC’s President Comrade Bobboi Kaigama said if government fails to transmit the bill to the National Assembly for implementation on or before 31st of December, labour will re-open the suspended strike.

    “Organised Labour will not guarantee industrial peace and harmony if after the 31st of December 2018, the draft bill is not transmitted to the national assembly,” he said.

     

  • NLC to place governors owing salaries, pensions on “watch list”

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is to liase with the International Trade Union Congress (ITUC) to place names of governors in the states where workers are being owed salaries and pensions for several months on a “watch list”.

    NAN reports that the ITUC is the world’s largest trade union federation.

    It was formed on Nov. 1, 2006, out of the merger of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and the World Confederation of Labour.

    Mr Ayuba Wabba, President of the NLC, made this known while addressing the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) at its 17th anniversary on Tuesday Abuja.

    He said that aside  “naming and shaming” these governors, the NLC would soon direct Nigeria workers to monitor various airports in the country to stop such governors who may have completed their term from fleeing the country

    “We will instruct workers at the nation’s airports to disallow and disgrace any governors trying to leave the country in order to enjoy themselves overseas.

    “We have issued statements to these governors owing salaries, informing them that they cannot go anywhere to enjoy the monies they have carted away.

    “They will be disgrace and chases away,” he said.

    He said: “instead of using the money to make life good and build the country for the good of everybody, a few elites will embezzle what is meant for all for their personal use.”

    Wabba however assured pensioners that the NLC would not relent it its effort to ensure the issue of minimum pension alongside the minimum wage, was addressed.

    He said that if the government must address the issue of pensioners, it must address the welfare of pensioners, this he said would ensure that workers desist from looting.

    Wabba commended President Muhammad Buhari for the payment of pensions arrears for the Nigeria Airways workers and the 33 per cent increment the pension.

    NAN

  • Buhari congratulates NLC President over ITUC election 

    President Muhammadu Buhari has rejoiced with President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Philibus Wabba, on his election as President of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the largest trade union federation in the world.

    The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, joined members of the NLC and all Nigerian workers in celebrating the election, which further signals the great work the union had been doing in ensuring the welfare of workers.

    As the first African to head the ITUC, President Buhari believed the labour leader will bring his wealth of experience in persuasion and negotiation to the new position, assuring him of the Federal Government’s support.

    He wished the NLC President a successful tenure.

  • No work, no pay: You are vindictive, NLC tells FG

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has accused the government of being vindictive in its application of Labour laws in the country insisting that Nigerian workers will not accept being turned into slaves in their own country as a result of government’s selective application of the laws.

    Labour said the decision by government to invoke the no work; no pay rule on striking workers was an attempt to intimidate workers into accepting unfriendly Labour practices, adding that the current struggle by the Academic Staff Union of Universities did not start today, while government has consistently failed to meet its own side of the bargain.

    It recalled that the government is still holding onto salaries of health workers for protesting government unfriendly practices and refusal to implement agreement with workers, adding that if government fails to meet its obligations, it has no moral right to enforce the no work no pay rule.

    The statement signed by the Acting President, Comrade Lawal Dutsinma reads: “The attention of the Nigeria Labour Congress has been drawn to a memo by the Federal Government dated November 29, 2018 directing all Vice Chancellors of Federal Universities to apply the “No Work… No Pay” rule. We understand that the Federal Government has since rescinded this order.

    “Nonetheless, Nigerian workers are concerned that for the umpteenth time, the Federal Government and many state governments have resorted to bullying and draconian threats in dealing with matters that strictly reside in the domain of industrial relations. This is truly sad, highly unfortunate and extremely provoking.

    “We recall that the current struggle by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for improved conditions of learning in our public universities is not the first time that the Federal Government is issuing the “No Work… No Pay” threat. During the last warning strike by the NLC on the new national minimum wage, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige issued a “No Work… No Pay” threat against workers.

    “Also, during the last nationwide strike action by health workers, the Federal Government did not only issue a “No Work… No Pay” threat, it went ahead to implement it. Till now, government still withholds about three months of salaries due to health workers.

    “The Nigeria Labour Congress considers the application of the “No Work… No Pay” rule as an autocratic attempt to cow workers into abandoning their legitimate demand for decent wages, conducive work spaces and social justice.

    “As far as we are concerned, government’s invocation of the ‘no work, no pay” clause in the Trade Disputes Act is selective, erroneous and hypocritical. As we speak, the Federal government and nearly all the states in Nigeria owe workers varying arrears of salaries, allowances, pension and gratuity – some running into years.

    “Yet, workers have continued to endure such profound neglect by political leaders elected to prioritize the welfare of citizens. Given the grand betrayal of workers by government, workers stand the higher moral ground to invoke a “No Pay… No Work” action.

    “Section 43 of the Trade Disputes Act of Nigeria has always been in our statutes, but successive governments had hardly ever invoked it to punish an already impoverished workforce. It is sad that the current government is making a lot of fuss on just one aspect of our laws while holding in contempt several provisions in our labour laws and even our constitution demanding just and humane treatment of workers.

    “It is important to reiterate that Nigerian workers will never accept slavery in their own country. The right to strike is both a human and trade union right protected by our laws and international conventions particularly ILO Convention 87.

    “It is the right to strike that distinguishes a worker from a slave. Do we need to remind government at all levels that Nigerian workers are worthy partners in nation building and not slaves? As a matter of fact, labour builds the commonwealth that political leaders and their cronies, more often than not, squander. It is, therefore, regrettable that government continues to behave as if Nigerian workers are slaves who have no rights or privileges to claim.

    “It is truly unfortunate that our political leaders act with a failed sense of history. On June 22, 1945, organized labour in Nigeria commenced a general strike action that shook the foundation of British colonialism in our country.

    “Not a few historians would argue that our journey to nationhood started with the strike action of June 1945 as millions of Nigerians from every part of the country for the first time in their lives rallied around a common cause.

    “Succinctly put, the 1945 general strike action was the foundation of Nigeria’s independence and sovereignty. It is therefore heart rending that latter day politicians would use the legitimate weapon of strike action to intimidate, hound and oppress the working class which sweat and blood procured the freedom we enjoy.

    “We warn government at all levels to desist from using the “No Work… No Pay” rule to shirk away from their responsibilities. We also demand immediate release of workers’ salaries withheld on the account of “No Work… No Pay” rule.

    “Also, we ask government to respect agreements it freely entered into with ASUU in order to restore normalcy and sanity to our public institutions of learning especially our universities. Our children have suffered enough already. Enough is enough”.

  • No work, no pay: You are vindictive, NLC tells FG

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has accused the government of being vindictive in its application of Labour laws in the country insisting that Nigerian workers will not accept being turned into slaves in their own country as a result of government’s selective application of the laws.

    Labour said the decision by government to invoke the no work, no pay rule on striking workers was an attempt to intimidate workers into accepting unfriendly Labour practices, adding that the current struggle by the Academic Staff Union of Universities did not start today, while government has consistently failed to meet its own side of the bargain.

    It recalled that the government is still holding onto salaries of health workers for protesting government unfriendly practices and refusal to implement agreement with workers, adding that if government fail to meet its obligations, it has no moral right to enforce the no work no pay rule.

    The statement signed by the Acting President, Comrade Lawal Dutsinma reads: “The attention of the Nigeria Labour Congress has been drawn to a memo by the Federal Government dated November 29, 2018 directing all Vice Chancellors of Federal Universities to apply the “No Work… No Pay” rule. We understand that the Federal Government has since rescinded this order.

    “Nonetheless, Nigerian workers are concerned that for the umpteenth time, the Federal Government and many state governments have resorted to bullying and draconian threats in dealing with matters that strictly reside in the domain of industrial relations. This is truly sad, highly unfortunate and extremely provoking.

    “We recall that the current struggle by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for improved conditions of learning in our public universities is not the first time that the Federal Government is issuing the “No Work… No Pay” threat. During the last warning strike by the NLC on the new national minimum wage, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige issued a “No Work… No Pay” threat against workers.

    “Also, during the last nationwide strike action by health workers, the Federal Government did not only issue a “No Work… No Pay” threat, it went ahead to implement it. Till now, government still withholds about three months of salaries due to health workers.

    Read Also: Why we are against privatisation, by NLC

    “The Nigeria Labour Congress considers the application of the “No Work… No Pay” rule as an autocratic attempt to cow workers into abandoning their legitimate demand for decent wages, conducive work spaces and social justice.

    “As far as we are concerned, government’s invocation of the ‘no work, no pay” clause in the Trade Disputes Act is selective, erroneous and hypocritical. As we speak, the Federal government and nearly all the states in Nigeria are owing workers varying arrears of salaries, allowances, pension and gratuity – some running into years.

    “Yet, workers have continued to endure such profound neglect by political leaders elected to prioritize the welfare of citizens. Given the grand betrayal of workers by government, workers stand the higher moral ground to invoke a “No Pay… No Work” action.

    “Section 43 of the Trade Disputes Act of Nigeria has always been in our statutes, but successive governments had hardly ever invoked it to punish an already impoverished workforce. It is sad that the current government is making a lot of fuss on just one aspect of our laws while holding in contempt several provisions in our labour laws and even our constitution demanding just and humane treatment of workers.

    “It is important to reiterate that Nigerian workers will never accept slavery in their own country. The right to strike is both a human and trade union right protected by our laws and international conventions particularly ILO Convention 87.

    “It is the right to strike that distinguishes a worker from a slave. Do we need to remind government at all levels that Nigerian workers are worthy partners in nation building and not slaves? As a matter of fact, labour builds the commonwealth that political leaders and their cronies, more often than not, squander. It is, therefore, regrettable that government continues to behave as if Nigerian workers are slaves who have no rights or privileges to claim.

    “It is truly unfortunate that our political leaders act with a failed sense of history. On June 22, 1945, organized labour in Nigeria commenced a general strike action that shook the foundation of British colonialism in our country.

    “Not a few historians would argue that our journey to nationhood started with the strike action of June 1945 as millions of Nigerians from every part of the country for the first time in their lives rallied around a common cause.

    “Succinctly put, the 1945 general strike action was the foundation of Nigeria’s independence and sovereignty. It is therefore heart rending that latter day politicians would use the legitimate weapon of strike action to intimidate, hound and oppress the working class which sweat and blood procured the freedom we enjoy.

    “We warn government at all levels to desist from using the “No Work… No Pay” rule to shirk away from their responsibilities. We also demand immediate release of workers’ salaries withheld on the account of “No Work… No Pay” rule.

    “Also, we ask government to respect agreements it freely entered into with ASUU in order to restore normalcy and sanity to our public institutions of learning especially our universities. Our children have suffered enough already. Enough is enough”.

  • Minimum wage: Our patience is running out, NLC tells Buhari

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) wants President Muhammadu Buhari to take urgent steps to address the lingering issue or the new national minimum wage by immediately forwarding an executive bill to the National Assembly to legalise the recommendation of the tripartite Committee.

    President of Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said Nigerian workers were running out of patience with the government over the delay and we’re getting more and more agitated.

    The National Minimum wage tripartite committee put in place by the President to review the current N18.000 Minimum wage had two weeks ago presented its report to the president recommending N30,000 as the national minimum wage,  but the Nigeria Governors Forum has said they can’t pay the figure presented by the committee.

    Speaking at the 2018 Harmattan School of the Congress in Abuja, Comrade Wabba said workers are running out of patience on the implementation of the new wage.

    He described as unfortunate the position being taken by some Governors who are saying they can’t pay the N30.000, but are spending billions of dollars in the name of security votes which they can’t account for.

    The NLC President dismissed claims that the implementation of the new national  Minimum wage would lead to inflation in the country, adding that when salaries of political Office holders was increased by 800 percent in 2008, it did not cause inflation, and  wander why just N30.000 for workers can cause inflation.

    “We don’t know why the president has not transmitted an executive bill, the report of the tripartite committee to the National Assembly for an enactment into law, because Workers patience is running out.

    “We have maintained that any governor that said he can’t pay the N30.000 should go to his state, gather workers and tell them they are spending billions of dollars in the name of security votes but once it comes to payment of N30.000 Minimum wage, they are saying workers are just 20 percent.

    “How can they say that because without workers which include health workers, police, army and others, most politicians can’t sleep. Minimum wage is not a favour but a right of a worker because the law states that after 30days, a labourer is worthy of his wage”.

     

  • Minimum wage: Governors creating anti Buhari sentiment – NLC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to be weary of state governors who are out to portray him as anti-workers and orchestrate an anti Buhari sentiment among Nigerian workers with their posture on the new national minimum wage.

    Two weeks after the tripartite Committee on the new national minimum wage submitted its report to the President recommending N30, 000 as the new national minimum wage, state governors met on Wednesday insisting that if they must implement the new National minimum wage, Organised labour must agree to downsizing of their workforce.

    Read Also:Governors: states can’t pay N30,000 minimum wage

    However, reacting to the position of the governors, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba said the position of the governors was an affront on Nigerian workers and an after-thought and has no place in the collective bargaining process.

    While asking the President to speedily present to the National Assembly the bill on the National Minimum Wage for appropriate amendment and implementation, Wabba asked workers and their families to be prepared to vote out governors and Parties that have displayed anti-workers tendencies.

    He reminded the governors that the Nigerian constitution recognises individual state government and not the Nigerian Governors Forum, adding that while he was confident that workers friendly governors will pay above the N30, 000 minimum wage, they should go back to their states and inform their workers that they cannot pay the new wage.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Organized Labour, the Working Class, Pensioners and their families have been drawn to a statement credited to the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, the Governor of Zamfara State threatening to sack workers on the account of the New National Minimum Wage of N30, 000.

    “It would interest Nigerians to know that the New National Minimum Wage of N30, 000 was a product of intense and robust negotiations at the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Negotiation Committee that lasted for one year between November 2017 to November 2018. At the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Negotiation Committee, State governments were represented by six states, one state from each of the six geo-political zones of Nigeria.

    “A letter was sent by the Tripartite Committee to every state to send in their memorandum as their input to the national minimum wage negotiations. It is on record that 21 States responded by sending memoranda with figures.

    “Subsequently, public hearings were conducted in each of the geo-political zones in the country. The State governments were all represented at the zonal hearings and made their input to discussions towards a new national minimum wage. The demand of organized labour was N66, 500. From the memoranda submitted to the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Negotiation Committee by State governments, there were proposals by some states to even pay higher than the negotiated national minimum wage of N30, 000.

    “After extended and extensive negotiations by the Tripartite Committee, a final compromise figure of N30, 000 was agreed by all the partners – Government, Organized Labour and Employers in the Private Sector. This agreement took on board prevailing economic indices and factors especially as outlined in Convention 131 and Recommendation 95 of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention on Criteria and Procedure for Collective Bargaining especially towards arriving at a National Minimum Wage for any country.

    “It was on the basis of this agreement that the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Negotiation Committee concluded its work and submitted its Report to Mr. President on the 6th of November, 2018. This ended the process of negotiations for a new national minimum wage for Nigerian workers.

    “The statement of Mr. Abdulaziz Yari purportedly for the Nigeria Governors Forum, one year after the inauguration of the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Negotiation Committee, is certainly an after-thought and has no place in the collective bargaining process. We understand that Mr. Yari Abdulaziz’s position is at the instance of a few anti-worker governors. We are not in any doubt that many worker-friendly governors are ready to pay even higher than the negotiated N30, 000 new national minimum wage.

    “In view of the foregoing, Organized Labour wishes to firmly reiterate its stand that the process of negotiation by the tripartite social partners for a new National Minimum Wage has ended and a new National Minimum Wage of N30, 000 has been agreed upon by government, labour and employers in the private sector.

    “The 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended) recognizes individual states in the Collective Bargaining Process NOT Nigeria Governors Forum. The states, like the other social partners, have already defended their positions during negotiations at the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Negotiation Committee vis-à-vis counter proposals.

    “The threat to sack workers is not new in the struggle for review of the national minimum wage in Nigeria. Therefore, the current one by the Governor of Zamfara State cannot be used to intimidate labour. The consequences of workers retrenchment are too grievous for any political office holder truly elected by the people to contemplate.

    “We propose that since a few political office holders are bent on enslaving Nigerian workers with peanuts mislabeled as salaries, we urge such elected public officials to subject their humungous salaries and allowances, reputed to be among the highest in the world, pro rata with the minimum wage they want to force down the throats of Nigerian workers. We, therefore, urge each State Governor to go to their respective states and inform workers and their families their individual position on the new national minimum wage of N30, 000.

    “Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari should desist from using the platform of the Nigeria Governors Forum to seek political relevance. His tactics of blackmail against workers is already time worn and the stench is already offensive.

    “The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Organized Labour urge workers to remain steadfast and firm on our rights to decent wages and improved living conditions. To the oppressors, we have only one answer for you – We will never sleep on our rights!

    “We hereby reiterate our directive to Nigerian workers to vote out any politician or political party that refuses to pay the new national minimum wage of N30, 000. We shall continue to consolidate our efforts to strengthen already existing platforms and structures to give teeth to our resolve to vote out anti-labour governors and politicians in the forthcoming 2019 general election.

    “Finally, organized labour and Nigerian workers call on President Muhammadu Buhari to be wary of some people, especially in the Nigeria Governors Forum because they are wont, for selfish and personal reasons, to present him as an anti-worker President and by extension orchestrate anti-Buhari sentiments in the populace. In light of this, we call on him to speedily present to the National Assembly the bill on the National Minimum Wage for appropriate amendment and implementation.”

     

  • NLC to Govt: We are workers, not slaves

    Says ‘we will not be intimidated’

     

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has accused the Minister of Labour, Senator Chris Ngige of feeding the public with half truth about the work of the tripartite Committee on the new National minimum wage and misleading the government into gagging workers and forcing them to become slaves rather than workers.

    Rising from its National Executive Council meeting in Abuja, the NLC said workers in the country will not be intimidated by any threat of no work no pay, pointing out that the government was trying to return the country to the dark days of the Abacha military regime and force workers not to protest against inhuman treatment by the government through non payment of salaries.

    The Congress accused the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige of trying to twist the truth by misinforming the public that the meeting of October 4 and 5, 2018 was inconclusive as the members of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage did not agree on a figure.

    They NEC which is the highest decision making organ of the NLC said the recent antics of Minister of Labour and Employment was anti-labour and anti-workers especially with regards to the Minister’s utterances which the it deemed as an act of bad faith intended to scuttle the work of the Committee on the new national minimum wage.

    It rejected and condemned the Minister’s claims in the media that negotiations are still ongoing on the issue of a New National Minimum Wage which implementation is already long overdue, adding that it was disturbed by government’s new offensive against Organized Labour and workers’ rights as contained in a report submitted to the Federal Executive Council by the Minister of Labour and Employment and on which Government has issued a White Paper.

    According to the NLC NEC, this latest posture by government as calculated to cow workers into submission as well as stop Labour from protesting against Government’s foot dragging on the new national minimum wage and an assault on workers with the “no work, no pay” clause in the Trade Disputes Act;

    The communique signed by the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and General Secretary, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson argued that fixing of tenure for workers holding union executive positions in contravention of the provisions of ILO Convention 87; and while the prohibition or exclusion of non-card carrying members of trade unions from leading or being part of negotiation delegations of trade unions reminiscent of the Abacha military era.

    It resolved to “organize a national day of mobilization and sensitization rallies for all workers to show their outrage and mourning in the 36 states of the federation and FCT on Tuesday, 30th October, 2018. The day will also be used to educate and sensitize Nigerians on the horrendous plight of workers and pensioners, the insensitivity and duplicity of Government on labour issues, and to protest the proposed obnoxious policies of government against Organized Labour;

    Read Also: Minimum Wage: Muslim Congress backs NLC

    ‘To hold joint organ meetings of the Central Working Committees (CWCs) of all the Labour Centres on November 2, 2018 for final preparations for a full engagement with Government on the national minimum wage and to commence an indefinite national strike and industrial actions from November 6, 2018; except government accepts and commences the process of perfecting the payment of N30,000 as the negotiated and compromise new national minimum wage before that date.

    The Congress asked Nigerians to start stocking food and other necessities of life as workers will ensure a total shutdown of the country, while condemning “government for its design/plan to clamp down on Labour via selective and erroneous invocation of the ‘no work, no pay” clause in the Trade Disputes Act, noting that the right to strike is both a human and trade union right and cannot be abridged as it is what distinguishes a worker from a slave; there is nothing new about this clause as it has been in our statutes for over forty years;

    “The NEC-in-session advised the government to look at the log in its eyes before picking out the speck in other people’s eyes. The NEC also demanded from government to uphold the principles of the rule of law, fairness, equity and justice by invoking “no pay, no work”;
    The Congress maintained that “the threat of no work… no pay will not deter it from embarking on strike when necessary as it has always complied with legal requirements precedent and will always comply with those requirements. The NEC-in-session urges Nigerian workers to disregard government’s directive on “no work, no pay” because workers are already being impoverished and being owed arrears of salaries;

    “The NEC observed that government’s designs to influence the tenure of union executives and membership of unions negotiating teams, constitute a direct interference in the internal affairs of the unions in direct contravention of the Articles 3, 4 and 8 of ILO Convention 87 (to which Nigeria is a signatory since 1960)

    It advised Government to shelve its White Paper or risk being reported to the ILO; pointing out that it Will not to be bound by the latest White Paper by government against labour as it is an illegality and a throwback to the dark days of fascism which Organized Labour successfully confronted.

    It stressed that “this communique serves as formal notice to government that the NLC will commence an indefinite national strike and industrial actions from November 6, 2018; except government accepts and commences the process of perfecting the payment of N30,000 as the negotiated and compromise new national minimum wage on or before that date.”