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Tag: Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)

  • ALTON: We’ll advise MTN to consider shutdown if…

    The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) says it will advise MTN Nigeria to consider preventive shutdown of network if its picketing by the organised labour leads to damage to telecoms facilities.

    The ALTON Chairman, Mr Gbenga Adebayo, said that the shutdown would be necessary to avoid damage to network.

    Adebayo made this known in a statement in Lagos.

    He said that damage to telecom facilities would lead to disruption of critical national security and economic services which could expose citizens to danger.

    “We hereby strongly request government and its law enforcement agencies to intervene expeditiously, otherwise the association will advise its member to consider preventive shutdown,’’ he said.

    Adebayo said that disruption of operations of MTN through the picketing by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) would lead to poor quality of services which would affect the country as a whole.

    “Members of ALTON are law-abiding organisations who are committed to best practices in all areas including labour-related matters.

    “Employees of our members are able to join or form associations and unions if they so desire.

    “However, the practice is that membership of associations and unions are voluntary, in line with fundamental human rights regarding freedom of association as guaranteed by the constitution.

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    “Individuals must not be compelled to join an association or union if they do not choose to do so,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NLC picketed MTN Nigeria on Monday and continued on Tuesday over alleged unfair labopir practices.

    The NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, told journalists during picketing of MTN Headquarters in Lagos that the organised labour would not tolerate deprivation or enslavement of the Nigerian worker.

    Wabba said that MTN Nigeria refused to adhere to labour rules and allow its workers to belong to unions.

    MTN, however, denied the allegations.

  • MTN shuts Maitama, Abuja office

    The MTN office in the Maitama District of Abuja, on Tuesday was under lock and key following the nationwide picketing of the company by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who visited the office, reports that it was locked with only policemen and other security personnel outside the gate.

    NAN reports that the picketing of MTN offices by NLC, which started on Monday, was in protest against non-unionisation of its workers.

    The leadership of the union and other members had barricaded the head office of the company in Lagos for about eight hours, preventing workers from carrying out their daily duties.

    A security man, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN in Abuja that there was a directive from the MTN headquarters in Lagos that all staff of the organisation should not come to work until further notice.

    “Maybe it is because of the protest by some people in our office in Lagos.

    “We were told to come to office but all other staff of the organisation were asked to stay at home till further notice, ‘’ he said.

    NAN reports that the protest in Lagos was led by the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba.

    “There are a lot of anti-labour practices by the company, which include denying the workers freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining,’’ Wabba said.

    At the time of filing the report, MTN offices in many states are still closed for business.

    Similar protests took place in Port Harcourt, Yenagoa, Kano, Ibadan and other cities on Monday.

  • MAN, DIBAN, others kick against 500 percent excise tariff increase

    Stakeholders in the manufacturing industry in the country Monday kicked against the proposed 500 per cent increase on excise tariff by the Federal Ministry of Finance.

    The stakeholders, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN), Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN), Association of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employers of Nigeria ( AFBTEN) and others opposed the proposed excise tariff’ hike in their separate submissions at a function of the Senate Committee on Finance.

    The Finance committee in line with resolution of the Senate organised a public hearing on “urgent need to review the excise tariff increment in order to save local distillers of beverages from looming extinction”.

    Read Also:NLC rejects 500 percent tariff on local alchohol

    The stakeholders at the hearing noted that the proposed policy recommended by the Tariff Technical Committee (TTC), would if allowed to be implemented, “affect manufacturers, producers, businesses and render millions of Nigerians jobless.”

    Chairman of DIBAN, Patrick Anegbe in his submission, lamented that if the policy was allowed to stand, N420billion worth of investments would be ruined aside over 250,000 workers who will be laid off.

    Comrade Mike Olanrewaju who represented the labour unions at the session, said the proposed 500% increase on excise tariff is suicidal and must not be allowed to be implemented.

    Olanrewaju noted that the proposed policy was dead on arrival since organized labour and other critical stakeholders were not consulted.

    He said, “One of the strategies expected  from  any responsible and responsive government in preventing crime and fighting poverty is job creation and not job losses through outrageous and outlandish tariff hike that would collapse industries and by extension  render millions of Nigerians jobless.

    “To us in the labour sector, we say capital no! to such tariff increase and if any increase is to be made at all, it should not be above one digit.

    “The proposed increase is counterproductive and would be resisted by all stakeholders because after Dunlop, Micheline and others, we don’t want any industry to collapse or relocate out of the country again.”

    Though the Director General of MAN, M. Segun Ajayi Kadiri in his own submission admitted that the Ministry of Finance and TTC consulted them before the proposed tariff hike, he noted that the rate agreed on the basis of revenue generation by government was not what the ministry eventually arrived at.

    Directed of Legal Services who represented the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, said the 500% excise tariff hike was agreed by all stakeholders before the ministry issued circular to that effect in February this year.

    “Protests and petitions trailing the circular since then from concerned stakeholders are to us, unfortunate,” she said.

    The committee told the stakeholders it looking into the policy by collaborating with the executive on the need to review the tariff downward.

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu who represented the Senate President, Bukola Saraki noted that “the major source of concern is the non-inclusion of primary stakeholders in the industry such as MAN, DIBAN in the consultation process that prompted the decision of the executive arm of government to increase the tariff rate of the affected products”.

  • June 12: Remove all obstacles to free, fair, credible elections – NLC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday asked the federal government to identify fully with the ideals and lessons of June 12 by removing all obstacles to free, fair and credible elections in the country.

    In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, President of Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba also wants the federal government to erect a cenotaph in honour of Nigerians and foreigners alike who participated in the June 12 struggle.

    The NLC said that beyond declaring June 12 as a national holiday, the government should do everything possible to institutionalise the lessons learnt from the June 12 experience.

    According to the congress, one of the “lesson of June 12 is our capacity as a people to organize free, fair and credible elections. The National Electoral Commission headed by Professor Humphrey Nwosu designed a very unique system of electioneering known as Option A4.

    “This dealt a mortal jab at numerous infractions in our electoral process. Nigerian workers expect that with the introduction of technology in our electoral process, elections in Nigeria should be freer, fairer and more credible than the June 12 outcome.

    “Unfortunately, this is not so as politicians have shown from their conduct in recent elections that violence, vote buying, fraud and abuse of the power of incumbency, and not the will of the electorate, are the most critical success factors in electoral contests.

    “There is more to June 12 than the symbolic commemorations. We urge the Federal Government to identify fully with the ideals and lessons of June 12 by removing all obstacles to free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.

    Read Also:June 12 annulment elite conspiracy, says Presidency

    “This can be best achieved by evolving the needed political will for the deepening of popular democracy and fully implementing the Justice Uwais Electoral Reform Report especially aspects that recommended the setting up of Election Offences Commission, representative cum non-partisan recruitment of INEC leadership and INEC unbundling for increased professionalism.

    “We also call on the government to also enforce relevant provisions in our Electoral Act that place a ceiling on political campaign financing and criminalize violence, vote buying and sundry fraudulent acts.”

    The statement reads: “The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on behalf of Nigerian workers celebrates and congratulates all Nigerians on the 25th Anniversary of the June 12, 1993 presidential election. President Muhammadu Buhari has already declared June 12 as a national holiday in commemoration of our democracy.

    “He has also conferred the highest honour in the land to the arrowhead of the June 12 struggle, Chief MKO Abiola. This confirms June 12 as a muster point of our democratic aspirations as one people united by the quest for wellbeing, dignity and prosperity.

    “We salute the working class, civil society activists, the trade unions, women and student groups for their roles and sacrifice in defending the sanctity of June 12 and enthroning our current democracy.

    “Nigerian workers celebrate not just the day – June 12 – but the ideals and the progressive credentials of the icons behind the day. The mast of Chief MKO Abiola’s campaign was “Hope 93”. The core of his campaign message was the promise to eradicate poverty.

    “Not a few political commentators believe that Chief Abiola’s towering image as a foremost international philanthropist and humanist rubbed a lot of credence on his promise of hope.

    “The results of June 12, 1993 elections showed clearly that Chief MKO Abiola’s personality and promise of poverty eradication united millions of Nigerians who defied religious and ethnic boundaries to elect him as the President of the aborted Third Republic.

    “Out of the then 30 states, Chief Abiola won 19 states. A significant feat of great political value was that Chief Abiola won at least a state in all the geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

    “Though from Ogun State in Southern Nigeria, Chief Abiola defeated his only rival, Alhaji Bashir Tofa, in both his ward and in his home state of Kano State. Such a feat has never been recorded in Nigeria’s political history. June 12 was simply epochal.

    “When the June 12, 1993 elections was annulled by the military junta led by General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, it was like dusk at sun rise. Nigerians from all walks of life were united in condemning the annulment and demanding the inauguration of Chief MKO Abiola as the President of the Federal Republic.

    “Perhaps, apart from Labour’s struggle against neo-liberal tendencies of successive governments, no other struggle has resonated with Nigerians as the June 12 struggle. For this reason, at an occasion like this, we must all be sobered and tempered by the ideals and lessons of June 12.

    “The first lesson of June 12, is the capacity of our people to rise above ethnic and religious sentiments to recruit political leadership solely on the basis of antecedence, performance and ability to deliver desired developmental goals. This credits our ability as a people to build a modern nation state.

    “The fact that Chief MKO Abiola and his running mate, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe; both Muslims, enjoyed popular acceptance across the geo-political zones of Nigeria deals a cruel blow on the aspirations of many politicians of today to acquire political capital on ethnic and religious premise.

    “Abiola’s politics had content – freedom from poverty. He walked the talk. Nigerians trusted him with their votes. We can hardly say the same of today’s politician who though adorned in the garb of ethno-religious pretensions yet impoverishes the rest of us with mindless looting and dubious perks of office.

    “The second lesson of June 12 is that of the nobility of democratic values and struggles. June 12 represents the struggle for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria. June 12 also epitomizes the values of freedom, respect for the rule of law and social justice for all.

    “June 12 teaches us that there is lasting reward for every genuine effort to dare injustice. Chief MKO Abiola did not give up on the mandate freely given to him by Nigerians. He dared. Today, he has truly won.

    “We can say the same of other Nigerians such as the legendary Senior Advocate of the Masses, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, who was mercurial in his fight for democratic rights. There is also the slain wife of Chief Abiola, Alhaji Kudirat Abiola, who soldiered on like a true amazon behind her persuasion on the sanctity of June 12, and amidst very horrifying odds.

    “The 25th Anniversary of June 12 grants us a good space to reflect on our role as organized labour in the promotion and defense of democracy in Nigeria. The Nigeria Labour Congress was proscribed by the military dictatorship of General Sani Abacha on the account of our principled rejection of the annulment of June 12.

    “Many of our comrades and labour leaders suffered extreme persecution in the hands of the state because of their persuasion on Jun 12.  Comrade Frank Kokori was incarcerated in Bama Prisons on the account of June 12. Space will fail us to list the names of labour leaders, academics, activists and other patriotic Nigerians including NADECO leaders who were tortured, imprisoned, exiled or even killed because of June 12.

    “The NLC has consolidated these efforts by championing national campaigns for electoral reforms. The most prominent milestone of our modest strive are fruits from Justice Uwais Electoral Reform Committee, which NLC was part of. We are also making efforts to reposition the Labour Party. As we said at the 2018 May Day celebration, Nigerian workers will continue to dare and to win.

    “Nigerian workers enjoin the Federal Government to honour Nigerians and even foreigners who suffered enormous discomfort, endured state persecution and even paid the supreme price on the account of their unwavering commitment to the June 12 struggle.

    “Like we admonished in our earlier press statement commending the government of President Muhammadu Buhari for the recent honor done to the memory of Chief MKO Abiola, we restate our appeal that a June 12 Cenotaph be erected in the honour of heroes, heroines and icons of the June 12 struggle.”

  • FG working to proscribe NLC – Wabba

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has reported the Nigerian government to the International Labour Organisation, accusing the government of working through the back door to proscribe the Congress and undermine collective labour relations in the country.

    President of the Nigeria Labour Congress and representative of workers on the Governing Board of the ILO, Comrade Ayuba Wabba told the Committee on Application of Standard that the government has forwarded a new bill to the National Assembly which will distort the nation’s industrial relations landscape.

    The NLC also reported the Kaduna and Kogi state governments to the World Labour body over total disregard for the principle of collective bargaining which constitutes violations of ILO convention 98 for sacking workers indiscriminately and refusal tom pay salary of workers.

    Wabba told the Committee which meets to review industrial relations in member countries that part of the bill sent to the nation’s parliament seeks to proscribe the NLC if it fails to amend its constitution to conform to the bill two years after being passed into law.

    He said: “A new version of the Collective Labour Relations Bill is not a product of consultation and largely different from the one we have made inputs to some years ago. Strangely, this new version was to be surreptitiously passed into law, but for our vigilance and the candor of the parliament to undertake due diligence.

    “Evidence of our claim that the intentions of the amendment were to undermine trade unions and unnecessarily distort our industrial relations landscape and temperature can be seen in one of the portions of this new bill which says “if after two years of commencement of the application of this Act, and the Nigeria Labour Congress has not amended her constitution to conform to this Act, it shall stand proscribed”.

    Read Also:Democracy without equity, justice is beggarly democracy – NLC

    He said further that “the mention of the name of our organisation in a draft proposal for amendment betrayed the undisguised malicious intention of the amendment.”

    The NLC President maintained that “interference in collective negotiation process in the private sector has been a cause of worry to the Committee since 2009. The government continues to claim that sectorial collective bargaining agreement must have its blessing before it becomes implementable so that there is no “undue economic disruption” and so it has benchmarks for wages. This clearly contradict Article 4 of this Convention for which the Committee has sharply pointed in this report being discussed by this Conference Committee.

    “The Collective Labour Relations Bill the Committee of Experts refers to started over 10 year ago. Still, no end in sight. Aside the process being very slow and delayed, the intention of government with respect to the review and amendments are giving us cause for concerns.

    “As against the advice of the Committee of experts to bring labour laws in conformity with the Convention, we can report that, sadly, this is not the case at present. Rather, the government is seeking to use the process to weaken and destroy trade unions and at the same time claiming to expand “freedom of association and volunteerism”.

    He also said “few days ago, another infraction to this convention was committed by the Ministry of Labour. The Minister was reported in some national dailies as saying that workers should not expect the National Minimum (still under discussion) to be finalised by September. When the minimum wage negotiation started, it was agreed by all partners that it will terminate with an outcome in September. The Minister is thus unilaterally determining the negotiation outcome.

    “We ask that this Committee call on the Nigerian government to allow for genuine and good faith engineering of the intended reforms of the labour laws so as to bring them in conformity to the provisions of this convention. We also pray this Committee to ensure that the Nigerian government work genuinely with the High Level Mission that the Committee of Experts has severally proposed, which we know will benefit Nigeria, her industrial relations practices and ultimately, her economy”.

    Turning to the issue of Kaduna and Kogi states, the NLC President said “In 2017, the government of Kaduna State, Northwest Nigeria, sacked with a slant of disingenuous manner 38,000 workers comprising of 22,000 teachers, about 5,000 Local government Councils, and over 8,000 from ministries, departments, agencies, as well as those in the tertiary institutions under the guise of a vague reform.

    “The sack was carried out without recourse to respect and consideration for established rules in handling such process, including the provisions in the existing public sector collective bargaining procedures. The Nigeria Labour Congress officially reported this violation to the Ministry of Labour.

    “We wish to report that the disregard for collective bargaining extant laws and practices was total. For instance, the Nigeria Union of Teachers challenged this illegal sack in court and got a restraining order that the proposed sack should be put on hold until the substantive suit is decided. The court order was blatantly disregarded and disobeyed by the state government.

    He accused the Kaduna state government of also violating section 16(A) of the Trade Union Act, by withholding seven months deductions to all the unions, while also going ahead to stop such deductions through a government circular.

    “In Kogi State, North-central Nigeria, the government is refusing to abide by collective bargaining agreement concerning the payment and protection of wages. Workers and pensioners in that state are owed over 7 months salaries and pension benefits. This is in spite of repeated genuine efforts by the Federal Government to ameliorate this problem through the granting, three times, of financial bailout to all the affected states.

    “In July 2017, the Kogi state government rather than negotiate with the teaching staff in the tertiary institutions in the state, it illegally proscribed and confiscated the assets of the affected unions. These actions are also violations of section 40 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, which was equivocal that “all persons shall not only be free to assemble and associate, but in particular, shall freely form or belong to trade unions and other associations for the protection of their interests”.

  • Kebbi pays N9bn pension, gratuities to 3,500 retirees

    The Kebbi Government said it has paid over N9 billion as pension and gratuities to over 3, 500 retirees in the state. The state governor, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, disclosed this on Tuesday at the May Day 2018 celebration organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ) in Birnin Kebbi.

    “From our inception to date, we have made payment to over 3,500 retirees whose entitlements ranged from N500, 000 downwards,’’ he said.

    Bagudu assured the organised labour that the government would strive to do more to improve the standard of living of workers in the state.

    “The government and labour unions will work closely together to ensure that petty traders and commodity sellers were carried along for proper and holistic integration and engagement,’’ he said.

    The governor commended the organised labour in the state for their unflinching support to the government.

    Earlier, the State Chairman of the NLC, Alhaji Umar Halidu, appealed to the state government to review pensioners’ entitlement to reflect increment of regular workers’ salaries that had taken place in the past, especially for 2012 and 2013 retirees.

    “We also urge the government to restore the payment of annual increment, which was not being enjoyed for the last eight years by all categories of workers,’’ he said.

    Halidu also called for the provision of staff quarters for primary school teachers, especially in the rural areas, to boost the morale of teachers posted to such areas.

    “This will encourage teaching as a profession,’’ he said.

    The theme of this year’s celebration is “Labour Movement in National Development: Dare to Struggle, Dare to Win.’’

    In Kogi, workers have appealed to the state government to improve on the welfare of workers, in addition to ensuring prompt payment of salaries owed them.

    Read Also: Kebbi releases N51m for rehabilitation of VVF centre

    The workers made the call in separate interviews with the newsmen in Lokoja on Tuesday.

    Mr Jubril Mohammed said the salary of civil servants in the state was poor and could not take them anywhere, especially with the economic situation.

    He implored the government to accord top priority to workers’ welfare because most of them don’t have any other source of income all they depend on is the salary.

    Dr Yinka Adebola, a medical doctor, said the way doctors are being treated is like they are doing them favour because government doesn’t pay their salaries on time and also other allowances.

    “Our salary is very low compare to the risk we face every day at the hospital because some of us get infected and some lost their life in the process of saving patient.

    Adebola pleaded with the government to pay more attention to workers’ welfare by increasing the minimum wage and also ensuring prompt payment of salary and allowances.

    NAN

  • Workers’ Day: NANS urges FG, states to implement new minimum wage

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the Federal and State Governments to urgently implement the new minimum wage as the present N18,000 was “grossly insufficient for any worker.’’

    NANS Public Relations Officer (PRO), Bestman Okereafor, made the call in a statement made available to the News Men on Tuesday in Enugu.

    Okereafor said that the leadership of NANS was joining millions of Nigerian workers in solidarity as they celebrate this year’s workers’ day.

    According to him, NANS appreciates the positive impacts of Nigerian workers and their contributions to the nation building.

    “In lieu of this we are joining our voice with the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to demand for the implementation of a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers considering the economic situation in the country.

    “It is clear and obvious that N18,000 is insufficient to meet the present economic demands of a Nigerian worker.

    “It is noted that workers, who create wealth for a nation, must be adequately taken care of as this will equally go a long way in curtailing corruption in our beloved country.

    “NANS is finally calling on Nigerian workers to remain steadfast and committed to the service to humanity and father land,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Labour seek new approach to security challenges

    Organised Labour which is made up of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa state, Prof. Onje Gyewado wants a change of approach to the fight against insurgents in the country, saying there can be no development in the country if the current wave of insecurity in the land is allowed to continue unabated.

    Specifically, Prof. Gyewado who is a professor of Law with the University of Jos wants the government to criminalize the current mass killings across the country, while those responsible should be treated as criminals if the killings must stop.

    Speaking at the Pre-May day lecture in Abuja, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said it was just not enough to condemn the killings going on across the country without any concrete step being taken to bring to book all those responsible for the actions.

    Wabba said the government need to adopt a new approach to the issue as it was scaring away potential investors from the country.

    He said: “There is no development that can make any impact if, as a nation, the life of any citizen is being threatened or where the continuous shedding of innocent blood will continue unabated. I just read this morning that in three months, 136 lives were lost in Zamfara.

    “The case of Benue and other states across the country is something that is known to us. The primary purpose of governance is first the security of the people. Why appreciating whatever our armed forces and police have been able to do, I think more need to be done because the safety of every citizen is very important.

    “As we celebrate this May Day, we call on all relevant agencies to be mindful of what is happening in terms of the security of the citizens. No complain or condemnation will be enough.

    “What is required is a new approach and action that will bring the issues to an end. That is what will make Nigerians happy and bring about people that would want to invest in our country. The story outside the country is that every day, people are being killed and that nothing is going to happen. So, for us to prepare very veritable ground for investors to come in and for the country to continue to develop, the issue of security must be taken seriously.”

    Delivering a paper entitled “Labour and national development: not cowards, not traitors”, Prof. Gyewado challenged organised Labour to rise up to the challenge fed posed by the current security challenges in the country and take a definite stand.

    He said: “the Nigerian state is highly militarized. Our constitution provides that the military shall provide assistance to civil authority. But they are not providing assistance to civil authority now because they are now in it, the first line of action should be the police and civil defense.

    “But there is no zone now that there is no military establishment. It is not good for the psyche of a democratic nation. We must find a way of providing the basis to curtail this situation.

    “As Labour interrogate this challenge, I think that our attitude should be that if we don’t want to declare Boko Haram as insurgents, if we don’t what to declare whoever is marauding as killers as murderers, then we have a challenge. We now need.

    “More than ever before to isolate these areas and say anybody who is involved in this is a criminal and should be treated as a criminal. If you use insurgency, it has implication in international relations and so, we must criminalist these activities because if we don’t, the government lacks the capacity to negotiate.

    “I remember that the Borno Elders Forum were always complaining that you can’t continue to kill our children and yet won’t offer any solution and yet won’t bring them for negotiation, at which point can you negotiate or play love game with those who are causing us immeasurable damages and loss of lives. Injury to one is injury to all.

    “So, for those of us who are parents, we must feel the pain of the insecurity in this country and Labour must take a definite position on this. We must take our stand because we are the only dispassionate group and are not concerned about emotive things.”

    Prof. Gyewado said one of the biggest problem we have in our security architecture is lack of synergy among the various security outfit, saying “they are in competition with themselves against this country because they are not working for this country.”

    He said that the struggle of organised Labour is to reposition Nigeria and this has come over time, right from the colonial time, adding that “Over 70 percent of those in governance are not ready for governance. We do not understand what the issues are and by the time you want to tell a story, they perceived it as if you are coming from a foreign land. I do know that as unions, we do not want to go outside our regimes. I have been there and so. I also take responsibility of some of the policies that has affected our Labour.

    Labour, he said must continue to be the vanguard of the struggle. It is organised Labour that can co tenure to play that role and we won’t have challenges because it is already intrinsic in Labour to continue to show leadership.

    Read Also: New minimum wage: States must pay, says Labour

  • Senate invasion, injury to Nigeria’s democracy – Aremu

    A NEC Member of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Issa Aremu has condemned the invasion of the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly and disruption of the Senate plenary by unknown persons on Wednesday.

    Comrade Aremu said “an injury to the National Assembly is an injury to the nation’s democracy” adding that the “Federal government probe of the invasion should be prompt and conclusive with the objective of prevention of future acts”.

    The labour leader said the unfortunate senate event was a rude awakening to all for good governance with respect to security of lives and property as contained in 1999 constitution.

    Comrade Aremu said what the Senate just witnessed had been “the routine lots of many defenseless Nigerians” who are daily physically assaulted by criminals in homes, on the roads and in their communities.

    He said while nothing could justify thuggery at the Senate, the leadership of the National Assembly must also stop criminalizing dissenting views of democratically elected members.

    “The serial suspension of any members of the hallowed Chambers who hold contrary views amounts to legislative dictatorship which is also unacceptable in a democracy” he observed.

    Democracy is about cooperation as much as contestation and the National Assembly is the true symbol of both, he said.

    He however said that, the mass condemnation of the senate invasion was an indication that,  “there is a national consensus that democracy despite some of its shortcomings remains the best form of good governance and development for Nigeria.”

    Read Also: Invasion: Senate summons IGP, DSS DG

  • Kaduna secondary school teachers to write competence test soon – El-Rufai

    Governor Nasir el-Rufa’i of Kaduna state has disclosed that Competency tests for secondary school teachers will soon be conducted across the state to separate the incompetent ones from those that are competent. 

    Kaduna state government conducted similar test for the over 30,000 primary school teachers in the state last year, following which 21,780 that failed to obtain 70% pass mark were sacked and replaced with newly recruited 25,000 teachers. 

    Speaking on Sunday on his twitter handle, @GovKaduna, monitored in Kaduna, el-Rufai noted that the state is committed to restoring the integrity of the teaching profession. 

    He also revealed that the state government has decided to pay urban teachers in the state 27.5% higher than average civil servants, while rural teachers will earn 32.5% higher than their other civil service colleagues to attract the best to the teaching profession. 

    “We are doing our best to restore the integrity of the teaching profession. We have finished tests for primary school teachers and we are going to administer competency tests for secondary school teachers.”

    The competency test for primary school teachers and subsequent sack of those that failed the test caused lot of brouhaha with the Nigeria Union of Teachers ( NUT ) and the umbrella body for workers, Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ) taking umbrage at what they referred to as unfair treatment of teachers.

    Despite the unions embarking on protest after which they took legal action, the state government stuck by its gun and followed through with its decision. This latest step, if taken, may cause further uproar in the state.