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Tag: Nigeria Labour Congress

  • Maina: Buhari must be decisive on corruption – NLC

    Maina: Buhari must be decisive on corruption – NLC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) wants President Muhammadu Buhari to be more decisive in the ongoing fight against corruption while asking for full investigations into the controversial reinstatement and posting of Abdullahi Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms.

    Mr. Maina was accused of diverting several billions of pension funds after being investigated by a Senate committee and declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after absconding from duty and was dismissed in accordance with civil service rules.

    But an online newspaper recently reported his recall and appointment as a Director in the Ministry of Interior, while alleging that the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahaman Danbazzau and his Justice counterpart, Ibrahim Malamud were behind the recall.

    However, while denying complicity in the recall and promotion of Maina, Danbazzau confirmed that the wanted civil servant who is believed to have been taking refuge in a foreign country has been posted to the Ministry as Acting Director in charge of Human Resources and has since reported for duty.

    Following public outcry, however, the President, according to his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina has ordered his immediate disengagement from service and a full report on the circumstances surrounding his recall.

    President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba said in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja that the recall of Maina was an insult on Nigerians and the height of arrogance and Impunity.

    While commending the President for the directive, Wabba said Maina had the opportunity to defend himself and clear his name either before the Senate committee that investigated him off before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission but choose to run away and take refuge in a foreign land.

    The statement reads: “We at the Nigeria Labour Congress commend the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari ordering the immediate disengagement from service of Mr Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina, former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Force.

    “The manner of Mr Maina’s re-engagement and posting as Director to the Ministry of Interior is an affront to law and procedure; an insult to Nigerians; and a mockery of Mr President’s fight against corruption. Indeed it is the height of arrogance and impunity.

    Except those involved in the Maina Gate, every other person in Nigeria was aware of the report of the Senate after a painstaking investigation; the refusal of Maina to avail himself to the Senate or the EFCC; his being declared wanted by the EFCC; his taking refuge in the corridors of power then (complete with a retinue of armed personnel) before his subsequent abscondment to a foreign country when power changed hands.

    “Maina had all the opportunity to clear his name in court if he felt the Senate and EFCC were biased against him. But he did not none of this. Instead, he and his co-conspirators in the new corridors of power elected to do the unthinkable, promote and post him because they think we Nigerians have forgotten. It is sickening. It stinks to high heavens.

    “As a follow-up action to Mr President’s directive, we at the Nigeria Labour Congress demand a full investigation of the circumstances that led to Maina’s flight and reinstatement; and prosecution on allegations of corruption.
    “Mr President must firmly put his foot down, else some people will rubbish all that he has ever been known for”.

  • States to get fresh Paris Club bailout after NEC meeting

    States to get fresh Paris Club bailout after NEC meeting

    It is only a matter of time before the governors of the 36 states receive the third tranche of the Paris Club loan refunds.

    The National Economic Council (NEC) is expected to give the go-ahead for the release of the refunds at its next meeting, The Nation gathered on Friday.

    When the meeting comes up, was unknown last night.

    Much of the money, like the earlier refunds, is expected to be spent in settling accumulated salaries and pensions/gratuities.

    The NEC is headed by the Vice President and has state governors, the Central Bank Governor and other key economic players as members.

    Ahead of the meeting, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) wants President Muhammadu Buhari to go beyond lamenting the plight of workers in the various states following the non-payment of salaries in some of the states despite the release of the two earlier Paris Club loan refunds.

    Congress President Ayuba Wabara said Buhari should order the law enforcement agencies to probe the use to which the governors put the funds to.

    Buhari, meeting with a delegation of the governors earlier in the week, wondered how some of them were able to sleep at a time they could not pay their workers who end up unable to meet their financial obligations to their families.

    The governors’ delegation, at the meeting, asked for the release of the balance of the refunds.

    Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State said on Wednesday that the fact that the governors met Buhari to ask for the money did not mean they were begging for anything.

    “Don’t forget, this is money that belongs to us,” he told reporters in Abuja.

    He added: “We are not begging for anything, but demanding what belongs to us and that it should be paid to us.”

    Sources told The Nation on Friday that the release of the next tranche of the refunds is likely to come with conditions to ensure that workers’ plight is reduced.

    One source said the states “have to show commitment to use the funds for the purposes they are meant.”

    There are allegations that some of the state governors diverted the money to other areas.

    The result is that some states are still owing salaries and pensions/gratuities.

    Speaking to The Nation in Abuja on the issue, NLC President Ayuba Wabba said the states should give an account of how they disbursed the previous releases to them.

    Wabba said the non-payment of salaries by some governors was not because of the lack of funds, but an indication of lack of good governance, accountability and transparency.

    He said: “It is unfortunate that despite the Paris Club refunds given to the states, some of them have not justified the utilization of the funds.

    “Before the last tranche was given, there was a template and a commitment by the governors to utilize the money to try and defray these liabilities.

    “ Going forward, I think the Federal Ministry of Finance should look at whether those commitments that were made have been fulfilled.

    “Part of the way forward also is to try and institute good governance, transparency and accountability at all levels.

    “Once we have that, those problems can be addressed because it has proven very clearly that the non-payment of salaries, pension and liabilities of workers is not specifically about lack of resources. It is also about priority and commitment to doing what is obvious.

    “From our analogy, we have seen states with little resources paying as and when due and they don’t have problems. Yet, there are states that are receiving as much as possible and have liabilities.

    “You can situate this within the context of what is happening in the country where our political elites spend fortunes on birthday alone and yet cannot lay salaries in their states.

    “Therefore, I think that despite being a different tier of government, there is a way we can try and get those records because it is about transparency, accountability and getting your priorities right. We should try and do a process of verification to know whether or not, the commitment that was made earlier has been followed to the later and that should be the basis on which those funds can be released.

    “Although strictly speaking, when you look at the present situation, there is the tendency for them to argue that it is their money and we must give them their money.

    “But in the context of good governance, the Presidency has an overall responsibility to uphold the primary purpose of governance which is the security and welfare of the people.

    “It is a constitutional provision that the primary purpose of governance is security and welfare of the people and once you cannot take care of the security and welfare of the people, there will be social instability and a lot of other things can follow, such as extreme poverty which we are now trying to address.

    However, Odilim Enwegbara, a development economist and financial expert has a different view of the situation.

    He said: “the states are the federating units so they are quasi-independent of the federal government.

    “For this reason, they are never accountable to the federal government or to federal lawmakers, but rather to their  houses of assembly.”

    Continuing, he said: “since what they’re requesting from the president isn’t a federal loan, I can’t understand why they should have the federal government dictate to them how they should spend their money.

    “Let their own state lawmakers with such mandate to scrutinize them be the ones coming up with how the governors should and on what the money should be spent on.”

  • Probe Govs’ spending of Paris club refund – NLC tells Buhari

    Probe Govs’ spending of Paris club refund – NLC tells Buhari

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said that President Muhammadu Buhari should go beyond lamenting the plight of workers in the various states of the federation and order the anti-graft agencies to investigate the use of anti-graft fund and the Paris Club refund before the last tranche of the refund is released to the states.

    President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba told The Nation that giving more money to the states when they have not accounted for the ones earlier release to them, or utilize the money for the purpose it was meant for is synonymous with not addressing the problem facing workers.

    Wabba said the non-payment of salaries by state governor is not because of the lack of funds, but due largely to lack of good governance, accountability and transparency, pointing out that constitutionally, the purpose of government was to ensure the security and welfare of the people.

    At a meeting with representatives of the governors at the Presidential Villa, President Buhari had asked the governors “how can anyone go to bed and sleep soundly when workers have not been paid their salaries for months. I actually wonder how the workers feed their families, pay their rent and even pay school fees for their children.”

    But Bauchi state governor, Barrister Mohammed Abubakar who was part of the meeting with the President told newsmen at the APC secretariat that the President did not indict any of the governor’s since they have utilized the intervention from the federal government judiciously.

    Read: Senate to review release of Paris Club refunds to governors

    On the Paris club refund which the governors are asking the government to release to them, he said “don’t forget, this is money that belongs to us. We are not begging for anything, but demanding what belongs to us and that it Shula be paid to us.”

    However, Labour is insisting that the governors should be made to account for the bailout fund and the fiery two tranches of the Paris Club refund before the last tranche is released to them, adding that the governors have not made good their promise to utilize the money to pay salaries, pensions and other liabilities of workers.

    He said: “It is unfortunate that despite the resources such Paris club refund and bailout that has been given to the states, some of them have not justified the utilization of those funds. That is why the problem of payment of salaries, pension and gratuity has remained a challenge.

    “Before the last tranche was given, there was a template and a commitment by the governors to utilize the money to try and defray these liabilities. Going forward, I think the Federal Ministry of Finance should look at whether those commitments that were made have been fulfilled.

    “Part of the way forward also is to try and institute good governance, transparency and accountability at all levels. Once we have that, those problems can be addressed because it has proven very clearly that the none payment of salaries, pension and liabilities of workers is not specifically about lack of resources. It is also about priority and commitment to doing what is obvious.

    “From our analogy, we have seen states with little resources paying as and when due and they don’t have problems. Yet, there are states that are receiving as much as possible and have liabilities.

    “You can situate this within the context of what is happening in the country where our political elites spend fortunes on birthday alone and yet cannot lay salaries in their states. People are busy erecting statutes of foreign leaders worth several millions of naira and yet cannot pay salaries and pension in their states. So, it is about priority.

    “Therefore, I think that despite being a different tier of government, there is a way we can try and get those records because it is about transparency, accountability and getting your priorities right. We should try and do a process of verification to know whether or not, the commitment that was made earlier has been followed to the later and that should be the basis for which those funds can be released.

    “Although strictly speaking, when you look at the present situation, there is the tendencies for them to argue that it is their money and must be given them their money. But in the context of good governance, the Presidency has an overall responsibility to uphold the primary purpose of governance which is the security and welfare of the people.

    Read: APC to PDP: deliberate falsehood ‘ll not give you victory in 2019

    “It is a constitutional provision that the primary purpose of governance is security and welfare of the people and once you cannot take care of the security and welfare of the people, there will be social instability and a lot of other things can follow, such as extreme poverty which we are now trying to address.

    “There is a category of pensioners that has not been paid for a period of between 5 and 21 months like in states like Kogi. They have been put in a precarious situation. They cannot send their children to school like the President has said, she cannot even feed their family and has caused social instability within those families and therefore, many things can happen.

    “Our recommendation is that, yes, the federal government has done its best by trying to look at the problem, but it is like those governors who are not paying are not looking at the issue as a major national problem so, we should try to put in place some processes of check and balances.

    “We have seen a lot of reports on the social media on how these monies have been diverted even though that has not confirmed yet. If it is true that these monies have been diverted as being speculated, we should try and follow it up and ensure that the process of recovery takes place.

    “More importantly too, we should try and safely guide the diversion of these monies. This can happen if we have a tripartite committee in place. In some states, such committee has been put in place comprising organised Labour, anti-graft and security agencies and they function to ensure that the money is judiciously utilized.

    Read: Governors demand payment of Paris club refund balance

    “In some states, even to divulge the information was not possible and Kogi is one example. Our union wrote to the government, but nobody was willing to give any information on the utilization of either the bailout or the Paris Club refund because there was a commitment for them to use those funds to defray salaries.

    “If it is done transparently, people can follow the process and even if the money is not enough, people will understand and know that the money is not enough. Beside those refunds, you know that the monthly allocations have been coming.

    “But I think that it goes beyond requesting for money. It is certainly an issue of governance which we need to revisit. Going forward, fighting corruption must be across the board and across the three tiers of government. That is the only way it will succeed.

    “Workers and pensioners will understand the meaning of fighting corruption better if they are paid because if they are on empty stomach, it will tempting for somebody to do the obvious.

    “These are the real issues and we need to do a rethink and review the process of what went wrong despite those resources that have been given and how do we address the situation. I think that will be helpful. Giving more money and the problem still there means that we have not been able to bring everybody on board and for those states that are not paying to understand the importance of such an issue.”

    Read Also: NLC suspends strike in Zamfara

  • Benue labour calls off strike

    Benue labour calls off strike

    The Organized Labour in Benue state has called off its strike.

    In the agreement reached with the government, two months salaries would be paid to Benue workers between Thursday and Friday this week.

    According to a communiqué read by the General Secretary of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Dr. Peter Oso’eson before journalist at the banquet hall of Government House Makurdi late on Tuesday, the strike will be called off today (Wednesday).
    Details shortly…
  • NLC pickets agencies, multinationals over anti-labour practices

    NLC pickets agencies, multinationals over anti-labour practices

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Friday picketed the Abuja corporate headquarters of telecommunication giant, MTN Nigeria and the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) over anti-Labour practices, accusing the two organizations of subjecting workers to slave Labour.

    President of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba who led the picketing said it was part of activities marking the international day for decent work, set aside by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to advance Issues of decent work, issues of occupational health and safety, better conditions of service, and minimum wage Wabba said every worker is entitled to better working conditions, accusing the telecommunication company of regularly renewing employment contract with its workers as a way of shying away from the respiratory similitude of paying gratuity and pension to them.

    At the AEPB, Wabba said: “We have identified two organisation’s, Abuja Environmental Protection Board where casualization has been on and workers have been denied the rights to unionise among other issues.

    Secondly is the notorious MTN which all of us are aware of. Every three months they sack the workers and give them a new contract. This is not acceptable, our laws do not accept that, and those workers need to be liberated.

    “We need to tell them that they need to respect international labour laws, they need to also respect our own labour laws but importantly, they must respect human and trade union rights.

    “Workers have dignity, workers are not slaves and therefore, all workers must be treated with the workers best of attention. Injury to one is an injury to all. Injury to the workers at MTN and AEPB is an injury to all Nigerian workers. Issues of minimum wage must be attended to within minimum time, we are running out of time”

  • NLC accuses politicians, multinationals of tax evasion

    NLC accuses politicians, multinationals of tax evasion

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday accused multinational companies operating in the country of reneging in their responsibility to the Nigerian state by refusing to pay the correct tax to the Nigerian government, but wire same to tax heaven.

    President of the Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba who spoke at a Youth Tax Justice training, organised by Public Service International (PSI), said it was unfortunate that the Nigerian government has not prioritised the issue of payment of tax which can be used to develop infrastructure.

    Wabba said apart from the multinationals that have refused to pay the correct tax to the Nigerian government, many Nigerians he referred to as the super-rich has also refused to pay the correct tax.

    The NLC President who said it was the responsibility of all Nigerians to demand tax justice also indicted the nation’s political class, accusing them of only rushing to pay a fraction of their tax when they are contesting political positions, challenging them to come out and inform Nigerians how much they pay annually as tax, just the same way they declare their assets. 

    Wabba said: “Tax justice means that citizens are able to pay taxes without undermining what they are supposed to pay. It is through tax we can develop our society and have resources to address critical sectors of our economy. This has proven veryeffectivet in the Western parts of the world, where technology has been used to address issues of tax payment. 

    “But in the context of Africa, we have been very problematic because of the fact that our governments don’t usually give priority to the issue of tax collection, possibly because of the natural resources we have. If you look at all around Africa, we have a lot of resources.

    “In Nigeria, we have oil and in West Africa, I am sure we have gold and other metallic products. So it is in all parts of Africa and therefore, because of our richness, the issue of tax payment have actually been relegated to the background. 

    “It is only now that those resources have not addressed our developmental challenges that we are giving attention to tax. Before now, a lot of people have helped themselves through evading tax and also through collaborating to even divert taxes.

    “This is certainly an issue we must give the desired attention because it is also a fact that both in developed and developing countries, multinationals and the rich try to evade tax. The issue of Trump is still fresh in our memory because despite being super rich, he is yet to declare the actual tax he has been paying. 

    “So, this is the trend for multinationals and the super-rich. They feast on the poor. And therefore, their major source of income is actually feasting on the poor as also evading tax.

    “The point must be made that it is the poor that needs tax weaver, not the rich. But I think there is a contradiction in our system today. Whereas the poor that needed some relief and even tax weaver is not given the weaver, it is the super-rich and the multinationals that have more than enough are now given weaver. What a contradiction? This contradiction must be addressed and therefore, the contestation is that we must continue to engage the process. 

    “As youths, we may not be able to have job opportunities if we don’t have resources to build those critical infrastructures. We will not be able to fix our social system, such as education and health which is basic fundamental rights of every citizen. All our social services require resources. It is not because resources are not there, but because we are not getting out acts right.

    “So the issue of tax justice must continue to receive priority from the government (executive, legislatures and judiciary, unionist and the citizens. I am happy that PSI has made this issue the Centre point of this training.

    “The future does not come later, it starts now and the future belongs to all of you. The future is not to come, it has already started and so, we must take advantage of this opportunity to engage those issues and take our rightful place in the scheme of affairs. 

    “In the context of Nigeria, NLC has been on the lead to engage the issue of tax and I can say clearly that our engagement is laying off because most of the issues we have raised are issues that have been accommodated in some policy documents in recent time especially on the issue of insisting that the rich must continue to pay tax.

    “All the engagements that are ongoing now, NLC has had the opportunity to be part of them. We will not stop there and have to continue until we are able to address all the issues of injustices in tax administration.

    “It is certain and obvious that it is only the workers pays correct tax. I underline the word correct tax because it is called Pay As You Earn. None of our business, I repeat, none of our multinationals pay correct tax. This is a fact which cannot be controverted. In a lot of conferences and meetings where tax justice has been discussed, it has accurately been stated that none of the major businesses including multinational of which MTN is among is paying their fair share of tax.

    “To change the trend, we are demanding for tax justice and that is why we are here. And we are saying that both rich and poor must pay the correct tax. If we do so, we are going to help our system and our society will surely develop. It must not be the other way round, where the poor including those that are at the lower level of the ladder I the society are forced to pay taxes that are even much higher than they are supposed to pay.

    “Those we classified as super-rich, can they openly tell us how much they are paying? As workers, everybody knows how much we pay as tax. But for the super-rich, I have not seen where they pay the correct tax, even when they are contesting political offices. 

    “In fact, it will be on the eve of their screening that they will rush to pay a small amount of money and get tax clearance certificate. That does not reflect what they are supposed to pay. 

    “I think that we must go beyond what is happening now to demand that all political office holders, having declared their wealth as expected by the Code of Conduct, must also tell us how they have been paying their tax over the years. This is a responsibility that we must continue to carry on because we know the worth of many of them. 

    “Many of them have been rated among the richest people in the world, but the missing link is that Forbes has not told us how much they are paying as tax. This is how to demand tax justice and make tax payment work in our country. The issue of Panama paper is true because they don’t want to pay and so, they wire this money to tax heavens and have associate companies outside the country. 

    “While the business is done here,  and the profit earned here, they don’t want to pay the tax here and so wired the money outside the country. That is why over $50 billion is lost annually to tax invasion in Africa, tax weaver and other vices that tends to undermine our tax system.”

  • NLC urge Bello against using Soldiers on workers

    NLC urge Bello against using Soldiers on workers

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state to stop using armed soldiers to intimidate striking workers and resort to dialogue to address all issues in contention between the workers and the government.

    The President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said in a letter to the governor that soldiers have no role in resolving an industrial dispute as every dispute generated by issues between employers and employees can only be resolved ultimately through dialogue.

    Wabba said the Congress has received reports from its members in the state that government officials were going wrong the state with armed soldiers in an attempt to compel the workers to return to work without addressing their grievances, adding that such action will only aggravate the situation.

    He said the NLC leadership will visit the state to address the workers and met with the governor with a view to addressing the issues on the dialogue table

    The letter reads in part: “I convey warm compliments on behalf of the National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress and write to inform you that the national leadership will be coming to Lokoja to address workers who are currently on strike. 

    “We promise to thereafter meet with you as we still believe contentious issues can be resolved through dialogue based on mutual transparency and shared the concern for the survival of the workers, many of who are being owed backlog of salaries of between seven to twenty-one months.

    “We have received reports that your officials have been going around offices in Company of armed soldiers in an attempt to compel striking workers to resume work rather than encourage productive dialogue that will amicably resolve all the issues that necessitated the strike.

    “Apart from salaries, some of the issues that have attracted deep concern include the endless verification exercise which has raised so much suspicion that the exercise has been so prolonged to justify non-payment of salaries and pensions. 

    “Industrial relation is not politics and it won’t augur well for the government to accept advice driven by political considerations when clearly, the system provides adequate opportunities to engage in dialogue. 

    “On our part, we have always encouraged dialogue. We must face the reality of the frosty relationship between your government and workers, which has obviously been promoted by those who gain from the escalating industrial crisis through political considerations.

    “We know that, with your background in public service, you are capable of handling the situation better but for those who act at the background, drawing political permutations with the plight of pensioners.

    “We are ready to engage in transparent dialogue you with the ultimate benefit of nipping the industrial crisis in the state in the overall interest of industrial peace and justice. We shall communicate the date of our visit and proposed meeting with you as soon as Arrangement are concluded.

    “However, in the present, we advise that your officials be cautioned against the use of armed soldiers to intimidate workers as the military has no role in resolving industrial dispute as every dispute generated by issues between employers and employees can only be resolved ultimately through dialogue.”

  • Benue pensioners get N800 monthly, cry to NLC

    Benue pensioners get N800 monthly, cry to NLC

    Pensioners in Benue state have asked the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Ayuba Wabba to intervene in their predicament and ensure the payment of their entitlement running into several months and an upward review of their pensions. 

    In a letter to the NLC President, signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners in the state, Comrade Peter Kyado and Comrade Joseph Adakole respectively, the pensioners said many of them still collect as little as N800 as pension monthly, pointing out that for over 13 months state pensioners were yet to be paid that stipend, while local government pensioners have not been paid their pension for a period ranging from six months to over the seventh month.

    They said even though the some of the liability was inherited from a previous administration, they believe that the government has received enough money to offset the arrears.

    They claimed that they were convinced that the state government lacked the political will to pay the pensioners’ entitlement and not the non-availability of funds is responsible for the predicament of pensioners in the state, adding that they have written several letters of request and staged three peaceful protests matches to the appropriate authority to press for the payment of our entitlements but to no avail. 

    The letter reads in part: “Pensioners in Benue state are owed thirteen months arrears of monthly pensions for the months of November 2014 to April 2015 and March to September 2017. Old and new local government pensioners are owed between six and over seventy months of arrears depending on when they retired.

    “Gratuity running into billions of naira are outstanding in the state. However, we appreciate the fact that much of the indebtedness was inherit d from past administrations in the state. The non-review of pensions in the state for over sixteen years has put the pensioners in the state at the most precarious financial predicament.

    “Pensions payment have remained stagnant since 2001 despite six differ not the public salary increase. This is contrary to the provisions of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria (as amended)in section 173 where pensions are to be reviewed every five years or whenever there is a public salary increase whichever is earlier. 

    “Consequently, some pensioners earn only N800 minimum pension in the state in spite of the Act fixing the national minimum wage at N18,000. Presently, Labour unions in the country are clamouring for at least N56,000 national minimum wage.

    “The present administration in the state has received monies in form of loans of several billions of naira including the monthly federal allocation and enhanced internally generated revenue. In addition. There was a bailout fund of N28.5 billion, the first and second tranche of the Paris Club refund of N12.8 and N6.8 billion respectively as well as the monthly N1.3 billion federal government intervention funds to the states.

    “These receipts notwithstanding, it is our conviction that the lack of political will to pay the pensioners’ entitlement rather than availability of funds is responsible for the predicament of pensioners in the state. 

    “We have written several letters of request and staged three peaceful protests matches to the appropriate authority to press for the payment of our entitlements but to no avail. We have also appealed to the traditional, political and religious leaders for their intervention. 

    “This is taking place in a democratic dispensation where the rule of law reigns supreme and where the government derives its authority and legitimacy from the constitution.”

  • Kogi workers embark on indefinite strike

    Kogi workers embark on indefinite strike

    The organized Labour in Kogi State has directed workers in ministries, agencies and parastatals to commence an indefinite strike as from Friday, Sept. 22.

    The Chairman of the state chapter of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr Ranti Ojo flanked by his Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), counterpart, Mr Onu Edoka gave the order while briefing newsmen in Lokoja On Thursday.

    He asked the workers to shun offices indefinitely until directed otherwise.

    He said that labor was forced to call out workers on strike because of refusal of government to invite them for negotiation over their demands.

    According to him, the strike is the only lifeline left for the workers to negotiate their survival in the hands of the administration of Gov. Yahaya Bello.

    Ojo directed the workers to ensure maximum compliance, saying that all government establishments, offices, facilities and institutions be shut down by workers.

    The organized Labour had on Sept. 13, issued a seven -day strike notice to the state government to meet its demands or risk industrial action by its members.

    In its reaction to the notice , the state government through the Director -General , media and publicity to the governor, Mr Kingsley Fanwo described the tone of the lanour’s notice as harsh and described signatories to the notice as unknown.

    The state Head of Service , Mrs Deborah Ogunmola made a last minute ditch to halt the strike when she called the Labour leaders for a meeting in her office on Sept. 21.

    The meeting, however, failed to stop the workers to declare a strike.

    The Labour is demanding among others , full payments of salary and allowances to workers being owed between two and 21 months arrears. The workers are also demanding payment of outstanding leave, yearly incremental allowances and reinstatement of workers unjustly treated during the recently concluded screening exercise.

    “Be prepared to stay at home till eternity if it takes government to eternity to meet our demands,” Ojo admonished the workers.

    The Labour lampooned the government for its poor attitude to workers’ welfare , saying that never in the history of the state has civil service records the massive hunger -induced deaths as being witnessed currently.

    “Workers and pensioners are going through trauma, anguish, pains, sickness, penury, truncation of children’s education , huge unsettled house rent/medical bills . We must rise against these now or never , he said.

    However, he said that , only workers under the umbrellas of NLC, TUC, and the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council will be marking on the strike while members of the National Union of Teachers , National Union of Local Government Employees and the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria will join on Sept. 27.

    He urged workers to resist any form of threat, intimidation and blackmail from the state government , urging them to put on uncommon courage, perseverance and resoluteness to confront the bad situation.

    Ojo asked all civil servants and members of the public to pray in mosques and churches on Sept. 22 and Sept 24 to God to deliver the state from bad governance.

    The TUC, NOC and the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council will not budge until their demands are met by the government.

    “Our fidelity to this struggle is non-negotiable ,” the TUC Chairman said and accused the government of insincerity in its dealings with the workers all these years.

    The state President of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Mr Tade Adyemi who was also present at the briefing said that teachers, local government workers and workers in the health sector will join the strike on Sept. 27.

    Adeyemi said that workers in the sectors issued a separate strike notice to the 21 local government councils in the state who were their employers.

    Mr Thomas Ayodele, the state NUT Chairman said that workers at the local government level were solidly in support and party to the strike declared by the TUC , NLC and the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council.

  • NLC names states not utilizing bail out funds

    NLC names states not utilizing bail out funds

    • Promise to resist any hike in tariff

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday made good its threat to name and shame states that have refused to pay the complete salaries of workers or make public the utilization of both the bailout funds and the Paris Club refund, saying ten out of the thirty-six states are particularly guilty of the offence.

    The Congress also warned the government against approving another increase in electricity tariff, saying it will mobilize its affiliates, social partners and other Nigerians to resist any further increase when Nigerians were yet to get quit service for the previous increase which has been declared illegal by the court.

    President of Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba who spoke at the National Executive Council meeting of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) in Abuja said six of the ten states were in terrible situation, pointing out that the Congress has directed all states chapters whose members are owed more than three months salaries arrears to declare an industrial action.

    While reacting to President Muhammadu Buhari’s disappointment with the governors over the utilization of the funds made available to them, Wabba had told The Nation exclusively that the Congress was compiling a list of state governors that has failed to utilize the bailout fund and the Paris club refund for the purpose it was meant for.

    Wabba said: “Out of the 36 states, we have ten bad case scenario and out of this ten, we have six terrible ones. We have promised to name and shame them. Those states include Imo that has been paying workers salaries in percentage and has not declared utilization of the bailout fund and Paris club refund. It is part of the states that ICPC has mentioned in fund diversion.

    “They paid 40 percent pension to their pensioners without their consent and provided a form for them to sign under duress. That is not allowed in law. We have Bayelsa which has between five to ten months arrears, Ondo is owing between four and six, Ekiti, (five to eight), Benue (five to eight) and Kogi which is the worst case scenario. 

    “We have three categories of workers in Kogi. We have 40 percent that is being paid up to date, we have 25 percent that has not been paid between eight and sixteen months and another 25 percent that has not been paid between eight and twenty-one months. In all the sectors, they have categorized the workers into three categories. 

    “We also have the case of Osun which is also paying in percentage but are up to date. Ebonyi unilaterally, without discussion with the union tried to reduce the salaries by a certain percentage and have also not made available records of utilization of the Paris club refund. 

    “We have the case of Zamfara which is the only state that has not implemented the minimum wage and all attempt, (including agreements they have signed) to get them to make available records utilization of those funds have failed. The last one is Abia which has a problem with the parastatals. On the average, other states are above Board. 

    “As I speak to you, both Zamfara and Benue are on strike and I am aware that Kogi has issued notice which is in conformity with the decision we took at our last NEC meeting that any state with liability of more than three months should start an action and we will be there to support them.”

    Speaking on the statement credited to the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Power that one of the problems in the power sector was low electricity tariff, Wabba said Nigerian workers will not accept any further increase in electricity tariff as it will mobilize to resist it.

    He said: “A few days ago, I received a letter from the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission informing us that they want to hold town hall meetings where they want consumers and other stakeholders to contribute. What immediately came to my mind is an attempt again to increase tariff when we have not been able to get out of the one they illegally increased by 45 percent. 

    “The twin issue of fuel price increase and electricity tariff has made nonsense of the minimum wage. We have not been able to justify that 45 percent increase, but now, they are coming again. Let me say emphatically that NLC as an Organisation and all our affiliates will resist any attempt to increase the electricity tariff again. 

    “We have gone to court to challenge their action and the court mad a pronouncement that the process they followed to effect the last increase was illegal and therefore set it aside. Here we are. Even to respect that court order has become a problem. We must continue to respect the rule of law. We are still on that issue because no court of law has set aside that judgement. 

    “Let us warn those people again because, for them, they must continue to feast on us. If this happens, it means more industries will close and it also means more darkness because the more they increase the tariff, the more darkness we have and more burden on the Nigerian worker. Therefore, we must situate our policies within the context of how it can improve the lives of ordinary Nigerian.”

    Speaking of the current economic challenge facing the nation, he said “there is no doubt that our country is passing through very difficult challenge and I think those challenges are to strengthen us, give us hope and make us to think more and be able to respond to issues that affect us. Economies do bubble and burst. Therefore we must not be lamenting that we are in recession or getting out of recession. 

    “What matters is how do we put food on the table of the ordinary Nigerian; how do we drive our processes to ensure that industries are working? Once industries don’t work and we don’t produce but continue to import, the situation will continue because there will always crave for foreign exchange for us to import and because we don’t export anything, that issue will continue. 

    “Our focus must be that our economic model is anchored around the people and around the issues of social justice. Once we don’t do that, then the problem will continue. That is why we have continuously engaged the process including options that are going to work. 

    “For instance, the issue of taxation. It is only workers today that pays the correct tax while those that have more than enough, including those with stolen funds don’t pay tax. Why should you continue to overburden the worker that is already paying the correct tax with more taxation. 

    “If I am paying correct tax through pay as you earn if means that I am paying correct tax and to introduce more tax means double jeopardy. If we are able to access the stamp duty alone, we will be able to generate over two trillion Naira per annum. These are issues that we need to address. You cannot continue to rob the poor to make sure that the rich continue to live largely.”

    Earlier in his address, National President of NASU, Comrade Chris Ani said the current agitation for restructuring and fiscal federalism were attempts to divert attention from misgovernance and ineptitude the nation has been going through, adding that Nigerians should not be distracted by elements that have actively participated in the looting and mismanagement of our economy and can be found in the two major political parties. 

    Ani said what Nigeria workers need at this point in time is not whether more power should be given to states, but to know how they have managed the power at their disposal at the moment.

    While congratulating the Government and its relevant officials for bringing the country out of recession, Ani said the union will only join them in the celebration, when workers’ welfare improves; jobs are secured; salaries are paid in full as and when due; wage increase is de-frozen and other withheld benefits are paid.