The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria Labour Congress

  • NLC decries leaders’attitude to workers’plight

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has decried leaders’ attitude to workers’ plight. The plight of the poor and the downtrodden is never their concern, it said.

    The NLC made the claim through its National President, Mr. Ayuba Waba, when he paid a courtesy call on Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong, in Jos.

    “We have always directed workers to support every government, but some leaders make that impossible,” Wabba said.

    He accused many leaders of abandoning their workers, saying that the labourers’ fate was always the last in the leaders’ order of priorities.

    Waba, however, urged workers to always stand by the truth and give sincere advice to those in authority “without any fear”.

    “A cardinal principle of labour is to promote truth and good governance. Any leader that does the right thing should be supported by workers,” the labour leader said.

    Waba, who was in Jos to participate in a seminar organised by the National Civil Service Union, however, appreciated Lalong for putting smiles on workers and pensioners’ faces in Plateau State.

    “You have done excellently well. You are a shining example of how leadership should be. You have cleared the six months salary arrears you inherited and also cleared pension arrears.

    “You have started paying gratuities as well as monies withheld by your predecessors, who insisted on no-work-no-pay policy.

    “The NLC is also impressed with how you deployed the bailout and Paris Club funds received from the Federal Government and has always urged others to emulate your kindness,” he said.

    Lalong, in his remarks, thanked the NLC leadership for offering its counsel when he sought its advice on how best to make workers happy.

    He said Plateau workers are seen as part of government whose counsel and co-operation have been crucial to success in the last three years.

    The governor announced that he had approved the establishment of a workers’ estate, adding that work on it will kick off when the next tranche of Paris Club refund is received.

    He told the NLC President that he considered the payment of salaries as a moral obligation that must be kept.

  • Labour leader: Senate invasion, injury to Nigeria’s democracy

    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.”

  • NLC decries violence against women

    THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has vowed to resist any act of violence against women.

    NLC President Ayuba Wabba stated this in Abuja at a rally with the theme: “Support International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention: Stop gender-based violence’’ organised by NLC’s women wing.

    Wabba said violence against any woman was violence against the society.

    The wing organised the rally to draw attention to the numerous challenges affecting women, especially at work places.

    Wabba said the Congress had canvassed for equality between women and men in the past, saying there should be no discrimination them.

    “We should be able to respect our women because of the fact that they are nation builders. Therefore, we mark this occasion in furtherance to protecting women against violence because it’s obvious that violence against women have been on the increase.

    “We are denouncing violence against women in totality and also saying that we will resist any act of violence against women across Nigeria. Because any woman that her rights have been violated is a violation against the society at large,” he said.

    Wabba said Germany, a country led by a woman, has the largest trade union centre in the world, yet their economy is one of the best.

    “So, certainly trade union rights are synonymous with national development. So, given the same opportunity to women, we are certain they will deliver the best and change the narrative,” he said.

  • Reps move to curb excessive electricity charges 

    The Ad-Hoc Committee to curb Excessive Electricity Charges being levied on consumers by distribution companies (Discos) Thursday said it would meet with community development associations (CDAs) in different geo-political zones in the course of its assignment.

    Chairman of committee, Hon. Ajibola Famurewa (APC Osun) who made the declaration at the inaugural meeting of the committee, noted that majority of Nigerians are suffering under the arbitrary charges for electricity from the distribution companies.

    The committee was given the mandate by the House to determine the differences between the prepaid meters installed by PHCN and the MOJEC prepaid meters by DISCOs as well as determine the costing algorithm used by NERC in arriving at the consumers price.

    The committee is to ascertain the average cost of electricity in West African sub region vis-a-vis Nigeria.

    Its mandate also include finding out why DISCOs have not complied with the deadline of March 1, 2017 in phasing out estimated billing system.

    According to the Chairman of the committee, relevant organizations and agencies to the investigation include Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, the Consumer Protection Council, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NIBET), Transmission Company of Nigeria.

    Others are: Electricity Distribution Companies of Nigeria (DISCOs), Nigeria Labour Congress, Association of Nigerians Electricity Consumers amongst others.

    Famurewa said there would be zonal interactive sessions with electricity consumers in a bid to understand the scope of the problem.

    According to him, the committee will try to meet the six (6) weeks given as deadline by the House.

    This, he said, is to allow the House take a timely decision on the issue  to ease the suffering of the people.

    Read Also: Reps vow to unravel alleged rape cases in IDP camps

  • New minimum wage will address wide gap of poverty – FG

    New minimum wage will address wide gap of poverty – FG

    Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha has assured Nigerian workers that the government was working towards ensuring a new national minimum wage that will address the issue of social imbalance, inequality and the wide gap of poverty in the country. 

    The SGF was speaking at an award dinner to round up the 40th anniversary of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Abuja where the likes of late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, late Pa Micheal Imoudu, late Olaitan Oyelunde, late Chiba Ubani, late Prof, Festus Iyayi, as well as past Presidents and General Secretaries of the congress and a host of others were honoured for their contribution to the Labour movement in Nigeria and inducted into Labour Hall of Fame.

    He said that the welfare of Nigerian workers was top on the priority list of the Buhari administration while describing the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as the soul of the government, adding that because of the importance the government attached to the welfare of workers, it was making a lot of efforts to resuscitate the economy.

    He said: “The importance of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the affairs of any government cannot be overlooked. It is the soul of the government because without the workers, be they civil servants, private sector workers or even pensioners, there will be nobody to man the system.

    “That is why this administration takes the welfare of the Nigerian worker as priority by putting so much effort into the resuscitation of the economy. I must underscore the fact that the primary objective of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan is to diversity the economy, grow skills, create wealth, gain infrastructures, ensure food security and provide jobs.

    “The federal government is conscious of the need to bring wages to meet economic realities. It is in this regard that the tripartite minimum wage committee was inaugurated to review the national minimum wage. The committee is determined to complete its assignment before the end of this year and I am confident that the outcome of their assignment would address the issue of social imbalance, inequality and the wide gap of poverty in the country.

    “With this year anniversary theme of Nigeria Labour Congress yesterday, today and tomorrow, it is indeed time to count our blessings and chat a new course for the future. I believe that together, we can build the Nigeria of our dream and improve on the generality of the life of Nigerians.

    “I congratulate the leadership of the congress for deeming it proper to reward past services through recognitions. I congratulate the awardees and say that your recognition tonight is a challenge to all of us to continue to contribute our best to the service of our nation.”

    NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said the dinner was organised to honoured all those who have contributed to the growth of the Labour movement in the country, some of who paid the supreme price while other spent several months in detention during the military era to make the Labour movement what it is in the country today.

    He said with the high level of discussion during the anniversary, it was evident that the future will be bright for the Nigerian worker, while calling for free cooperation of all Nigerians in the struggle to make the country a better place.

    Wabba said “as enumerated during the three day brain storming event, and from the volume of discourse, it is very clear that the future will be bright because we have assembled the best from among our rank and file. We brought in our founding fathers that laid the solid foundation that allowed us to continue to exist despite the challenges.

    “I am certain and all of us are convinced that from the issues that were discoursed, we have reasons to look into the future and build NLC of our dreams. It is therefore our sincere hope that this evening’s event to look at our little beginning, a beginning that has many challenges.

    “But because of the determination of our founding fathers and the solid foundation they have laid, we are assured that the future is already secured. Therefore, part the event of this evening is to recognize the contribution of our patriots, our founding fathers, organizations and individuals that have worked assiduously to ensure that NLC continue to exist.

    “Some of their contribution are too numerous to mention. Some have paid the supreme price and laid down their lives. Some have suffered deformity and others are here with us and we are going to recognize their contribution.

    “Therefore, this occasion is to recognize key contribution of individuals and Organisation and also our veterans who have stood their ground even in the face of adversity. In the era of the military, some of them spent several months in jail. There is no other occasion to recognize these people than the 40th anniversary of congress.

    “As an Organisation, we have survived all the challenges, but what is the condition of the Nigerian worker today and what do we want the condition of the worker to be. What will be our contribution to national development. Should we continue to serve as second class citizens. All these questions have been answered in the last three days.”

    Read Also: New minimum wage to be ready before September ending – Ngige

  • Bayelsa earmarks N100m for NLC state secretariat complex — Chairman

    Bayelsa earmarks N100m for NLC state secretariat complex — Chairman

    The Bayelsa Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), says the state government has earmarked N100 million for the construction of the state secretariat.

    The state Chairman, Mr John Ndiomu, made this known in an interview with the News men on Friday.

    Speaking against the backdrop of the celebration of NLC’s 40th anniversary in the state, Ndiomu expressed the union’s readiness to work with the present administration to end workers’ strike in Bayelsa.

    He lauded the Bayelsa Government for capturing the construction of the NLC Secretariat complex in its 2018 budget.

    He assured teachers who were wrongly sacked that they would soon be called back to their duty posts.

    Read Also: Send your child to school or risk jail term, Bayelsa tells parents

    “We are here to protect the interest of workers, not ours.

    “Even when people are not our union members, we still work to protect their interest as fellow countrymen.”

    He said that the anniversary would also create an opportunity to reflect on the challenges faced by the NLC and the larger labour movement and identify ways of addressing these challenges.

    The news men recalls the NLC was founded on Feb. 28, 1978.

    NAN

     

  • Workers to stage Mass Protest in Abuja

    Workers to stage Mass Protest in Abuja

    Striking workers of the 67 research institutions spread across several Ministries in the country are set for a mass protest on the streets of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to demand the payment of about N9 billion arrears owed them by the government since 2010.

    The workers made up of members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI) and the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI) have been on strike for about 11 weeks to press for the implementation of their agreement with the government.

    Speaking at a news conference in Abuja, chairman of the Joint Research and Allied Institutions Staff Union (JORAISU), and Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Peters Adeyemi said even though the government has acknowledged the legitimacy of the ongoing strike action, they have refused to take any measure aimed at addressing their demands.

    Adeyemi said that the National leadership of JORAISU has so far held thirty-three (33) meetings with the Federal Government and one with the House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, Colleges and Institutions between year 2010 and year 2018 and issued 155 days ultimatum to Government on the matter including the last issued on 30th October, 2017 for which all the Research and Allied Institutions commenced an ongoing strike action on 14th November, 2017.

    Read Also: Workers ground operations of Bristow, Caverton Helicopters

    According to him, these were all geared towards getting the Federal Government to act positively on our demands and expressed shock and disbelief that the Federal Government can remain unconcerned and be so incentive to a situation where all the Research and Allied Institutions in Nigeria  have been totally and completely grounded for about 2 months and 22 days without addressing the situation.

    According to him, this attitude of Government goes to confirm the fact that the Government does not believe in the idealogy that Nigeria can attain technological development in a few years time, adding that it further show that the government t was paying lip service to research ad technological development in the country.

    He said that the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe has informed the unions that government will speedily address the issues in dispute and present a Memo to the Federal Executive Council on the approval of about N9 billion naira required for the payment of the 12 months’ arrears on when they held a meeting in December, 2017.

    He appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR to take a positive look at the Memo and grant the needed approval to the Memo when presented to him with a view to ending the ongoing strike in the Research and Allied Institutions.

    He disclosed that JORAISU leadership have also resolved that since the Federal Government is yet to resolve their demands, the strike should continue and that it must be total and comprehensive as no concession of any sort shall be granted to any Management and Government until the issues in dispute are resolved.

     

  • NPC workers’ strike “put on hold” – Union

    NPC workers’ strike “put on hold” – Union

    Striking workers of the National Population Commission ( NPC ) on Tuesday said their protest had been “put on hold’’ pending the response of the Federal Government to their demands.

    The President of the workers union, Mrs Rita Agaba, made this known in Abuja.

    She explained that the strike was put on hold following the intervention of the National Presidents of the Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ) and Trade Union Congress.

    Agaba said the union members decided to put on hold the strike in respect of the NLC and TUC with offices reopened.

    However, the unionist maintained that they would operate a work-to-rule regime to facilitate dialogue and in anticipation of government positive response.

    Read also: Fire guts National Population Commission’s Lagos office

    The leadership of organised labour on January 29 directed the aggrieved NPC workers to suspend their strike to give room for dialogue.

    Mr Ayuba Wabba, President, Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ) with his counterpart, Mr Bobboi Kaigama, President, Trade Union Congress ( TUC ) gave the directive while addressing the NPC staff in Abuja.

    Agaba also disclosed that the scheduled Jan. 30 meeting between leaders of the NPC workers’ union and the Secretary to Government of Federation had been postponed till further notice.

    Reports say that the NPC workers embarked on the strike in the last three weeks to protest the reappointment of their Director-General, Dr Ghaji Bello, by the federal government.

    The workers are also demanding for improved working condition and probe of the finances of the commission.

    NAN

  • Nkah urges Waba to recognise him as NLC chairman in Ebonyi

    Nkah urges Waba to recognise him as NLC chairman in Ebonyi

    Mr Leonard Nkah, Acting Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ), Ebonyi chapter, has asked the National President of the union, Ayuba Waba, to recognise him as the authentic chairman in the state.

    Nkah, in a letter to the NLC President, written by his lawyer, Mr Roy Nwaeze, said that the former Chairman, Ikechukwu Nwafor, was constitutionally removed from office.

    Nkah in the letter made available in Abuja, said that Nwafor was removed from office on March 15, 2017, for failure to give account of his stewardship.

    “The Ebonyi NLC executive met, with a quorum of more the 60 per cent, deliberated on the misconduct of Nwafor and his failure and neglect to render account of his stewardship and resolved to suspend him indefinitely.

    Read also: NLC tells workers to vote out defaulting governors

    “ Nwafor was ordered to surrender all the property of the Ebonyi NLC to Nkah.

    “ Notwithstanding the suspension, and even though Nkah had effectively taken over, Nwafor has refused till date, to surrender all the property of Ebonyi NLC to Nkah or render account of his stewardship.’’

    Nwaeze said that rather than hand over as ordered by the NLC executive; Nwafor went to court to challenge his removal.

    He said that one of the prayers sought in the Suit No. NICN/ABK/01/2017, in the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Enugu, was to restrain Nkah, from parading himself as acting chairman, a prayer the court did not grant in its ruling on Nov. 15.

    “ The consequent legal effect of the refusal is that Nkah remains the acting chairman, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

    “ All parties are under compulsive obligation to obey and not derogate from same,’’ Nwaeze noted.

    He urged the NLC president to accord recognition to Nkah, since the facts are clear.

    “ We respectfully demand that you recognise Nkah as acting chairman and cease from further recognizing Nwafor as NLC chairman in Ebonyi, pending determination of Suit No. NICN/ABK/01/2017.’’

    Nwaeze said that he took time to explain issues to avoid being compelled to “ initiate contempt proceeding against any person acting contrary to the court order.

    NAN

  • NLC tells workers to vote out defaulting governors

    NLC tells workers to vote out defaulting governors

    The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ), Mr Ayuba Wabba, has urged workers to get their Permanent Voter Cards ( PVCs ) to vote out state governors owing salaries and allowances.

    A statement signed by Ms Freda Ukpoju, Media Officer, Say No Campaign, a Civil Society Organisation ( CSO ), on Tuesday quoted Wabba as making the call at the group’s “DoroCorruption programme’’ held in Abuja.

    Wabba decried the ordeal of workers at the hands of state governments in Nigeria, insisting that the Nigerian government treat workers like slaves.

    “It is time the workers used their numbers to push back; I encourage members to get their PVCs to vote out every defaulting state governor.

    Read also: NLC rejects APC panel’s proposal on minimum wage, local govts

    “State governments owing salaries were given bailouts and different Federal Government interventions, including the Paris club funds meant to offset their debts to state workers.

    “While some have met their responsibilities and paid off, chronic debtors like Benue and Kogi states remain adamant in fulfilling their responsibilities and clearing their debts.

    “The challenge is not lack of resources but sheer unwillingness and misplaced priorities. ‘’

    Wabba said that the reality of the matter was that the problem had never been about resources, saying “In most of those states, their priority is not to pay salaries but white elephant projects.’’

    He said that before this current administration came in, Plateau owed seven months salaries but through ingenuity, the governor utilised all the money given to him to settle everybody.

    He said that many states had utilised their money, but some states, about twelve of them, including Benue and Kogi had failed.

    He, however, said that the governors should be held accountable because democracy was about the people.

    He said that if as governors, they were not able to address the fundamental constitutional issue of security and welfare of the people then the people also must be able to hold them accountable.

    “Workers and pensioners must unite to use their PVC to chase these type of people out of government; if workers, in unity, demand it and also use their power of franchise to vote them out of office,’’ he said.

    Also speaking, the co-convener, Say No Campaign, Mr Ezenwa Nwagwu, encouraged citizens to join unions or associations and actively participate in ensuring that their collective interests were championed.

    Nwagwu said that where members noticed that leadership had been compromised or failed to promote their interest, there should be no hesitation in voting such leaders out.

    He said that the demand for accountability should begin at the  communities level, adding that only when citizens were able to hold their leaders accountable, would they have the courage to hold government accountable.

    He advised Nigerians not to be divided along ethnic or religious sentiments in the demand for accountability because citizens needed to develop the culture of giving ultimatums to government and demand urgent response to their plights.

    He condemned state governors owing workers and insisted that they were inflicting the worst kind of terror on their people by attacking their means of survival.

    NAN