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Tag: NLC president

  • On the police invitation of NLC president

    On the police invitation of NLC president

    Sir: The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, received the news of the invitation of the President of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero for questioning by the Nigeria Police with mixed feelings. It would be recalled that the police had on July 7, conducted a night raid on the NLC national secretariat in Abuja, a move that triggered media war between the organised labour and the police.

     We would like to call  on the government to immediately charge the NLC President to court if truly they have evidence to back up the claim that he is involved in any crime whatsoever against the state. We would also like to call on the government to be ready to compensate him for the embarrassment if the claim were later found to be trumped-up.

    We have observed that some agencies of the state are carrying out clandestine operations to arrest and persecute those that participated in the #Endbadgovernance protest. For the umpteenth time, we are reiterating our position of disappointment over the arrest of protesters on the basis of publicly associating with a protest aimed at decrying the socio-economic situation in the country and for calling for far reaching reforms that could give necessary reliefs to majority of Nigerians.

    Since citizens of this great country have the rights to support any peaceful protest that is in tandem with their personal opinion or conviction, it is wrong for any agency of government to launch a campaign of calumny or attempt to witch-hunt or arrest them based on their affiliation or association with a particular protest. It is therefore tantamount to gross abuse of power and authority for any agency of government to condescend so low to the extent of harassing citizens as a result of their involvement in any peaceful protest.

    Read Also: Alleged terrorism financing, others: Police invite NLC boss Ajaero

     While we are using this medium to advise the Nigeria Police and other Nigerian security apparati to be rightly and correctly guided in their operations, nuances and limitations under a democracy, so as not to resort to any arm-twisting or repressive attitudes over legitimate and peaceful agitations under any guise. The police as an agent of the executive, judiciary and other arms of government must at all times, be seen to operate within the ambit of the rule of law and separation of power, without which the state and the general public descend into an Hobbesian state of Nature. As a veritable stakeholder in the Nigerian project, we would like to reiterate that we are not in any way in support of anyone or group of persons engaging in terrorism financing, arson, treasonable felony, or any other crime against the state.

    •Debo Adeniran,cacolc@yahoo.com

  • Minimum wage not enough to live on – NLC President

  • FG set to announce new Minimum Wage – Labour

    …as Tripartite Committee completes assignment

     

    The Federal Government is set to announce the new minimum wage as the Tripartite Committee completes its assignment for onward submission to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Mr Ayuba Wabba, NLC President, made this known while speaking with newsmen on Monday in Abuja.

    Read Also:http://staging.thenationonlineng.net/nlc-minimum-wage-and-politico-economic-illogic/

    According to him, the committee used the two-day to reconvene and deliberate on a new minimum wage figure that was acceptable to all employers of labour in the country.

    “I want to assure workers that all has been concluded and will be passed for signing within the week.

    “I also want to appreciate the Organised Private Sector, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) for their resolve to pay the new minimum wage when it is signed into law,” he said.

    The NLC president, however, refused to disclose the figure arrived at by the Tripartite Committee on the new National Minimum Wage.

    Wabba said the presidency would make it public after deliberation by the National Economic Council meeting.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the organised labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the United Labour Congress (ULC), on Sept. 30, suspended its warning strike on a new minimum wage embarked upon on Sept. 26.

    The organised labour had embarked on the strike after a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government for failing to reconvene meeting to come out with its own figure on the new minimum wage.

    The three unions had demanded N65, 500 as new minimum wage for workers, while the private employers and some state governors were proposing N25,000.

  • NLC seek timeline for new minimum wage committee

    NLC seek timeline for new minimum wage committee

    The Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ) said Friday that the congress will be canvassing for specific timeline for the negotiation of the new national minimum wage by the Tripartite Committee appointed by the President saying the issue was long overdue.

    NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said in an interview that the congress expects the committee to consider the plight of Nigerian workers and pensioners during its deliberation in view of the current purchasing power of Nigerians.

    After nearly 16 months of agitations, the federal government on Thursday night announced the appointment of a 30 man committee made up of representatives of the federal government, Nigeria Governors Forum, Organised Labour and Employers to negotiate a new national minimum wage.

    The committee which will be inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari at the council chamber of the Presidential Villa on Monday, November 27 is expected to come up with a new minimum wage for all employers in both the public and private sector in the country.

    Wabba said: “The tripartite committee was the struggle of labour. It is something that we have expected long before now and so, I will say that it is a welcome development. Workers are concerned because of the challenged in the economy, so it is a welcome development that the tripartite committee has been appointed.

    “We hope that after the inauguration, the committee will commence work immediately so that we can cover some mileage and also cover the times that has been lost because this is something that workers have longed anticipated. We look forward to a speedy process because the issues are quite obvious.

    “If you look at the exchange rate, you discover that we virtually import most of the things we used and if you look at the exchange rate when the N18, 000 minimum wage was negotiated and an agreement signed in 2011, you discovered that it was almost equivalent to N110 to a dollars

    “Today, N18, 000 is less than 46 dollars and the reality of the situation is that the purchasing power of the ordinary Nigeria worker has dropped drastically. Our expectations is that the tripartite committee should look at the conditions of the Nigeria worker and pensioners and arrive at something concrete for them.

    “Let me tell you that there are places where pensioners are receiving less than N4000 and that calls for urgent consideration so that the whole issue of social imbalance and the issue of inequality and the widening gap of poverty can be addressed because you also know that there is lack of employment, therefore workers have a lot of burden taking care of their dependents.

    “There is no worker today that does not cater for several dependents. So it something that is timely and our expectation is that the process must be driven with all commitment and above all they should take in to contents the condition of workers and pensioners”.

  • NLC President leads protest against sack of teachers in Kaduna

    NLC President leads protest against sack of teachers in Kaduna

    ….assembly properties vandalised by protesters – Speaker

     

    The Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ), President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba on Wednesday led workers on streets protest in Kaduna State capital, against plan by the state government to sack 21,780 teachers.

    Meanwhile, the protest which terminated at the state House of Assembly left some properties within the assembly complex destroyed.

    The protesting workers demanded that, the government should rescind its decision or have the entire labour force to contend with.

    Marching and singing anti government song along major roads in the state capital, and carrying placards with various inscriptions, the workers asked the Kaduna state government not to sack the teachers for failing to pass the competency test administered on them sometime in June this year.

    They argued that government has no constitutional powers to organize such exam for teachers, saying only the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) has the mandate to do so.

    They also gave the state government two weeks to cancel the planned dismissal of teachers, or they will embark on an indefinite strike.

    Addressing the workers, Mr, Waba assured them that the leadership of the NLC will support them and ensure that they get what they deserve from the state government.

    The Nation gathered that, the protest was jointly organised by the state chapters of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE).

    It was also gathered that, NULGE and NUT leaders from 18 states in the North came in solidarity with their colleagues in Kaduna.

    The local government employees, were said to be protesting against the planned sack of about 4000 of their members.

    While the protest was going on in the city center, hundreds of school children were said to have been mobilised at Mararaban Rido where they blocked Kachia road, leaving commuters plying the Kaduna – Kachia road stranded for a long period.

    However, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Aminu Abdullahi Shagali confirmed the destruction of some assembly properties by the protesting workers.

    The Speaker in his official twitter handle, #Rt. Hon Speaker KADAssembly twitted some photographs and videos of the vandalised properties.

    One of the Speaker’s tweets read that, “The NUT protesters are destroying properties of the Kaduna State House of Assembly.

    “The gate of the Kaduna State House of Assembly was destroyed by the protesters against the sack of unqualified primary school teachers”, the Speaker said.

    The Nation recall that the state chapter of NUT had on Monday issued a two weeks ultimatum to Governor Nasir El-Rufai to rescind his government’s decision to sack the 21,780 primary teachers who failed the competency test or face indefinite strike.

    Primary school pupils had also been used in that past two days to protest that government’s decision.

    Meanwhile, the state government had maintained its resolved to sack the 21,780 teachers who failed the competency test, while it has since commenced process to recruit 25,000 new teachers to replace those to be sacked.

    Read Also: Attention, Kaduna Police Commissioner

  • Anambra church killing: Fish out perpetrators – NLC, UPP urges Govt

    Anambra church killing: Fish out perpetrators – NLC, UPP urges Govt

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the United Progressive Party (UPP) wants the government to bring to book those behind Sunday Morning killing of innocent worshiper at St Philip’s Catholic Church, Ozubulu, Anambra State.

    In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said the assistants must be identified and apprehended, describing the incident as shocking, bizarre and reprehensible.

    Wabba said: “Places of worship quite often in decent conflicts are sanctuaries. What makes this attack more confounding is the fact that Ozubulu is far removed from any known theatre of conflict at the moment and has had little or no history of violent conflict.

    “Whatever may have been the situation, this attack represents a descent into the pit of hell. It is animalistic, cowardly and shameful and all necessary steps should immediately be taken by security forces to bring the perpetrators to book.

    “Our heartfelt condolences go to the families of the victims, the Catholic Church, Governor Willie Obiano and the people of Anambra State. We urge our security agencies to step up security in and around places of worship. We similarly urge  worshippers to take the initiative of securing their premises.”

    On his part, National Chairman of the United Progressive Party, Chekwas Okorie said the party received with shock the news of the killing, describing it  as cowardly, detestable and abominable, adding that the  murder of these Catholic faithfuls inside the Church while worshipping the Almighty God was outrageous, a sacrilege and sadism of the worst order.

    He said “We are grief-stricken. Our hearts go out to the families of the victims of this man’s inhumanity against man. We pray that the sovereign Lord will comfort and strengthen them in this period of grief. We are consoled that they died in the Lord and have become martyrs of the Christian faith.

    “We encourage the Catholic faithful, indeed, all Christians in Ozubulu to remain prayerful, courageous and resolute in their service to God and humanity assured that their labour in the vineyard of the Lord will not be in vain.

    “We also commiserate with the leadership of Saint Philip’s Catholic Church, the Government and people of Anambra State and pray that God Almighty will give them the fortitude to bear the loss of these loved ones. We equally pray for the speedy recovery of those wounded in this senseless attack.

    “We urge security agents to fish out the assailants and their sponsors and bring them to book to serve as a deterrent to those who would contemplate this heinous crime against fellow compatriots. This madness must stop.”

  • 2017 Budget: Workers welfare not properly captured – NLC

    2017 Budget: Workers welfare not properly captured – NLC

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

  • Workers’ salaries: NLC to tackle Benue, Rivers government 

    Workers’ salaries: NLC to tackle Benue, Rivers government 

    Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) will soon tackle state owning workers’ salaries, NLC president, Ayuba Wabba has said.

    Wabba said Rivers and Benue states have been listed as priority states in the union will take on for not paying workers and pensioners.

    Wabba gave the hint during a meeting with Representatives of primary health care workers from Rivers, who were on solidarity visit at the weekend.

    Let’s not be under any illusion that any employer will give you your rights on a platter of gold, because there are competing demands,” he said.

    Rivers and Benue are among priority states the NLC will tackle for not paying workers and pensioners, insisting worker pay and resulting spending power could help lift the country out of recession.

    “Payment of salaries is not about resources; it is about priorities and we are not getting it right,” Wabba said of defaulting states.

    “For any system to get out of recession, citizens must have resources to buy and sell and pull the economy out of recession,” he noted.

    Speaking about continued neglect of worker demands, Wabba said, “Most of our workers are treated as slaves. Employment is a contract. We work, and it is difficult for [employers] to meet the terms of bargain.”

    Wabba also told the rivers state health workers who also used the meeting as a fence mending mission said, “Unity and sanctity of our movement is protected”, insisting it would strengthen workers’ bargaining power.”

    At the fence mending meeting which was held in Abuja, the workers also agreed to withdraw the case instituted against the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).
    Both sides will today appear before the National Industrial Court to announce they have resolved to settle out of court.
    Rivers state NLC chairperson, Mrs Beeatrice Itubo announced at the meeting that Rivers health workers have agreed to withdraw their matter in court and pursue the part of peace.

    She added, “We will walk to court and tell the world that health workers ate civilised people and can resolve issues among themselves.

    “Only then we can resolve and see their issues sorted out in the state,” Beatrice Itubo, who chairs NLC in Rivers and was former state chairperson of MHWUN in Rivers when the contention started three years ago.

    “When you are speaking as a body, undivided, I think government will hear what you are saying,” she said, explaining outcome expected after both sides resolved to settle internal differences.”

    More than 3000 workers in primary health, under the aegis of MHWUN, were left out of harmonised health salary scale across the 23 local government areas of Rivers after council authorities failed to implement the scale for them.

    Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), President Joe Biobelemoye said “We have wasted two years speech making.”

    Officials say no two local government health workers are paid similarly, and computation of pay and benefits are at the unilateral discretion of council authorities.

  • Political farmers main beneficiaries of CBN loans – NLC President

    Political farmers main beneficiaries of CBN loans – NLC President

    The President of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, has disclosed that political farmers are main beneficiaries of different Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) interventions to support rural farmers.
    The labour president raised the allegation yesterday at a meeting organised by ActionAid Nigeria in Abuja as part of activities to mark 2017 Global Week of Action to Fight Inequality.
    He said inequality has permeated through the entire system, especially between the rich and the poor in Nigeria.
    Wabba identified extreme poverty in the country, lack of efficient pro-poor policies and weak social protection programmes as a result of inequality.
    “I have seen of recent on this issue of diversification, I saw people with briefcase and ties calling themselves farmers. They have no connection with the real farmers in the village. They don’t have land. They are portfolio farmers, political farmers. If you go to the CBN, they collect those loans and divert it.
    Actionaid Country Director, Ojobo Atuluku, in her remark identified women and youth as most hit by impacts of inequality.
    She said the non governmental organisation discovered that poverty and inequality was the major bane to developing the people.
    “For decades, we have focused our work on reducing inequalities which drive and deepen poverty and exclusion. We have moved our work to the whole community, targeting the conditions and situation of children, both boys and girls, and the empowerment of women as indicators of a community’s progress,” Atuluku said.

  • Our political elite are not behaving well -NLC President

    Our political elite are not behaving well -NLC President

    Nigeria Labour Congress President Ayuba Wabba is angry with the nation’s political elite for allegedly acting irresponsibly and squandering the nation’s wealth.

    Citing the non-payment of workers’ salaries in many states, Wabba said workers have undeservedly been reduced to beggars by government.

    He spoke yesterday at a pre-May Day lecture in Abuja.

    “We are told that the wealth of the world has more than tripled and yet, the welfare of the worker is nothing to write home about. From country to country, our interest has continued to be undermined,” he said.

    “Let us not forget that throughout history, no employers of labour will willingly try to address the issues of decent pay for workers. It is through our collective struggle that we have been able to achieve what we have achieved.

    “Therefore, let us not be under any illusion that any government across the world will continue to give workers their entitlement without struggle.

    “This is the basis for commemorating the May Day which is to look at our collective struggle what we have been able to achieve and what obstacles still remain before us. If we understand this perspective, it will sharpen our response and unity because in unity lies our strength.”

    Lamenting the plight of Nigerian workers, Wabba said: “In a situation where a worker has not been paid for between four and 13 months, what do you expect from them?

    “To keep soul and body together, they have now resorted to begging. It is one of the worst situations we are passing through and therefore, we must continue to situate this argument within the context that our political elite have not been very responsible.”

    He did not agree with those blaming Nigeria’s problems on inadequate resources to drive the economy.

    He said:”The problem of Nigeria is not about resources. There are many countries around the world that don’t have natural resources. Japan is one of them and we have seen how they have been able to transform their economy. But despite our numerous resources, our political elite have proven clearly that they are not interested in the welfare of our people.

    “The primary purpose of government anywhere in the world is the welfare and wellbeing of the people including their security. In all of this today, the totality of where we are is that we have failed and our leaders have failed to discharge their responsibility to the citizens of this country.”

    He charged labour leaders and all progressive forces to “continue to lead and provide quality options that we must force government to implement”.

    The NLC President said further that the congress has presented a formal demand for a new minimum wage to the government in conformity with laws and practice.

    He said “The law provides that after a circle of five years, the minimum wage must be reviewed because lot of issues must have taken place in the economy and very clearly, we know that a lot of things have happened.”