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Tag: NLC

  • We won’t sell NNPC, refineries, FG assures workers

    The federal government has assured it has no plan or agenda to sell any of the refineries or the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC ).

    It said anybody who has such plan does not have the interest of the workers at heart.

    Speaking at the 12th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja on Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari said government was determined to attain the decent work agenda, which involves opportunity for works that are productive and deliver a fair income, security work places and social protection for families.

    Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Buhari said: “I want to reassure you of the commitment of this administration to the issue of welfare of workers.

    Read Also: IPMAN hails harmonious relations with NNPC

    “This is evidence of numerous programmes and policies that have been initiated by this administration in promoting the interest of the well-being of our workforce.

    “Meanwhile the administration is committed to addressing other labour issues that are still pending.”

    The NLC called for reversal of power sector privatisation due to what it called chronic failures by the distribution companies (Discos) to deliver quality power supply to Nigerians.

    Its National President Comrade Ayuba Wabba said: “Since the privatization of electricity distribution, Nigerians are yet to see the fulfilment of promises of efficient service delivery.

    “Instead, the electricity situation has gone worse with chronic failures by DISCOs to supply prepaid meters, exploitation of Nigerians through estimated billings and reluctance to attend to basic complaints.

    “Even with N39 billion bailout funds from government, the supposed private entrepreneurs have failed to turn anything around except maybe their pockets, unfortunately, at the expense of Nigerians. This must stop.

    “We call on government to reverse the power sector privatisation because it has failed.

    “Privatization of public utilities has not generally proven to be the correct thing to do in most countries even developed ones.

    “Why Public Private Partnerships don’t work; the many advantages of public alternative authored by David Hall privatizing public utilities has been a wreck in most countries. Example form Spain, France, India, South Korea, UK, Australia among others show how public/state guarantees and loans to private sector for the utilities sector have resulted in failures on delivery of services as well as repayment in most cases”.

    He however urged the Federal Government to resuscitate ailing refineries in other to liberate the downstream sector.

  • Corrupt politicians colluding with bank officials to loot, says EFCC

    Politicians are colluding with bank officials to engage in illicit financial flow, Acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Committee ( EFCC ) Ibrahim Magu has declared.

    He also stated looters are devising new tactics to escape being caught by the drag net of the commission.

    In a solidarity message to the 12 delegate conference of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday, Magu said the more the commission moves to address corruption, the more those involve devise new strategies.

    He also the commission’s collaboration with foreign partners have begun to yield results, adding with the MoU signed with the United Arab Emirates, the EFCC has been able to trace several assets illegally kept there.

    Magu, who was represented by a Director in the Commission, Dr. Aminu Gusau, said: “Our various investigations, we have unearthed the collusion of bank officials and those of non-designated financial institutions with corrupt politicians in the country, which have brought about an increase in the instances of illicit financial flows into and out of Nigeria.

    “We have realised that the more we spread our tentacles far and wide, even beyond the shores of Nigeria, to catch and bring to book those who hate corruptly enriched themselves from the commonwealth, the more we are discovering the corrupt minded folks are evolving new techniques.”

    Read Also: EFCC secures 40 convictions In January

    He stated the NLC has collaborated with the EFCC at various events anti-corruption walk, among other interactive forum, strategically designed to strengthen partnership.

    He went on: “Corrupt politicians have widened the circles of their corrupt activities by investing them in other African countries, so that in the long run, they sell them and deploy ways of repatriating them to Nigeria, even in the buildup to the election.

    “But, by and by, we are also stepping up our game to combat and hip in the bud, new tactics being deployed to fraudulently divert and misappropriate funds meant for the welfare and good of all Nigerians. We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

    “MoU with the Economic and Organized Crime Office, in Ghana, the Ghana Financial Intelligence Centre and the Ghana police service to ensure that we keep track of such illicit inflow and outflow of suspicious funds.

    “On our part, we are keenly monitoring the movement of cash in the system, and are awake to our responsibility of ensuring provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010 are strictly adhered to, especially as it relates to election funding, and the now worrisome incidents of vote-buying.”

  • NLC… New tenure, old problems

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the umbrella body of workers in the country, starts its delegates conference in Abuja today. Comrade Ayuba Wabba, and his executive council members are expected to be returned unopposed on the occasion. TONY AKOWE reports that old challenges await the leadership to confront.

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) will hold its national delegates conference today at the International Conference Centre in Abuja to review the state of workers in the last four years and map out plans for the future.

    The two-day conference, according to sources, is expected to affirm the current leadership of the union led by Comrade Ayuba Wabba for a second term. The tenure of the current leadership expires this month.

    The source told The Nation that every member of the National Administrative Council, except one of the deputy Presidents, Comrade Kiri Mohammed, will be returned unopposed to lead the Congress for another four years.

    Mohammed, who was elected Deputy President when he was President of Nigeria Civil Service Union, has retired from service, making him ineligible to re-contest. In his place, The Nation was informed, one of the four Vice Chairmen and President of the Construction Workers Union, Comrade Amaechi Asughuna, may take his place.

    The conference theme is “Towards a decade of activism for the promotion of Labour unity, national rebirth and development”.

    The governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Kwara State and NEC member of the Congress, Comrade Issa Aremu, said: “It is self-evident that Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has come of age in democratic processes and experiences.”

    According to him, given the record of achievements of NLC “Nigeria Republic has a lot to learn from the labour movement in holding elections and serving the people in poverty eradication”.

    Aremu said it was also remarkable because NLC had recorded great achievements, such as the new minimum wage of N30, 000. The labour leader said: “This historic conference gives all delegates the opportunity to face up to the challenges of the congress’s growth and unity. The conference must usher in a united labour movement in actions in defence of workers’ rights, revival of industries and deepening of democratic process in Nigeria. In particular, there should be robust resolutions among which should be the reinvention of the Labour Party to serve as platform for the working class to struggle for political power within the democratic dispensation.”

    When in 2015, workers went to the poll to elect a leadership, they did with a lot of hope and enthusiasm. That election, however, threatened the unity of the Labour movement in Nigeria as a group led by the General Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees, Joe Ajaero, staged a walk out at the final stage of the elections, which took place at the Eagle Square. Ajaero, who was one of the candidates for the position of the President and his group, alleged that the process was manipulated to favour Wabba, who was then President of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria and Treasurer of the Nigeria Labour Congress. He addressed a news conference rejecting the outcome of the elections, while scheduling another election for Lagos. They were to announce a few days later that they held a delegate conference where Ajaero was elected President. The elders of the union led by its first president, Comrade Hassan Sumonnu, intervened. At the reconciliation meeting at the Transcorp Hilton, the factions agreed to bury the hatchet. But that did not last. Four years after the election, it is still not uhuru as the Ajaero faction has not recognised Wabba as Nigeria’s number one worker. The Ajaero faction eventually metamorphosed into United Labour Congress (ULC) and still struggling to get government registration as a Labour Centre. The Trade Union Congress (TUC) backed out of a planned strike at the last minute; the Wabba NLC went ahead with the strike, which was largely not successful. The Congress has continued to remind Nigerians that staying away from the strike and not believing in the leadership of the Congress was a fatal error as promises made by the government t are yet to be fulfilled.

    NLC and the Minimum wage question

    One of the major challenges faced by the Congress in the last four years is a new national minimum wage for workers. President Muhammadu Buhari had told Nigerians that he was committed to giving workers a living wage. Labour has had it tough trying to secure a minimum wage for the country. From an initial demand of N56,000 in 2016, organised Labour increased its demand to N66,500, but eventually agreed to a N30,000 minimum wage for workers. While governors have insisted that they cannot pay, Wabba told the House of Representatives adhoc committee that they already had the commitment of 30 governors ready to implement the new wage. He argued that if waste is curbed, all states could pay the money.

    Wabba told The Nation that if Edo State government under Adams Oshiomhole could increase the minimum wage of workers in the midst of recession and has been paying without default, other states can do the same.

    The TUC believes it should be easy for governors to pay the N30,000 minimum wage. Its President, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, spoke while expressing appreciation to the House of Representatives for passing the minimum wage bill into law and appeal to the Senate to follow suit and pass the bill into law.

    His statement reads: “The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has applauded the House of Representatives and the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) for endorsing the N30,000 monthly National Minimum Wage recommended by the Tripartite Committee set up by the Federal Government. The Congress also urged the Senate to do the needful.

    “As far as welfare is concerned, the position of the lawmakers has in no small measure given workers a sense of belonging. Truth be told, the N30,000 monthly National Minimum Wage that we are even  asking for to a family of six actually amounts to less than N50 per meal per person.

    “It is exclusive of utility bills, school fees, etc. Given our extended family system we are also expected to once in a while extend hands of fellowship to parents, in-laws, relations, friends who have lost their jobs and brothers and sisters in the faith.

    “We recall that the lawmakers gave their word to speedily facilitate the National Minimum Wage Bill speedy whenever it was brought before it and they have kept their word. To us it means we still have men and women with milk of kindness. While we thank you for the brave move, we also urge you to follow the bill through until the Senate and the Federal Government give a go-ahead to effect payment.

    “This position of N30, 000 can be achieved if the governors have the people at heart.”

    NLC and unpaid salaries

    One of the premises for the governor saying they cannot pay the new minimum wage has been that majority of them have not been able to implement the current N18,000. Several states are owing salaries and gratuity as well as pensions.

    New tenure, old problems

    As Wabba and others are set to begin a new tenure, old problems, such as the minimum wage, unpaid salaries, pensions and gratuities, will be waiting for resolution. For instance, Wabba will have to convince the Senate to quickly join the House of Representatives in passing the minimum wage bill.

    Wabba some weeks back urged the Senate to emulate the House or Representatives and expedite action on the passage of the bill so that the President can assent to it immediately for workers to start enjoying the new minimum wage.

    He said: “This has confirmed the wishes of the people and even the social partners, because during the public hearing , organised private sector confirmed that N30,000 was mutually agreed and also all other sectors came in and said that it was N30,000 that was mutually agreed.

    “So clearly speaking, I think what happened at the National Assembly is just to uphold the wishes of the people expressed at the Tripartite Committee and also centrally it is also to recognise workers contributions to national development.

    “We plead with the Senate to also follow the same path and try to see how the action should be expedited and pass into law, so that it can be assented to and workers would begin to benefit from it.

    “But also clearly all of us are winners; nobody is a loser because really the centrality is what matter most.”

  • NLC: passage of minimum wage bill by House victory for workers

    THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said that the quick passage of the national minimum wage bill by the House of Representatives was a victory for workers and a confirmation of the wishes they expressed during the public hearing.

    NLC President Comrade Ayuba Wabba, while reacting to the passage of the bill sent to the House by President Muhammadu Buhari, said the decision to increase the figure from N27,000 contained in the bill to N30,000 initially recommended by the tripartite committee was victory for all Nigerians.

    Nobody is a loser in the whole process, Wabba said.

    The President had sent the minimum wage bill containing N27,000 as minimum wage to the National Assembly with the bill passing first and second reading last Thursday. A public hearing was organised by the House on Monday.

    Wabba, however, appealed to the Senate to organise a public hearing on the bill to emulate the House or Representatives and expedite action on the passage of the bill so that the President can assent to it immediately for workers to start enjoying the new minimum wage.

    He said: “This has confirmed the wishes of the people and even the social partners, because during the public hearing, the organised private sector confirmed that N30,000 was mutually agreed and also all other sectors came in and said that it was N30,000 that was mutually agreed.

    “So, clearly speaking, I think what happened at the National Assembly was just to uphold the wishes of the people expressed at the tripartite committee and also centrally, it is also to recognise workers contributions to national development.

    “We plead with the Senate to also follow the same path and try to see how the action should be expedited and pass into law, so that it can be assented to and workers would begin to benefit from it.

    “But also clearly, all of us are winners; nobody is a loser because the centrality is what matter most.”

  • Minimum wage: NLC puts workers  on red alert

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday directed its members to be ready to take appropriate actions should the National Assembly fail to do the needful by affirming N30,000 as the new national minimum wage at state and federal levels.

    It said the National Assembly should uphold the recommendation of the tripartite committee which specified N30,000 as the new national minimum wage.

    President of the congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, told reporters at the end of an emergency meeting of the Central Working Committee of the congress yesterday that the International Labour Organization (ILO)  conventions guiding negotiations on minimum wage do not allow one party to change the figures agreed upon after negotiations.

    Read also: Minimum Wage: Committee N30,000 figure, was a mere recommendation – FG

    The process of changing the figure agreed upon after negotiations, he said, must follow the same process of negotiations in accordance with international best practices and in accordance with ILO conventions.

    He insisted that even the N30,000 agreed to by the tripartite committee was a compromise position for which labour should be commended as it is still less than 100 dollars if converted.

    Wabba said: “This is the resolution that has just been adopted by a meeting of the Central Working Committee of the Nigeria Labour Congress. The meeting deliberated on a one-item agenda which is the issue of the transmission of the national minimum wage bill to the National Assembly.

    “The meeting reviewed the whole situation, including the fact that what was agreed at the tripartite negotiation meeting of the review of the minimum wage was N30,000. It is actually out of place and out of procedure for that figure to be reduced to N27,000. “

  • NLC insists on N30, 000 minimum wage

    The Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ) has maintained it will not accept any minimum wage below N30, 000 in line with recommendation of the tripartite committee.

    It placed workers nationwide on red alert for a total industrial action.

    NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, who briefed newsmen after an emergency meeting of the Central Working Committee of the Congress on Friday, said the ILO Conventions guiding negotiations on minimum wage does not allow one party to change the figures agreed upon after negotiations.

    He stated the process of changing the figure agreed upon after negotiations must follow the same process of negotiations in accordance with international best practices and in accordance with ILO Convention.

    He insisted even the N30, 000 agreed to by the tripartite committee was a compromise position for which labour should be commended as it is still less than $100 when compared the current exchange rate.

    Wabba said: “This is the resolution that has just been adopted by a meeting of the Central Working Committee of the Nigeria Labour Congress.

    “The meeting deliberated on a one item agenda which is the issue of the transmission of the national minimum wage bill to the National Assembly.

    Read Also: NLC rejects N27, 000 minimum wage

    “The meeting reviewed the whole situation including that fact that what was agreed at the tripartite negotiation meeting of the review of the minimum wage was N30, 000.

    “It is actually out of place and out of procedure for that figure to be reduced to N27, 000.

    “The reasons are the tripartite, going by the ILO Convention, having agreed in a figure. It cannot be changed by any of the parties except through the same process because government as an employer cannot unilaterally change the figure that has been agreed upon at the tripartite.

    “This is about procedure and about law and so, we frown against that and has rejected the issue of reducing the figure to N27, 000.

    “We still maintain that what was the outcome of the minimum wage tripartite negotiation committee is N30, 000 and on that we stand.”

    He added: “We have agreed to mobilise and engage on the issue, particularly at the level of the National Assembly and that the outcome of the negotiations be respected. We call on members of the National Assembly to do the needful.

    “We have also put all our members on alert and if that is not done, we will mobilise to take appropriate action that is desirable to actually protect and ensure the sacrosancy of the minimum wage Tripartite process.

    “That has been the procedure from time past and inn tandem with the ILO provisions on minimum wage setting mechanism.

    “We have also agreed that in Monday, we will mobilise and attend the public hearing by the House of Representatives to make sure the right thing is done.

    “We call on all of them, being representatives of the people to respect the outcome of the tripartite negotiation process and importantly is the fact that when you look at N30, 000 in the context of today’s economy is a compromise position that ought to be commended.”

  • Kogi: NLC seek release of N30.8bn balance Paris Refund

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Kogi State chapter, on Wednesday, appealed to the Federal Government to immediately release the balance of N30.8 billion of the N50.8 billion Paris Fund approved for the state.

    Addressing pressmen in Lokoja, the NLC state chair, Comrade Onuh Edoka, called for the urgent release of the balance of the N50.8 billion approved as bailout for workers in the public service of Kogi State.

    Edoka, who said that the issue of irregularities in salary payment has been the subject of running battle between organized labour and government in the state, therefore called on the President Mohammed Buhari-led administration to urgently release the said balance, and stave off further hardships of the workers.

    Responding to a question, he said that organized labour were unable evaluate the performance level of the first tranche of N20 billion Paris Fund release to the government, because it was not involved in the negotiations, adding that some of the workers at the state level were paid four months’ salary arrears, and three months at LG level, from the first instalment.

    According to him: “It would be recalled that at the twilight of the administration of Capt. Idris Wada, the immediate past governor of Kogi State, the state government applied and got approval of N50.8 billion to settle arrears of salaries owed to workers and pensioners at the state and local government levels, but was unable to access any of the funds before the end of that regime.

    “The present government of Alhaji Yahaya Bello was only able to access N20 billion of the fund, leaving the balance of N30.8 billion.
    The non-release of the fund has put the workers of Kogi State, most especially local government workers and primary school teachers at a very perilous state where they cannot meet their basic needs as human beings.

    “As at today, majority of state workers are down with five months salary arrears while those who got late clearance from the screening exercise have various months of backlog of arrears.

    “The worst case scenario is that of primary school teachers and local government workers who have continued to receive ridiculous percentages of their salaries. As it stands today, primary school teachers and local government workers are being owed salary arrears of well over 30 months by the time you calculate the percentages of their salaries not paid over the years.

    “Life has indeed become unbearable for these categories of workers as many could not afford the school fees of their children and other basic family needs.

    Read Also: CNPP appeals to NLC to accept new minimum wage

    “It is in the light of this that the organised labour in Kogi State passionately appeals to the Federal Government to release the sum of N30.8 billion being the balance of the approved N50.8 billion, to enable the state government settle the backlog of arrears owed to the teachers and local government workers.

    “The organised labour wish to also appeal to the state government to give necessary priority to salary payment because of the ripple effects it has on the economy of the state generally.

    “While the organised labour wish to note with delight the efforts the government is making in improving the state’s infrastructure like road, water and security across the state, it should be noted also that when salaries are not adequately and promptly paid, it can rub off some of these achievements of government.

    “The workers of Kogi State are law abiding and very supportive of the administration, but government at the federal, state and local levels should reciprocate this gesture by paying the backlog of salary arrears owed to them so that workers can continue to put in their best in the service of their fatherland.“

  • CNPP appeals to NLC to accept new minimum wage

    The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties ( CNPP ), Edo chapter, has appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ) to accept the N27, 000 new minimum wage endorsed by the National Council of State.

    The Chairman of CNPP, Mr Roy Oribhabor, made the appeal on Wednesday in Benin.

    He urged the NLC to accept the new minimum wage as matter of love and patriotism, in spite of the economic hardship being experienced in the country.

    He emphasised that the appeal became necessary after a critical evaluation of the N27, 000 minimum wage in Nigeria as approved by the NCS.

    “In as much as we know things are hard, we solicit for understanding because of the reality on ground today from some states.

    “We commend the leaders of the NLC for the foresight and determination to provide acceptable wages for Nigerian workers,” Oribhabor said in a statement.

    Read Also: NLC rejects N27, 000 minimum wage

    He also called on state governors to be more prudent with management and allocations of resources for the betterment of the people.

    “Therefore, transparency and accountability should be their primary concern.

    “Finally, we appeal to labour unions not to allow politicians to use them to advance their agenda to the detriment of the Nigerian State.

    “This is the best time to show understanding and accept the minimum wage because the process of salaries increment is never an ending negotiation, hence our appeal,” he said.

  • NLC rejects N27, 000 minimum wage

    The Organised Labour has outrightly rejected the new minimum wage of N27,000 as recommended by the National Council of State.

    Trade Union Congress (TUC ) and United Labour Congress (ULC) In different statements, described the decision as unfortunate and shocking.

    TUC in a statement signed by its President, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama said the decision must not be allowed to stand because it will set wrong precedence for the future, adding that after statutory bodies have done their jobs, Council of State will sit to review it.

    “Let it be known that N30,000 minimum wage is a product of negotiation, not legislation, not advise and not a decree.

    “Minimum wage issue therefore, is moving to a new theatre, the National Assembly. We expect the representative of the people if really they are to do the needful during the public hearing,” Kaigama said.

    According to ULC, the emerging news of the unfortunate decision of the Federal Government through the National Council of State to unilaterally propose N27,000 as the new National Minimum Wage is shocking and goes against the grain of all known traditions and practices of industrial relations especially as it concerns National Minimum Wage setting framework.

    ULC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero said: “ULC rising from its just-concluded Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting today in Lagos rejects in its entirety the proposed N27,000 which is contrary to the N30,000 agreed by the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Committee and which has since been submitted to the President.

    “We state that the National Council of State in a National Minimum Wage setting mechanism is an aberration. It is also important that we make it clear that the National Council of State does not have powers to approve, confirm, affirm or accept any figure as the new National Minimum Wage. What they have pretended to have done is therefore without any force of Law, standards or other known practices of Industrial Relations the world over”.

    He said that it is a mockery of the essence and principle behind the setting of a National Minimum Wage to attempt to segregate it between Federal Workers and State Workers.

    “We want to state that workers are workers everywhere whether at the federal level or at the state level. They all have the same challenges; go to the same market, same schools and much more they suffer the same fate. You cannot, therefore, pay them differently.

    “Government’s attempt at this dichotomy is an effort at segregation and apartheid in nature. It is an attempt to put a sword within the trade union movement and to further the marginalization of Private sector workers in Nigeria thus seek to weaken the trade union movement in the country.

    Read Also: Minimum wage: Council of State okays N30000 for Fed. workers

    “ULC saw this coming earlier in January and that was why we distanced ourselves. We will however in the next few days in consultation with other labour centres if they are still in the struggle for a just national minimum wage take steps to ensure that the interests of Nigerian workers as it concerns the National Minimum Wage are protected,’ he said.

    The union urge the President to disregard the pronouncement of the National Council of State as it ridicules the statutes and principles governing the nation, saying that the only honourable path he should tread is to transmit the N30,000 figure as agreed by the tripartite committee and even the President on the day of submission of the committee’s report.

    “We will not accept the use of any cover of state to jettison the collective will of Nigerian workers and the trade union movement,” the union said.

  • Why we’re not involved in technical committee, by NLC

    NIGERIA Labour Congress (NLC) President Ayuba Wabba has explained why Labour is not involved in the Technical Committee on the Implementation of the national minimum wage being proposed.

    The panel, the unionist stated, “is purely an internal arrangement  of the Federal Government.”

    Reacting to the inauguration of the committee by President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday,  Wabba said the Minister of Labour & Employment,  Dr. Chris Ngige, has already assured Labour that the committee was an in-house affair of the government and has nothing to do with Labour”.

    Wabba informed that the government promised Labour to  put in place processes of mobilising resources, adding that Labour had thought that the committee will renegotiate the minimum wage, “but we’re assured that it has nothing to do with that.”

    Also reacting,  General Secretary of the National Union of Textiles, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, Issa Aremu, said the committee should facilitate the full implementation of the negotiated N30,000 and not in any way undermine the implementation of the new minimum wage.

    Read also: Harmattan fire burns 300 corpses beyond recognition

    Aremu, who is a NEC member of NLC and labour representative on the National Income and Wages Commission, said the technical committee was mandated to anticipate the implications of the new minimum wage increase for the upward “salary review for all the workers who are already earning above the new minimum wage”, it was commendable.

    He said it was reassuring “that President Muhammad Buhari reaffirmed commitment to the new minimum wage with the discussion with organised labour to send the Executive Bill to that effect before January 23rd.”

    Aremu described as desirable that the representatives of Labour were parties to the implementation of what he called “critical labour market issues like minimum wage and salary review for other categories of workers earning above the minimum.

    “Indeed ideally the best statutory committee to drive the mandate of the Bismarck Committee would have been National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission (NSIWC).”