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Tag: NLC

  • Okorocha solicits support for NLC

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has said the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other related institutions need to be encouraged to function well for the good of all.

    The governor spoke at the weekend while handing over an office complex built and furnished by the government to NLC.

    He said the gesture was not meant to compromise the union.

    “This is not to entice you or prevent you from doing what is right, but to encourage you to do what is right in your conscience.

    “My joy is that I want to create an atmosphere where institutions will work. I have built secretariats for NUJ, CAN, etc. If institutions can only work, then government can work because the checks and balances of government are these institutions.

    “…I didn’t even know that people appreciate the security which has improved greatly. I’m sure if I call the judiciary, the judges and workers will applaud me for building a worthy edifice as the High Court. I’m sure the police will applaud me for building the police headquarters and the prison headquarters. I’m sure lecturers will applaud me for building six universities, four polytechnics and four colleges of Education.

    The governor donated a car to the chairman, N1 million monthly for the upkeep of the secretariat and N10,000 each as Christmas bonus for civil servants.

    NLC’s National President Ayuba Wabba, who was represented by National Deputy President John Osia, said  “the governor had shown that he truly understands the workings of industrial relations since he was not the first or the second governor who had governed the state”.

    State NLC Chairman Austin Chilakpu said: “The governor built the secretariat from the bottom of his heart, without any form of compulsion. He did not only build the secretariat and equipped it beyond comprehension, but also installed a 60 KVA generating set. Every office is furnished to the brim with a one-thousand capacity hall with seats and well air-conditioned. The environment is interlocked with steady water.

    “We have neither gold nor silver to offer you. Over 13 industrial unions have been provided accommodation in the complex and the burden of office rent taken away from us. God will bless you. We will continue to partner with you.”

  • NLC to mobilise unions in 163 countries against politicians

    About 207 million workers across 163 countries will be mobilised against corrupt leaders, who cannot pay workers’ salaries, divert and stash stolen wealth abroad for personal use, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, has said.

    Wabba, at a surprise reception organised by the Medical and Health Workers’ Union (MHWUN) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to welcome him from Denmark, where he was elected the  President of International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), spoke on the value his new office would bring to Nigeria.

    He said: “It is a victory for Nigerian workers, who have been toiling to create the wealth of this nation, yet go home with little or no pay.

    “It is high time our politicians, looters and elite realised that once they loot our resources and leave Nigerian airports for overseas, with our collaboration with airport workers around the world, we’ll mobilise people to turn them back.

    “If they will not use our health facilities, but go elsewhere, they should be sure they will get a reception that is not funny. No hiding place for anybody, who wants to loot our resources and take them abroad and not pay workers’ wages, salaries, and pensions.”

    On government’s perennial threat to apply the ‘no work, no pay’ principle in industrial disputes, Wabba said: “That principle has no place in modern industrial relations. It has its basis in military Decree 54 of 1977 (now in Section 43 of the Trade Dispute Act).

    “No government in Nigeria has ever implemented the ‘no work, no pay’ principle’ because it cannot be looked at in isolation of the factors that brought about the disputes.

    “Government cannot have a solid collective bargaining engagement and renege on the agreements. Then, turn back to say it wants to apply the ‘no work, no pay’ principle. Such contradiction is strange to justice and cannot stand.”

    On the widening inequality between the rich and the poor in Nigeria, the NLC president queried: “If we are the leading economy in Africa, why should Nigerian workers be receiving the lowest wages in the continent?”

    He said Nigerian workers and pensioners are the most impoverished in the world. “It is another contradiction in our system. If there is abundance in the nation, the workers and their families should have a taste and feel of it as well,” he said.

    Wabba assured workers that his elevation meant more work, more action, more challenges, and more proactive steps in the promotion and protection of the interest of Nigerian workers

    “Initially we were alone, but now we have alliance in over 163 countries with a total of 207 million members that we can give instructions and they will mobilise in unity and solidarity with the Nigerian workers, who are the most underpaid globally even in the midst of our abundance,” he said.

  • NLC backs ASUU strike

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has thrown its weight behind the ongoing Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike. It said the Federal Government and many state governments had resorted to bullying and draconian threats in dealing with industrial relations.

    In a statement by its Acting President, Comrade Lawal Dutsinma, NLC said the ASUU struggle for improved conditions of learning in  public universities was not the first over which the government is issuing the “No Work … No Pay” threat.

    “During the last warning strike by the NLC on the new national minimum wage, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige issued a “No Work… No Pay” threat against workers.

    “Also, during the last nationwide strike action by health workers, the Federal Government did not only issue a “No Work… No Pay” threat, it went ahead to implement it. Till now, government still withholds about three months of salaries due to health workers.

    “The Nigeria Labour Congress considers the application of the “No Work… No Pay” rule as an autocratic attempt to cow workers into abandoning their legitimate demand for decent wages, conducive work spaces and social justice.

    “As far as we are concerned, government’s invocation of the ‘no work, no pay” clause in the Trade Disputes Act is selective, erroneous and hypocritical,” the union said.

    He said the Federal Government and nearly all the states in Nigeria are owing workers varying arrears of salaries, allowances, pension and gratuity – some running into years.

    According to him,  workers have continued to endure such profound neglect by political leaders elected to prioritise the welfare of citizens. “Given the grand betrayal of workers by government, workers stand the higher moral ground to invoke a “No Pay… No Work” action.

    “Section 43 of the Trade Disputes Act of Nigeria has always been in our statutes but successive governments had hardly ever invoked it to punish an already impoverished workforce.

    “It is sad that the current government is making a lot of fuss on just one aspect of our laws while holding in contempt several provisions in our labour laws and even our constitution demanding just and humane treatment of workers,” he said

    He said it is important to reiterate that Nigerian workers will never accept slavery in their own country, adding that the right to strike is both a human and trade union right protected by our laws and international conventions particularly ILO Convention 87.

    “|It is the right to strike that distinguishes a worker from a slave. Do we need to remind government at all levels that Nigerian workers are worthy partners in nation building and not slaves? As a matter of fact, labour builds the commonwealth that political leaders and their cronies, more often than not, squander. It is, therefore, regrettable that government continues to behave as if Nigerian workers are slaves who have no rights or privileges to claim.

    “We warn government at all levels to desist from using the “No Work… No Pay” rule to shirk away from their responsibilities. We also demand immediate release of workers’ salaries withheld on the account of “No Work… No Pay” rule. Also, we ask government to respect agreements it freely entered into with ASUU in order to restore normalcy and sanity to our public institutions of learning especially our universities. Our children have suffered enough already! Enough is enough,” he said.

  • Fed Govt’s ‘no work, no pay rule’ vindictive, says NLC

    THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has accused the government of being vindictive in its application of labour laws.

    It  insisted that Nigerian workers will not accept being turned into slaves in their own country as a result of government’s selective application of the laws.

    The congress, in a statement yesterday,  said the decision by government to invoke the “no work, no pay rule” on striking workers was an attempt to intimidate them into accepting unfriendly labour practices.

    It added that the struggle by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) did not start today, while government has consistently failed to meet its own side of the bargain.

    The statement signed by the Acting President, Comrade Lawal Dutsinma reads: “The attention of the NLC, has been drawn to a memo by the Federal Government dated November 29, 2018, directing Vice Chancellors of Federal Universities to apply the “No Work… No Pay” rule. We understand that the Federal Government has since rescinded this order.

    “Nonetheless, Nigerian workers are concerned that for the umpteenth time, the Federal Government and many state governments have resorted to bullying and draconian threats in dealing with matters that strictly reside in the domain of industrial relations. This is truly sad, highly unfortunate and extremely provoking.

    “We recall that the current struggle by ASUU for improved conditions of learning in our public universities is not the first time that the Federal Government is issuing the “No Work… No Pay” threat. During the last warning strike by the NLC on the new national minimum wage, Minister of Labour and Productivity Dr. Chris Ngige issued a “No Work… No Pay” threat against workers.

    “Also, during the last nationwide strike action by health workers, the Federal Government did not only issue a “No Work… No Pay” threat, it went ahead to implement it. Till now, government still withholds about three months of salaries due to health workers.

    “The Nigeria Labour Congress considers the application of the “No Work… No Pay” rule as an autocratic attempt to cow workers into abandoning their legitimate demand for decent wages, conducive work spaces and social justice…

    “We warn government at all levels to desist from using the “No Work… No Pay” rule to shirk away from their responsibilities. We also demand immediate release of workers’ salaries withheld on the account of “No Work… No Pay” rule.

    “Also, we ask government to respect agreements it freely entered into with ASUU to restore normalcy and sanity to our public institutions of learning, especially our universities. Our children have suffered enough already. Enough is enough.”

  • NLC begins mobilisation against N30,000 minimum wage opponents

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) at the weekend, said it has started mobilising and sensitising its members towards next year’s general elections.

    It has, therefore, urged its members to ensure that they obtained their permanent voters card (PVC).

    The Coordinator, NLC  2018 Harmattan School, Comrade Maureen Ekwuazi  said the campaign to vote out governors who are not ready to agree on N30,000 minimum wage has started.  She said members attending the school this year, would be taught how to mobilise their workers in various states on the 2019 election.

    “We are talking of a mere N30,000 minimum wage, which is equivalent to N1,000 per day, and yet some states are not ready to pay.

    “In line, with what our President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, has said, we are going to vote out any governor that is not ready to pay. We have started the sensitisation for our members.  They will be expected to go and mobilise their workers in different states. So, we have started our own campaign and expect other unions to do same,” Ekwuazi said.

    She described as unfortunate the position of some governors who were opposed to the N30,000 new minimum wage, but spend billions of naira under the guise of security votes which they do not account for.

    She said: “We have maintained that any governor that said he can’t pay the N30,000 should go to his state, gather workers and tell them. They are spending billions of naira in the name of security votes but once it comes to payment of N30,000 minimum wage, they are saying workers are just 20 per cent.

    She faulted claims that the proposed minimum wage would cause inflation.

    On the achievement of the school, she said it has produced many leaders in the country since its inception 17 years ago, adding that it has lived up to its mandate which is the protection and defence of its members.

    “We have also tried to play the role of an advocate for Nigerians who demand economic growth and improvement; we believe politics is designed and practiced in order to contribute to the development of the country and its citizens,’’ she said.

    She said NLC’s struggles have been shaped by the continued division within the political and economic elite, which has stunted national development and harmed the material condition of citizens; massive looting of state resources by the political elite.

  • Why we are against privatisation, by NLC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said it is against the privatisation of public enterprises.

    It said attempts by the Federal Government to sell public assets, would deny ordinary Nigerians access to services such as power, health and education, as they  would be out of reach of the citizenry.

    Speaking at its 17th Harmattan School for members in Abuja, NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, urged the government to adhere to global best practices as these services are considered as the fundamental rights of all citizens.

    “We still believe that these public institutions are established for public good and to serve as social service point for the fore runners. So, we say no to privatisation of public institutions and this is the position of the Public Service International, where they said all these services are not for sale,’’ Wabba said.

    While noting that no privatisation has ever worked in Nigeria, Wabba said privatisation under any guise, including Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), was not the solution to the poor performance of the public sector.

    He said more than 70 per cent of the population live below the poverty line. “In fact, a number of international economic reports forecast that despite the significant difference in our population size, Nigeria may soon overtake India as the poverty capital of the world,” Wabba added.

    According to him, the reasons for endemic poverty in Nigeria are not far-fetched. “Our economic structure does not provide the enabling space for mass industrialisation imbued with the capacity for sustainable jobs. Our public policies and consumption pattern still encourage the export of jobs and the import of poverty,” he explained.

    Wabba said unemployment rate in Nigeria increased to 18.80 per cent in the third quarter of 2017, from 16.20 per cent in the second quarter.

    According to him, unemployment has remained high with an alarming proportion of the youths jobless.

    His words: “The few that have a semblance of employment operate under very precarious conditions denoted by job insecurity, poor work conditions and gender discrimination.

    “The trend of factory closures has continued to spiral out of control, turning our once lively centres of economic productivity into worship and entertainment centres.

    “The crisis of widening unemployment in Nigeria has been exacerbated by indiscriminate sack and retrenchment of workers by some public and private employers.

    “Unfortunately, the different levels of government that should be more concerned about protecting our people are the ones leading the campaign to push more Nigerians into the unemployment market.”

  • NLC seeks conflict resolution mechanism to stop killings

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the Federal Government to set up conflict resolution mechanisms to resolve frequent clashes of conflicting interests.

    Speaking at a roundtable discussion on “Understanding and resolving the herders-farmers’ violent conflicts in Nigeria,” NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, represented by the Deputy General Secretary, Chris Uyot, said the security agencies must ensure that individuals are checkmated to mitigate the use of illicit weapons during misunderstandings.

    On his part, the Country Director of Nigeria-Plan International, Dr. Hassanni Abdul, said: “There are two dimensions to what the government can do. The first is the immediate reaction of stopping the violence, which requires effective polices, simultaneous level of community engagement, rebuilding community level conflict management mechanism and stopping the killing. And secondly is to find long-term sustainable solutions to solve the problem by involving different sectors.

    “To encourage the process that will discourage movement of herdsmen, some people have advocated ranching, grazing reserve among others. To ensure that policy design involves quality process so that people can be part and own these policies, that laws are not just dropped on the people because it is a continuous process, and solve problems as they emerge within the set up of short-term and long-term mechanism.”

    Director, Practice Centre, Dr. Ene Ede, represented by Jaye Gaskiya, said governments at the federal, state, and council must understand that Nigerians face common challenges, and should act together to address political issues.

    He said finding solutions must include true leadership and exploring economy solutions. “All these issues are about livelihood because people are basically at the base of these conflicts, and we must institute a land and natural resource management process that enables every stakeholder that depends on land to earn a living and put economic incentive in place because if we are saying we want cattle rearing to become a commercial and viable business, then it must be done in a way that is less damaging to the environment,” he argued.

    He further noted that if people take laws into their hands, they must also be dealt with, saying: “We must find a way of tracking criminals and separating criminals from genuine persons, and dealing with criminals as criminals and not criminalising an entire livelihood and systems, and this requires political leadership.”

  • NLC dares governors over N30,000 minimum wage

    Workers to vote out politicians who won’t pay

    Oshiomhole seeks living wage

    Labour yesterday rejected the governors’ claim that states cannot pay N30,000 minimum wage if it is eventually approved.

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) condemned  the threat by the govermors to sack workers should the new wage come into effect.

    To NLC President Ayuba Wabba, the threat is not new in the struggle for review of the national minimum wage.

    He said workers might be prevailed upon not to vote for governors who fail to pay the new wage.

    “Therefore, the current one by the governor of Zamfara (Abdulaziz Yari) cannot be used to intimidate labour,” Wabba said in a statement, reiterating the directive that workers should vote out anti-labour governors and politicians.

    “The consequences of workers’ retrenchment are too grievous for any political office holder truly elected by the people to contemplate.

    Read also: Dec. deadline for minimum wage

    “Few political office holders are bent on enslaving Nigerian workers with peanuts mislabelled as salaries.

    “We urge such elected public officials to subject their humongous salaries and allowances, reputed to be among the highest in the world to public perusal. Pro rata with the minimum wage, they want to force down the throats of Nigerian workers,” he said.

    Wabba urged each of the governors to go to their state and inform workers on their individual position on the new national minimum wage of N30, 000.

    ”To the oppressors, we have only one answer for you, we will never sleep on our rights.

    “We hereby reiterate our directive to Nigerian workers to vote out any politician or political party that refuses to pay the new national minimum wage of N30, 000.

    “We shall continue to consolidate our efforts to strengthen already existing platforms and structures to give teeth to our resolve to vote out anti-labour governors and politicians in the forthcoming 2019 general election, ‘’Wabba said.

    He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to speedily present to the National Assembly the bill on the National Minimum Wage for appropriate amendment and implementation.

    “It would interest Nigerians to know that the new national minimum wage of N30,000 was a product of intense and robust negotiations at the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Negotiation Committee that lasted for one year.

    “At the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Negotiation Committee, state governments were represented by six states, one state from each of the six geo-political zones.

    The statement added: “The 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended) recognises individual states in the Collective Bargaining Process not Nigeria Governors Forum. The states, like the other social partners, have already defended their positions during negotiations at the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Negotiation Committee vis-à-vis counter proposals.

    “Alhaji Yari should desist from using the platform of the Nigeria Governors Forum to seek political relevance. His tactics of blackmail against workers is already time worn and the stench is already offensive.

    “We hereby reiterate our directive to Nigerian workers to vote out any politician or political party that refuses to pay the new national minimum wage of N30,000. We shall continue to consolidate our efforts to strengthen already existing platforms and structures to give teeth to our resolve to vote out anti-labour governors and politicians in the forthcoming 2019 general election.

    Governors say states cannot pay the new wage because they do not have the capacity to. They are requesting that:

    • workforce size should be cut; and
    • revenue allocation should be revisited.

     

  • Jubilation in Kano over N30, 000 minimum wage

    It was jubilation galore for workers at the Katsina Road secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the ancient city of Kano on Tuesday, following the recommendation of the payment of N30, 000 minimum wage, after meeting of the tripartite Committee in Abuja that led to the immediate suspension of the proposed nation-wide strike.

    The Kano chapter leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the United Labour Congress (ULC) gathered at the secretariat where they urged workers in the ancient commercial city to go back to work as they await timely enactment and implementation of the proposed N30, 000 minimum wage.

    Addressing a Press Conference at the secretariat, NLC chairman in the state, Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibir, noted that the struggle was not yet over as he prayed for speedy implementation of the new minimum wage, so as to put smiles on workers faces.

    According to him, “there are still several bridges to cross before the new minimum wage becomes law and implemented. It is our collective commitment and dedication that has made the progress so far possible.

    “We need to stand ready in a state of full mobilization in case future action becomes necessary to push for the timely enactment and implementation of the new minimum wage. As such, I therefore call on all our members to immediately report back to their duty posts.”

    Minjibir commended the national leaderships of NLC, TUC and ULC, “for standing firm on the decision of the Central Working Committee and their resilience to protect the interest of Nigerian workers, especially at this trying period.

    “We appreciate equally, our partners in the struggle—the Civil Society Organizations, student unions, Keke NAPEP associations, market men and women, our labour veterans, security agencies, members of the Press, religious leaders and all well-meaning members of the public who identified with us during the struggle.”

  • Breaking: Labour Suspends nationwide strike

    The planned nationwide strike by the labour unions over a new minimum wage has been shelved for now.

    The strike was scheduled to start on Tuesday.

    Labour leaders, government representatives and organised private sector spent many hours on Monday to reach a consensus on a minimum wage.

     

    Details later…