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Tag: NLC

  • NLC: workers’ welfare should be priority

    The Bayelsa State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Federal and state governments to make workers’welfare top priority in their efforts to promote good governance across the country.

    Speaking with reporters in Yenagoa, the state capital, NLC Chairman, Mr. John Ndiomu, reiterated the importance of workers to nation building.

    Ndiomu, who described workers as the “engine room of the economy” of a nation, said regular improvement of workers’ welfare packages was necessary to enable them overcome economic hardship.

    On the recent protest by workers for the new minimum wage, he said: “We, however, call on the governments at all levels to listen to the cries of workers.

    “Imagine a situation in 2011, when workers were receiving N18,000 and look at the imbalance between 2011 and 2018, where workers still earn the same.

    “So, let us compare it. What was the cost of a bag of rice in 2011 and what is obtainable in the market?’’

     

     

  • Minimum wage: NANS urges FG to yield to workers’ demand

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has urged the Federal Government to urgently accede to the organised labour’s demand on workers’ minimum wage to end Nigeria’s unwarranted sufferings.

    NANS gave the charge in Abeokuta in a statement signed by its National Public Relations Officer, Azeez Adeyemi.

    Adeyemi said that the Federal Government should quickly prioritize workers’ demand, saying that their welfare and well being should never be compromised.

    He noted that the current minimum wage of N18,000 had become grossly inadequate and could no longer meet the demands of an average Nigerian worker.

    “With the increment in prices of petrol, goods and services in the nation, no doubt the minimum wage is long overdue for increment.

    “NANS is using this medium to assure the NLC, TUC, ASUU and other unions of our solidarity and support to the struggle of the ongoing strike.

    Read Also: Osun victory shows APC is preferred party – Obaseki

    “The national leadership of NANS under Bamidele Akpan, hereby directs all Nigerian students to actively and morally partake in all rallies, protests and other struggles organised by the organised labour.

    “We won’t compromise as we believe we all shall overcome this present situation,” he said.

  • NLC harps on press freedom, rule of law

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said that part of the dividends of democracy was respect for press freedom, rule of law, human and trade union rights. It, implored politicians and law enforcement agencies to respect these rights.

    In a communiqué issued after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the Labour House, Abuja, the NLC advised reporters to be fair and credible in their reportage.

    The NLC decried the mounting arrears of unpaid pension and gratuity, asking states to give priority to the payment of pension and gratuity.

    “The NEC also urged that the last tranche of the Paris Club Refund should only be released if it is ascertained that it would be used to settle outstanding pension and gratuity by state governments,” NLC said.

    NLC observed that federal civil servants who retired under the contributory pension scheme in July, last year, have not been paid their entitlements, saying it has led to the death of some retirees.

    “The NEC noted that the problem was from the Federal Ministry of Finance, leading to the death of some retirees.

    “The NEC demands that the Federal Ministry of Finance should do the needful and expeditiously remit all accrued benefits to PENCOM and ensure that subsequent remittances are done as and when due,” it said.

  • FG summons labour leaders to Aso Rock over strike

    The Federal Government on Thursday summoned the leadership of the organised labour to the Presidential Villa, Abuja to know what led to the ongoing warning strike that paralysed socio-economic activities around the country.
    They were summoned by the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari.
    He said that the meeting was called to exactly know what stalled the ongoing negotiation on minimum wage.
    Kyari at the brief meeting assured the unions comprising executives of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, and the United Labour Congress that talks on the minimum wage which was initially stalled will be reopened
    He said “The purpose of this meeting is to know what led to the strike,”
    According to him, from his interaction with the labour leaders, it is the process of arriving at the figure that got stalled.
    Leading the labour leaders, the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, said that they have a fruitful deliberation with the Chief of Staff and that the discussion will be taken to the necessary organs of labour.
    He declined to give a date when the strike could be called off.
    But he assured that members of the delegation will meet again immediately to know the next step to follow in line with labour norms.
    He said, “The Chief of Staff tried to give us detail of government position which we will have to go and convey to our members and then we can revert back to him.
    “This is how far we have gone but clearly I think we have tried to share details of the information that partained to the issue of the National Minimum Wage and how the ongoing negotiation was stalled and also the best way to get out of it.
    “Government have given us their words which we will also go and communicate to our members and revert back to government.” he  added
    On when to suspend the strike, he said, “The strike as you are aware is called by a larger organ until we get their mandate before we can make any pronouncement on the strike.
    “All the discussion we have had, we will communicate to our members and therefore it is the outcome of our meeting with our members that we will also communicate to government.”
    Pressed further to speak on how soon the strike would be called off, he said, “That is what I am saying. I said all the discussions and details we have heard here will also be communicated.
    “We are also here on representative capacity even as leaders, they also lead us.
    “So whatever discussions we have and whatever details we have and the plea and also the position of government and the efforts they have made will be communicated appropriately to those organs and whatever decision we have which effectively is also about how to put an end to the entire process we will also try to communicate to government.
    “We will try to do that very shortly as soon as possible. As we get out of here we put our heads together and try to see how to get our organs informed.”
    But some members of the delegation speaking on condition of anonymity said that the strike will not be called off immediately, claiming that the government had the whole time to discuss with the labour but chose to be lukewarm.
    “The Chief of Staff was begging us to call off the strike but it is not possible now. If we do it, our members will lynch us,” one of them said.
    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, had on Wednesday said that the four member sub-committee which was mandated to have a holistic review on the Minimum Wage could not conclude on Tuesday as planned because some of the key members were part of the  President delegation to the United Nations General Assembly, UNGA in New York.
    Besides, the government has kept its proposal of what it can afford to the Nigerian workers to its chest until the dub-committee finishes its work.
    Though discussions on the Ama Pepple-led Minimum Wage Committee was supposed to be rounded off in August, the federal government dragged it to September even suspended the meeting of the Tripartite Committee indefinitely.
    The development had pitched the government against the workers prompting the current national warning strike called by the various unions.
    The prominent unions within the industrial sector had mobilized their members and directed them to proceed on warning strike on Thursday.

  • NLC strike: Labour in Anambra directs total compliance

    The leadership of labour movement in Anambra has directed workers to comply totally with the directive of the national leadership to embark on industrial actions due to commence on Wednesday midnight.

    Labour in a statement signed by Mr Jerry Nnubia, chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr Ifeanyi Okechukwu, chairman, Trade Union Congress, and Mr Jibuike Ikenna of Joint Negotiating Council, said workers should stay at home and await further directives.

    “Sequel to Federal Government inability to negotiate and implement the New National Minimum Wage for Nigerian Workers, Organised Labour has decided to embark on nationwide 7 days warning strike with effect from midnight of Wednesday, Sept. 26 to press home their demand.

    “In compliance with the national leadership of organised labour directive, all affiliate unions of organised labour Anambra are hereby directed to mobilise all their members to ensure total compliance of the strike action.

    They are advised to stay at home and await further directive from d National leadership of organised labour,” it said.(NAN)

  • Paris Club Refund: NLC urges FG to rescind decision

    The Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ), Delta Chapter has appealed to the Federal Government to rescind its decision to withdraw the third tranche Paris Club refund credited to the State. .

    NLC said the decision of the Federal Government to withdraw the refund was “worrisome”.

    The union said local government workers and primary school teachers were already celebrating following Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s release of N5 billion to off set their salary arrears.

    Rising from an emergency State Executive Committee (SEC) meeting of the NLC in Asaba, the union in a communique signed by the secretary, Innocent Ofuonyeadi also charged the Delta State Government not to renege on its promise to clear all arrears of salary owed workers.

    “NLC Delta State Council appeals to the Federal Government to rescind its decision and let the Delta State Government fulfill her promise to off set local government workers’ and primary school teachers’ backlog of salaries.

    “SEC also charged the Delta State Government to expeditiously meet her part of the bargain as requested by the Federal Government and clear every area of doubt with regards to London Paris Club refunds,” the communique stated.

    Read Also: Organised Labour to workers: Stay at home till further notice

    On the warning strike, the Delta NLC urged all its affiliate unions to adhere to the directive by the national leadership of NLC, adding that committees have been set up for effective monitoring and compliance across major cities of the state.

    The communique charged leaders of affiliate unions to sensitize and mobilise their members for the warning strike “aimed at further reaffirming NLC’s resolve for upward review of the minimum wage.”

    It said the warning strike action has become necessary following the deliberate refusal of Federal Government “to re-commence the tripartite negotiating committee meeting to enable them finalise their report for onward transmission to the Federal Executive Council upon which a bill will be sent to the National Assembly to repeal the current N18,000.00 minimum wage regime.”

  • Minimum wage strike looms as NLC puts workers on standby

    Barely any last minute change of plans, organised Labour in the country have concluded plans to embark on a warning strike to protest government delay in arriving at a new national minimum wage for the country.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had in November 2017 inaugurated a tripartite committee to discuss and arrive at a new national minimum wage for the country, while the committee began sitting in March 2018.

    Also, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige told the Nation in February during the 40th anniversary celebration of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) that the committee will conclude its report before the end of the third quarter.

    However, at a meeting where the committee was to finalize its work, the Minister reported announced that the government needed more time to consult before arriving at a figure which will be discussed by the committee, while the meeting was adjourned indefinitely.

    The position of the minister angered Organised Labour, promptly accused the minister and the government of delaying the process, and issued a two weeks ultimatum for government to recall the committee and conclude negotiation or face an industrial action.

    Although the Vice President was said to have called for a meeting to address the issue with a view to avoiding any industrial action, The Nation gathered that Organised Labour were not invited to the meeting.

    However, in a two paragraph statement on Tuesday, General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson informed all industrial unions in the country and state councils to immediately begin the mobilization of their members in readiness for the warning strike which May later snowball into a full blown industrial action.

    The statement reads: “This is to inform you that the Organised Labour shall commence nationwide warning strike in respect of the non implementation of the National Minimum Wage effective midnight of Wednesday 26th September 2018.

    “All industrial unions and all state councils are to commence mobilization immediately for an effective strike action nationwide. A formal notification letter will be sent later in the day”.

  • NLC urges MTN to pay $10b fine

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged communication giant MTN Nigeria to comply with the directive of the Federal Government to pay the over $10 billion as tax arrears and illegal repatriation.

    Mr Ayuba Wabba, NLC president,  in a statement yesterday in Abuja, said: “This is as well as the $8.13 billion illegally repatriated to South Africa over which four indigenous banks have been fined.

    ”We similarly urge the Federal Government to spare no effort in recovering this money as anything to the contrary will send wrong signals to other corporate organisations it had punished for lesser tax infractions.

    ”The need to enforce this order is all the more compelling when it is realised that workers pay taxes they can ill-afford, but religiously pay all the same.”

    Wabba noted that government’s tax reforms have been skewed in favour of corporate organisations, there was no reason for a default.

    He added that every taxable person is expected to pay his or her tax as and when due.

    Wabba said: ”If companies default, with what is government expected to run the country or conduct its business?

    ”In our view, this incident does not only directly test the Thabo Mbeki Report on Illicit Financial Flows from Africa, it is also a major crime against the government and people of Nigeria.

    ”On our part, we are, however, not surprised by the unethical conduct of MTN.

    ”They are not only engaged in the exploitation of Nigerian workers and turning them into slaves, but have extended their frontiers to unwholesome economic exploitation and sabotage.

    ”The questions on every lips are: How many times has MTN done this? How many other companies are doing this?”

    He stated that through the Tax Justice Campaign, labour had relentlessly and assiduously drew the attention of the government and Nigerians to the humongous crime against the vulnerable people of Africa, especially Nigeria.

    He noted that over 70 million people in Africa are said to be the poorest in the world.

    ”Government should use this opportunity to send an appropriate message to everyone, especially corporate organisations who often pay taxes in the breach.

    ”Coupled with this, government’s tax reforms will only make meaning if they are judiciously executed.”

     

  • NLC, LP kick as Mimiko declares for president

    The immediate past Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, yesterday declared his intention to contest for the President in next year’s general elections on the platform of the Labour Party (LP).

    But the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) rejected plan by former National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Abdulkadir Abdulsalam (Salam), to adopt the former governor as the party’s presidential flagbearer.

    NLC President Ayuba Wabba and Labour Party’s (LP’s) National Publicity Secretary, Mrs Ebere Ifendu, expressed their opposition to Mimiko’s ambition at a joint media briefing yesterday in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    Wabba said: “It is not possible for Mimiko to run under the LP. We want to say ‘no’ to that, as Mimiko has no business as a member of LP.

    “The party is registered by the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Market Women Association and students. They registered the party and the certificate is with the NLC General Secretary.

    “Therefore, bringing money to buy the party or its structure will not work. We do not share the same ideology with him. It is a party with a difference.

    “Therefore, I want to call on Minimko once again to make sure he get his hands off the party. A. A. Salam cannot continue to function as the chairperson of the party.”

    Mrs Ifendu warned Nigerians and political aspirants to disregard yesterday’s purported LP’s convention in Abuja.

    She said: “It has become necessary for the leadership of the LP to draw the attention of the public to the fraudulent collection of Expression of Interest and Nomination Form fees from innocent and unsuspecting political aspirants.

    “That is for those who desire to contest various elective positions under the LP through Alhaji A. A. Salam, the former national chairman of the party.

    “It would be recalled that A. A. Salam was removed at the special national convention of the party on October 3, last year.

    “This illegality was also confirmed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) report, presented by the three INEC officials that were detailed to supervise its conduct.”

    The LP National Publicity Secretary said the party’s counsel, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), had served the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), A. A. Salam and Julius Abure, the contempt of court summons.

    She warned them not to proceed with “the illegal party convention” or risk arrest.

    Mrs Ifendu said: “Credible information reaching us revealed that A. A. Salam has concluded arrangements to pull a rented crowd to declare Olusegun Mimiko as LP’s presidential candidate.

    “This illegal event is schedule to hold today (yesterday) in Abuja. This is a total violation of Article 27, Section 1, subsection i and ii of LP’s constitution.

    But at his declaration at the LP national headquarters in Abuja, Mimiko described the country as a graveyard of dreams, which should be changed to an incubation hub for great ideas.

    “It is high time we replicated over our country, that indomitable spirit of Nigerians, that spirit of accomplishment, which has made stars of individual Nigerians all over the world. The only way to do this is by electing capable hands. It is by electing a great President, that can drive this national vehicle to greatness.”

    He also listed his achievements as governor.

  • Committee on minimum wage yet to agree only on figure – NLC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says the Committee on National Minimum Wage is yet to agree only on a figure for the new minimum wage for the Nigerian workers.

    Mr Ayuba Wabba, NLC president said this while fielding questions from newsmen on Monday in Abuja.

    According to him, at that meeting, we were able to complete the entire report.

    “However, just before we conclude, the Minister of Labour spoke at that occasion as a representative of the Federal Government, saying the they needed to go and consult before arriving at a figure.

    “We felt that since this committee was inaugurated in November and everybody was aware that all stakeholders needed to tidy up whatever consultations they needed to do and make sure that we are able to work within that timeline.

    “Clearly speaking, they were not prepared to produce a figure by that date. But our report has been completed. What is left is just to agree on a particular figure as minimum wage.

    “All the parameters to be used to arrive at a figure are there. I can say clearly that states have sent in memorandums.

    “In fact, 21 states sent in memorandums, with about 12 quoting figures, NECA has submitted a figure, organised labour has submitted a figure.

    “With this new development, they are saying that they want to consult, we could say that it is not a fair process if somebody is saying at this point that he has not consulted,” he said.

    Wabba noted that the organised labour, would meet formally and issue a formal statement, and also see how they would ensure that the interest of Nigerian worker was not in any way undermined.

    According to him, this is where we are and we think that it is proper that we put the fact before our members.

    “Labour leaders have already called for our organ meetings where we will brief our members.

    “Already, it is in public domain that both the government and labour agreed that the timeline must be respected and they were saying that September is not feasible.

    “We are committed to respecting the timeline and that is why we left everything we are doing to do the needful to be able to do a good job.

    “”All the parameters you can think of have been considered and the report is ready. But the only thing missing is the issue of the figure.”

    The NLC president also recalled that individual states had quoted figures and every state was given the opportunity to make its own presentation.

    He also noted that a letter was written to every state by the secretariat to send in their memo, making their inputs and 21 of them actually made inputs.

    “You are aware of the figures quoted by organised labour. We have enough data to do justice to the work and we have actually done justice to the work. I am telling you that this is what has happened.

    “So there was enough time for everybody to make input. This should have been consummated but some people are saying they need time for consultation.

    “”We thought that should not have been the situation, because of the importance of the issue to Nigerian workers; and the workers can also not continue to be patient,” he said.(NAN)