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  • NLC accuses govt of plotting to disintegrate labour

    THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has reported the Federal Government to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) over alleged backdoor plans to proscribe the congress and undermine collective labour relations.

    Its President and representative of workers on the ILO Governing Board Comrade Ayuba Wabba told the Committee on Application of Standard that the government has forwarded a new bill to the National Assembly, which will distort the nation’s industrial relations landscape.

    The NLC also reported the Kaduna and Kogi states to the world labour body over total disregard for the principle of collective bargaining, which constitutes violations of ILO Convention 98 for sacking workers indiscriminately and refusal to pay salary of workers.

    Wabba told the committee, which meets to review industrial relations in member countries that part of the bill sent to the nation’s parliament seek to proscribe the NLC, if it fail to amend its constitution to conform to the bill two years after being passed into law.

    He said: “A new version of the Collective Labour Relations Bill is not a product of consultation and largely different from the one we have made inputs to some years ago. Strangely, this new version was to be surreptitiously passed into law, but for our vigilance and the candour of the parliament to undertake due diligence.

    “Evidence of our claim that the intentions of the amendment were to undermine trade unions and unnecessarily distort our industrial relations landscape and temperature can be seen in one of the portions of this new bill which says “if after two years of commencement of the application of this Act, and the Nigeria Labour Congress has not amended her constitution to conform to this Act, it shall stand proscribed”.

    He added that “the mention of the name of our organisation in a draft proposal for amendment betrayed the undisguised malicious intention of the amendment”.

    The NLC President maintained that “interference in collective negotiation process in the private sector has been a cause of worry to the committee since 2009. The government continues to claim that sectorial collective bargaining agreement must have its blessing before it becomes implementable so that there is no ‘undue economic disruption’ and so it has benchmarks for wages. This clearly contradicts Article 4 of this Convention for which the committee has sharply pointed in this report being discussed by this conference committee.”

     

     

     

  • Federal Govt planning to proscribe NLC – Wabba

    The Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ) has reported the Nigerian government to the International Labour Organisation, on alleged back-door plan  to proscribe the Congress and undermine collective labour relations in the country.

    President of the Nigeria Labour Congress and representative of workers on the Governing Board of the ILO, Comrade Ayuba Wabba told the Committee on Application of Standard that the government has forwarded a new bill to the National Assembly which will distort the nation’s industrial relations landscape.

    The NLC also reported the Kaduna and Kogi state governments to the world Labour body over total disregard for the principle of collective bargaining which constitute violations of ILO convention 98 for sacking workers indiscriminately and refusal tom pay salary of workers.

    Wabba told the Committee which meets to review industrial relations in member countries that part of the bill sent to the nation’s parliament seek to proscribe the NLC if it fails to amend its constitution to conform to the bill two years after being passed into law.

    “A new version of the Collective Labour Relations Bill is not a product of consultation and largely different from the one we have made inputs to some years ago. Strangely, this new version was to be surreptitiously passed into law, but for our vigilance and the candor of the parliament to undertake due diligence.

    “Evidence of our claim that the intentions of the amendment were to undermine trade unions and unnecessarily distort our industrial relations landscape and temperature can be seen in one of the portions of this new bill which says “if after two years of commencement of the application of this Act, and the Nigeria Labour Congress has not amended her constitution to conform to this Act, it shall stand proscribed”.

    He added that “the mention of the name of our organisation in a draft proposal for amendment betrayed the undisguised malicious intention of the amendment.”

    The NLC President maintained that “interference in collective negotiation process in the private sector has been a cause of worry to the Committee since 2009. The government continues to claim that sectorial collective bargaining agreement must have its blessing before it becomes implementable so that there is no “undue economic disruption” and so it has benchmarks for wages. This clearly contradict Article 4 of this Convention for which the Committee has sharply pointed in this report being discussed by this Conference Committee.

    “The Collective Labour Relations Bill the Committee of Experts refer to started over 10 year ago. Still, no end in sight. Aside the process being very slow and delayed, the intention of government with respect to the review and amendments are giving us cause for concerns.

    “As against the advice of the Committee of experts to bring labour laws in conformity with the Convention, we can report that, sadly, this is not the case at present. Rather, the government is seeking to use the process to weaken and destroy trade unions and at the same time claiming to expand “freedom of association and volunteerism”.

    He also said “few days ago, another infraction to this convention was committed by the Ministry of Labour. The Minister was reported in some national dailies as saying that workers should not expect the National Minimum (still under discussion) to be finalised by September. When the minimum wage negotiation started, it was agreed by all partners that it will terminate with an outcome in September. The Minister is thus unilaterally determining the negotiation outcome.

    “We ask that this Committee call on the Nigerian government to allow for genuine and good faith engineering of the intended reforms of the labour laws so as to bring them in conformity to the provisions of this convention. We also pray this Committee to ensure that the Nigerian government work genuinely with the High Level Mission that the Committee of Experts has severally proposed, which we know will benefit Nigeria, her industrial relations practices and ultimately, her economy”.

    Turning to the issue of Kaduna and Kogi states, the NLC President said “In 2017, the government of Kaduna State, Northwest Nigeria, sacked with a slant of disingenuous manner 38,000 workers comprising of 22,000 teachers, about 5,000 Local government Councils, and over 8,000 from ministries, departments, agencies, as well as those in the tertiary institutions under the guise of a vague reform.

    “The sack was carried out without recourse to respect and consideration for established rules in handling such process, including the provisions in the existing public sector collective bargaining procedures. The Nigeria Labour Congress officially reported this violation to the Ministry of Labour.

    “We wish to report that the disregard for collective bargaining extant laws and practices was total. For instance, the Nigeria Union of Teachers challenged this illegal sack in court and got a restraining order that the proposed sack should be put on hold until the substantive suit is decided. The court order was blatantly disregarded and disobeyed by the state government.”

    He accused the Kaduna state government of also violating section 16(A) of the Trade Union Act, by withholding seven months deductions to all the unions, while also going ahead to stop such deductions through a government circular.

    “In Kogi State, North-central Nigeria, the government is refusing to abide by collective bargaining agreement concerning the payment and protection of wages. Workers and pensioners in that state are owed over 7 months salaries and pension benefits. This is in spite of repeated genuine efforts by the Federal Government to ameliorate this problem through the granting, three times, of financial bailout to all the affected states.

    “In July 2017, the Kogi state government rather than negotiate with the teaching staff in the tertiary institutions in the state, it illegally proscribed and confiscated the assets of the affected unions. These actions are also violations of section 40 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, which was equivocal that “all persons shall not only be free to assemble and associate, but in particular, shall freely form or belong to trade unions and other associations for the protection of their interests,” Wabba stated. 

  • NLC, Ngige disagree on implementation date for new wage

    THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige have disagreed over the possibility of implementing a new national Minimum wage in September this year.

    While President of NLC insists that the tripartite committee on minimum wage set an August/September date for the minimum wage, the Minister said the September date for workers to receive the minimum wage is not feasible in view of the long processes involved.

    The Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) has however warned against putting a particular timeline on the conclusion and eventual implementation of the minimum wage, but expressed confidence that the entire process should be concluded before the end of the year.

    Addressing newsmen after addressing the plenary at the ongoing 107th session International Labour Conference, President of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said if all members of the tripod are committed to doing what is right and working within the timeline already set for itself, the minimum wage can be achieved in September.

    He said “clearly speaking, if we are to go by the timeline which the tripartite committee represented by government, employers and workers are able to work assiduously towards it, it is something that is deliverable and can be achieved. So, we are still keeping faith with the process.”

    According to him, the minimum wage committee set a timeline for itself which it is committed to, adding that “Labour represented by NLC and TUC are committed to following that timetable and timeline.”

    “We made that very clear from the beginning after the inauguration of the committee because the first thing they did was to look at the scope of the work and the time it will take for us to deliver, to complete the tripartite negotiation and make sure that we are able to deliver a comprehensive report.

    “Given the process of give and take, with the commitment we have also received from the National Assembly, I don’t think that the centrality of the issue require any delay. So as Organised Labour, we are committed to the timeline that the committee has set for itself. The timeline is August/September and we have said that very clearly.”

    He said as the process goes on, organised labour will constantly will consult its organs and constituents and will be able to push the process through any other means that is legitimately allowed by law.

    He said further that “at the tripartite committee, once it is agreed, we also know the process. It not about your willingness to pay, but the desirability and the fact that workers deserve decent wages. Clearly speaking, there is no time that employers has offered willingly as Father Christmas increases in salaries to workers. It has always been through demand and contestations.”

    “So, when we reach the bridge, they will also see reason because if they want workers to be productive, they must be able to take care of their families. People seek for employment so that they will have decent living. Nobody seek job for the sake of being Father Christmas. These are the areas of contestations. So, it is not about how you feel, but what is supposed to be done.

    “Once there is the will and the negotiations are concluded and a figured agreed by the tripartite, the entire process involved in making it a law can be concluded within a very short period. The one that we did in 2011 did not take up to one month for the entire process to be completed.

    “We have also received firm commitment from the leadership of the National Assembly that once a law that is agreeable is transmitted to them, they will be able to facilitate the process. So, if there is the good will, all these processes can be concluded in good time and workers will then be able to benefit from it.

    “But if there is no good will, then the issue of delay and all manner of excuses can be given. But our faith is that we are committed to the process and workers are waiting very anxiously to benefit because it is also long overdue. At the last negotiation, we all agreed to the five year timeline. This is the context of what we are considering”.

    Addressing the plenary session of the ILO earlier, Wabba said that the rank of the working poor in Nigeria was expanding, thus exacerbating household, generational and gender poverty. However, while saying that he was quoted out of contest in earlier reports that the minimum wage may not be feasible by September, Minister of Labour said “the truth of the matter is that there is a work programme for the minimum wage committee. And by that schedule of work, we are supposed to terminate our own work in that committee first week of September.

    “After you have done that, you will now take your recommendation to government. After doing that, the executive arm of government will take your recommendation to the Federal Executive Council because it concerns those in states, people in the state will now take it to National Economic Council, which is the council in charge of the economy of Nigeria. So these bodies will then look at the recommendation and then forward the final distillate to the National Assembly.

    “It is the National Assembly that has power to make laws. But we can forward to them as executive bills. That is what the constitution says. So, I do not see all these taking place in September. That was why I said the date of September for a worker to receive new minimum wage is not feasible.

    “However, that is not to say if everyone puts in their best and we put it on a fast track, we cannot consummate it before the end of the year. And when we consummate it before the end of the year, it has to be budgeted for. So, the money will go in either as supplementary budget or 2019 budget.”

    On his part, Director General of the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) said putting a definite timeline on the issue of the new minimum wage may be counterproductive.

    He said employers of labour in the country “have been the good boy over the years as far as minimum wage is concern. What we are doing now is to give expression to the issue if social dialogue in the context of negotiation. The private sector in Nigeria has been one firm believer in collective bargaining.

    “In fact, we have been able to adhere to the principles and value of collective bargaining more than the government. We have demonstrated good faith in the outcome of collective bargaining by implementing the outcome of such collective bargaining from time to time.

    “So, the whole idea of discussing the national minimum wage is not strange to us because we have taken part in it in time past and employers in Nigeria have been very faithful to the outcome of past national minimum wage.

    “I can assure you that just as we have done in time last, our employers will still keep that good reputation which they have as law keepers as soon as the national minimum wage is legislated into law. So, we all look forward to the conclusion of the negotiations which I think should be sooner than later.

    “But we must be careful in trying to set specific date or specific timeline for the discussions going on because the dynamics of negotiations and bargaining is such that you can just speculate, but you cannot be definitive as to when it will end. But one thing that we as employers are quite sure of is that before the end of the year, we should be able to finish the entire process of discussing the national minimum wage”.

  • Nigerian democracy serving political class’ interests, says NLC

    THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has X-rayed the present democratic dispensation and concluded that “it is only serving the political class’ interests.”

    According to it, a democracy that does not allocate resources in a manner that ensures equity, justice and sustained national development or cohesion, is beggarly.

    Eighteen years of the country’s democracy, the union said, has come with very sparse rewards for the people.

    Its President Ayuba Wabba  said in a statement entitled: “18 years of democracy: Time to ask questions”, that it was unfortunate that those elected to serve as democratic leaders have only turned around to serve themselves and keep exploiting every given opportunity to turn Nigerians into paupers in their own land.

    The NLC lamented that its members are frequently turned into cannon fodder by the political elite in their high stakes political games and mindless scramble for the commonwealth.

    It said that despite the escalating costs of living, devaluation of the naira and general hardship in the land, the worker is still forced to survive on N18,000 as minimum wage with not a few states owing backlog of salaries and pensions.

    The statement said: “While we celebrate democracy’s irreplaceable gift of freedom, liberty and popular representation, the truth remains that this democracy has served the political class and not the average Nigerian.

    “Unfortunately, those we elected to serve as democratic leaders have not only turned around to serve themselves, but continue to exploit every given opportunity to turn the rest of us into paupers in our own land.

    “Besides, the frequent unlawful dipping of fingers into the public till, everything including salaries, pensions, perquisites, ways and means are skewed in their favour to the exclusion of workers. This certainly makes a mockery of the very essence of democracy which is service to the people and for the benefit of the common good.

    “For us in the labour movement, a democracy that does not allocate resources in such a manner that ensures equity, justice and sustained national development or cohesion is beggarly.

    “We reason that Nigerian workers are frequently turned into cannon fodder by the Nigerian political elite in their high stakes political games and mindless scramble for the commonwealth.

    “Despite escalating costs of living, devaluation of the naira and general hardship in the land, the Nigerian worker is still forced to survive on N18,000 as minimum wage with not a few states owing backlog of salaries and pensions.

    “While pensioners in not a few states wallow in misery and unimaginable suffering, the members of the political elite led by state governors as a matter of ‘law’ and policy, take in advance whopping severance packages to which they are not entitled in the first place.

    “How well has this democracy uplifted the spaces where we live and work? Without prejudice to the effort of this government, our infrastructure is still in tatters. Our roads are impassable and public electricity supply remains epileptic. Our schools and health facilities have become sorry relics of what they used to be in the first decade post-independence.

    “The spate of killings, general wave of violence and insecurity across the country further traumatise the hapless citizenry. In spite of the great effort by the Buhari administration to fight corruption, corruption keeps fighting back more viciously.

    “While unarguably, our electoral processes are improving by the day, the same cannot be said of elections conducted by State Electoral Commissions. Worse still, we are worried by the political intolerance of governors and their philistinal behaviour, completely at variance with what obtains at the centre.

    “In light of the foregoing, this May 29 should be like no other as it should not be devoted to false homage to democracy but devoted to soul-searching and truth-telling, so that with commitment from all of us, we can get it right.

    “This day avails us a great opportunity to demand for accountability from our leaders, especially governors, and also from ourselves as citizens of a great country that has potential to be greater.

    “It is a day for us to  shift from our pliant position as citizens to a position of virility, vitality, proactivity or of asking questions, especially, those who have appropriated the machinery of democracy to feather their nests.

    “This May 29 must be seized by those who have been under-served by the chefs manning our democratic kitchen. This May 29 must be captured by those who have been left behind in our democratic journey. There is no better time to demand for accountability from political office holders than now.

    “There is also no better time to demand accountability from the popular side – ourselves – than now. What have we done with our votes? What will we do with our votes in 2019 and in elections that would take place before and after then? Our destiny is our hands to shape!

    “Yet, despite the inability of our democracy  to put on the table our expectations,  it still remains the best form of government. Accordingly, we will continue to support all processes that will enthrone or perfect our democracy.

    “For us, the  dark memories of military rule are still fresh and we pledge not to stand by as some elements seek to imperil this democracy by  their acts of  greed, insane desperation for power, petty proclivities and  inanities.

    “Nigerian workers, activists, peasants, women and students did not work so  hard to bring about this democracy – (some even paid the supreme price) – for opportunists masquerading as political leaders to loot it dry and then truncate it.

    “Nigerian workers must personally appropriate this challenge as we seek to rebuild an enduring political platform that would offer the fullest essence to our age-long struggle for a society where no one is oppressed, cheated, excluded, isolated or left behind.

    “At the risk of repetition, the biggest gift this anniversary offers us in our view is, as part of our civic duty, to register and obtain our voters cards, vote and defend our votes. It also gives us a chance to monitor government and hold it to account.

    “As a people, we have the power to elect or change governments if only we are willing and committed. We are also obligated to support government if it is doing the right thing. On no account should we allow primordial or pristine considerations to preclude us from doing the right thing.”

  • NLC, SERAP, Sagay, others call for probe

    Former President Olusegun Obasnjo came under fire yesterday following President Muhammadu Buhari’s remark that $16 billion was wasted on power projects, without result, during his administration.

    Although Obasanjo said the National Assembly had already cleared him of any wrong doing and thatb he was ready for probe on the spendings, a cross section of eminanet Nigerians who spoke to our correspondents said the issue should not be swept under the carpet.

    Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) Chairman Prof Itse Sagay (SAN) said former President Obasanjo ran one of the most corrupt administrations in Nigeria’s history.

    He said Obasanjo acts like a saint when he is the “most stained” person around.

    Asked if Obasanjo should be probed over the $16billion allegedly spent on power without result, Sagay said: “, I think he should be probed. You see, President Buhari has been very generous and mild towards his predecessors, not wanting to cause discomfort and embarrassment for them out of respect for the positions they held.

    “But, Obasanjo is a man who does not respect himself, who thinks he is the President-General of Nigeria for life and has a right at any time to wade in and be very caustic and publicly insulting to his successors, just because he’s envious of the same position he held. He cannot detach himself from the Presidency.

    “I think he needs to be brought to order. He has been tolerated enough in this country. The President’s remark was very appropriate and more and more should come because Obasanjo ran one of the most corrupt governments this country has ever seen.”

    Asked if the Federal Government can prosecute Obasanjo, Sagay said: “It is possible but not likely. It is possible in the sense that there are issues like Siemens, Halliburton, funding for his library, and not to talk of this electricity thing.

    “But, because people decide to be quiet and let bygones be bygones, he won’t allow peace to prevail; he must raise dust and behave like a saint when you’re the most stained person around. He may bring it on his own head if he is not careful.”

    Another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Emeka Ngige, urged the anti-graft agencies to do their work- no matter who is involved.

    He said:”I believe there was a report of the House of Representatives Committee on Power that indicted President Obasanjo in 2008 for various infractions on power sector contracts during his regime . The committee recommended that EFCC or ICPC should do further investigation and possibly prosecute him, if found culpable. That report was kept in a deep freezer till date.”

    Obasanjo says the report and that of the EFCC exonerated him.

    “So, the remark by President Buhari is not new. I still believe that the EFCC or ICPC should do the job as recommended by the House. The earlier we started jailing our present and past leaders who made Nigeria a fantastically-corrupt nation the better for our democracy,” Ngige said.

    A former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President and leader of the National Intervention Movement (NIM), Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), called for strong measures against all those found culpable over the $16billon spending.

    He, however, said he does not see the present leadership as being capable of taking a tough action on the matter.

    “Unfortunately, our leaders always trade words and nothing gets done. A new government should get down to real business in 2019 and take a strong action against all who are culpable; enough of panels but very tough action. We in NIM will do it. Extremely strong measures,” he said.

    Malam Yusuf Ali (SAN) is doubtful if anything would come out of any probe.

    His words: “Given the history of probes in our country, it usually leads to nothing and the country ends up spending more good money to look for hay in the sack. If there are issues that are worthy of investigation on the matter, let us get world renowned auditors to do forensic audit since money was involved. The Elumelu House of Representatives probe on power – what came out of it?

    “Nigerians are tired of this blame game! People got elected to fix the country. Please let them fix Nigeria so that we stop the brain drain. We will have functional hospitals so that public officials stop wasting our money on external treatment of simple ailments. Name calling won’t change our situation.”

    Constitutional lawyer Ike Ofuokwu urged Buhari to face his job and stop playing politics, adding that he should be courageous enough to charge Obasanjo if there is evidence against him.

    He said: “The comment of President Buhari is simply a political statement geared towards 2019 election. This is a government that claims that it’s fighting corruption, so if it has thoroughly done its findings and is satisfied that former President Obasanjo has dipped his hands into the national treasury, the only reasonable thing expected of her is to be courageous enough to put the process of prosecution in place and arraign the former president in a court of competent jurisdiction.

    “Otherwise, Nigerians are simply tired of media trial and propaganda that brings no conviction. Sometimes, I begin to think that the Buhari government is barren of progressive ideas. Nigerians are aware of the many profligacies of the past, hence voted him to power. He’s almost run out of his four years mandate and instead of moving the nation forward, he continues to put the nation in reverse motion.”

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Ahmed Raji, urged Nigerians not to sensationalise the issue.

    “Both Baba Obasanjo and President Buhari have exclusive rare grace of presiding over the affairs of Nigeria in uniform and as civilians. And the history of Nigeria can never be complete without a substantial mention of their names, especially the great Ebora Owu.

    “When President Obasanjo wrote the recent open letter to President Buhari, it was reported that the President reluctantly allowed his Information minister to react by only listing their achievements.

    “President Buhari has tremendous respect for Baba Obasanjo on account of seniority in age and military service, hence he made it clear that his Information minister should not join words with President Obasanjo. I advise all to draw a lesson from that episode and not get involved,” Raji said.

    NLC calls for probe as SERAP asks Buhari to refer ex-presidents to EFCC, ICPC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said President Buhari’s comment on the “wasted” $16billion on power should be looked into.

    The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) said thePresident should refer two of his predecessors to the anti-graft agencies for their role in the waste of public fund.

    NLC Secretary General Peter Oso-Eson said if there is evidence on the allegation, nothing shuld stop its investigation.

    He said anybody that is found guilty should be prosecuted, adding that there is need for transparency in the anti-corruption drive of the Federal Government.

    “If there is any evidence on this allegation, then those found guilty should be prosecuted because there is nobody above the law

    “This should be a sign that the government is serious about its anti-corruption campaign,” Oso-Ezon said.

    General Secretary National Union of Textiles, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) Issa Aremu said the former President is expected to account for the seed money. He said it is very wrong for the former president to say we should go and read his book.

    He said if such money is spent on power as alleged by the President, then the question is, why are we still in darkness? Where is the power?

    “Obasanjo should not be saying they should go and read his book. It is wrong for a statesman to make such pronouncement.

    “The former President is expected not to make a self defence, but he should defend or tell us the reason why the country is still in darkness. As I said, Obasanjo should not be saying, they should go and read his book. It is unlike a statesman. Having spent such amount on power and nothing to show for it, I think the former President needs to tell Nigerians what happened,” Aremu said.

    SERAP called for further probe of the alleged mismanagement of 16 billion dollars power projects between 1999 and 2007.

    In a statement by its Executive Director Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organisation urged President Buhari to urgently refer the case to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for further investigation.

    It said the alleged squandering of over N11 trillion meant to provide regular electricity supply covering the governments of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan, should also be investigated.

    It called for the prosecution of anyone involved in the matter “if there is relevant and sufficient admissible evidence’’ at the end of the probe.

    SERAP said it welcomed Buhari’s focus on the allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the power sector, and urged him to expand his searchlight beyond the Obasanjo government.

    “It is only by pursuing all the allegations and taking the evidence before the court that the truth will be revealed and justice best served.

    “This is the only way to conclusively address the systemic corruption in the power sector and an entrenched culture of impunity of perpetrators.

    “Addressing impunity in the power sector should be total. This would help improve the integrity of government and public confidence and trust in their government.

    “It would also serve as a vehicle to further the public’s perception of fairness and thoroughness, and to avert any appearance of political considerations in the whole exercise.’’

    The organisation noted that it would be in the public interest in line with constitutional provisions for the Buhari administration to immediately pursue justice and recovery of any stolen asset in the power sector.

  • NLC, Reps condemns attack on court in Port Harcourt

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and House of Representatives have condemned the attack by hoodlums on the court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

    NLC President Ayuba Wabba, in a statement  yesterday in Abuja, said the attack represented the primitive instincts of the hoodlums and the desperation of their promoters.

    “But beyond this, an attack on the court, any court for that matter, constitutes a violation of the sanctity of the judiciary and an invitation to anarchy.

    “In light of the fact that the court is the last hope of the common man, no explanation is good enough for this level of primitive violence,‘’ he said.

    The House of Representatives, following a motion by Betty Apiafi (Rivers-PDP), urged security agencies to fish out those behind the attack.

    Apiafi expressed concern about the invasion of an arm of government, noting that it is to an assault and contempt of the judiciary.

    She described the violence carried out by hoodlums allegedly aided by some security operatives, as an infringement on the Constitution.

    Apiafi said the incident led to the destruction of equipment and furniture, and ransacking of court buildings.

    She noted that if nothing is done about it, the country’s democracy could be affected.

    The lawmaker urged the House to constitute an ad hoc committee to investigate the matter to forestall fa recurrence.

    The motion was adopted by members when it was put to a voice vote by Deputy Speaker Yussuff Lasun.

     

     

     

  • NLC to Fed Govt: stop allocations of states, councils refusing to pay minimum wage

    THE new national minimum wage yesterday dominated the May Day celebration at the Eagle square in Abuja with Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Ayuba Wabba insisting the Federal Government should ensure that allocation is not released to any state or local council, which fails to implement the new pay.

    Wabba, who spoke while addressing workers, also asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a thorough voter register audit to weed out names of double registrants and under-age voters.

    This, he said, would help boost the confidence of voters and stakeholders in our electoral system.

    Wabba said the organised labour was battle ready against any public and private organisation that would refuse to conform to the new minimum wage. He said: “At our disposal is the power of our votes! We shall ensure that governments that refuse to pay the new minimum wage will not receive the support of the working class, pensioners and their families.”

    He said the ongoing negotiation for a new national minimum wage was a clear indication that an increase in the minimum wage would pull many workers out of poverty.

    A new minimum wage, he added, would put the country in positive light globally as it would ensure compliance with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards and raise the levels of productivity and enhance the purchasing power of workers.

    Beside the demand of N66,500 as the national minimum wage, he said the organised Labour has proposed that the Minimum Wage Act should be amended to guarantee review every five years as contained in the recommendation of the 2011 Belgore-led Tripartite Committee.

    According to Wabba, the nationwide minimum wage public hearings have unmasked the enemies of Nigerian workers.

    “We insist that once the Minimum Wage Act is signed into law, all employers in public and private sectors must pay at once. We shall stand with those willing to pay more than the minimum. We shall resist any move to renegotiate the minimum wage at any level,” he said.

    He frowned at a situation where employers’ unlawfully and illegally withheld contributory pension deductions from workers’ salaries and not remitting same to their Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs).

    The NLC leader added that situations where workers retire from public service and were forced to wait for several months for their pension benefits to be processed still persist.

    Wabba said the lethargic payment and non-payment for those who were already pensioners, especially by state governments keep militating against the smooth operation of pension administration.

    He called on employers of labour and the three tiers of government to promptly remit contributory pension deductions to workers’ PFAs.

    Wabba stressed that workers, pensioners and their allies condemned and rejected the report of the Mallam Nasir El-Rufai’s All Progressive Congress (APC) committee on restructuring.

    He particularly mentioned its recommendation that local government system be removed from the constitution and labour matters, including trade unions, labour relations, occupational safety, minimum wage and industrial arbitrations should be moved from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List.

    “The education that Mallam El-Rufai and his committee members need is that first; the removal of labour issues from the Exclusive List to the Concurrent list is not in conformity with global best practice. Second is that member countries of International Labour Organisation (ILO) are responsible for implementing labour standards not sub national governments,” the labour leader said.

    On the 2019 general election, Wabba said: “As we progress towards the 2019 general elections, we call on the political class and Nigerians to always put the interest of Nigeria above any other interests. We must all respect democratic values, imbibe political tolerance and shun all tendencies of politics of ‘do or die’.

    “INEC must work assiduously to ensure free, fair and transparent elections. INEC should provide a level-playing ground for all political actors. There are still very positive aspects of the Report of the Justice Uwais-led Electoral Reform Committee that should be implemented, especially the establishment of Electoral Offences Commission.

    “We also advise that INEC should prioritize early preparations for the forthcoming elections. INEC should also improve the delivery of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs). A situation where Nigerians are forced to wait for too long or travel long distances to collect their PVCs induces voter apathy and constitutes a strong source of disenfranchisement.”

    Trade Union Congress of Nigeria President Bobboi Kaigama expressed the hope that the tripartite committee on the new national minimum wage would conclude its work by August and make its recommendation to government for implementation.

     

  • Minimum wage implementation: NLC says time line must not be altered

    WORKERS’ umbrella union Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday said it will not to allow the Tripartite Committee for National Minimum Wage to alter the time line for the implementation for the new wage.

    Their position was made known by NLC President Ayuba Wabba at a Pre-May Day Symposium organised by the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Abuja.

    The theme of this year’s May Day celebration billed for today across the globe is: “Role of labour and workers in national devolvement: Dare to struggle and we dare to win.”

    The Federal Government, which raised a wage review panel in November last year, promised to implement the new national minimum wage for workers from the third quarter of the year, based on the recommendation of the committee chaired by a former Head of Civil Service of the Federation Ms. Ama Pepple.

    Wabba said: “We will make sure that the time line that has been set by the tripartite committee for the implementation of the national minimum wage will not in any way be altered or undermined.

    “Workers, who create wealth, must also be well taken care of as we are not unmindful of the situation of the Nigerian workers, particularly, with the increasing inflation in the land.

    “So, clearly speaking, the minimum wage is an issue we will continue to canvass for. I want to assure you all that we will take the issue to the next level and essentially we are going to win.”

    Speaking on today’s celebration, the NLC president described May Day as an opportunity to provide workers better policy and address issues affecting them.

    Wabba said workers must be prepared to demand for a better working condition and welfare.

    He said: “Importantly, we are going to interrogate how far the democratic process has been able to deliver on its mandate and how workers have being fairing.

    “Workers have contributed immensely to our national development and workers create the wealth of every economy, however, they are neglected.”

    He urged the government to address the issue of governance, inequality gap, unemployment and development among others.

    Prof. Onje Gwardo, Faculty of Law, University of Jos, called for commitment among workers in the discharge of their duties. He urged them to show commitment to work, ideas and national development.

    “We have some level of commitments that have been exemplified by those who have gone before us,”

    In his goodwill message to the workers, Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday hailed the resilience, dedication and contributions of workers to national growth.

    Telecommunications solution provider, Globacom, also identified with the workers and commended them for their uncommon industry, abiding resilience and unimpeachable patriotism.

    In a statement by his media aide Yusuph Olaniyonu in Abuja, Saraki described workers as the mainstay of the economy.

    The statement reads: “They (workers) form the bedrock on which the building blocks of any sustained national development can be laid.”

    He called on the workers to continue to put in their best in any sector they find themselves, saying that their efforts shall never be in vain.

    The Senate president promised that the National Assembly, under his leadership, would support efforts aimed at ensuring workers are adequately rewarded and well-catered for.

    “There can be no economic growth without the contribution of workers and there can be no national development without economic development.

    “Our workers play crucial roles in all we attain as a nation and that fact needs to be recognised always.”

    In another statement in Lagos, Globacom observed that Nigerian workers were the best in the world, describing them as pivotal to the sustenance of the nation’s economy.

    The company urged the workers to keep giving their best towards building a strong work culture that will produce world-class products and services.

    “The flexible and dependable Nigerian work force had been the backbone of the nation’s economy over the years and has contributed immensely to the development of the vibrant telecommunications sector that we have today,” Globacom said in its goodwill message.

  • Workers’ Day: APC charges NLC to sustain dialogue on welfare with FG

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other workers’ groups to sustain ongoing dialogue with Federal Government on improving workers’ salaries and welfare.

    The party made the call in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abudulahi, on Monday in Abuja.

    It said that Nigerian workers remained a key driver of the country’s multi-facet development.

    The party felicitated with the workers on the International Workers Day celebration, and called on labour and trade unions to tread the path of dialogue in fighting for improved emolument for workers.

    It stated that Nigerian workers unarguably remained one of the most dedicated, resilient and hardworking in the world.

    It noted that in spite of challenges, particularly on the economy, Nigerian workers had stayed positive and had been partners in nation-building.

    The party said that the workers had also contributed towards efforts to take the country to its deserved heights.

    The International Workers’ Day, also known as May Day in some countries, is a celebration of labourers and the working class.

    It is promoted by the International Labour Movement and is celebrated every year on May 1.

    The day, usually declared as public holiday, was first promoted by the International Workers Association in 1904 to commemorate the killing of protesting labourers in Haymarket Square in Chicago, U.S., in 1886.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian labour movement under the aegis of the NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC), organise rally every year to celebrate the day.

    The rally provides the platform for organised labour to demand for improved welfare for workers.

    The demand for a new minimum wage is expected to feature prominently in speeches to be delivered by labour leaders across the country at this year’s celebration.

    Negotiations between the Federal and state governments on the one hand and labour leaders on the other, on proposed new minimum wage of N66, 500 are currently ongoing. (NAN)

  • New minimum wage: NLC warns against excuses for non-implementation

    •As NECA, states shun public hearings

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it will not entertain excuses from any state government and even the private sector on their inability to pay the planned new minimum wage.

    President of the Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital that the implementation of the new minimum wage should not be a problem provided state governments across the country cut down on their excesses, especially their large number of political appointees.

    He spoke at a public hearing on the new national minimum wage in the northcentral zone.

    Benue, Kwara and Niger state governments were not represented at the forum.

    The organised private sector, led by the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) also stayed away.

    However, while Kogi State Government pledged to abide by the outcome of the committee’s recommendations, Plateau State said there has to be a corresponding increase in both internally generated revenue and allocation from the federation account for it to be able to implement the new minimum wage.

    Wabba, who is a member of the committee, said it was unfortunate that some of those who were supposed to make input into the work of the committee through the public hearing chose to stay away, adding that they should not turn round later to complain of not being carried along.

    He said if government at all levels could reduce their large number of political appointees and check mismanagement of available resources, there would be enough resources to take adequate care of workers welfare.

    He said a state like Jigawa, which did not access the bailout funds, has continued to pay workers’ salaries uninterrupted   and yet proposed a high new minimum wage to the committee.

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State said he is ready to pay the new minimum wage but said asked for an increase in distributable revenue in favour of states and local governments to enable them meet the financial responsibility that will be imposed on them by the new minimum wage.

    Represented by his Deputy, Elder Simon Achuba, the governor said: “Government earnings still depend principally on the Federation Accounts allocation.

    “That is why we will continue to require the special assistance of the Federal Government for greater impact.”