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  • NLC, NEITI, others: NNPC ‘scandal’ must be investigated

    NLC, NEITI, others: NNPC ‘scandal’ must be investigated

    The calls for investigation of the contract debacle at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) have refused to abate. More groups, including the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiatives (NEITI), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), added their voices to the growing list of pro-probe NNPC advocates.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), however, declined comment on the controversy. Its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, told reporters: “We can’t comment on that now. In fact, we have no comment on it.”

    NEITI Technical Adviser Dr. Dauda Garuba urged the President to wade into the crisis because $25 billion is too huge an amount to consummate its contract without due process.

    He said: “Whichever way one looks at it, N25 billion is too huge an amount to  build contracts around without due process. We are supposed to be a country guided by rules and procedures. We must make Nigeria work.”

    Garuba said that if it is established that there are infractions as alleged by the Minister of States for Petroleum Resources, the necessary sanctions must be deployed.

    He insisted that Mr. President must demonstrate that he meant business when he promised Nigerians to reform the oil sector.

    He said: “I must say that it is unfortunate that the Nigeria public is being unenviably treated to unpleasant developments in the oil sector. If you ask me, this is coming at a wrong time in our history. Just when we are expecting a reform of the sector so that it can deliver the country out of the woods, we are having to deal with this.

    “So much progress has been recorded in the reform of the oil sector in the last two years that Nigeria cannot afford to turn back the hand of the clock. I know Nigerians are yet to hear from the other side. It will be fair that those who leaked the memo by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources to President Muhammadu Buhari also live up to their sophistry in access to secret information by obliging Nigerians the response by the Group Managing Director of NNPC. President Muhammadu Buhari must step in and do the needful.”

    The NLC said the issues raised in the communication between the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, and President Muhammadu Buhari should be properly investigated.

    The President of the congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, in an interview, said the issues raised by the minister must be verified.

    He said: “The issue is under some investigation and I think there should be an opportunity to interrogate the process and at the end of the day, let us know the veracity and facts of the issue. We have made this issue quite clear and loud that part of our challenge is how we are able to imbibe the process of good governance, transparency and accountability.

    “Some of the issues bothers on this critical idea of ensuring that there is good governance in place. Our hope is that this issue will be thoroughly investigated and concluded. At the end of the day. Let us hear what the issues are as well as the fact of the matter. Once we get the facts, we will then be able to make conclusion.

    “I am aware that the process of investigation is on and I am sure that the Presidency will react appropriately since there is a communication on an issue that bothers on good governance.

    “The normal thing to be done is for the issue to be addressed through the normal process. Once this type of information is thrown to the public, the normal thing is to have a process through which these issues can be looked into.

    “I am aware that the Senate are already investigating the issue and so, the process of that investigation must be concluded so that we can have the fact and be able to make meaningful contributions. Whether the Presidency or the National Assembly, they can investigate because they have the power to do so.”

    ANEEJ yesterday called on the National Assembly and President Buhari to conclude the passage and assent of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill.

    A conclusion of the enactment, according to the civil society organisation, will forestall the reoccurrence of the issues in the oil and gas sector that Kachikwu, raised against the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru.

    The petition was on arbitrary award of $25 billion contract, insubordination, among other infractions of the NNPC boss.

    ANEEJ Executive Director Rev. David Ugolor, in a statement in Abuja, applauded the Senate for launching a probe into Kachikwu’s allegations.

    Ugolor said: “Since the Senate has waded into the matter, we suggest that Mr. President as well must invite the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative, NEITI, to carry out a comprehensive and forensic audit of the allegations.

    “Among statutory functions of the NEITI include the regulation of matters related to due process in the award of contracts in the extractive sector of the Nigerian sector.

    “We believe that the inconsistencies being thrown up by the startling revelations from the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources include some of the issues which the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill seeks to address and redress.

    “The present administration since inception has defined itself first through its corruption stance, and more by the reforms it has introduced in the oil sector. It scrapped the opaque oil swap which made it possible for individuals within government to line their pockets with millions of dollars and has replaced it with the Direct Sale, Direct Purchase scheme.

    “That lofty plan of Direct Sale, Direct Purchase stands in jeopardy if all the contracts that have been awarded and the companies they have been awarded are not subject to thorough vetting and investigations by both the Senate and the NEITI.”

    For SERAP, Buhari must use his “good offices and leadership position to urgently refer the allegations of corruption and abuse of office against Mr Maikanti Baru, Group Managing Director Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for investigation, and if there is relevant and sufficient admissible evidence, for him to face prosecution”.

    The organisation urged Buhari to “suspend Mr Baru pending the referral to the EFCC and ICPC, and the outcome of any investigation by the anti-corruption agencies in order not to create the impression that your government is treating Mr Baru as a sacred cow. We urge you not to allow the allegations against Mr Baru to go the way of past inconclusive investigations of allegations of massive corruption within the NNPC”.

    In an October 2017 a letter signed by SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organisation said: “The allegations by Dr Kachikwu constitute grave breaches of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Act of 2000; and the UN Convention against Corruption (UNAC) which Nigeria recently ratified. In particular, the UN Convention against Corruption imposes clear obligations on Nigeria to investigate allegations of corruption such as the present one; prosecute suspected perpetrators and ensure return and repatriation of proceeds of corruption.

    “SERAP is concerned that years of systemic corruption within the NNPC and looting of Nigeria’s natural resources have had uneven consequences against the vulnerable groups of the society, including the poor, women and children, perpetrating and institutionalizing discrimination, and jeopardizing the needs and well-being of future generations. If left unaddressed, the allegations by Dr Kachikwu have the potential of undermining your government’s expressed commitment to returning Nigeria to the path of transparency and accountability.

    “SERAP believes that Mr Baru’s case presents your Administration with yet another rare opportunity to reassure a lot of Nigerians who may be worried about the direction of travel of your anti-corruption agenda. Rather than keeping silent on the matter, we advise you to use this case to show to Nigerians that no form of corruption will be tolerated in the NNPC under your watch.

    “SERAP also believes the recommended approach would help to address the growing public suspicion and pessimism about your government’s ability to fight high-level official corruption to a standstill, and to avoid any collateral consequences. It is absolutely important that the public should have complete confidence and trust in your Administration’s oft-repeated commitment to fight corruption and the impunity of perpetrators.

    “SERAP notes the recent allegations of corruption against Mr Baru by Dr Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of State of Petroleum and Chairman NNPC Board. In the letter to you Dr Kachikwu alleged among others appointments and postings in NNPC without due process; award of contracts above $20m without following the legal and procedural requirements for such contracts including the Crude Term contracts- value at over $10bn; the DSDP contracts- value over $5bn; the AKK pipeline contract- value approximately $3bn; various financing allocation funding contracts with the NOCs – value over $3bn; and various NPDC production service contracts – value at over $3bn—$4bn.”

  • Kachikwu’s letter must be thoroughly investigated – NLC

    Kachikwu’s letter must be thoroughly investigated – NLC

    The president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, said on Thursday that issues raised by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, in his letter to President Muhammadu Buhari should be properly investigated in the interest of Nigerians.

    Wabba said in a chat with journalists that there should be an opportunity for Nigerians to interrogate the process and know the veracity and facts of the issues raised by the minister.

    He said the NLC has made it clear that part of the challenges facing the country is how to imbibe the process of good governance, transparency and accountability, adding that some of the issues raised in the minister’s letter bothered on good governance and accountability.

    He said: “The issue is under some investigation and I think there should be an opportunity to interrogate the process and at the end of the day, let us know the veracity and facts of the issue. We have made this issue quite clear and loud that part of our challenge is how we are able to imbibe the process of good governance, transparency and accountability.

    “Some of the issues bothered on this critical idea of ensuring that there is good governance in place. Our hope is that this issue will be thoroughly investigated and concluded at the end of the day. Let us hear what the issues are as well as the fact of the matter. Once we get the facts, we will then be able to make conclusion.

    “I am aware that the process of investigation is ongoing and I am sure that the Presidency will react appropriately since there is a communication on an issue that bothers in good governance.

    “The normal thing to be done is for the issue to be addressed through the normal process. Once this type of information is thrown to the public, the normal thing is to have a process through which these issues can be looked into.

    “I am aware that the Senate is already investigating the issue and so, the process of that investigation must be concluded so that we can have the fact and be able to make meaningful contributions. Whether the Presidency or the National Assembly, they can investigate because they have the power to do so.”

     

  • FG foot-dragging on new minimum wage – NLC

    The Vice-President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Solomon Adelegan, said on Wednesday the Federal Government was foot-dragging on negotiating a new minimum wage for workers.

    Adelegan said in Lagos that negotiating a new wage for workers was long overdue.

    He said: “The agreement on new minimum wage as posited by the NLC president, Ayuba Wabba, is long overdue because the former document signed by the government and labour is renewable after every fifth year.

    “As I speak now, we are in the seventh year, meaning it is overdue for review and we have sent letters to the appropriate quarters for the negotiation to commence but there is no word from government.

    “We have done our part since about four months ago when we presented our recommendation but government has yet to commence its own process.

    “We want to let the government know that our patience is running out on this issue. On our part, there are many options open to us.”

    Adelegan said there might not be a decent workforce if the workers were working under duress, engendered by poverty as a result of poor remuneration.

    “The position of the NLC is simple, when we talk about decent workforce, there should be a commensurate pay to drive them.

    “Nigerian workers are working under unfavourable conditions. How long will it take government’s team to engage labour if they are serious with the negotiation?

    “We are calling on government to expedite action on the new minimum wage without delay because the present pay being received now is a shame, considering the current economic hardship.

    “The impact of recession as claimed by the government is only felt by the workers,’’ the NLC official added.

    NAN

  • NLC accuses politicians, multinationals of tax evasion

    NLC accuses politicians, multinationals of tax evasion

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday accused multinational companies operating in the country of reneging in their responsibility to the Nigerian state by refusing to pay the correct tax to the Nigerian government, but wire same to tax heaven.

    President of the Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba who spoke at a Youth Tax Justice training, organised by Public Service International (PSI), said it was unfortunate that the Nigerian government has not prioritised the issue of payment of tax which can be used to develop infrastructure.

    Wabba said apart from the multinationals that have refused to pay the correct tax to the Nigerian government, many Nigerians he referred to as the super-rich has also refused to pay the correct tax.

    The NLC President who said it was the responsibility of all Nigerians to demand tax justice also indicted the nation’s political class, accusing them of only rushing to pay a fraction of their tax when they are contesting political positions, challenging them to come out and inform Nigerians how much they pay annually as tax, just the same way they declare their assets. 

    Wabba said: “Tax justice means that citizens are able to pay taxes without undermining what they are supposed to pay. It is through tax we can develop our society and have resources to address critical sectors of our economy. This has proven veryeffectivet in the Western parts of the world, where technology has been used to address issues of tax payment. 

    “But in the context of Africa, we have been very problematic because of the fact that our governments don’t usually give priority to the issue of tax collection, possibly because of the natural resources we have. If you look at all around Africa, we have a lot of resources.

    “In Nigeria, we have oil and in West Africa, I am sure we have gold and other metallic products. So it is in all parts of Africa and therefore, because of our richness, the issue of tax payment have actually been relegated to the background. 

    “It is only now that those resources have not addressed our developmental challenges that we are giving attention to tax. Before now, a lot of people have helped themselves through evading tax and also through collaborating to even divert taxes.

    “This is certainly an issue we must give the desired attention because it is also a fact that both in developed and developing countries, multinationals and the rich try to evade tax. The issue of Trump is still fresh in our memory because despite being super rich, he is yet to declare the actual tax he has been paying. 

    “So, this is the trend for multinationals and the super-rich. They feast on the poor. And therefore, their major source of income is actually feasting on the poor as also evading tax.

    “The point must be made that it is the poor that needs tax weaver, not the rich. But I think there is a contradiction in our system today. Whereas the poor that needed some relief and even tax weaver is not given the weaver, it is the super-rich and the multinationals that have more than enough are now given weaver. What a contradiction? This contradiction must be addressed and therefore, the contestation is that we must continue to engage the process. 

    “As youths, we may not be able to have job opportunities if we don’t have resources to build those critical infrastructures. We will not be able to fix our social system, such as education and health which is basic fundamental rights of every citizen. All our social services require resources. It is not because resources are not there, but because we are not getting out acts right.

    “So the issue of tax justice must continue to receive priority from the government (executive, legislatures and judiciary, unionist and the citizens. I am happy that PSI has made this issue the Centre point of this training.

    “The future does not come later, it starts now and the future belongs to all of you. The future is not to come, it has already started and so, we must take advantage of this opportunity to engage those issues and take our rightful place in the scheme of affairs. 

    “In the context of Nigeria, NLC has been on the lead to engage the issue of tax and I can say clearly that our engagement is laying off because most of the issues we have raised are issues that have been accommodated in some policy documents in recent time especially on the issue of insisting that the rich must continue to pay tax.

    “All the engagements that are ongoing now, NLC has had the opportunity to be part of them. We will not stop there and have to continue until we are able to address all the issues of injustices in tax administration.

    “It is certain and obvious that it is only the workers pays correct tax. I underline the word correct tax because it is called Pay As You Earn. None of our business, I repeat, none of our multinationals pay correct tax. This is a fact which cannot be controverted. In a lot of conferences and meetings where tax justice has been discussed, it has accurately been stated that none of the major businesses including multinational of which MTN is among is paying their fair share of tax.

    “To change the trend, we are demanding for tax justice and that is why we are here. And we are saying that both rich and poor must pay the correct tax. If we do so, we are going to help our system and our society will surely develop. It must not be the other way round, where the poor including those that are at the lower level of the ladder I the society are forced to pay taxes that are even much higher than they are supposed to pay.

    “Those we classified as super-rich, can they openly tell us how much they are paying? As workers, everybody knows how much we pay as tax. But for the super-rich, I have not seen where they pay the correct tax, even when they are contesting political offices. 

    “In fact, it will be on the eve of their screening that they will rush to pay a small amount of money and get tax clearance certificate. That does not reflect what they are supposed to pay. 

    “I think that we must go beyond what is happening now to demand that all political office holders, having declared their wealth as expected by the Code of Conduct, must also tell us how they have been paying their tax over the years. This is a responsibility that we must continue to carry on because we know the worth of many of them. 

    “Many of them have been rated among the richest people in the world, but the missing link is that Forbes has not told us how much they are paying as tax. This is how to demand tax justice and make tax payment work in our country. The issue of Panama paper is true because they don’t want to pay and so, they wire this money to tax heavens and have associate companies outside the country. 

    “While the business is done here,  and the profit earned here, they don’t want to pay the tax here and so wired the money outside the country. That is why over $50 billion is lost annually to tax invasion in Africa, tax weaver and other vices that tends to undermine our tax system.”

  • NLC: restructuring without good governance useless

    NLC: restructuring without good governance useless

    •Fed Govt urged to constitute national minimum wage panel 

    THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said restructuring, devolution of power and resources to states will mean nothing unless they are accompanied by good governance and respect for the rule of law.

    The congress asked the Federal Government to constitute the national minimum wage negotiation committee to begin the immediate negotiation of the national minimum wage.

    It said yesterday that workers were gradually running out of patience over the government’s delay in constituting the committee.

    Congress President Comrade Ayuba Abba, who spoke at a symposium to mark the nation’s Independence Day celebration in Abuja, said workers believed that the country’s greatest problem is the absence of good governance.

    He mentioned massive corruption as part of lack of good governance.

    According to the NLC President,  the congress believes that restructuring the country would not replace good governance, which, he said, is responsible for the huge unemployment crisis, poor service delivery and absence of dividends of democracy for the massive majority of the people.

    Wabba said: “During the colloquium we organised recently on the discourse on ‘Restructuring and the role of the working class’, a dominant issue that emerged was the fact that one of the greatest problems or challenges of our nation has being the absence of good governance in our polity.

    “This crisis of good governance is exemplified by the massive corruption in our body politics. This in turn is responsible for the huge unemployment crisis, poor service delivery and the continuing absence of dividends of democracy for the massive majority of our people.

    “The latest manifestation of this is the refusal by a number of state governments to fulfil their elementary obligations to their workers, by not paying salaries and pensions as at when due.

    “As we have seen from the various discourse/debate on restructuring, it means different things to different people depending on their standpoints. For us in the Congress, however, we look at it that restructuring cannot be a substitute for good governance and respect for the rule of law.

    “Therefore, for our members from all the nooks and crannies of our country, the discourse makes little meaning to them when as workers and pensioners they are owed salaries and pensions running into several months.”

    The NLC President added: “We must state from the outset that for us, restructuring, devolution of more powers and resources can only make sense if there is good governance. We have heard in the course of these conversations talks about our reverting to regions, with suggestions ranging from three, four to eight regions as of the last count.

    “As long as our political and bureaucratic elite continue to misappropriate and divert resources made available for development, we cannot hope to overcome our current developmental challenges.

    “This much Mr. President’s figures on bailouts and refunds on Paris debts refunds and the persistent diversion by some state governors.”

    On the failure of government to constitute the committee to negotiate the minimum wage, Wabba said: “We must again ask the Federal Government to reconstitute the national minimum wage negotiating council to enable us negotiate a new national minimum wage for this country urgently. The 2011 collective agreement entered into with the government at the end of the last negotiations, provided for a five-year cycle, for reopening negotiations, which is overdue.

    “Secondly, all economic indexes such as inflationary rate, cost of living index, exchange rate, high cost of goods and services among others, have all shown that the current minimum wage of N18, 000 is obsolete. There is an urgent need for the government to give the go-ahead for these negotiations to start as workers are running out of patience.”

     

  • Restructuring not a substitute for good governance – NLC

    Restructuring not a substitute for good governance – NLC

    The president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, said on Monday that restructuring of the country cannot be a substitute for good governance and respect for the rule of law.

    Wabba stated this in Abuja at a symposium with the theme: “Making Nigeria Work for the People,” organised by the NLC to mark Nigeria’s 57th independence anniversary.

    He said one of the problems facing Nigeria was the absence of good governance.

    He said: “This crisis of good governance is exemplified by the massive corruption in our body politics.

    “This in turn is responsible for the huge unemployment crisis, poor service delivery and continuous absence of dividends of democracy for majority of our people.

    “The latest manifestation of this is the refusal by a number of states government to fulfill their elementary obligations to their workers by not paying salaries and pensions as at when due.

    “So, for us in the Congress, we look at restructuring as that which cannot be a substitute for good governance and respect for the rule of law.”

    Wabba said as long as the political and bureaucratic elites continue to misappropriate and divert resources meant for development, the nation would not overcome its developmental challenges.

    The NLC president urged the Federal Government to reconstitute the National Minimum Wage Negotiating Council to negotiate a new minimum wage for workers.

    He warned that workers were running out of patience over the delay in reconstituting the Minimum Wage Council.

    “The 2011 collective agreement entered into with the government at the last negotiations, provided for five years cycle for reopening negotiations, which is overdue.

    “Secondly, all economic indexes such as inflationary rate, cost of living, exchange rate, high cost of goods and services, among others, have shown that the current minimum wage of N18, 000 is obsolete.

    “There is an urgent need for the government to give the go ahead for these negotiations to start as workers are running out of patience,’’ he added.

    NAN

  • Olubadan, NLC: why we shunned Independence celebration

    Olubadan, NLC: why we shunned Independence celebration

    The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, and the leadership of Oyo State branch of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have given reasons for not attending yesterday’s celebration of the nation’s 57th Independence anniversary.

    The event, which held at the Main Bowl of Lekan Salami Sports Complex at Adamasingba in Ibadan, the state capital, was attended by members of the State Executive Council (Exco), heads of ministerial and extra-ministerial boards, agencies and corporations.

    Others were security chiefs, including, police commissioner, the General Officer Commanding the 2 Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army, High Court judges and members of the House of Assembly.

    Traditional rulers at the event included the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun; the Balogun of Ibadan, Oba Owolabi Olakuleyin and the Ashipa Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Eddy Oyewole.

    Oba Adetunji’s reserved seat was unoccupied throughout the period of the programme.

    Unlike in past years, NLC members were absent at yesterday’s ceremonial march past.

    The Olubadan said he would not have attended an event to which he was not invited.

    The monarch’s media aide, Mr. Adeola Oloko, said though he was not at the palace yesterday, but he was not aware of any invitation as at 11 a.m on Saturday he left the place.

    Oloko said if the palace did not get the government’s invitation to attend a programme that would hold less than 24 hours later, why would anyone expect the monarch to honour it?

    But when told that a source had hinted that the monarch’s invitation was delivered at 11 a.m on Saturday, the aide said he was not aware of such invitation at the same time he left the palace.

    He said: “I have not been to the palace today (Sunday) but I can tell you that at 11 a.m when I left the palace yesterday (Saturday), no invitation had been delivered to the palace from the state government.

    “But when I get to the palace, I will find out if any invitation was delivered to the palace. But come to think of it, if no invitation had been delivered to the monarch as at 11 a.m (on Saturday), which was barely 24 hours to an event, then what are we talking about?”

    NLC State Chairman Waheed Olojede said labour unions would not have attended the programme since the government did not invite the workers.

    The union leader, who said he confirmed if the situation is the same with the sister arm, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), added that both groups found it unbelievable that the government could organise such an event without inviting the workers.

    According to him, the workers had no bad blood with the state government but had supported the administration all along, despite being owed months of salaries and emoluments.

    He said the unions could have used the event to discuss with the government the workers’ outstanding salaries and emoluments since they had been supporting the government without complaints on the matter.

    Olojede urged the government to have a rethink of how they treat the workers noting that the workers must be seen as the engine room of any system and backbone of any success they want to achieve.

    The union leader warned that using labour as mere tools by those in government would no longer be tolerated by the leadership of the workers.

    He said: “Labour sees no reason to attend the Independence Day anniversary since the government also saw no reason to invite us.

    “We have been supporting the government, despite having salaries and emoluments outstanding with the government.

    “I spoke with my counterpart in TUC and I discovered the situation was the same. The workers would have used the opportunity to intimate the government of our welfare and outstanding salaries but the government decided to shut us out.

    “There is no bad blood between the workers and the government. As such, we are surprised that no invitation was extended to the workers.

    “However, on behalf of the leadership of the workers’ union, I congratulate the workers on the occasional of the Independence Day anniversary.

    “We also call on government structures to begin to have a rethink of how they treat workers. We must be seen as engine room of every system and the backbone of any success they might want to achieve.

  • NLC urge Bello against using Soldiers on workers

    NLC urge Bello against using Soldiers on workers

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state to stop using armed soldiers to intimidate striking workers and resort to dialogue to address all issues in contention between the workers and the government.

    The President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said in a letter to the governor that soldiers have no role in resolving an industrial dispute as every dispute generated by issues between employers and employees can only be resolved ultimately through dialogue.

    Wabba said the Congress has received reports from its members in the state that government officials were going wrong the state with armed soldiers in an attempt to compel the workers to return to work without addressing their grievances, adding that such action will only aggravate the situation.

    He said the NLC leadership will visit the state to address the workers and met with the governor with a view to addressing the issues on the dialogue table

    The letter reads in part: “I convey warm compliments on behalf of the National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress and write to inform you that the national leadership will be coming to Lokoja to address workers who are currently on strike. 

    “We promise to thereafter meet with you as we still believe contentious issues can be resolved through dialogue based on mutual transparency and shared the concern for the survival of the workers, many of who are being owed backlog of salaries of between seven to twenty-one months.

    “We have received reports that your officials have been going around offices in Company of armed soldiers in an attempt to compel striking workers to resume work rather than encourage productive dialogue that will amicably resolve all the issues that necessitated the strike.

    “Apart from salaries, some of the issues that have attracted deep concern include the endless verification exercise which has raised so much suspicion that the exercise has been so prolonged to justify non-payment of salaries and pensions. 

    “Industrial relation is not politics and it won’t augur well for the government to accept advice driven by political considerations when clearly, the system provides adequate opportunities to engage in dialogue. 

    “On our part, we have always encouraged dialogue. We must face the reality of the frosty relationship between your government and workers, which has obviously been promoted by those who gain from the escalating industrial crisis through political considerations.

    “We know that, with your background in public service, you are capable of handling the situation better but for those who act at the background, drawing political permutations with the plight of pensioners.

    “We are ready to engage in transparent dialogue you with the ultimate benefit of nipping the industrial crisis in the state in the overall interest of industrial peace and justice. We shall communicate the date of our visit and proposed meeting with you as soon as Arrangement are concluded.

    “However, in the present, we advise that your officials be cautioned against the use of armed soldiers to intimidate workers as the military has no role in resolving industrial dispute as every dispute generated by issues between employers and employees can only be resolved ultimately through dialogue.”

  • Benue pensioners get N800 monthly, cry to NLC

    Benue pensioners get N800 monthly, cry to NLC

    Pensioners in Benue state have asked the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Ayuba Wabba to intervene in their predicament and ensure the payment of their entitlement running into several months and an upward review of their pensions. 

    In a letter to the NLC President, signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners in the state, Comrade Peter Kyado and Comrade Joseph Adakole respectively, the pensioners said many of them still collect as little as N800 as pension monthly, pointing out that for over 13 months state pensioners were yet to be paid that stipend, while local government pensioners have not been paid their pension for a period ranging from six months to over the seventh month.

    They said even though the some of the liability was inherited from a previous administration, they believe that the government has received enough money to offset the arrears.

    They claimed that they were convinced that the state government lacked the political will to pay the pensioners’ entitlement and not the non-availability of funds is responsible for the predicament of pensioners in the state, adding that they have written several letters of request and staged three peaceful protests matches to the appropriate authority to press for the payment of our entitlements but to no avail. 

    The letter reads in part: “Pensioners in Benue state are owed thirteen months arrears of monthly pensions for the months of November 2014 to April 2015 and March to September 2017. Old and new local government pensioners are owed between six and over seventy months of arrears depending on when they retired.

    “Gratuity running into billions of naira are outstanding in the state. However, we appreciate the fact that much of the indebtedness was inherit d from past administrations in the state. The non-review of pensions in the state for over sixteen years has put the pensioners in the state at the most precarious financial predicament.

    “Pensions payment have remained stagnant since 2001 despite six differ not the public salary increase. This is contrary to the provisions of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria (as amended)in section 173 where pensions are to be reviewed every five years or whenever there is a public salary increase whichever is earlier. 

    “Consequently, some pensioners earn only N800 minimum pension in the state in spite of the Act fixing the national minimum wage at N18,000. Presently, Labour unions in the country are clamouring for at least N56,000 national minimum wage.

    “The present administration in the state has received monies in form of loans of several billions of naira including the monthly federal allocation and enhanced internally generated revenue. In addition. There was a bailout fund of N28.5 billion, the first and second tranche of the Paris Club refund of N12.8 and N6.8 billion respectively as well as the monthly N1.3 billion federal government intervention funds to the states.

    “These receipts notwithstanding, it is our conviction that the lack of political will to pay the pensioners’ entitlement rather than availability of funds is responsible for the predicament of pensioners in the state. 

    “We have written several letters of request and staged three peaceful protests matches to the appropriate authority to press for the payment of our entitlements but to no avail. We have also appealed to the traditional, political and religious leaders for their intervention. 

    “This is taking place in a democratic dispensation where the rule of law reigns supreme and where the government derives its authority and legitimacy from the constitution.”

  • NLC to workers: take your destinies in your hands

    NLC to workers: take your destinies in your hands

    The President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, has advised workers to take their destinies in their hands by obtaining voter cards to vote out governors, who refuse to pay salaries and allowances.

    Wabba, who spoke during a visit to workers in Benue State, said it was a shame that the state government had refused to pay workers, despite collecting bailout fund and Paris Club refund.

    He described the Benue situation as the worst scenario.

    The NLC president said record from Benue, which showed the state was in arrears for seven months in ministries and parastatals; 11 months in local governments and teaching institutions, and 13 months of pension arrears was alarming and a shame.

    Wabba condemned refusal of the government to pay salaries, pensions and gratuities after collecting bailout funds and Paris Club refunds, saying the congress would no longer fold its arms and watch state government exploit workers and deny them their entitlements.

    He said it was shocking that whereas most states, relatively speaking, had met salary and pension obligations to workers and pensioners, Benue State government had been indifferent and insincere to workers and pensioners.

    The NLC president said refusing to pay salaries was illegal (as it violates rules of employment), callous, morally reprehensible and a betrayal of the trust of workers and pensioners, who voted the government into office.

    He said considering the pains and suffering brought upon workers, pensioners and their families, NLC had no hesitation in supporting any lawful action, including a strike, in pursuit of their salaries, pensions and gratuities.

    Comrade Wabba urged the workers and pensioners to remain united and not allow the government or anyone to distract them from their objectives.

    He told the workers that experience showed that state governments were not ready to pay salaries and pensions without a fight, noting that it is up to them to do the needful to ensure regular payment of salaries and pensions.

    As a long term strategy, the NLC boss urged the workers and their families to ensure they obtain voter cards and exercise their franchise, using their numbers.

    He said: “Most governors believe workers don’t vote. This explains the shabby treatment meted out to them. Workers must take their destinies in their hands by registering and voting wisely.”

    Wabba stressed that the congress could no longer fold its arms while workers were mistreated.

    He assured them that the national headquarters will support them to pursue their demands.