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  • Zamfara NLC to begin strike on Monday

    Zamfara NLC to begin strike on Monday

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Zamfara Chapter, said that the union would embark on a total strike on Monday following the expiration of a three-week ultimatum given to the state government by the association

    The Chairman NLC, Zamfara Chapter, Mr Bashir Mafara, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Gusau.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the NLC had given the state government three weeks ultimatum to address the problems of workers in the state.

    NAN reports that parts of the workers grievances with the state government include the non implementation of workers annual increments, promotion and the non-payment of 1, 400 newly recruited staff recruited more than over three years ago.

    Other issues according to the NLC, is that refusal of the government to implement minimum wage for local government staff and primary school teachers as well as non- payment of pensioners’ gratuities.

    The NLC said it was worrisome that primary school teachers and local government workers in Zamfara state were still receiving between N7,500 and N8,000 as monthly salary.

    The NLC chairman said that the union have been having consultations with the government officials, led by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Abdullahi Shinkafi on how to resolve the issues.

    He said that the government had failed to meet up with any of the agreement reached between the workers and the state government.

    “Therefore, we are starting the strike tomorrow, Monday as announced three weeks ago.

    “We have already announced that all the representatives of the NLC affiliated unions should meet tomorrow at NLC Secretariat by 10.00 am to mark the commencement of the strike”, he said.

    Mafara, therefore, urged all  workers to stay away from their places of works from tomorrow until the problems were addressed by the government.

    NAN also recalls that the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Media and Publicity, Alhaji Ibrahim Dosara had earlier told journalists that the 21-day ultimatum was uncalled for.

    Dosara maintained that Gov. Abdul’aziz Yari had since directed the labour leaders in the state to come up with an authentic lists of workers under the state government payroll without which the state government would not implement their demands. (NAN)

  • NLC opposes release of fresh Paris Club refund to states

    NLC opposes release of fresh Paris Club refund to states

    •Wants power sector investment probed

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari not to release the third and final tranche of the Paris Club refund to state governors until they make a concrete commitment to use the money to settle outstanding salaries, allowances and pension of workers and retirees in the country.

    The congress is also demanding an immediate and comprehensive audit of all monies so far spent in government effort at reviving the power sector in the country since 1999 which it said has failed to yield result, but rather produce several billionaires as a result of diversion of the funds.

    In a communique made available to newsmen at the end of its Central Working Committee meeting, the Congress is asking the government to immediately inaugurate the National Minimum Wage negotiating committee in view of the impoverishment of workers.

    The communique signed by the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and General Secretary, Dr, Peter Ozo-Ezon also wants the federal government to compel state governors to properly account for the bailout they received from the federal government as well as the two tranches of the Paris Club refund which was supposed to be used for the payment of salaries and pensions, but diverted to other uses.

    The Congress regretted that government has not lived up the expectation of Nigerians and are in the habit of reneging on signed agreements with unions, pointing out that the ongoing strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities was avoidable.

    The congress said that “many of the discussions around restructuring have not paid adequate attention to the question of health. It resolved to set up a committee to harmonise the various views expressed at the meeting with a view to articulating a congress position on the issue for subsequent presentation to the organised labour.

    “It reviewed the continuous non payment of months of outstanding salaries of workers in some states of the federation as well as various arrears of pension which has also run into several months which is the actual situation despite President Buhari’s passion to address this matter since he assumed office by giving bail out to governors to clear this shameful state of affairs with the nation’s workforce.”

    The Congress also deplored the poor service delivery in the power sector saying, “since the current administration came to power in May 2015, it had given N740 billion to the power sector as intervention fund without much to show for it. CWC therefore cannot comprehend the rationale behind the administration’s preparedness to give a further N39 billion bailout to DISCOs for metering purpose.”

  • Anambra not owing salaries, declares NLC

    •’But state is the least paid in Nigeria’

    Anambra State Government does not owe workers any salary as being speculated, says the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, Sir Jerry Nnubia.

    The state was recently listed as one the states owing workers’ salaries despite receiving the second tranche of the Paris Club refund.

    But speaking with The Nation yesterday in Awka, the NLC chairman said the only thing the state government would need to do is to increase the workers’ salary as the state remains the least paid in Nigeria.

    According to Nnubia, “Anambra State workers are the least paid in the country today, but despite that, the government of Chief Willie Obiano pays salaries and pensions as and when due.”

    The NLC boss therefore appealed to Obiano to use part of the Paris club refund to pay the gratuity of local government workers in the state which had not been paid since 2015.

    When the Commissioner for Information, Ogbuefi Tony Nnacheta, and the Commissioner for Economic planning, Mark Okoye, were called yesterday, they failed to pick their calls on the matter.

    But one of the aides to Governor Willie Obiano, who pleaded anonymity, told The Nation yesterday that the state received a little over six billion naira on the Paris Club refund last month.

     

  • Dont release final Paris Club refund yet to governors-NLC

    Dont release final Paris Club refund yet to governors-NLC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari not to release the third and final tranche of the Paris Club refund to state governors until they make a concrete commitment to use the money to settle outstanding salaries, allowances and pension of workers and retirees in the country.

    The congress also demanded an immediate and comprehensive audit of all monies so far spent in government effort at reviving the power sector in the country since 1999 which it said has failed to yield result, but rather produced several billionaires as a result of diversion of the funds.

    In a communique made available to newsmen at the end of its Central Working Committee meeting, the Congress is asking the government to immediately inaugurate the National Minimum Wage negotiating committee in view of the impoverishment of the Nigerian worker.

    The communique signed by the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and General Secretary, Dr, Peter Oyo-Eson also wants the federal government to compel state governors to properly account for the bail out funds they received from the federal government as well as the two tranches of the Paris Club refund which was supposed to be used for the payment of salaries and pensions, but diverted to other uses.

    The Congress regretted that government has not lived up the expectation of Nigerians and are in the habit of reneging on signed agreements with unions, pointing out that the ongoing strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities was avoidable.

    The congress said that “many of the discussions around restructuring have not paid adequate attention to the question of ealth distrinbution in thr Nigerian society. It resolved to set up a committee toharmonise the various views expressed at the meeting with a view to articulating a congress position on the issue for subsequent presentation to the organuised labour.

    “It reviewed the contoinous non payment of months of outstanding salaries of workers in some states of the federation as well as various arears of pension which has also run into several months which is the actual situation despite President Muhammadu Buhari’s passion to addressthis matter since he assumed office by giving bail out to governors to clear thius shameful state of affairs with the nation”s workforce. 

    “The Federal government has further released tranches of Paris Club refund to states government with specific appeals to the and commitment by the governors forum to use the refund for the settlement of arrears of salaries and pension owed by various states to their civil servants and retrirees.

    “Despite the President”s laudable intervention notwithstabding, states like Kogi, Benue and Bayelsa are still owing workers 5-10 months in salaries  arrear and pension. There are other states like Kaduna and Zamfara that have refused to disclosed any information about how it had utilized the bailout and Paris Club refund despite demand from unions and the general public.

    “Several efforts by unions and workers in the affected states to knoiw what these state governors are using these funds for have yielded lkittle or no results.”

    It directed ther congress leadership to write the President to ensure that the governors are made to transparently account for the bail out given by the fedral government as well as the two tranches of the Paris Clud refund. 

    ,It resolved to call on the President to direct the Minister of Finance not to release the third anfd final tranche of the Paris club refund til the governors give a concrete  commitment to use it to pay the backlog of salaries and pension through a transparent process.

    “It agreed to lead an engagement rally to states, name and shame states in defdault as well as applaud and support those that are up to date in payment.

    “It direct all workers, pensioner and their families to take advantage of the on going voter registreation exercise to obtain their permanent voters card.

    “The CWC also reviewed the continued poor service delivery nin the power sector and observed hat since rhe current administration came to power in May 2015, it had given N740 Billion to the power sectotr as intervention fund without much to ashow for it. CWC therefore cannot comprehend the rationale behind the administration’s preparedness to give a further N39 billion bailout to DISCos for metering purpose. 

    “There is no guarantee that the DISCOs will not go back cap in hand to government again on the issue of provision of meters as the minister of power recently disclosed that DISCOs need about N220 billion to provide meters to Nigerians.

    “Given that one of the conditions precedent for the privatisartion by the last administration was that the new owners would provide meters for customers within 24 monthsmor so, CWC felt that the defaulting DISCOs ought to fdace sanctions and not additional bailout.

    “CWC therefore call for an urgent and proper auditing of the money spent in the effort to revive the power sector since 1999 which rather than transform into increased light provision has produced tens, if not hundreds of billionaires as a result of the diversion of the funds. Nothing illustrates this better than a recent report which showed that in the almost 18 years of the current democratic dispensation, over 11 trillion has been expended from the public treasury to lift the power sector to no avail.

    “The meeting called on the federal government to inaugurate the minimum wage committee immediately as the committee ought to have been put in place several months ago. 

    “Against the background of the impoverishment of Nigerian workers generally, government and the tripartite partners need to fast track and conclude the work of the committee in time to address the deteriorated purchasing power of the Nigerian worker.

    “It resolved that the ongoing ASUU strike was preventable and regretted that again the federal government has precipitated the strike action as it failed to implement the 2009 agreement it reached with the union. 

    “It called on the government to urgently resolve the issues in dispute to avoid escalating the strike action as other unions in the educational sector who are also affected by the 2009 agreement in the sector are mobilizing to enter the fray. The meeting also called on the government to note that collective agreements are sacrosanct and must be respected by the parties to the agreement.

    The CWC reviewed the allegations and counter allegations of impropriety coming out of the National Health Insurance Scheme. The meeting recalled that the immediate cause of the crisis arose from the public hearing organised by the House of Representatives committee on health on the activities of the NHIS. 

    “The CWC is of the opinion that the Minister of Health who constituted the intra ministerial committee to probe the suspended Executive Secretary and has himself been accused of peddling influence and sundry abuses in the operations of the scheme be investigated. 

    “Natural justice demand the a neutral and transparent process should be put in place by the government to thoroughly investigate these allegations and counter allegations”.

  • NLC urges Buhari to reshuffle cabinet

    NLC urges Buhari to reshuffle cabinet

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to reshuffle his cabinet and relieve some ministers who under-performed of their duties.

    Speaking with The Nation on the expectation of Labour from the President Buhari, NLC President Comrade Ayuba Wabba said  Buhari should reshuffle his cabinet because many ministers had not performed to expectation.

    Wabba said there were high expectations from Nigerians, when the President returned from his medical vacation.

    The expectations, according to him, range from the need to rejuvenate the economy, address the issues of security and insurgency, kidnapping, corruption, hunger, minimum wage and the constitution of the boards of many agencies.

    Specifically, he pointed out that it was high time for Buhari to assess the performance of his ministers and other political appointees, adding that there is the need to inject new and fresh ideas.

    “There is high expectation in how to rejuvenate the machinery of government, especially looking at the performance of the ministers and some political appointees. I think, usually in the life of any administration, halfway down the line will be a enough time to assess their performance and then assess the impact that they put into the system.

    “Most Nigerians expect that there is the need to add impetus to governance and looking at key sectors and ministries, there are few that have done well, but many have not done well. So, there is expectation that the cabinet be reshuffle and be able to inject new ideas.”

    “Two years down the line of any administration is enough to do a kind of assessment, and looking at a very genuine assessment, there is still much to do, to get to the promise land.

    “Even in the fight against corruption, you can see that a lot of cases have been thrown up, but I think none of them has been concluded. There is the need for those cases to be completed, get conviction and declare how much was recovered and then, those recoveries can be put into the system to make tangible impacts.

    “So, those are clearly some of the high expectations of Nigerians as well as organised labour and the workers. In this circumstance, President Buhari will have more than enough at his hands to be able to drive the process of governance.”

    On security, he said “There are needs for some steps to be taken. This is because progress was made, but it can be reverted if they are not sustained. So, there is the need to sustain some of those interventions, especially around the Northeast.

    “The insurgency has actually come up with new strategies and tactics which has made the Acting President to direct the Service Chiefs to move their offices to the Northeast. So, I think this also is an area that we do not expect the reversal of the gains that has been made, everything need to be done to sustain the momentum, to ensure that we are able to clear all the remnants of the insurgency because without peace, there cannot be development anywhere around the world.’’

    He added: “We also heard of new elements like kidnapping in some states, this is very strange to us, this is new, but also this clearly are signals that there are challenges in accommodating our youths and the issue of employment is  very important.”

  • FG, ASUU embrace ‘collective bargaining’-NLC

    FG, ASUU embrace ‘collective bargaining’-NLC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Thursday urged the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to embrace collective bargaining, saying there would be no progress in the society without quality education.

    NLC president, Ayuba Wabba, stated this at a conciliation meeting with executive of ASUU, officials of the Ministry of Education and other stakeholders in Abuja.

    “It is a very important issue that ought to drive the process of our development because world over, there is no way progress can be made without quality education. That is the centrality of the issue.

    “All of us are here with much more commitment to see that the issues are resolved and through our process of collective bargaining.

    “It is very cardinal in addressing issues of industrial relations and when agreements are signed. We must find ways and means of implementing them (agreements) and minimising area of industrial activities.

    “The expectation of all of us as Nigerians is that we will put these issues beyond us and drive our process of development forward.

    “So that all of us with open mind and very good will to see how these process can be resolved as it is a process that is time tested. We hope it will produce a win-win result situation for all, ‘’he said.

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr.Chris Ngige, said the meeting was convened to address the crisis.

    NAN

  • You can’t spend public money to bailout DisCos, NLC tells Fed Govt

    You can’t spend public money to bailout DisCos, NLC tells Fed Govt

    THE Nigeria Labour Congress ((NLC) yesterday accused the Federal Government of wasting over N11 trillion on the power sector reform.

    It criticised plans to spend another N38 billion as bailout to Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) to procure prepaid meters.

    NLC President Ayuba Wabba, who spoke with reporters in Abuja, said it was obvious that the power sector reform embarked upon by the government has failed.

    But, he said the government was still bent on pumping more money into the sector, adding that while countries like South Africa were thinking about producing above 40,000 megawatts of electricity, Nigeria was still celebrating 5000 megawatts.

    He said since inception, the present government has spent about N660 billion in form of intervention in the power sector, adding that despite claims that they have paid over N500 million as electricity bill for public institutions and streetlights in Abuja, the DisCos were still disconnecting the streetlights to conserve energy to be sold to others.

    He said: “One of the things affecting our country today is the issue of accountability. Every other issue can directly or indirectly be linked with the issue of good governance. The state level is even worst and that is the bane of our challenge. Take for instance, the power sector.

    “I was really amazed yesterday, when I was going through some of the issues we need to campaign on and I realised that the present government has already committed about N660 billion in form of intervention to a sector that is already comatose without corresponding inputs and attendances.

    “Even on the issue of metering, they are proposing to give a bailout to the DisCos. It is obvious that we are going the wrong direction. It has been made clear that it is not about resources.

    “In about 16 years, we have so far committed about N11 trillion to the power sector reforms and yet, what we have day-in-day out is numerous challenges of lack of power. Even within the city of Abuja, the DisCos are busy disconnecting streetlights. I am aware that during the launch of prepaid meters, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration informed us that they have committed about N500 million in paying liabilities for power to public institutions, including streetlights.

    “But they are busy disconnecting the streets because once they do that, they thought that they will be able to use the power being saved from there to service others.”

    Wabba added: “We cannot continue like that because no country can make progress, if we don’t have stable power supply. We made it very clear from the time we started this reform that it was going to fail.

    “Many countries of the world, where those processes have failed were cited and those countries have owned up that the process has failed. So, let us review the process and take a new direction. It does not matter how long you have gone on the wrong direction.

    “If you don’t get your direction right, it is obvious that you will not be able to have the benefit of having stable power supply needed to drive our industries and the process of industrialisation. The process of diversification can only make meaning, if we have steady power supply. We must situate this within the context of our challenge as a country. It is not about money.”

    He queried: “How can a government that is saying we are in a recession still advance from public money N38 billion to DisCos as bailout to look for meters. This is a public enterprise because these companies have already been sold. If they don’t have the capacity and the resources, let them bailout.

    “I think it is time the process is reversed. If it is not reversed, we will continue in the  wrong direction because till now, we have not be able to attain 10,000 megawatts. We are still celebrating the attainment of between 5,000 and 6,000 megawatts when a country like South Africa is looking beyond 40,000 megawatts.

    “The real issue here is actually the issue of good governance, transparency and accountability. We saw the example of Ethiopia. With less than $10 billion, they have built a power plant that is now generating power and even selling to neigbouring countries.”

  • NLC: Zamfara gets 21-day ultimatum

    NLC: Zamfara gets 21-day ultimatum

    Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Zamfara state chapter, has given the government 21-day ultimatum to meet workers demands or face “total strike action.”

    The state chairman of the NLC, Malam Bashir Mafara, made the announcement on Monday in Gusau while addressing newsmen at the end of an emergency meeting.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was jointly organised by the state chapters of the NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC).

    Mafara alleged that the government had in the last six years (since the inception of the Gov. Yari-led administration), consistently failed to address workers issues.

    He also alleged that the government had relegated workers to “second-class citizens” and failed to meet agreements it reached with labour leaders to address workers needs.

    He said that the government had also failed to implement the N18,000 minimum wage, adding that some teachers and local government staff still receive N7,000 per month.

    The chairman pointed out that despite legislation which stipulates that pension is reviewed every five years, some retirees in the state receive N4,000 as their monthly pension.

    He alleged that the government had not involved labour in the disbursement of the bailout funds it received from the federal government.

    He also alleged that the funds had been diverted by the government.

    Marafa said that though vacancies were created in the civil service as a result of deaths, retirements and transfers among others, the government failed to carry out recruitment during the period.

    He alleged that the government had not paid salary to the 1,400 graduates that were employed in 2014.

    He warned that the two unions would commence “total strike action’’ if the government failed to respond their demands at the expiration of the ultimatum.

  • NLC criticises Sagay over comment on minimum wage

    •Unions for rally over Paris Club’s tranche

    THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said yesterday that Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Anti-corruption Prof. Itse Sagay was ignorant on the issue of minimum wage and  the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention, which stipulates that every country must have a benchmark for workers’ salaries.

    Speaking at the 2017 NLC Rain School in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, its President, Ayuba Wabba, said the comment by Sagay that the minimum wage should be moved to the Concurrent List was a clear indication that he was unaware of what the issues on minimum wage are about.

    “Prof. Sagay has no clear understanding of what is minimum wage. Minimum wage is a core convention of the ILO – that means every country must be able to set a minimum benchmark, which no employer of labour can pay below,” he said.

    Wabba said the congress was prepared to force state governors to make public the recently released second tranche of the Paris Club refund by the Federal Government through mass action.

    He said both the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) would hold their separate National Executive Council (NEC) meeting within the next week to deliberate on the burning issue of interest to the workers.

    He added that despite promises made by state governors to use 50 per cent of Paris Club refunds to settle salaries, pension and gratuity, the reverse has been the case.

    Wabba said workers have decided to demand accountability and transparency on the disbursement of the funds to ensure they are not shortchanged by the governors.

    “Some of the governors are actually committed to this, but majority have diverted the funds. You are aware that some governors have used it to buy hotels, some have used it to pay consultants and therefore the impact has not been felt.

    “We will demand for accountability at all times. We can’t be talking about addressing corruption when those issues have not been made transparently . So, that is the aspect we are canvassing for. Let every state governor declared how he has use the money and whether or not they have kept to their word of using not less than 50 per cent to address the issue of pension, gratuity and everything, this will be our demand.”

     

  • Senate, NLC slam police action as anti-Buhari protest continues

    Senate, NLC slam police action as anti-Buhari protest continues

    THE Senate and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday condemned the attack by the Police on a group of protesters in Abuja campaigning against the medical vacation of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    A statement yesterday by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, however, maintained the Upper Chamber’s objection to the protest.

    The protesters, led by Mr. Charles Oputa (Charlie Boy), are demanding Buhari’s immediate return to the country or his resignation, following his absence for about 95 days for medical reasons.

    Police personnel on Tuesday descended on the protesters, who staged the protest under the aegis of #OurMumuDonDo#, beating them up and smashing journalists’ cameras in the process.

    But, the protesters, who held the third day of their sit-out at the Unity Fountain, Maitama, Abuja under the wary eyes of policemen, stressed that Buhari was not greater than the country.

    They continued their sit-out yesterday about 24 hours after the coalition members were attacked by policemen with water cannons and tear gas canisters at the same venue.

    The protesters accused Buhari of holding the nation to ransom by his absence.

    The Senate, however, described the action of the police as a violation of the fundamental human rights of the protesters, stressing that they did not conduct themselves in such a manner as to disturb public peace.

    “It is not right for the police to brutalise the people as they reportedly did yesterday,” the Senate added.

    The statement said: “While we are opposed to the subject of the protest, the Senate acknowledges the fact that the protesters have the constitutional right to gather and express their views in a manner that will not breach public peace, order and tranquility.

    “Since the ‘Our-Mumu-Don-Do’ protesters did not conduct themselves in such a manner as to disturb public peace, it is not right for the police to brutalise the people as they reportedly did yesterday.”

    The Senate urged the organisers of the protest to join other Nigerians in praying for the safe return of President Buhari.

    NLC General Secretary of Congress Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson also condemned the use of water cannons, teargas and other offensive means by the police to disperse the protesters .

    He said in a statement that the action of the police runs counter to the constitutional provisions, which guarantee right to peaceful protest.

    Continuing their action, the protester said Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has been unable to take concrete decisions that could move the nation forward.

    The Acting President, the group said, could not allocate portfolios to ministerial nominees despite the transmission of power to him, stressing that this proved that Buhari’s absence was stagnating the nation.