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Tag: NLC

  • NLC: Withholding salaries threaten anti- graft war

    NLC: Withholding salaries threaten anti- graft war

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said the failure to pay salaries of judicial officers and workers by the Federal Government is a potential threat to the  anti-corruption campaign.

    The congress appealed to the government to approve the payment of withheld December salaries of judicial officers and workers not to frustrate the fight against corruption.

    In a letter to the Minister of Finance, NLC President  Ayuba Wabba said efforts of the Muhammadu Buhari administration to sanitise the nation would be  hampered when those in the frontline were inelegantly treated.

    Wabba said considering the role played by the President in ensuring that  governors paid  backlog of salaries, it would be unfortunate if the trend of non-payment of salaries to public officers, was allowed to manifest at the federal level.

    The letter reads: “I convey compliments from the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and I’m constrained to write and draw the minister’s attention to the plight of federal judicial officers and staff, whose salaries the Federal Government did not pay in December.

    “Madam Minister, we need not point to the current economic hardship occasioned by the recession to show the importance workers attach to their wage payment.

    “It is in the light of these compelling responsibilities that we are calling on you to urgently approve the payment of the withheld salaries.

    “Given the commendable role played by Mr. President in defraying part of the backlog of salaries inmany states, it will be unfortunate if this  trend is allowed to manifest at the federal level.

    “While awaiting your urgent action on this subject matter, please accept the renewed assurances of our highest esteem.”

  • NUBIFIE affirms affiliation to NLC

    NUBIFIE affirms affiliation to NLC

    The National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institution Employees (NUBIFIE) has affirmed its affiliation to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as provided for and ratified in its constitution.
    Speaking against the backdrop of an alleged publication in some national dailies that listed the union as one of the affiliates of the United Labour Congress (ULC), the Acting General Secretary, NUBIFIE , Comrade OdiakaNwanji, said the publication is false, totally lacking in merit and does not in any manner reflect the true position of the union.
    “The publications were a fabrication of falsehood by mischief makers to cause disaffection between our union and the NLC,” he said.
    He also said as a matter of fact, any amendment to the union’s constitution can only be done by the National Delegates’ Conference, which is the highest decision-making organ of the union, after which there would be approval and documentation with the Registrar of Trade Unions.
    He said there is no record any union had done this and follow due process as enunciated in the labour laws of the country.
    He said: “This is the case with the current constitution which was amended at the National Delegates’ Conference in September 2006 at Oshogbo, Osun State and approved and documented by the Registrar of Trade Unions.
    “We wish to use this opportunity to state that our union (NUBIFIE) has not held any National Delegates’ Conference since 2011 when the last one was held and so no amendment of our Union’s Constitution has taken place.”
    Nwanji also pointed out that the trajectory of NUBIFIE is that of corruption-ridden institution occasioned by the activities of the suspended former president and his collaborators, wondering how a union that is originally an affiliate of the NLC could be suddenly dragged into affiliation with ULC.
    He insisted that the reported affiliation of NUBIFIE with ULC is a fraud and an exercise in futility, as NUBIFIE will continue to remain an affiliate of the NLC under the leadership of AyubaWabba.
    The Acting-General Secretary therefore called on NLC and other relevant agencies of the state to immediately “arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of this dastardly act.“

  • ‘Bank, finance, insurance workers still part of NLC’

    ‘Bank, finance, insurance workers still part of NLC’

    The National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institution Employees (NUBIFIE) is still an affiliate of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as provided for and ratified in its constitution, it was learnt yesterday.
    The National Administrative Council (NAC) of NUBIFIE, in a statement by its Acting General Secretary, Comrade Odiaka Nwanji, said it has not formed a new union.
    Nwanji said it was not among the affiliate unions that formed the new labour movement named United Labour Congress (ULC).
    According to him, any amendment to NUBIFIE’s con e approval and documentation with the Registrar of Trade Unions.
    He said: “This is the case with the current constitution which was amended at the National Delegates’ Conference in September 2006 at Oshogbo, Osun State and approved and documented by the Registrar of Trade Unions.
    “We wish to use this opportunity to state that our Union (NUBIFIE) has not held any National Delegates’ Conference since 2011 when the last one was held and so no amendment of our Union’s Constitution has taken place.”
    Nwanji said the claim that NUBIFIE was an affiliate of ULC was “a fraud and an exercise in futility,” adding that “NUBIFIE will continue to remain an affiliate of the NLC under the leadership of Comrade (Dr.) Ayuba Waba.”
    Nwanji described reports that NUBIFIE had joined ULC as “a fabrication of falsehood by mischief makers to cause disaffection between our Union and the NLC.”
    He urged the NLC and security agencies to arrest and prosecute those behind that false claim.

  • United Labour Congress not NLC’s faction, says Ajaero

    United Labour Congress not NLC’s faction, says Ajaero

    The President of United Labour Congress (ULC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, has said the group is not a faction of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

    He said Section 40 of the Constitution says one can form or belong to any trade union of one’s choice, religion or political group and that it was in the exercise of this that the Trade Union Congress (TUC) was registered.

    Speaking with reporters, Ajaero said the Obasanjo regime in 2002/2003 realised that under a democratic environment, one could not compel people to remain in one room even if they don’t want to be there.

    “Incidentally, TUC was registered as the first labour centre with number 001. NLC doesn’t have a registration number today, up till now.

    “If somebody is telling you about registration or no registration, they have not done that. If it is all about receiving licence or certificate after the amendment of plural labour centres, they don’t have that. Let nobody deceives himself, TUC is 001 and there is no 002 as at today.

    “In as much as I wouldn’t want to go into controversy, the atmosphere has been opened for people to belong to labour centres with some criteria; which is to avoid mush-rooming of labour centres,”  Ajaero said.

    He explained that there are three labour unions, adding that the three can still not fully address workers’problems.

    “Since the unfortunate thing that happened in NLC in the last two years, I will tell you that nobody from my own group of the NLC attended to their problems, nobody, whether when we were picketing Ikeja or whatever, it is internal here.

    “We have sat down, we thought in various ways about it. How do we do this? We resolved to forget about it.

    “We discovered that even the people we are equally operating with will not agree on any of those issues we have decided jointly. We discovered that on a daily basis, it is either they are sending Police, or the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or whatever to you to say you did this or that. Or they arranging some people from their own sector to send petition against you. The solution to the crisis is what has happened,” Ajaero added.

  • Why NLC leadership crises persist

    Why NLC leadership crises persist

    For many workers, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) remains an avenue for achieving a decent wage and ensure that their welfare is not undermined by their employers. However, after its National Delegates Conference in March 2015, a major crack emerged in the leadership of the Congress. This has led to the emergence of a new Labour Centre. In this Interview with TONY AKOWE, NLC President  Comrade Ayuba Wabba speaks on the new centre and what it portends for the labour movement in the country, demand for a new minimum wage for workers, among other issues.

    A new Labour Centre has been launched. What is  its implication to organised labour, particularly the NLC?

    Let me assure you that we will do everything possible to preserve the unity of the labour movement, not only with them, but also with our colleagues in the  Trade Union Congress (TUC). Essentially, we have done everything possible to try and ensure that the issue of reconciliation after the 2015 conference is addressed. You are also aware that our veterans have put in their best, especially the founding President, Comrade Hassan Summonu. But it is unfortunate when people try to occupy positions at all cost. You are also aware that at a time, they declared themselves President and Deputy President, particularly the gladiators in this whole thing, Joe Ajaero and Igwe Achese. The facts are quite obvious because you all participated in the conference. This is a conference that was adjudged free, fair and credible by all organisations, including the International Labour Organisation ( ILO), the Federal Ministry of Labour and the International Trade Union Confederation, which actually participated in the process. With all these, it is very obvious that people just want to insist that they must occupy positions at all cost. The joy we have is that we are connected with our people because the formation of a centre is something that has to do with the rank and file. The strength of every centre is in the rank and file and it is very clear and you have seen how we have been able to engage issues in the states, even in their states. The joy we have is that we are connected with the people and we will do everything to address the issue, but that will not deter us because it is about the people. The process of forming a labour centre entails that all the components will have to go to their delegates conference to get mandate and we are all aware that that mandate has not been obtained by any of them. But that is not to say that it is not an issue. Of course, it is an issue and that is why I have issued a formal statement which captured all the approach to be taken.

    There are claims of about 28 affiliates. Could these be from those we know with the NLC or other unions? Also, does the law allow the formation of another labour centre?

    Those are issues we will take up. But I think this is part of the misinformation because if you have this number, you ought to have listed them so that people can interrogate all of them. But this is not the issue we are approaching now. We are approaching it from the perspective that it is an issue and we are going to respond to it through our organs. You, as journalists, are supposed to interrogate these issues because if I tell you that I have 10 children, you will ask me what is their names. Different interest groups have quoted different figures and if you remember, through out the period of the challenge, a lot of figures have been quoted at different times and this is part of it.

    We will not dissipate energy to try to look at the number and the people. But if you look at the figures, they quoted some from TUC and some from NLC, but the list has jot been made very clear. The issue however is that we are committed to defending the interest of the workers. In their communique, the raised the issue of the challenge of payment of salaries and I don’t know what engagement they have done in respect of that. Even where we went to organise joint approaches to respond to those issues, even in their own states, they went under.

    That is to tell you that it is the unity of the movement that can salvage some of those issues. We are committed to that, but the list of those union has not been listed. But I am aware that the issue of registration of trade unions has become a matter of cash and carry. When you pay money people try to register you overnight. We are going to interrogate the law, get the details and make sure that where the laws are not respected, we respond to them effectively. But we will follow all due processes to ensure that the unity is restored.

    Do you agree that the reconciliation process has not yielded any  result?

    I will not agree with you because in a process of reconciliation, the two groups must be really committed. If you remember, the process of reconciliation has been on and when we held the lady meeting in March, everything was agreed upon, including the fact that only one leadership of the NLC is recognised and that the conference that brought us in is sacrosanct. Hassan Summonu has spoken on this and to our dismay, they issued a letter trying to castigate him. What I am saying is that right from the beginning, you can see that people were not actually committed to the process of reconciliation. But our elders have been committed and we have been committed. But that does not mean that the process of reconciliation has no meaning. Essentially, whatever challenges that occurred in organisations can best be resolved through reconciliation or through a round table. We have remain committed to that and we have played our role effectively. But it takes two to tangle for those issues to be resolved.

    Both parties in this dispute   pledged their commitment to the reconciliation, but nobody has said what the grey areas are and why what was agreed upon has not been implemented. What are their demands?

    During the reconciliation meetings, we agreed that the my leadership of the NLC is recognised by all. We also agreed that in the course of the lifespan of this administration, if there is any vacancy that arose either from retirement or any other course, those position will be filled by NEC and they will be given consideration. All the details in that agreement will be driven by the National Executive Council and that we should have a joint May Day.This was signed by all parties. Comrade Adams Oshiomhole signed the document, I signed it, Ajaero signed it and Hassan Summonu also signed it. That is why I keep saying that we have remained very consistent and committed.

    What  role for Ministry of Labour and Employment in all these, especially the Trade Union Department?

    The information at our disposal is still very sketchy because we don’t know their roles. As you are aware, all these things require processes. If you are forming a union, it is also required that you put an advertorial where all parties that need to respond can do so especially where it has to do with law and where members interest must be carried along. Those members must be able to interrogate the process and raise objection or agreement where they exist. I am not sure all of these have taken places because if it had taken place, you would have followed the process. We will try to follow all the details, including getting our members who are affiliate of any union that has been so mentioned to actually follow up the process. As I said earlier, in most of our constitutions, in joining a labour centre, you must go to your delegates conference to get mandate and we are all aware that none of them has gotten that mandate. Right now, it is merely about individuals trying to occupy positions at all cost after a very successful conference. Those are issues that we are very familiar with. Those are the issues and as members of the press, you can also interrogate the process, including the Federal Ministry of Labour who ought to have made the whole process very transparent and open if there is any process at all. So, these are the details we have for now and we will follow up these details and consult with our organs and when we do that, we can then give very credible information. For now, I want to assure you that we remain committed to the ideals of a united labour movement.

    What is delaying committee work on minimum wage?

    Let me make this point very clear. The issue of minimum wage remains very sacrosanct, the review is due and I have said we cannot guarantee industrial peace any longer if necessary steps are not taken by government to resolve this issue before the next May Day. We have sent formal notice of demand as required by law to the government to try and constitute the committee. As we speak, the Minimum Wage Committee has not been constituted. What we have in place is the committee working on the palliatives. I am aware that part of what they have considered is the structure of  the minimum wage committee. But the committee to discuss and negotiate minimum wage has not been set up till date. So, we are mixing two issues. The committee set up to look into the palliatives is what we are all,referring to as minimum wage committee and I think that committee is about to round up whatever recommendations they have after which the joint committee of government and the two labour Centres will meet to loom at their recommendations. But essentially, the committee to dialogue and negotiate the minimum wage which is supposed to be tripartite has jot been set up. If it has been set up, you would have been aware of the membership and terms of reference as well as the timeline to dispose off this issue. It is a very sensitive issues because a lot of our members have been subjected to lots of difficulties because their purchasing power has been reduced to nothing because of inflation in the system as a result of the free fall of the naira. Mist workers cannot meet up with their daily needs and this has been compounded by the fact that cost of goods and services has gone up. Put side by side with the fight against corruption is that a worker has to be paid a decent wage for him to have a meaningful living. I want emphatically say that the committee has not been set up and so, when I hear that government will be increasing wages, I wonder from which perspective because usually, the issue of minimum wage is done through a tripartite arrangement of government, employers and organised labour. Once you don’t have the platform put the process in place, I don’t think you will be expecting results. This is the obvious fact at outrdisposal which we are working with and I think that those issues are very explicit and it is one issue that we are very passionate about. It is one process that we have continued to ask government to do everything possible to drive to a logical completion. What we are waiting for right now is the submission of the report of the palliative committee because the urgency which is required is also stated in that report and I am aware they have completed their assignments what remains is for them to adopt the report before bringing it before the attention of the house.

    Many people  feel the organised labour does not serve its purpose.  The naira has been so devalued and labour has done nothing. Why?

    If you look at our anti indents and the struggle we have led particularly on the right of workers and decent work, despite the challenges that tried to undermine our strength, you must commend us. You must understand how the minimum wage work. Labour will have to make a presentation which we have done in consultation with TUC. You are also aware that before this issue was included on the agenda of the palliative committee, it was because of the action that we did. You also realised that even with that, we have remained very consistent on the issue of the minimum wage. You must also understand that the issue of the minimum wage is an issue that has featured at every of our meeting prominently because you must follow the processes and the states. The stage we are is because if the fact that the palliatives committee need to conclude their assignment and then, we drive the process from there. I want to assure you that we remain very committed to that. But it is an issue that we all need to be on the same page.

    Is it logical for labour to request for an increase in minimum wage at a time like this?

    The issue of paucity of fund is an excuse that is worn out. The problem of Nigeria is not lack of money, but mismanagement which all of us have come to agree. If you look at the resources that accrue to Nigerian states for the past six or seven years, and we have not planned adequately to take care of the rainy days when the resources will dwindle, points to the fact that the developmental challenges of Nigeria is not about resources, but about mismanagement. Therefore, let us situate all of this in a proper context to understand them. If there is the will, there will be the way and you can also realise that even in the midle of recession in the United States (U.S,), they increase the minimum wage because of the fact that you need to empower the people to have the means to continue to purchase so that the process of manufacturing can continue. We have argued that point long before now and therefore, let us not be under any illusion that any government, at any point in time, will say we have enough. It is about demands and contestations as well as our priorities. Where do we situate our priorities? We still have states where bogus contracts are still being awarded even when they have no direct bearing on the lives of the citizens. Those are the arguments. So, let us not hide under any illusion to think that the situation will remain the way it is. Our prayer is that after this quarter, we should be able to get out of recession. We must be able to make progress and therefore, we must not, as citizens continue to hide under recession and put a lot of things in abeyance. We must, through a process of constructive approach, try to make sure that the economy gets started and part of it is to put money in the hands of citizens so that they will be able to have a meaningful life and economic activities can pick up. If you don’t have wealth distributed among citizens, then the situation will continue the way it is and we will continue to lament. That is not our approach. Our approach is, how do we even kick start the economy. You do that by having money in the hands of the people where businesses and manufacturing can take place.

  • ‘Nlc has no registration number’

    ‘Nlc has no registration number’

    The president of the United Labour Congress (ULC) and General Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Comrade Joseph Ajaero, has alleged that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is existing without being registered by the government.
    Ajaero, in an interview, said the establishment ULC would not weaken the labour movement.
    The labour leader said in accordance with the Trade Union Act, only the Trade Union Congress (TUC) is registered in the country with registration number 001, adding that till date, no other labour centre has been registered.
    He said: “You look back at Section 40 of Nigerian Constitution which says you have the right to form and belong to any trade union of your choice, religion or political affiliation and it is in exercise of that, that the TUC was registered.
    “Incidentally, TUC was registered as the first labour centre with the number 001. NLC doesn’t have a registration number up till now. If somebody is telling you about registration or no registration, they have not done that. If it is all about receiving licence or certificate, after the amendment of plural labour centres, they don’t have that.
    “Let nobody deceive himself, TUC is 001 and there is no 002 as at today. In as much as I wouldn’t want to go into controversies, the atmosphere has been opened for people to belong to labour centres with some criteria; which is to avoid mush-rooming of labour centres.
    “They now get some conditions including that there must be 12 industrial unions before you can apply for registration and part of the last features required for you to register is that you must have a conference where you adopt a constitution, where you adopt a name and where you elect officers. These things should be forwarded to the Ministry of Labour and the same Labour Act made it clear that after this, you can start operating as a labour centre including collection of dues.
    “Now in exercise of this, that is what we are trying to do. We are not fighting anybody, we did not attack anybody, and we would not attack anybody. That is the origin of it. So, I am saying that for the fact that we have three doesn’t mean we cannot have four and if we had four in 1978, when we didn’t have these number of companies, these number of unions, and these number of workers, the tendency for us to have more is now, if it will serve our purpose.
    “But that doesn’t mean that a worker’s problem is not a worker’s problem. But the era of omnipotent labour centre is over. So it is based on the service we can render to workers. You ask yourself, why do they say we must have the other trade unions?
    “The laws must have said that there must be only one trade union, we have over 40 trade unions and we still come together to take decision, to take action. So I don’t see it as a disservice or minus to the labour movement in Nigeria.”
    Ajaero went on: “Pre-1978, there were four labour centres in Nigeria, including the United Labour Congress. Then, it was United Nigeria Labour Congress, and Obasanjo came, tried labour leaders, banned so many of them, like Wahab Goodluck, the prominent labour leaders from participating in labour movement.
    “With that dictatorial muscle, they brought everybody together that you must belong to a single labour centre. It is not the culture of Nigeria labour movement to have a single labour centre but the idea of the military. That is the last feature of the military dictatorship in the labour movement.
    “The military forced everybody together. Now the thing played up again in 1988 when we had democrats and the progressives, trying to split, but because we were still under military dictatorship, the atmosphere for them to have their separate centres, based on their ideological persuasion was not there. So, at the end of the day, it took some years; people came up to say o’kay, let us come together.
    “Incidentally, the same Obasanjo came again around 2002/2003 and saw that under democratic environment, you cannot compel people to remain in one room even if they don’t want to be there.”
    Ajaero dismissed claims that the ULC is a faction of the NLC, saying “more than 12 unions left from the NLC, and I am telling you that unions from the TUC and unions that are not affiliated to any for now are into this.
    “This is not a faction of NLC. There are unions from TUC, there are unions that are not affiliated to NLC and TUC and there are those unions from the NLC that pulled out. They now come together, to have a kind of mega arrangement to form this centre.”
    “Like I said, this is not a faction of NLC. This is a mega arrangement. Unions from the Trade Union Congress, unions that were not affiliated before and unions that pulled out of NLC are enough to register as a labour centre. So the NLC and TUC alone cannot be fighting us when we have people who were not aligned with any of the centres before.

  • NLC slams govt on job creation, EFCC chair, others

    Labour yesterday chided the Federal Government for failing to create jobs in 2016, despite its promise to create three million jobs yearly during the campaign for the 2015 elections.

    In a New Year message, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Ayuba Wabba urged the government to use 2017 to deliver on its electoral promises.

    Wabba said the government must go back to the drawing board.

    He said the New Year presented an opportunity to review the previous years and to offer the platform to re-strategise for better performance in governance at all levels.

    He said: “After some 20 months in the saddle, it is perhaps time to ask the government to give a scorecard to the Nigerian people that went through a lot of odds to elect this government. How many jobs have the Federal Government and the 23 states controlled by the ruling party create in the course of the last 20 or so months, in furtherance of its pledge to Nigerians during the electioneering campaign.

    “We had stated in our past May Day and New Year messages, as well as other policy pronouncements, that we have some ideas on how we can create new and sustainable jobs.

    “Unfortunately, no one in government has thought it necessary to give us a hearing on what these ideas are, and what they entail. Presently, we are not even sure which ministry or agency of the government is the focal point on job creation.”

    The NLC welcomed the plan by the government to give five per cent of stolen funds to whistle blowers but expressed disappointment with the non-confirmation of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.

    He said: “The Nigeria Labour Congress welcomes the recent Federal government’s decision to institute reward of up to five per cent on recovered stolen funds to any successful whistle blower. This policy which was approved in December, by the Federal Executive Council, we understand is one of the recommendations of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption.

    “We also understand that a bill to support this policy is already before the National Assembly. We call on the National Assembly to give expedited hearing to the bill so that it could be signed into law by Mr. President in the first 3-6 months of the New Year.

    “In the interim, we urge the government to give serious thought to our demand for the protection of whistle blowers at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri and the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, who have been made to bear the brunt of the anger of the Chief Executives of these institutions.”

    Wabba said the failure by the Senate to clear Magu after acting in that capacity for one year was a major setback to the anti-corruption crusade of the government.

    It added that the circumstances leading to the non-confirmation of Magu left many questions unanswered.

    “Is it not common practice that before such a nomination goes to the Senate,that the Executive arm normally ensures that the nominee to such sensitive positions gets security clearance?

    “This is of course without prejudice to the power of the National Assembly to ask for an independent report from any agency of government, if it deems it necessary in the course of its legislative and confirmative functions.

    “As NLC, we are worried that the President was unable to get such a key appointment through Senate confirmation. This is despite the fact that the President’s party – the APC – controls the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly.

    “We are equally concerned that an inter-agency conflict or rivalry might have played a role in the events leading to the non-confirmation of the EFCC chairman-designate.

    “Since these agencies are all part of the Executive arm, Mr. President clearly must take responsibility and rein them in so that they work in concert to implement government’s cardinal programmes.

    “The lesson from the non-confirmation of the EFCC chairman going forward is that the Executive arm must work with the Senate and its leadership to ensure that nominations into key and sensitive positions are treated speedily before they resume in the new positions.

    “This is because as we can see with the EFCC case, they’re bound to step on toes of vested interests in the course of their assignment. The longer they stay without confirmation in acting capacities, the more this affects their chances of being confirmed.

    “As NLC, as we have maintained right from the outset, we will continue to support the anti-corruption effort of the present administration, because of our belief that corruption is at the heart of our inability to develop to our full potentials as a nation.

    “We however urge the Federal government and all the anti-corruption agencies under it to act to avoid the perception gaining ground that only members of the opposition are targeted in the anti-corruption fight. Indeed a leading member of the opposition recently said that those defecting to APC are doing so to escape prosecution on corruption charges.

    On the state of power, Wabba said Nigerians had continued to have darkness rather than light, adding that three years after the rushed privatization of the power sector, things had moved from bad to worse.

    It recalled that in March 2015, the CBN gave N213 billion stabilisation facility to the new private owners of the power sector, adding that less than two years afterwards, the government is planning to secure another N309 billion bond for the electricity sector, without visible improvements in their services.

    He urged the government to muster the necessary political will to deal with the challenges of the power sector and either reverse the opaque privatization of the sector hurriedly done by the last administration, or ensure that those who run the sector provide electricity on regular basis and at rates consumer can afford.

  • NLC condemns new labour movement

    NLC condemns new labour movement

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday accused the National President of the new United Labour Congress (ULC), Comrade Joe Ajaero and his deputy, Comrade Igwe Achese, of allowing themselves to be used to undermine the labour movement.
    NLC President Comrade Ayuba Wabba, in a statement in Abuja, said it was unfortunate Ajaero and his group collaborated with states to undermine the popular action of working people and the masses.
    Wabba said the Congress would continue to ensure a united NLC.
    The NLC president said his leadership made efforts to ensure reconciliation after the March 2015 elections.
    He said: “Unfortunately, as Nigerians saw during our last national strike against fuel price increase by the Federal Government, our comrades chose to allow themselves to be used as willing tools to undermine our collective struggle.
    “It is quite ironic that these comrades can’t see the contradiction between their empty rhetorics on wanting to “fight non-payment of salaries” and collaboration with the state to undermine popular action of the working people and masses. And yet, when congress was in the frontline forcing their home state government(s) to pay workers wages and halt retrenchment of workers, they were nowhere to be seen.”
    The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a news report in which Comrade Joe Ajaero, general secretary of NUEE, and Igwe Achese, president of NUPENG, claimed they have formed a new labour centre, called United Labour Congress (ULC).
    “It will be recalled that following their defeat at the March 2015 rescheduled election in their bid to lead the NLC, these comrades have been parading themselves as “president,” and “deputy president” of NLC.
    “The congress would like to assure our members across the country and the public that the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress is committed to the unity of the working class, notwithstanding the latest declaration by Ajaero and Achese. We shall do everything to preserve the unity and coherence of the labour movement, which was handed down to us by our forebears in the movement.
    “Our comrades in their ambition to lead Nigerian workers in February, 2015, at the elections which would have concluded the 10th delegates’ conference of the NLC, disrupted and scattered ballot papers that were already cast, in the full glare of the world.
    “This was after delegates had voted to waive the requirement to allow Comrade Igwe Achese, who has been campaigning to be president, to step down to deputy president, and declare support for Joe Ajaero.
    “At the rescheduled election in March 2015, following intervention of the veterans of our movement, and with adequate security, the plot of comrades Ajaero and Achese to disrupt the elections again once it was clear their combined forces will not deliver them the leadership of Nigerian workers they had so clamoured for, was thwarted, and the election results were successfully announced.
    “Thereafter, the veterans, led by the founding president of our organisation, Comrade Hassan Sunmonu, stepped in to reconcile the congress with comrades Ajaero and Achese. This took several meetings, and just before 2016 May Day, an agreement was fashioned out with them to drop their claim to the leadership of the NLC and team up with the NLC leadership to hold a united May Day.
    “As it turned out, Ajaero and Achese went ahead to organise a parallel May Day in Lagos, despite the explicit commitment and undertaking they gave to the veterans at the reconciliation meeting.
    “This made Comrade Hassan Sunmonu, who had being chairing the reconciliation meeting, to express his disappointment with the Ajaero group… Two days later, on July 25, 2016, Ajaero and his group authored a 3-page letter full of insults and blackmail to the respected founding president of congress. This was intended to effectively end the intervention of Comrade Sunmonu and the veterans.”

    “We wish to further state that despite the antics of our Comrades, and their obstinate refusal to accept the result of a clear democratic contest, we had ensured their inclusion and participation in the affairs of the NLC.
    “In this respect, the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Comrade Ajaero’s union had representation in the state leadership structure of congress and also the National Executive Council of NLC, the Chairman of Kebbi NLC is from that union, as well as SAC members in Jigawa and a few other states.
    “We had spent considerable time and energy working with the veterans of congress to bring our estranged comrade fully back to the congress because as they say, “if you allow a crack in your wall, you invite the lizard in”. We didn’t want our class opponents to use them as the weak link to undermine the solidarity of our movement.
    “The congress wish to assure all our members including those of NUEE, NUPENG and others listed as having attended the alleged launch of the new centre, that the NLC will continue to provide protection for them, and will ensure that their leaders do not out of their consuming ambition to be leaders of a ‘national center’ lead them into the wilderness.
    “In this regards, we will ensure that no one take you away from the NLC without your express democratic consent to do so. The relevant organ(s) of congress will soon meet to review the latest challenge posed to the unity of our movement. We implore all workers to remain calm”.

     

  • Why we formed new trade union, by NLC faction

    The Comrade Joe Ajaero-led faction of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) at the weekend explained why it cut ties with the union and formed a new trade union, United Labour Congress (ULC).

    Ajaero, the General Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), was elected  ULC’s maiden president at its inaugural delegates’ conference in Lagos.

    He said ULC would “restore hope to workers, the oppressed, the victimised, the neglected and other relegated members of the society, who have been left to wallow in hardship, sufferings and frustration”.

    Ajaero added: “All cadres of workers: junior, mid-level, senior, are all here. They tried to divide us but we are united. This movement cannot be stopped. The more they persecute us, the stronger we are. We’ll bridge the gap between private and public sector workers.

    “We are calling on the National Assembly to review all policies that are not beneficial to workers. When people are idle, it heralds different social vices. We promise to serve the people.”

    Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) President Igwe Achese was elected ULC’s deputy president.

    The erstwhile factional NLC president had been involved in a disagreement with Comrade Ayuba Wabba on who was the legitimate NLC president.

    The ULC, comprising 25 industrial unions from the NLC, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and others without affiliation to either NLC or TUC, also elected three vice presidents, a treasurer, auditors, financial secretary, among others, to run its affairs.

    Leaders of the new group said their first major outing would be an onslaught against a leading airline on December 20 for alleged unfair labour practices.

  • Jigawa distributes 400 tricycles to NLC

    The Jigawa Government has distributed 400 units of tricycles as loan to the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in the state.

    The NLC Chairman in the state, Alhaji Usman Ya’u, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Dutse.

    Ya’u said that the tricycles were shared among all the registered affiliated unions in the state.

    He explained that that the vehicles were given to the members at the rate of N550,000 to be paid within four years.

    “The tricycles were distributed to the registered affiliated unions in the state. They were distributed according to the size of the unions; some got 40, 30, 10 and 3, depending on the number of members of the union.

    “And each of the tricycles was given to the beneficiaries at the rate of N550,000 payable within four years,” he said.

    The chairman added that the deduction from the beneficiaries’ salaries would commence in the current month as part of the agreement.

    Ya’u, therefore, advised the beneficiaries to make good use of the vehicles so as to replenish the deduction from their salaries