Tag: NLC
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Govt to NLC: return to negotiation table
The federal government said yesterday it will return to the negotiation table with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over the increase in the price of petrol.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige said in a statement that it expects Labour back after NLC President Ayuba Wabba walked out of a meeting on Tuesday night.
The statement said: “The Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige is constrained to respond to a number of issues which were raised today by the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba after he led the NLC to withdraw from the negotiation between the Federal Government and organised labour yesterday, Tuesday, May 17 2016.
“It is instructive to note that most Nigerians have shown great understanding of the fact that the current problem is not a subsidy removal issue, but how to deal with the non-availability of foreign exchange, a situation that leaves the federal government with no other choice than to deregulate the downstream of the petroleum sector which resulted in rise in pump price of petroleum.
“In view of the above, the Federal Government is fully committed to the quick implementation of the palliatives in the 2016 budget, while developing other ways to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians.
“The federal government appreciates all the important issues raised by the labour unions and has taken them into consideration. Government is resolute in making sure that the economy is not only strong, but able to provide jobs and opportunities for all Nigerians.
“The federal government went to court to seek an injunction restraining labour from embarking on strike because there is a clear process of declaring labour strike under the law. It is therefore the view of government that those processes were not complied with before the NLC called the strike.
“I wish to further state that series of meetings and consultations were held between the federal government through the Minister of State Petroleum, the Office of the Vice President, the Minister of Labour and Employment and organised labour unions.
“It bears putting on record that on the 4th of May 2016 while discussing the template put forward by the Minister of State Petroleum, the NLC, TUC, NUPENG, PENGASSAN and other major stakeholders even advised that the NNPC pricing should be same with that of the Independent Petroleum Marketing Companies at N140 per litre.
“There was another meeting on May 11, 2016 where Governors, National Assembly leadership and some ministers were in attendance with NLC, TUC, PENGASSAN and NUPENG promising to take the decision of the meeting to their respective organs for further necessary actions.
“It was therefore surprising that the NLC, at the maiden meeting, put forward the issue of non-consultation as a major non-compliance issue on the part of the government but was out rightly debunked by the NNPC and Ministry of Petroleum.
“Hence, I wish to use this forum as the major conciliator in this critical national issue to appeal to NLC to return to the negotiating table to conclude the negotiations that have been kick-started.
“Other brother federation unions, TUC, NUPENG, PENGASAN, NUEE! NUBUIFE and other sensitive unions have signed a memorandum of understanding with the government negotiating team on the modalities for the implementation of the palliatives, needed to cushion the adverse effects of the increase in the pump price of petroleum.
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We are awaiting invitation to return for negotiation – NLC
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said on Thursday it was standing alone in the ongoing protest against fuel price hike.
The President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, who spoke on the second day of the strike called by labour to protest the price hike, said it was yet to receive any invitation from the government to return to the negotiating table.
He said: “This is about policy engagement. This action is to resist a policy that has been imposed on us and therefore we have made the point clearly. NLC must be seen to be consistent in standing by the truth and by the people to the extent that those policies are not consistent with the ideas of ensuring social justices.
“We will continue to resist the N145 fuel pump price which has been imposed on us because this is a further exploitation and increase to the hardship in the land. Therefore we thought that we should make this position known. We are not worried that we are fighting this battle alone, because historically NLC has always stand with people.
“Let me also tell you one important fact that Nigerians do not known. This process of continuous importation, if we are not careful, the fuel cabal has now taken over and will determine how the product will be sold. That is why it will be difficult for refineries to be revived. They said that it is only market force that can determine the price.”
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Edo workers shun NLC officials, resumes work
Workers in Edo State public service Thursday shun leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress and resumed work at their duty post.
Some faction Labour leaders in the state led by Emmanuel Ademokun only walked through two major street in protest.
At various offices visited, workers were seen at work.
Pupils at public schools were sent away for the second day, an indication that teachers defied the state government order to resume work.
Edo State Head of Service, Mrs. Idahor Gladys, had in a press statement said the government would invoke the no work no pay rule for any worker that joined the strike action.
She said the strike action was illegal.
Ademokun insisted that the strike continues even though workers were at work and appealed for artisans to join in the protest.
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NLC chief, others address rally in Lagos
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), led by Vice President Amaechi Asugwuni, around 7.30 am, protested from Ikorodu road to Airport road, to register their displeasure with the increase in fuel price.
The protesters moved around the metropolis and blocked commuters on Airport Road.
Other unions present were Joint Action Front, led by Comrade Issa Aremu, Human Right Activist led by Barrister Malachi Ugwumadu, and others.
Comrade Asugwuni said: “Prices of things are gradually going beyond the reach of average Nigerians. As labour is the mouthpiece of the common man, labour will not fold its arms and allow this to continue.”
Comrade Aremu said the Buhari-led government came pretending to be masses government but gradually started displaying anti-people policies.
“Initially, he banned the use of small/portable generator, and suddenly increased electricity tariff.
“How will the people cope, no kerosene, no electricity, and then he went ahead to increase fuel price from N86.50k to N145, we will not allow this to happen.
“This is a regime that came to power with change slogan. As soon as they came in, they revised that policy into oppressivion of the masses. Buhari’s regime is anti-masses, promoting the rich and suppressing the poor.
“We are here to express our dismay at the increase because this suffering.”
But there was general calm around the metropolis yesterday as the strike entered its day-one.
Lagosians went about their activities peacefully, with no tension in the air concerning the proposed strike. Traffic was heavy on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway up till late afternoon; private and commercial vehicles went about without molestation.
Workers also shunned the call as schools remained opened and pupils resumed for the day’s lessons.
Many markets were opened with traders carrying on with their business.
A trader in textile materials at Oshodi market said she almost did not come because of the fear that hoodlums may take advantage of the strike to cause mayhem. She said though customers had turned up, sales was still a bit dull.
A civil servant, Adedeji Thomas, urged the organised labour to think outside the box in their new war with the Federal Government.
“Nigerians are already weary of the incessant calls for strike by the NLC that oftentimes leaves the poor poorer. If the situation is as dire as this government is making us to believe, I would suggest we bear the pain in the overall best interest of the country, instead of going on with a strike that would inflict more pain on the people,” he said.
Security was heavy at the House of Assembly in anticipation of protesters.
Security personnel were stationed in the area but as at press time, there was no sign of the protesters.
The lawmaker representing Epe Constituency II, Segun Olulade said the strike is illegal since the court had given an injunction restraining NLC from embarking on it.
“I expected them to have vacated that order before embarking on the strike. We have all seen the level of compliance; workers are not even obeying the call; that shows that people do not believe in it,” he said.
He advised labour to embrace dialogue.
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FG to NLC: Return to negotiation table
The Federal Government on Wednesday said it was prepared to reopen negotiation with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over the fuel price hike.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, said in a statement on Wednesday night that the strike action called by the NLC to press for the reversal of fuel price will neither earn more money for the government or repair the refineries.
He, however, debunked claims by the leadership of the NLC that government did not consult the union before announcing the new pump price, adding that government and labour met twice on the issue with organised labour offering its own suggestions on the template presented by the Minister of Petroleum.
Ngige appealed to the NLC leadership led by Ayuba Wabba to return to the negotiating table, saying he has obtained the mandate of the government negotiating team to reopen negotiation with them.
The statement reads: “The Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. (Dr.) Chris Nwabueze Ngige is constrained to respond to a number of issues which were raised today (Wednesday) by the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, after he led the NLC to withdraw from the negotiation between the Federal Government and organised labour on Tuesday, May 17, 2016.
“It is instructive to note that most Nigerians have shown great understanding of the fact that the current problem is not a subsidy removal issue, but how to deal with the non-availability of foreign exchange, a situation that leaves the federal government with no other choice than to deregulate the downstream of the petroleum sector which resulted in rise in pump price of petroleum.
“In view of the above, the federal government is fully committed to the quick implementation of the palliatives in the 2016 budget, while developing other ways to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians.
“The federal government appreciates all the important issues raised by the labour unions and has taken them into consideration. Government is resolute in making sure that the economy is not only strong, but able to provide jobs and opportunities for all Nigerians.
“The federal government went to court to seek an injunction restraining labour from embarking on strike because there is a clear process of declaring labour strike under the law. It is therefore the view of government that those processes were not complied with before the NLC called the strike.”
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Fuel price hike, a painful decision – Minister
The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, on Wednesday said the Federal Government took a painful decision by increasing the pump price of petrol from N86.50 to N145 per litre.
He spoke to State House correspondents at the end of Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja.
According to him, the current problem is not about subsidy removal but a result of dwindling income of the government.
He said: “The current problem is not really about subsidy removal. It is about that Nigeria is broke. Pure and simple!
“It is like somebody who has been earning N100, 000 a month and he is faced with a situation where his employer says henceforth you will be earning N10, 000 a month. He would need to make some very painful decisions and some very painful adjustments. That is the situation with Nigeria today.
“A few months ago, we were earning as much as $100 for every barrel of crude. In the months of February and March, there were shortfalls, we no longer have the resources, the foreign exchange to bring in refined fuel products is also affected. And our economy is shrinking. We appreciate the fact that the decision is going to affect everybody.
“We appreciate what we are going through, but Nigerians should also know that the government has the responsibility at times to take very difficult decisions. So, it is not always about popularity.”
Mohammed and the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, also said that Nigeria is ready to continue negotiations with the union leaders.
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Fuel price strike: Senate to interface with FG, NLC
The Senate Wednesday resolved to interface with the Federal Government and the organised labour on an early resolution of the industrial action by a faction of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over the fuel price hike.
The upper chamber mandated its Committee on Labour to interface with both the Federal Government and the organised labour to ensure that issues that led to the strike are quickly resolved.
Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, announced this after about 30 minutes closed session.
Ekweremadu said that the Senate in the closed session deliberated on the nationwide strike by organised labour.
He noted that the intervention of the Senate became necessary in order to find ways and means of resolving the issues that led to the strike to avoid inflicting untold hardships on Nigerians.
He added that “We also mandated the committee on Labour under the chairmanship of Senator Mohammed Nasif, to continue to interface with both government and labour for an early resolution of all the matters.”
Meanwhile the upper chamber adjourned plenary till Tuesday May 24, 2016.
Although Senate Leader, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, claimed that the adjournment was informed by the need to enable standing committees to works on bills referred to them, insiders said that the adjournment was actually to allow Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senators time to prepare for their national convention holding in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital on Saturday.
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Edo: Protesters chase out workers from offices
Protesters against fuel price increase Wednesday chased out Edo State government workers who resumed for duties.
The protesters comprising of factional members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and members of the civil society organization.
At the civil service secretariat, workers were already seated inside their offices when they asked to leave.
Gates to the entrance of the State Ministry of Information and Orientation, Ministry of Justice and other parastatals were placed under lock and key.
Staffers of the various ministries did not join in the protest march.
They waited outside their offices for several hours and later left for home.
Teachers in privately owned primary and secondary schools shunned the strike and protest march as the schools were opened for academic activities.
Pupils of public primary and secondary schools were sent home by their teachers.
Doctors and nurses were seen at their duty post at the state government owned hospitals and the courts were also in sessions.
Federal government workers resumed for duty at the secretariat at Aduwawa in Ikpoba-Okha local government.
All the offices were open for businesses.
The protesters also chased away stated government workers who went for verification exercise.
They pulled down the canopies and forced staff of the Information and Communication Technology unit to stop work.
As at press time, the protesters were still marching along major streets of Benin City.
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Workers in North West shun NLC strike
Public and private sector workers in five states of the North West on Wednesday defied the nationwide strike action ordered by the Ayuba Waba faction of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over fuel price increase.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that federal and state workers in Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, and Kebbi have reported to their duty posts in defiance of the order.
Reports from the five states indicated that socio-economic activities were also going on, with schools, banks, markets, hospitals and other businesses fully opened.
In Sokoto, some civil servants said they would not join the strike because it would only aggravate current hardships in the country.
“Such strikes would only aggravate our situation; the NLC should have given the Federal Government the benefit of the doubt,’ Aliyu Musa, a worker at the Shehu Kangiwa Secretariat, said.
Mr Mathias Iliya, a federal worker said “no worker in his right senses will join the strike action.
“Nigerians should be fervently prayerful and patient with the Buhari administration as his intentions towards Nigerians are truly sincere.”
Mr El-Mustapha Sani, the Police spokesman in the state, said all Area and Divisional Commands had been put on red alert.
“The command had also made arrangements to fully patrol the state to protect lives, public and private property,” Sani said.
In Kaduna. civil servants and all businesses including motor parks were fully opened, with residents going about their normal business.
At the Kaduna State University, normal academic activity was going on with students taking lectures.
Workers of the institution have also fully turned out for work, and according to the university’s Public Relations Officer, Adama Jafar, there was no directive from any union to proceed on strike.
At the Olusegun Obasanjo State Secretariat, some of the workers interviewed said that they were not convinced with the NLC’s argument for the strike.
One of the workers, Hajiya Lami Bello said that the NLC should respect the decision of the National Industrial Court, which ordered the union not to proceed with the strike.
Another worker, Karim Ahmed said most civil servants were conscious not to fall into the trap of `no work, no pay’ as announced by the government.
On her part, Sarah Bijimi urged the NLC and Nigerians to be patient and support the Federal Government’s action, saying “with time things will get better.”
At the Barau Dikko General Hospital, health workers including doctors, nurses, laboratory staff were seen attending to out-patients and those on admission.
Jonathan Yohanna, a staff of the state Ministry of Health, said “we are not on strike, all our hospitals are functional and our officials are working.”
The State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, said it had deployed 600 personnel to guard strategic public installations in the state.
Mr Orndiir Tergungwe, the command’s spokesman said the move was to avoid breakdown of law and order during the period of the strike.
“We advise the residents to be law abiding and go about their normal business. We reassure the residents that their security will be guaranteed.”
A check at the Kaduna Central market indicated that traders have turned out for full business.
Yusuf Bala, a rice dealer, said “we don’t have confidence in NLC because at the end of every strike we don’t benefit from any relief.”
Maman Kobo, a Provision seller, advised the labour union to “ sit down and dialogue with government rather than embark on strike.”
Reports from Kebbi indicated that civil servants had also defied the NLC’s call for total strike action.
NAN reports that government offices, markets, banks and business centres have opened for normal business, while civil servants have reported to their places of work as early as 8:00am.
The Chairman of the state NLC, Murtal Usman, told NAN in a telephone interview that he was on his way to Birnin Kebbi from Abuja, and insisted that the strike would hold.
According to him, the NLC will assemble workers by 10:00 am at the Labour House before embarking on the strike.
The State Secretary of Birnin Kebbi Federal Medical Centre of National Association of Nurses and Midwives, Usman Mohammed, said they had not received any signal to embark on the strike.
“We are waiting for the signal from the national secretariat of our association and until we receive the signal we will not embark on the strike”, he added.
A cross section of workers and residents indicated they were not satisfied with the reasons advanced by the NLC to embark on the strike.
In Kano, the nationwide strike action called by the organised labour has also met a setback, as workers in the state ignored the directive.
A NAN correspondent who monitored the situation reports that state and federal government workers had all reported to their various places of work.
When NAN visited Audu Bako Secretariat, and Federal Government Secretariat at about 8:30 am, workers were seen in their respective offices while others were seen within the premises in groups discussing about the strike.
Similarly, all commercial banks, markets and motor parks had all opened for business in the state.
As at the time of filing the report, traders at the two major markets in Sabon Gari and Kantin Kwari had opened their shops for business as directed by the National President of the Harmonised Traders Union of Nigeria, Alhaji Bature Abdulaziz.
Abdulaziz had on Monday called on traders across the country to ignore the planned strike by the labour unions.
At the First Bank of Nigeria, Kano main branch, workers were also seen going about their normal schedules.
One of the staff of the Bank who spoke to NAN on condition of anonymity, described the strike as unnecessary, adding that majority of Nigerians were not in support of it.
“This strike is a failure as most Nigerians are not in support of it”, he said.
NAN also reports that primary and secondary schools as well as other higher institutions in the state had opened.
However, in Bayero University Kano, some lecturers had joined the strike while others were working.
In Katsina, NAN reports that the workers at the State and Federal Secretariats have reported to their duty posts.
Jibrin Garkuwo, a middle level worker said that they decided not to join the strike because Katsina was the home state of President Buhari.
He said that they are ready to support the president to achieve his economic policies that will move the country forward.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of NLC in the state, Alhaji Lawal Sandawa, said the union would assess the situation before commenting on the str