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Our expectations from Labour Minister, by NLC, TUC

Labour – the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) – has outlined workers’ expectations from the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige.

NLC President Comrade Ayuba Wabba said the appointment of Ngige and the Minister of State, James Ocholi, came at a time Nigeria is weighed down by challenges. He said the ministers have the task of ensuring industrial peace and harmony.

He said the ministry was unique in that it handles industrial relations matters, adding that the ministers must address casualisation.

He said the ministers must tackle the “prevalent cases of casualisation and outsourcing of workers, which a number of employers have resorted to as a way of cutting costs and maximising profits that cut across both public and private sectors.”

Wabba said there was the need for the ministers to sufficiently equip the ministry’s Factory Inspectorate Division to function optimally.

“The Ministry is a specialised one because it deals with issues of industrial relations, labour treaties and convention and it’s a tripartite platform. Therefore, the ministers need to understand the workings of the ministry,” he said.

“People think the ministry of labour exists just to manage strikes, but it goes beyond that. It is about managing people. The greatest asset that we have is the human resources, therefore, it is the most viable asset outside capital. In fact, labour is more important than capital because you can’t have the capital if you don’t have the mix of expertise and human resources,” he said.

Wabba also said the ministers must address unemployment, arguing that casualisation and outsourcing of workers are burning issues, which must not be left unresolved by the administration. He said employers resorted to casualisation and outsourcing because they don’t want to pay terminal benefits and decent wages to their workers.

On the challenges before the new ministers, TUC Secretary-General Comrade Mohammed Lawal said the appointment of the ministers was a welcome development. He said Ngige, who was once a governor and civil servant, would bring his experience to bear on the labour sector, especially now that the sector is engulfed in minimum wage crisis.

He said the ministers would have to stabilise the relationship between labour and the Federal Government. Another challenge before Ngige, he said, is how to resolve the crisis arising from the planned reversal of the minimum wage by some state governments.

According to him, the new minister will also need to use the labour sector to promote the change mantra being championed by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

He said TUC was ready to partner with the new ministers to resolve labour issues and promote economic growth.

However, the Deputy President, National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Comrade Ntukubes Mbang, said Ngige was a square peg in a round hole. He argued that as a medical doctor, he lacked the finesse and skills to resolve or manage industrial crisis.

He, however, said the new minister would be challenged on how to tackle the hydra-headed problem of casualisation and outsourcing in the sector.

December 4, 2015
NLC calls for legislation to protect whistle- blowers

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Thursday in Abuja called on members of the National Assembly to work out a policy to protect whistle blowers.

President of NLC, Mr Ayuba Wabba, made the call while briefing newsmen on “Why the anti-corruption war is succeeding in the country.’’

Wabba said the National Assembly should rise to the challenge immediately, while the courts should ensure speedy disposal of corruption cases.

He said the on-going revelation on the $2.1 billion arms purchase deal has justified unqualified support for the fight against corruption.

“The revelations by the former National Security Adviser, his erstwhile Director of Finance, Shuaibu Salisu, which we believe are just the tip of the iceberg, are mind-boggling.

“This justifies as well as reinforces our call for capital punishment in cases of corruption in public office.

“With prescription of more stringent punishment for corruption cases, few will dare to go to this extent.

“Massive corruption in the system is responsible for our lack of development and our present economic woes.’’

Wabba said Nigerians must be resolute and firm in the support for good governance and fight against corruption.

He said people should imbibe the culture of accountability by ensuring that public officers were accountable in and out of office.

Wabba called on the Federal Government to expand the terms of reference of Prof. Itse Sagay Committee to accommodate receiving confidential information on corruption.

The NLC said that this should be forwarded to anti-corruption agencies for prosecution and recovery.

He, however, commended Shuaibu Salisu for having the courage to make the revelation, saying that this had assisted in revealing the monumental corruption in the arms deal.

Wabba also called on President Muhammadu Buhari not to relent in his war against corruption.

`We call on the government to, among others, probe the power sector reform programme which has delivered darkness instead of light, in spite of billions of dollars expended on it,’’ he said.

December 3, 2015
NLC to present new minimum wage proposal

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Ayuba Wabba has said a new minimum wage will soon be presented to the government.

Speaking at the delegate conference of the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU), Wabba said since the five- year period stipulated for the review of the minimum wage had lapsed, the NLC was working in collaboration with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to arrive at a figure to be presented to government.

He said the recent announcement by governors under the Nigeria Governors Forum that they could not continue to pay the N18,000 minimum wage was part of a ploy to frustrate the demand for an upward review.

He vowed that the congress would make the states ungovernable for any governor that tinker with the current minimum wage, pointing out that the leadership of the labour movement in the country was committed to a review.

While admitting the challenges in the economy, Comrade Wabba said “the fact that there is challenge in the economy does not mean that only the workers should suffer the consequence.

“We will ensure that any governor that they to reduce the N18,000 minimum wage will not have rest in his domain until the right thing is done. Reducing the minimum wage is something that cannot be defended. If political office holders still collect the same salaries nationwide, there is justification for anybody to be thinking of tinkering with the minimum wage.

“I want to assure us that the issue of review of the minimum wage, the leadership stands on that. We are only trying to consult with the TUC to ensure that they don’t divide our rank and come up with a figure that we will make public before we make our demand. I think it is defensive for them to say that they cannot continue to pay the minimum wage. I also think that they are saying so because they know that the review is due”

Comrade Wabba also called for a review of Privatisation policy of the government saying it has not yeilded the desired result especially in the power sector which he said has resulted into more darkness rather than leading to improved power supply.

The outgoing President of NASU, Comrade Ladi Iliya admitted that President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the nation’s economy was in crisis, with industries daily winding up, jobs being lost, while galloping inflation is being experienced .

According to her, “these are all indications of an economy in crisis. We call for the diversification of the economy to bring back on board agriculture, manufacturing and mining of the solid mineral”.

She said further that it was unfortunate that only public service workers are the real tax payers, saying “it is doubtful whether the rich in the society do pay tax and if they do, the question is, do they pay correct tax”.

She reminded Buhari that he was elected by Nigerians based on his anti corruption posture and appealed to the government to follow due process in the anti corruption war of the government so that the culprits will not escape Justice.

December 2, 2015
NLC: Long road to peace

The internal crisis rocking the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) may soon end. A seven-man reconciliatory committee is on the verge of striking a peace deal between NLC President Comrade Ayuba Wabba and his arch opponent Comrade Joe Ajaero. CHIKODI OKEREOCHA reports.

The nine-month old leadership crisis rocking the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) will soon be over. The warring factions of Ayuba Wabba and Joe Ajaero have agreed to sheathe their swords and embrace peace in the interest of workers.

Since February, the NLC has been embroiled in a crisis after its botched election that was to hold during its 11th Delegates’ Conference at the International Conference Centre, Abuja. The election was marred by allegations of corruption in the NLC Kriston-Lally Housing project and multiple balloting during voting. Since then, the Congress has been in the eye of the storm, with two persons laying claim to its leadership.

However, baring last minute changes, the two factions may sign a peace agreement this week, to end the feud. Indications to this emerged after a joint meeting of the Central Working Committee (CWC) of the factions involving mainly presidents and general secretaries of their affiliates on Friday, November 20, at the Labour House, Abuja.

The meeting, it was learnt, was a fall-out of the November 12 meeting hosted by Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and other veterans, including pioneer NLC President Comrade Hassan Sunmonu. The Nation exclusively gathered that, at the meeting, a seven-man Reconciliatory Committee set up by the veterans was given the nod to prepare a peace document that will be signed by the warring parties.

Before the meeting, NLC veterans led by Comrade Oshiomhole are said to have mounted intense pressure on leaders of both factions to tow the line of peace. A source close to the NLC told The Nation that before the meeting, the veterans had made up their minds on the issue of unity of the labour movement other than looking at the causes of the crisis and had communicated same to leaders of both factions.The veterans are said to have impressed it on leaders of the factions that they suffered to build the movement and they can’t see it being destroyed.

According to the source, the Reconciliatory Committee may this week present a peace agreement to the joint meeting of the factional leaders to sign. The concern within labour circles, however, is that while the agreement would restore peace and unity, the Congress is likely going to have unity without justice since the initiators of the peace deal are not interested in investigating the causes of the crisis.

“We see these veterans looking for peace at all cost, but as we speak now none of them has sighted the ballot papers to know whether they are real or wrong. No investigation to ascertain the allegations of rigging and other manipulations. The veterans are just saying let us come together.

“If for the first time in our history, the issue of corruption is clear even before the election and the issue of rigging during the election; all these have been identified and everybody acknowledges them and you fail to address it, that will be very dangerous for the movement if people who committed impunity through rigging and other manipulations to achieve power are allowed to go scot free,” the source said.

Besides, he said the main problem is how to address the issues of the state councils. His words: “The problem is that each factions conducted valid election in the state and produced officers. They passed through every constitutional requirement to conduct their elections. There was no issue of disagreement or protest. How the state councils are addressed will go a long way in addressing the unity issue.”

While emphasising that there is need to address all the issues that led to the crisis, he said: “When you have unity without justice you are just postponing the evil day. It is because of the love some of us have for the veterans. It is not as if the constitution provided any role for them before now. Suddenly we started listening to them and they are telling us we don’t want NLC to break.”

November 27, 2015
Senate probes fuel scarcity as NLC mobilises for protests

The Senate yesterday asked its Committee on Petroleum to investigate all issues associated with the scarcity of petroleum products.

It urged the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other stakeholders to continue with their push to stem the tide of the scarcity of petroleum products.

Due to the urgency of the situation, the committee was given two weeks to report back to the Senate in plenary.

The resolution to investigate the fuel scarcity followed a motion by Senator Barau Jibrin (Kano North) and 23 others.

The motion also brought out a sharp division among senators on the issue of agitation for the removal of fuel subsidy.

Jibrin, in his lead debate, noted the scarcity of petroleum products in major cities and towns around the country in recent weeks and the hardship the scarcity was inflicting on Nigerians.

The Kano North lawmaker expressed worry that the scarcity was creating untold hardship on Nigerians who pay higher prices for the products, especially petrol.

Jibrin said he was convinced the unhealthy situation was not in tune with the desire of the government to bring succour to Nigerians.

He recalled that the problem of fuel scarcity had continued to remain as a recurring problem in the country.

He noted that in line with the change mantra of the administration, it was time to put a final stop to the trend.

Jibrin also expressed the desire of the legislature to demonstrate the will and capacity to work harmoniously with the executive branch of government to find final solution to the fuel scarcity in the country.

Senator Olugbenga Ashafa said the Senate should insist that the refineries should be fully revived.

Senator Adamu Aliero noted that it had become imperative for the country to embrace the removal of fuel subsidy in form of full deregulation.

Aliero added that individuals should also be allowed to import products and sell at their own prices.

“It is time to support the executive to remove fuel subsidy. That is the only way to make petroleum products available.

Senator Shehu Sani disagreed. He insisted that those advocating removal of subsidy must take cognisance of the social implications.

Sani said that he was sure that Nigerians would oppose any form of removal of subsidy.

Senator Emmanuel Paulker said that something was wrong with the supply chain.

Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki said the issue of fuel scarcity should not be politicised because it affects the lives of every Nigerian.

He said the Senate should take the passing of the Petroleum Industry Bill seriously as part of the means to solve the problem in the petroleum sector.

The Senate commended President Muhammadu Buhari “for his diligence and uncommon commitment to resolving the intractable issues of petroleum products supply and distribution and commendable efforts made so far to clean up all institutions associated with the petroleum industry.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday said its members were warming up for a national protest against the inability of the government to bring an end to the perennial fuel scarcity in the country.

They complained of worsening harsh economic condition complicated by the persistence fuel scarcity and unaffordable transport fares to their offices.

The workers’ union executives , it was gathered yesterday, have been meeting to discuss the problem and mobilise members towards the industrial action.

Some union leaders, who spoke with The Nation on condition of anonymity yesterday, warned that if nothing urgent was done to end the fuel scarcity there would be protests to end the suffering of the masses.

The Oyo State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) , Comrade Waheed Olojede described the prevailing fuel scarcity as a national calamity.

He advised the government at all tiers to urgently do something to bring an end to the perennial scarcity which he noted has brought the workers to their knees .

He said “I want to see it as a national calamity and national crisis , and something urgent must be done”.

He explained that workers could no longer go their offices because of increase in fares.

The union, according to him, was discussing on how to handle the crisis, if nothing urgent is done by the government to end the suffering of Nigerians, especially the workers.

“And all along I think the last time I spoke with the National President of NLC , we agreed that we have to do something very urgently to let the government know what Nigerians especially workers are facing in this time, and apart from the intervention of the NLC , the political class should begin to find a lasting solution to this perennial fuel crisis.

“I think they should also understand that the essence of governance is to bring comfort to the citizenry , and that is why I said it is not enough for government at all tiers to fold their hands even unconcerned about the plight of Nigerians, workers in particular.

“Today, it is becoming too difficult for workers to get to their places of work especially at this crucial time when salaries are not paid as at when due. The position now is that government should rise up to the challenge and should do something very urgently to bring an end to this perennial fuel scarcity,” he said.

The NLC also urged the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to stop playing with the lives of Nigerians.

The NLC boss said: “I think the Nigerian Governors’ Forum also have a responsibility in this area because almost all states are affected these are issues we expect them to discuss on how to bring succour to Nigerians rather than going to discuss salary cut at this when everybody is almost walking corpse on the roads.“

November 25, 2015
Minimum wage: NLC lashes governors

THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said governors have declared a war on workers by saying that it was longer sustainable to pay the N18,000 national minimum wage.

In a statement in Abuja yesterday, the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said the declaration by the governors was an attempt to frustrate efforts by the organised labour to table a proposal for a review of the minimum wage, which was signed in 2011.

But the congress said it was prepared to fight any attempt to frustrate improved workers’ welfare.

Wabba said although the NLC wanted a higher wage of N52,000, labour was forced to accept the N18,000 minimum wage after two years of negotiation.

The NLC president argued that the ability to pay minimum wage was not the problem of the economy, but the large sums of money taken away as wages by political office holders and their aides.

Wabba said: “The governors cannot, therefore, want Nigerians to take them seriously by their present claim that the current national minimum wage was ‘imposed’ on them.

“For us in the NLC, we know as a fact that ability to pay minimum wages is not the problem of the economy. What is the problem for states and other tiers of government is the amount of many political office holders and their unproductive aides take away as wages.

“For the private sector, the creed to accumulate more and more profit is also always a motivating factor to keep wages down. Similarly, we have been in the forefront of campaigning that the cost of governance at all levels need to be drastically cut down, to free enough resources for development.

“The hundreds of billions of Naira our public office holders continue to filter away in the name of governance are what are not sustainable. For instance, the annual cost to the public purse of governors security votes, which is an unaccountable drain on the public resources, is worth several thousands of minimum wages per state.

“Secondly, Nigerians who have the means to travel by air would recall that in the last six – 10 years, majority, if not all our governors, no longer use commercial airline regular flights as a means of transportation from one place to another. They now have ‘official’ aircrafts and helicopters, which they maintain at huge costs to the state treasury.

“Their less ‘fortunate’ counterparts charter aircrafts and helicopters at millions of Naira cost to taxpayers to attend any manner of functions from marriages to child naming ceremonies.

“States are in the poor financial state they are in largely on the developmental choices they have made; largely on the basis of priorities they have chosen which has nothing to do with the public good.”

He added that as early as last May, the NLC gave notice that the N18,000 minimum wage was due for review and that workers would be submitting a new proposal once the incoming government settled down.

“With the recent devaluation of the Naira, the attendant increase in inflation and cost of living, even without the last minimum wage Act reaching the mandatory five years when it is due for review, we would have been justified to request for review.

“Now, the five years is here – we are at the end of 2015, and with the cost of living being so high, we will soon table our new minimum wage demand to the Federal Government.

“If the recent statement by the governors forum is intended to manoeuvre them away from addressing these imperatives, then it is bound to fail as we are ready to do battle to raise the living standard of the Nigerian working people,” Wabba said.

November 23, 2015
Minimum wage: NLC accuses governors of declaring war on workers

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said on Sunday that governors of the 36 states of the federation under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum have declared war on Nigerian workers by saying they were no longer in a position to pay the N18,000 minimum wage.

In a statement signed by its President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, the NLC said the declaration by the governors was an attempt to frustrate efforts by organized labour to table a proposal for a review of the current minimum wage which was signed in 2011.

The NLC said it was prepared to fight any attempt to frustrate improved workers’ welfare in the country, saying organized labour was ready to do battle to raise the living standard of Nigerian workers.

The congress said: “The Nigeria Labour Congress is shocked by the statement credited to the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, Governor Abdulaziz Yari, that the N18,000 National Minimum Wage promulgated into law in 2011 was no longer sustainable because of the fall in the price of crude oil.

“The governor who was speaking on behalf of his colleagues at the end of a meeting of the Forum also claimed that the National Minimum Wage was imposed.

“We wish to make it abundantly clear that this attempt to reverse the National Minimum Wage is a declaration of war against the working people of this country, and we would have no alternative than to mobilize to respond to this act of aggression by the political class on our welfare.

“For the records, the 2011 National Minimum Wage came into existence after almost two years of agitation and eventual negotiation by the tripartite committee of government (represented by both the federal and state governments), the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association representing other employers (in the private sector) and organized Labour.

“This is in the best tradition of tripartite negotiation recognized and codified by the International Labour Organization. As organized Labour, we submitted a request for N52,000 and provided justification for it as the minimum wage which a worker and his recognized legal dependents needs to live a healthy life over 30 – 31 days in a month.”

November 22, 2015
Bombings meant to break Nigerians’ spirit – NLC

Nigeria Labour Congress on Thursday said this week’s suicide bombings in Yola and Kano were meant to break the spirit of the people and thwart government efforts to end insurgency in the country.

The President of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said in a statement in Abuja that it was shocked and irked by the continued choice of soft and vulnerable target by insurgents.

While expressing its outrage at the explosions in Yola and Kano, the NLC said the attacks were “cowardly and despicable and are calculated to break the spirit of the people as well as weaken and thwart government’s effort at bringing to a conclusive end the insurgency.

“The Congress is particularly shocked and irked by the continued choice of soft and vulnerable targets. In light of these, we urge appropriate authorities to step up security awareness campaigns as well as regular patrols.

“We similarly, urge the citizenry to be extra-vigilant as well as take pro-active measures in their daily lives. Congress believes these measures could include formation of community policing and constitution of vigilance groups.

“Congress continues to offer its support to the government in its fight against insurgency and advises that dastardly hits like these should not distract it from its mission of routing out insurgency.

“We urge the entire citizenry not to be cowed or weakened by these renewed attacks. They are the last desperate acts of a defeated criminal group.

“We at the Congress have no doubt that with a common resolve, we shall defeat this terror.”

November 19, 2015
NLC urges Buhari to end fuel scarcity

THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari administration to take urgent steps to stop fuel scarcity.

It said no group or cartel, no matter how powerful, should be allowed to arm-twist government into doing its bidding.

The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, in a statement entitled: “Fuel Scarcity: Mr. President, Please Stop Mass Suffering of Nigerians”, said a situation where a few individuals hoarding petroleum products with a view to arm-twisting government to removing subsidy on petroleum products would not be accepted by Nigerians.

Wabba said the congress would not allow any group to distract it from its struggle to have control over the operations of the sector, especially as it relates to full sufficiency in refining the petroleum products.

The statement reads: “The Nigeria Labour Congress is outraged by the continuing incidences of fuel scarcity, resulting in skyrocketing prices and long queues spreading to different parts of the country.

“We note that this is happening despite assurances from government and its agencies that there is enough fuel being distributed around the country and that citizens need not go into panic buying.

“That the situation has not visibly improved after more than 72 hours of such assurance means that the marketers and other groups that have held the country hostage over the years for their unearned profiteering from the petroleum sector are still determined to continue as if it is business as usual.

“It is completely unacceptable to us that Nigerians are forced to go through the perennial hardship, especially towards the end of the year, and now have to cough out between N130 – N300 per litre of petrol in different parts of the country, instead of the official N87 per litre price.

“This for us shows a clear determination of the unpatriotic operators in the petroleum sector working to circumvent government regulation through blackmail and other unorthodox methods.”

The NLC urged government to urgently address the issue of hoarding by marketers and others, accusing them of canvassing for deregulation in which government would hands-off regulating prices of petroleum products.

“Given that petroleum products continue to be the artery of our economy, indeed our existence, it is naïve and foolhardy to expect that government will hands-off the downstream sector and allow for those whose sole purpose is profit-making to take over full control of determining the prices of these critical products.

“They have done this and succeeded in the past, most particularly in the governments of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, through blackmail and deliberate hoarding of petroleum products,” the statement said.

The congress called on government, through the regulatory agencies like the Department of Petroleum Resource (DPR), to impose punitive sanctions on the perpetrators of the “artificial scarcity”.

Wabba said the NLC was prepared to partner with the relevant regulatory and enforcement agencies to enforce the N87 per litre price regime.

He called on state governors to join in enforcing the official price of products in their domains.

November 18, 2015
NLC, NULGE call for local govt autonomy

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) have called for local government areas’ autonomy to liberate them from the grip of governors.

The President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and his NULGE counterpart, Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel, made the call at a roundtable discussion on Local Government Autonomy, organised by NULGE in Abuja, on Monday.

Comrade Wabba enjoined NULGE to be steadfast and continue the struggle as the NLC will support the union to ensure that the autonomy of local government is granted.

Wabba said: “I want to assure you that NLC will fully support and canvass for local government autonomy. Local governments must be allowed to use their funds. I want to urge you to continue the struggle. The local governments must be liberated.”

Wabba said the issue of joint account should be looked into, arguing that the joint account has not served the purpose for which it was intended.

His words: “If we all believe that the majority of our people live in local government areas, then that is where development is needed most. So, we will continue to canvas for autonomy. I am also happy that the current National Assembly, with some of their utterances and dispositions, we can also say we can have an ally in the area of strengthening local government administration and also canvassing for autonomy for local governments.”

According to him, what NULGE has started is an initiative that will bring development closer to the people.

Wabba said: “In the old good days when our local government system was very functional and effective, the issue of security, agriculture, the issue of providing jobs for the teeming youths were actually being addressed. Therefore, we must return to the basics if we want to address the challenges in our economy, our polity or even in our social life.”

He lamented the rate of unemployment, saying through an effective local government system, the agricultural sector can be reinvigorated to curb the menace.

Khaleel said autonomy for local government system is not negotiable, calling for support from stakeholders to ensure the objective is achieved

He noted that stronger financial autonomy for local governments would help to strengthen their activities, adding that the union was working assiduously to ensure that the constitutional reforms of local government system are formulated.

Khaleel said the importance of the roundtable was to produce a rich policy document that would engage government and others in making the local government system stronger.

November 13, 2015