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Tag: NLC

  • Housing: Deposits safe, NLC assures workers

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has assured workers and subscribers of the security of their deposits for the NLC-Kristone-Lally Housing Project in Abuja.

    In a statement, the  NLC President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, said the congress is doing everything possible to protect and secure the interests of the subscribers despite  alleged of a scam in the housing project.

    Omar said: “In its bid to promote workers’ welfare, the congress went into understanding with a number of developers to provide affordable housing for workers, one of such understandings was with Kristone –Lally with whom congress signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU).

    ”Based on this MoU and subsequent advertisement, a large number of workers subscribed to the project under the MoU, Kristone-Lally was to build specified housing types at agreed prices. The funding of the project was to be provided by financiers from abroad whom Kristone-Lally had identified.”

    The President said NLC was on its part to ensure that there were off-taken of the housing units by mobilizing workers to subscribe by paying some per centage of the price of desired house type stressing that NLC was happy with the overwhelming response of Nigerian workers to the advertisement of subscription to the housing project.

    He said that on the 4th of October 2013, NLC decided that further subscription and collection of money be stopped to enable the project consolidate and deliver the first phase of houses to those who had subscribed within the agreed timeframe of December 2014, adding that the congress’ decision was served on and acknowledged by Kristone-Lally.

    Omar said: “Congress became worried as the take –off of the project kept on being delayed. Due to the delay, a number of subscribers applied for a refund of their deposits.”

    He explained that in the process of processing the application for refunds, the officials of NLC encountered a bank teller which showed that a subscriber had paid the initial deposit into an account other than the advertised NLC-Kristone-Lally EPC account.

  • …NLC calls for probe

    …NLC calls for probe

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) wants the government to institute a probe into the recent collapse of a building at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Lagos.

    No fewer than 115 people died in the incident.

    Congress, in a statement signed Benson Upah, described the building collapse as a familiar but painful and avoidable tragedy.

    “It is an occurrence Nigeria can ill-afford,” the NLC said, pointing out that such a probe would lay bare all the facts and enable the bereaved families to know the truth.

    But it warned that a shoddy investigation would compromise the image of the country.

    While commiserating with families of victims, majority of who are from South Africa, the congress asked the government to empower the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in order to improve their response capacity.

  • NLC seeks probe of collapsed Synagogue building

    The Nigeria Labour Congress on Friday urged the government to institute a probe panel to look into causes of the collapsed building of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, Lagos.

    At least 115 people, mainly South Africans died in the incident.

    In a statement signed Benson Upah on behalf of the Congress said the collapse of the building was a familiar but painful and avoidable tragedy, adding that “It is an occurrence Nigeria can ill-afford.

    “Accordingly, we at the Nigeria Labour Congress call for a professional and transparent probe capable of laying bare all the facts. By so doing, we will not only be putting to rest all the speculations, we will be preventing similar tragedies waiting to happen.

    “Similarly, a shoddy investigation is capable of compromising the image of Nigeria. Last but not the least, the relatives of the victims deserve to know the truth.”

    While commiserating with families of victims, the congress asked the government to empower the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in order to improve the agency response capacity.

     

  • NLC condoles Dimgba Igwe’s family

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has described the death of  the Sun Newspaper Vice Chairman, Mr. Dimgba Igwe, who was killed last Saturday  by a hit-and-run driver, as an assault on quality journalism.

    In a statement, its General-Secretary, Comrade Peter Ozo-Eson, said the circumstances surrounding  Igwe’s death call to question the mental fitness of most drivers.

    The NLC’s scribe, who wondered how the speed level of a vehicle could have run down a man on a small street, resulting in his untimely death in just a few hours.

    “We call on the Federal Road Safety Commission to investigate, apprehend and prosecute the driver of the vehicle who allegedly ran down Mr. Igwe. Once drivers who derive joy in reckless driving,  know that they could end up in jail, accidents such as this would be reduced,” he said.

    According to Ozo-Eson, the NLC will continue to remember the late Igwe as one of the founding Editors of the defunct Concord Newspapers and a versatile columnist whose writings have contributed immensely to shaping thoughts, contemporary political discourse, and progressive journalism in Nigeria.

    “We condole with Mr. Igwe’s family, the Sun Publishing Company, the Nigeria Guild of Editors, and indeed, the entire media community in Nigeria as we share in the collective agony his death has brought to all of us,”he said.

  • Boko Haram has declared war on Nigeria – NLC

    Boko Haram has declared war on Nigeria – NLC

    The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked the federal government to use maximum force to repel the activities of the Boko Haram sect, saying the group has declared war on Nigeria through its recent activities.

    In a statement in Abuja entitled: “We Must Not Lose Any Part of Nigeria to Insurgents,” and signed by its President, Comrade Abdulwahed Omar, the Congress said the fact that members of the group have decided to come out in their number to attack towns and villages in the North East is a clear indication that they have declared war on the country and must be repelled by every force available.

    The umbrella body’s of Nigerian workers expressed concern at the speed at which the insurgents are taking over towns and villages hitherto under the control of security agents, pointing out that if not curtailed, the development is capable of discrediting the Nigerian armed forces that has performed creditably in peace keeping missions across the world.

    The statement reads: “The Nigeria Labour Congress is worried about the recent incursion into some towns and villages, especially in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States in the north eastern part of the country by the Boko Haram terror group.

    “These violent attacks and reported seizures and declaration of an Islamic republic remain unacceptable and must never be allowed as a republic cannot exist within a republic.

    “While we appreciate the commitment of Nigeria’s security agencies, particularly the armed forces, to the battle against insurgency in Nigeria, we strongly warn that the consequence of allowing any part of the country to be forcefully seized by any group will be overwhelmingly harmful to our collective unity and socio economic advancement, just as it would also endanger the growth of democracy.

    “We are worried at the speed at which the insurgents are taking over communities even in areas reported to have heavy security presence. It is time the Nigerian armed forces prove their preparedness to protect and defend the Nigerian people and their territories by using all within their armoury to protect our territorial integrity.

    “The credibility and professional image of our armed forces would be at stake, even in global ratings, if our forces who have been widely acclaimed to have performed so well during peace keeping operations in different parts of the world would allow themselves to be overrun by insurgents back home.

    “While we commend the Federal Government for providing necessary human and material needs for the battle against these insurgents, we believe the government can do more in ensuring the troops are well kitted with modern weapons and all that is required to fight contemporary wars as the situation has obviously moved beyond mere insurgency.”

  • NLC to Fed Govt: fight Boko Haram as Ebola

    NLC to Fed Govt: fight Boko Haram as Ebola

    The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdul Waheed Omar, yesterday urged the Federal Government to fight the Boko Haram insurgency with the vigour it is fighting the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

    He spoke in Kaduna at  the opening of a one-day sensitisation workshop on the prevention of Ebola, organised by National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN).

    Omar noted that the rapid response by the Federal Government to stop the spread of the Ebola virus was commendable, adding:  “I think if Federal Government should fight Boko Haram the way it is fighting Ebola, the insurgency would have ended.

    “I enjoin the government to be as proactive to Boko Haram as it has done to Ebola.”

    The President and General-Secretary of NUTGTWN, Comrade Oladele Hunsu and Comrade Issa Aremu, said there was need for continuous enlightenment and sensitisation of the Ebola virus.

    Aremu said the essence of the workshop was to enlighten members on the disease and how to prevent it.

    He said: “As deadly as the Ebola virus disease is, we should not forget there are other diseases, such as malaria, polio and cholera, which have cure but are still rampant.

    “Thus, as we battle the deadly Ebola virus disease, we should do more with other diseases with known treatment/prevention. It is all about good health care and good governance.

    “We laud the resolution of the crisis in the health sector, which led to the calling off of the strike by members of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA). We are also impressed that the Federal Government has withdrawn the sack order given to the doctors.

    “The truth is that we cannot resolve the health challenges, particularly the threat posed by the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), if we have a crisis in the health sector.

    “Government must provide health workers with the tools, including insurance covers, to deal with the Ebola virus.”

    Delivering a paper titled: “Ebola Virus Disease: What we need to know”, Dr. Sani Gwarzo, a director, Port Health Services, Federal Ministry of Health, said the era of sensitisation was over, adding that action should be taken to prevent the deadly virus.

    Gwarzo, who is also a member of the Incident Management Committee on the Ebola virus disease, said the spread of the disease started in 1976 as rural Ebola, adding that it killed a lot of animals and human beings in Central Africa.

    He allayed the fears of most Nigerians that suffering from acute malaria fever did not necessarily mean a symptom of Ebola, but warned that persons suffering from such fever should keep away from the work place till recovery.

    Gwarzo said the rampaging disease is known as urban Ebola, urging the leadership of the labour union to put in place a policy, work plan as well as a response team to checkmate the spread of Ebola, particularly in their immediate environment.

     

  • NLC to FG: Fight Boko Haram like Ebola

    NLC to FG: Fight Boko Haram like Ebola

    President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdul Waheed Omar, on Monday urged the Federal Government to fight the Boko Haram sect with the same vigour it is fighting the deadly Ebola Virus Disease in the country.

    Omar stated this in Kaduna while declaring open a one-day sensitization workshop on the prevention of Ebola virus disease in the workplace, organized by National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN).

    He noted the government’s rapid response to the Ebola scourge was a commendable, adding that, “I think if Federal Government should fight Boko Haram the way it is fighting Ebola, then the insurgency would have ended since.

    “Therefore I call on the government to be as proactive to Boko Haram as it has done to Ebola.”

    In their remarks, the President and General Secretary, NUTGTWN, Comrade Oladele Hunsu and Comrade Issa Aremu, said there was the need for continuous enlightenment and sensitization on Ebola.

    Aremu said the essence of the workshop was to enlighten the labour force about the disease and how to prevent it.

    “As deadly as the Ebola virus disease is, we should not forget there are other diseases like malaria, polio, cholera which are curable but are still rampant in the country. Thus as we battle with the deadly Ebola Virus Disease, we should do more with other diseases with known treatment/prevention. It is all about good health care and good governance.

    “We commend the recent resolution of the crisis in the health sector that led to the calling off of strike action by doctors under Nigeria Medical Association. We are also impressed that the Federal government has withdrawn the earlier retrenchment of the doctors,” he stated.

  • Abia NLC pickets flour mills in Aba

    Abia NLC pickets flour mills in Aba

    •Poor working conditions alleged

    The Abia State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has picketed Valleumbra Flour Mills, Aba, following alleged poor working environment and welfare.

    NLC also alleged that the management enslaved the workers by paying them between N7,500 and N14,000, instead of the approved minimum wage of N18,000.

    Speaking with reporters, NLC Chairman Comrade Sylvanus Eyeh said the workers suffered for over three months because they insisted on joining the labour union.

    He said when the workers attempted to join NLC, 72 of them were sacked.

    But management gave an  excuse that it could not pay them, only for the company to reabsorb those who renounced membership of the union.

    The Abia NLC boss said the workers were in a  cordial working relationship with the management until the issue of unionism came up.

    He stressed that the management alleged that the workers under the union would demand salary increase and other benefits.

    Eyeh said the workers were sacked, while some of them were posted to work as water boys and truck assistants.

    He added: “This is not what the Federal Government said about workers. Every worker must belong to a union. So why must this company be different?”

    Eyeh noted that casualisation of workers had been abolished by the Federal Government.

    “But in this flour mills, workers are placed on casualisation and this is one of the things we are against. It must stop.”

    He said the factory would only be opened if the management reinstated the sacked workers.

    The Abia NLC boss said the picketing was  successful as the place was closed and the workers sent home.

    “The factory will remain closed until the demands of the union are met,” he added.

  • Daniel urges NLC on 2014 Pension Reform Act

    Daniel urges NLC on 2014 Pension Reform Act

    The Pension Reform Act 2014 would remain a mirage unless efforts were made to educate workers on their rights by  labour unions, Commissioner for Insurance, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Fola Daniel, has said.

    He spoke at the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Central Working Committee meeting in Enugu.

    He said proper enlightenment would ensure that workers were not shortchanged by employers who fail to comply with the Act.

    Highlighting the benefits of the Pension Reform Act 2014, as it relates to compulsory Group Life Insurance and Life Annuity for the employees by the employers of all tiers of government, and the private sector as contained in Section 4 subsections 5 and Section 7 subsections 1c, he said the purpose of the relevant sections referred to, is to ensure that employee dependents have succour in the event of death during employment and for comfort after retirement.

    He noted that the Act is an update of the Pension Reform Act of 2004.

    He said: “While this act of parliament provides for the security of employees, it would remain a mirage or paper tiger unless conscious efforts are made to enlighten workers of their rights by respective labour unions to ensure that workers are not shortchanged as a result of failure of employer to comply with the provision of the act.

    “At the moment, compliance is largely effected by the Federal government whilst other tiers of government are yet to fully comply.  Compliance by private sector employers will need to be monitored to ensure that workers interests are protected.

    He stated that the Commission has effective collaboration with the National Pension Commission (PenCom) in enforcing the relevant provisions of the Pension Reform Act, adding that the collaboration will continue.

    He urge the NLC to leverage on the provisions of the Act by ensuring that workers were sensitised to demand for their rights as provided and also ensure compliance by all tiers of government and the private sector employers.

    The proactivity of the NLC and its affiliates would enable workers to access the well-intended welfare provision for the workers, he said.

  • Ebola: NLC restricts nine countries from conference

    Ebola: NLC restricts nine countries from conference

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has written a letter of restriction to delegates from nine countries with outbreaks of the Ebloa Virus Disease (EVD) to stay away from its 12th Rain School 2014 in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

    Adhering to the restriction notice, the countries, including Liberia, South Africa, Guinea and Kenya, are absent from the conference.

    NLC President Abdulwaheed Omar spoke yesterday in his opening remarks at the delegates’ conference.

    He said the congress barred the delegates from the affected countries to prevent the importation or exportation of the virus.

    The theme of the conference is: Inequality and Socio-Political Instability: Issues and Challenges for the Working Class.

    Omar said: “We don’t know if they intend coming; whether or not their authorities will allow them to come. This is because it is a matter of emergency and national security.”

    The union leader explained that the NLC took the decision because the presence of Ebola-infected nationals would scare other participants away.

    It was learnt that the only delegate from Ghana, Gladys Osuma, was certified Ebola-free.

    Omar said: “It is very unique because I thought for the first time we are holding the school with people only from Nigeria. But we are happy we are able to get our sister from Ghana. Although most of the time you cannot even differentiate between Nigeria and Ghana except that there are two countries in between us.

    “But you know for obvious reason why it is only one person from Ghana who is here today. That is because of the unfortunate incident of the Ebola Virus Disease. Some countries are making efforts to ensure that people outside would not come either to import or export this dreaded disease.

    “That is why we made efforts to write to quite a number of these countries, particularly Sierra-Leone, Liberia, and even South Africa. So, they should help us by staying back, because we wouldn’t want to bring in people to scare other people here.

    “When you hear that somebody from Liberia is here, all of you will stay away. We asked them to stay back. But I am very happy that our sister from Ghana is hale and hearty and she will also go back hale and hearty.”

    The NLC president hailed the Federal Government for containing the EVD spread.

    He said: “We are vry happy that the government has done all it could to ensure that this thing is warded off and the spread is not allowed.”

     

     

     

     

    Omar admitted that the restriction of foreign delegates might affect the national economy.

    According to him, there is primacy of good health over wealth, since it is people that create and manage wealth.

    Omar noted that if the disease is effectively managed, its effect would be minimal.

    Chairperson of the state

    Akwa Ibom State NLC Council Chairperson Comrade Unyime Usoro said Governor Godswill Akpabio had directed that no group or individual should be shut out of the state, if they are Ebola-free.

    The governor’s Labour and Productivity Special Assistant Godwin Udoh said national security had not been so floundered since 1964 as Ebola and other challenges had made it.

    He said: “The combination of political uncertainty, social unrest and specific security traits pose enormous security challenges to the working class.

    “The killings and insecurity by Boko Haram in some part of the country is ill-timed and unpatriotic. It is designed to create socio-political instability. It is an ill-will that blows no one any good.”