The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NLC

  • NLC shelves proposed strike

    NLC shelves proposed strike

    Organised labour in Edo State has suspended its planned indefinite strike scheduled to begin yesterday.

    The decision to suspend the strike was contained in a communique issued after an enlarged state executive council session on Monday.

    NLC threatened to embark on an indefinite strike if the government refused to pay the arrears of 10.5 per cent Teachers Salary Allowance (TSA), release of backlog of promotions, recall the 920 teachers whose salaries were stopped in December, among others.

    The State Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman, Emmanuel Ademokun, had said there was no going back on the strike until all their demands were met.

    The communique noted that the government has made an offer to meet the request of organised labour in relation to the 53.37 per cent salary relativity in question.

    Ademokun said Governor Adams Oshiomhole wrote an apology letter to the unions on the alleged manhandling of some labour leaders by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Lawrence Loye, last year.

    He said the government agreed to pay a part of the salary relativity and added that the unions were waiting on the directive of the national leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) on the next line of action based on the assessment test and on the sacked 920 teachers.

    The NLC chairman said they would support whatever action the planned to take.

     

  • Kwara NLC shelves strike

    Kwara NLC shelves strike

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Kwara State has shelved its plans to embark on strike over salary disparity, Head of Service Dabarako Mohammed has said.

    The NLC has been contesting the discrepancies between salaries of junior and senior civil servants.

    Mohammed, who spoke to reporters yesterday in Ilorin, added that the government would host the national council on establishments from February 24 to 28.

    The HoS said: “I don’t know why the issue of minimum wage recurs. I have told everybody that if you have any civil servant receiving less than N18,000, I am ready to render my salary. There should be the difference between the law and what you are asking for.

    “I think that is the grey area. The law says anybody employing 50 people and above should pay minimum salary of N18, 000. What the labour people are contesting is that the difference.”

    On this year’s national council of establishments meeting, he said the states’ heads of service, permanent secretaries and directors of establishments would be in attendance.

    He added that the attendees would discuss the grey areas affecting the civil service, especially the dichotomy between polytechnic and university graduates.

     

  • Body seeks pension increment in budget

    Body seeks pension increment in budget

    •Oyo urged to pay N24b gratuity arrears

    Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) National President Dr. Abel Afolayan has berated the Federal Government for excluding the 33 per cent pension increase in the 2014 budget.

    Afolayan, who was represented by the Vice-President, Southwest, Alhaji Lateef Adegoke, spoke yesterday at a meeting with Oyo State pensioners in Ibadan.

    He said the Federal Government’s action showed that it does not care about the welfare of pensioners.

    Afolayan regretted that four years after the government approved the 33 per cent increment, pensioners were yet to be paid.

    He said the NUP and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) wrote President Goodluck Jonathan; the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Jonah Otunla; and Senate President David Mark to express their displeasure.

    Afolayan said: “If the 33 per cent pension increment is not included in the 2014 budget before the end of March, Southwest pensioners will march on Abuja.”

    NUP Chairman, Oyo State branch, Ganiyu Azeez urged the state government to pay the N10 billion gratuity owed retired civil servants and the N14 billion gratuity owed retired primary school teachers.

    Azeez said: “It is disheartening that yesterday was February 17 and January pension has not being paid. In a few days, February pension would also be due. We were not promptly paid in December and there was a minor protest. We were assured then that such a delay would not happen again. In spite of several letters to the governor to pay pensioners 13th month, nothing has been heard. If there is anyone who needs the 13th month bonus, it is pensioners.”

    He urged the governor to pay January and February pension and order that pensioners be paid on the 25th of every month.

    Azeez said: “The rate at which workers retire monthly is higher, compared to the rate at which workers are employed. If care is not taken, in the next five years, pensioners will be more than workers. To stem this tide, our union recommends that the state government and workers dialogue and key into the contributory pension scheme.”

    He warned that pensioners’ would protest, if the state government fails to pay January and February pension before month end.

     

     

  • NAICOM, NLC to partner on group life

    NAICOM, NLC to partner on group life

    The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) are partnering on Compulsory Group Life Insurance to protect workers.

    According to the two bodies, this will also help deepen insurance penetration in the country.

    Commissioner for Insurance, Fola Daniel made this known when he led top management of the commission on a visit to NLC President, Comrade Abdulwahed Omar in Abuja.

    Daniel listed the benefits of Compulsory Group Life Insurance under the Pension Reform Act of 2004.

    He urged Omar to ensure that his members, especially those at the state and local government levels, were insured by their employers.

    He noted that one of the cardinal functions of the Commission is the protection of existing and prospective insurance policy holders in the country.

    Omar said the NLC was willing to work with NAICOM in educating workers and the public on the benefits of insurance.

    He suggested the setting up of a joint working committee for strategic planning and implementation to the achieve desired success.

    Membership of the committee would include NAICOM, NLC and the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) to ensure greater efficiency and effectiveness. The committee is expected to be inaugurated soon, he said.

    At the meeting were the Deputy President, NLC, Comrade Kiri Mohammed; Deputy President, NLC, Comrade Issa Aremu,President, Civil Service Commission Union, President, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG),Comrade Igwe Achese; and other top council members of NLC.

    Also, the Deputy British High Commissioner, Peter Carter, has led a team from Prudential Plc, a life insurance firm in the United Kingdom on a visit to NAICOM.

    He said they were in the Commision to appraise him of the intention of Prudential Plc to invest in the insurance market and to inquire about the modalities.

    The Director of Strategy & Corporate Development at Prudential Plc,  Matt Lilley, said his firm is a life insurance entity has been in operation for 165 years.

    The company, he said, has major investments in Asia and has injected $5 million into a small insurance business in Ghana.

    He said Prudential Plc is keen and eager to enter the Nigerian market for big ticket businesses.

    Daniel, who said he was excited about the visit and the desires of Prudential Plc to invest in the country, promised the support and cooperation of NAICOM to the successful entrance of the company into the market.

  • Govt’s failure to create jobs worries NLC

    Govt’s failure to create jobs worries NLC

    • Calls for quick passage of the PIB

    Following a review of the 2014 Appropriation Bill delivered to the National Assembly on December 19, last year, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) is worried that the Federal Government said the budget will enhance job creation, claiming that there is nothing in the document suggesting such.

    The union insists there the proposal is not different from others before it.

    NLC’s President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, in his New Year’s message to workers, called on the government to put job creation at the centre of its activities, adding that it needs to deploy policies in promoting creation of jobs.

    His words: “Government spending on projects and programmes must be evaluated, in part, on the basis of how many jobs such projects and programmes will create in all sectors of the economy with high job elasticity of growth need to be identified with a view to initiating policies to promote growth in such sectors.

    “In this way, the malady of jobless growth, which has come to characterise the economy, can be moderated”.

    Omar called on the workers to be more mature, confident, optimistic and more aware of the deeper causes of the nation’s problems. He also called on the workers to be productive and peaceful in the year for industrial peace to prevail.

    The labour leader recalled that workers faced various challenges in 2013, including a high level of unemployment and job insecurity, despite the huge budget for employment generation by the government.

    ”For those looking for jobs and those entering the labour market for the first time, particularly the youth, the daunting odds of finding a job continued to be a source of fear and panic during the year.

    “We implore the millions of Nigerians, who are still searching for work, especially in this 2014 to keep faith and hope alive.

    “We also insist that we commit ourselves to struggling harder, be more methodical and efficient in order for the NLC to continue its upward course, grow in number and activities, to continue to coordinate the solidarity among the international trade union movement and to continue to support and strengthen the class-oriented trade union forces this year,” Omar said.

    The NLC chief also called on the Federal Government to ensure the quick passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into law after over five years of lying fallow at the National Assembly.

    According to him, the bill should be passed before the end of March, lamenting the continued use of the 44-year-old Petroleum Act, which he said has since remained the only legal instrument to regulate the oil and gas industry.

    ”We support the demand by the oil sector unions for the urgent passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), if possible in the first quarter of this year because it is unacceptable that the petroleum sector is still regulated by the old Petroleum Act of 1969.

    “The PIB with all the proposed inputs by all stakeholders will undoubtedly promote transparency and accountability and national benefits.

    “Looking into the future, there is the need to recognise that the international market for Nigerian crude this year is likely to shrink as alternative sources come on stream because investment in gas development in the US and other countries are beginning to yield results,” he  said.

  • Pension: Labour demands stiffer sanctions against non-compliance

    Pension: Labour demands stiffer sanctions against non-compliance

    The organised labour has called on the National Assembly to take advantage of the  on-going pension reform amendment Bill 2013, to tighten sanction for non-compliance and review the rate of contribution, among others.

    Speaking at the opening of National Pension Commission, PenCom zonal office in Kano, Vice President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC),  Comrade Issa Aremu, urged the government not to politicise the appointment of the Chairman and Director-General, of the National Pension Commission (PenCom).

    Aremu, who is also the General Secretary of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), commended PenCom for changing the story of pensioners from that of agony to taht of joy with the contributory pool fund and sustainable fund for pension claims after retirement.

    His word: “PenCom’s remarkable growth and development in just less than 10 years of its establishment, shows that Nigeria is capable of institution building. With 20 PFAs (Pension Funds Administrators), seven closed Pension Fund Administrators, four Pension Fund Custodians with turnover of billions of naira, about N3.7 trillion worth of pension fund assets and 5.83 million registered workers, Pencom deserves commendation.

    “We acknowledge the fact that the Director-General of PenCom, Mrs. ChineloAnohu-Amazu, has within a short time consolidated the gains of the past by her predecessor, opening new frontiers as we are witnessing today.  North West Zonal office in Kano has added to the number of Zonal Offices that have been commendably commissioned by PenCom, namely Lagos, Ilorin, Calabar and Awka.

    “With the opening of PenCom’s Northwest Zonal office in Kano, we expect Kano State to soonest also join the new contributory pension scheme.

    “The old defined benefit scheme as good as it could be is not sustainable. With the new pension scheme, there is good corporate governance, strengthened Pension Fund Administrators, PFAs, with guaranteed transparency and accountability.

    “All the revelations about the public sector pension scam show that we must urgently think outside the box of unfunded, crime-prone defined benefit (DB). The future lies in the mandatory individual defined contributions which the Pension reform Act represents.”

    “The bane of public sector pension lies in its non-contributory character as well as sheer corruption and diversion of funds even allegedly for partisan political purposes. NLC protest in the past over pension is legitimately directed against this much abused non contributory public pension scheme. The challenge lies in deepening the new contributory pension scheme.”

    Aremu commended President Goodluck Jonathan for trying to deepen and strengthen the pension scheme through the Pension Reform amendment Bill 2013.

    He said it is good that the Pension Reform Act is being amended to further widen the scope of coverage to include the informal sector.

    “We, therefore, call on President Goodluck Jonathan to avoid the temptation to politicise the positions of Chairmanship of the Board of PenCom as well as its Director General.  We should rely on those who have the experience and competence to manage the fund.”

     

    “They are not far-fetched if we look inwards.  The President should have an eye on institution building which requires statesmanship and not partisanship.  We cannot afford to play politics with the new pension scheme given the ugly experience of the recent past. From the point of view of labour, the pension scheme will be a determinant factor for 2015 general election.

    “Labour will make pension issue a campaign issue and will support only politicians who pay minimum wage and minimum pension for working men and women,” Aremu said.

  • Civil servants threaten strike over delayed salary

    The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has given the Federal Government a notice to embark on a strike over the non-payment of its members’ December salary and emoluments since last July.

    The ASCSN, an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria(TUC), in a statement by its Secretary-General, Mr. Alade Lawal, urged the government to begin the payment immediately or face its wrath.

    It called on the TUC, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), civil society groups, The Patriot, the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and prominent individuals to prevail on the Federal Government to pay the civil servants their salaries promptly, to avert disruption of services in the public service a few days after the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities was resolved.

    The umbrella union of senior civil servants expressed shock that thousands of federal civil servants were not paid their December salaries.

    “We wish to emphasise that if the federal civil servants are not paid their December 2013 salaries and arrears outstanding since July 2013 immediately, the entire Federal Civil Service will be shut down shortly.

    “It is difficult to understand why civil servants cannot be paid their paltry salaries in an economy where the political elite are carting away millions of naira monthly as remunerations, while billions in public funds are also being looted without qualms and those involved in the stealing spree are not being brought to book.”

    Lawal, said the Finance Minister, Dr  Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, owes Nigerians an explanation on what caused the delay.

    “It is disheartening that thousands of civil servants employed by the Federal Government were not paid their December 2013 salaries, and so, these workers and their families spent the Christmas under the pain and pang of hunger. What is also clear is that these workers, their children and other dependants will also celebrate the New Year in sadness,” he said.

    The union called on the Finance Minister to speak out and tell Nigerians why the Federal Government can no longer pay salaries to its employees as and when due, saying it was necessary for the minister to address the nation on the embarrassing situation because she has maintained that the country was not broke.

    The ASCSN also said it was bad that civil servants are the least paid in sub-Saharan Africa, adding that the fact that thousands of them could no longer be paid their meagre salaries was pushing the workers and their trade unions to the wall.

    The association requested President Goodluck Jonathan to step in and put the necessary machinery in motion to ensure that such an embarrassing situation would not repeat itself.

    The group posited that the inability of the government to pay salaries was lending credence to the belief in some quarters that the managers of the public sector of the economy were grossly incompetent.

    However, the Federal Government last week said it would investigate the reasons for the delay in payment of the December salary of some civil servants.

    But Mrs Okonjo-Iweala said in a statement by her Special Adviser on Communication, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, that the investigation followed the protest by ASCSN over the alleged non-payment of some of the members.

    She said the ministry had not received any complaint on the matter.

  • NLC kicks against non-inclusion in National Conference

    NLC kicks against non-inclusion in National Conference

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has kicked against its non-inclusion and the Federal Government’s attitude in the proposed National Conference.

    The congress in a statement signed by the its Secretary, Benson Upah said: “Congress is dismayed that the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue under the chairmanship of Senator Femi Okunronmu has not yet thought it fit or necessary to consult the organised labour, a pan-Nigeria organisation with millions of membership and a critical stakeholder in the polity.

    ‘’We believe that the report of the Committee will not be complete without consultations with organised labour and other critical stakeholders. While its sojourn to thirteen zones may have availed it some information, this information will not take the Committee beyond the realms of previous conferences. In other words, this could be a leap of the toad.

    “The sudden change in the disposition of the Federal Government on the convocation of National Conference has created doubts and divergent views within the polity on the actual motive for this conference.

    “The apprehensions which government’s decision on the subject has generated is understandable bearing in mind the timing, adding that the near conclusion of 1999 Constitution review by National Assembly and the 2015 National and State Elections scheduled for May 2015.”

    The congress said it recognises the desirability for a National Conference to deliberate on lingering problems that continually threaten national cohesion, growth and development.

    “Congress’ acknowledgement of the need for a National Conference notwithstanding, we are of the opinion that the culture of constant dialogue by the constituent nationalities should be a feature of our national life. This is more so because, primordial sentiments are increasingly sustained by crises within the polity, inability of governance to impact positively on the citizenry and the slow development of industrial culture as a result of sustained deindustrialisation,” it said.

    NLC added that for the conference to be relevant, it should, among other things, focus on the following: character of federating units (zones/regions); revenue formula (sharing and allocation of responsibilities); structure of police (federal/regional/zonal); system of the government (presidential/parliamentary); resource management for national development; electoral reform; independence of anti-corruption agencies and the judiciary and new constitution.

  • TUC, NLC to curtail strikes

    TUC, NLC to curtail strikes

    The Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) are to collaborate to end industrial actions in the country from 2014, President of TUC, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama has said.

    He said the two labour umbrella bodies are partnering to curb incessant strikes among their affiliates.

    He assured Nigerians and the government that incessant industrial actions witnessed during the year would be curbed as from next year.

    He said as trade union leaders, they consider strike as the last resort in industrial disputes, adding that the union will see how to resolve it next year.

    “We are going to do our best to see how we will resolve issues before it degenerated into industrial strikes,” he said.

    He regretted the prolonged strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other strikes that had paralysed the economy.

    Also on the threat by PENGASSAN to embark on strike this yuletide, Kaigama said it was a way of showing their grievances.

  • NLC urges ASUU to double productivity

    The Nigeria Labour Congress in Anambra has called on university lecturers to work harder to make up for the 25 weeks lost to their strike.

    The state Chairman of NLC, Mr. Patrick Obianyo, made the call while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Friday.

    Obianyo described the suspended strike which lasted five months and 18 days as not only regrettable but avoidable.

    He, however, commended the federal government for finding a common ground with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on the issues raised.

    He said that their action showed responsibility and was in the interest of the country’s education sector.

    “The NLC thanks God for helping us see the end of the strike after a period of nearly six months.

    “We want members of ASUU to double their productivity so that we can reduce the extent of damage resulting from the industrial action.

    “The government has shown character and demonstrated faith with the union; it is not cowardice, so students and teachers must justify the gains of that struggle,” he said.

    The labour leader pointed out that there was need for healthy industrial relations between governments at all levels and the labour unions.

    He said it would make for easy resolution of differences and prevent prolonged negotiations.