The Nation Newspaper

Tag: poor welfare

  • Protest in SON over corruption, poor welfare, others

    •’Protesters disrespected ministry’s directive’

    There was a protest yesterday in the Abuja office of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) on allegation of corruption, poor welfare and irregular promotion, among other things.

    The protest, which was organised by the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) grounded activities at the Federal Government agency.

    The Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council of AUPCTRE, Comrade Aliyu Maradun, told reporters that SON’s Director General Osita Aboloma had allegedly been involved in multiple contract awards and contract splitting.

    “We are aware of people who were employed here and under six months, they were promoted more than five times. And there are people here who have spent 20 years stagnated.

    “Some people are on secondment and have refused to go, at the detriment of the people here who are supposed to occupy their positions,” he said.

    Aliyu demanded the intervention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) into the operations of the organisation, an improved workers’ welfare and the implementation of the directive of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment on voluntarism.

    But the President of the SON branch of the Senior Staff Association of the Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Ayodele Folayan, dismissed the allegations of AUPCTRE.

    He described the protest as “uncalled for”. Folayan said there were efforts to resolve issues on workers’ welfare, adding that the protesters should return to the negotiating table for a solution.

    SON spokesman Bola Fashina said the protesters disrespected the directive of the Ministry of Labour and Employment on voluntarism and not SON.

    On promotion arrears, he said, budgetary allocation had been made while the amount provided had been approved in this year’s budget by the National Assembly.

    In his response to AUPCTRE allegations, Fashina said: “The Federal Ministry of Labour’s directive was to clarify jurisdictional scope of the two unions. SSASCGOC, for senior workers and AUCPTRE for junior workers SON obeyed the ministry.

    “SON is currently paying 20 per cent of workers’ total emoluments as conditions of service. A committee is already in place to harmonise the two versions presented to this management and the two unions have been invited to nominate representatives onto the committee.

    “There are two approved versions – 2012 and 2016. SON cannot choose one over the other. We need to review or harmonise with the union representatives before recommending to management.

    “No worker has been coerced or intimidated. Management only drew attention of staff to the letter from the Federal Ministry of Labour in a Circular

    “There was no illegal promotion; rather, there were advancement of workers to reflect qualification and requisite experience of the workers. This is normal in public service. A graduate of between 15 and 20 years wrongly offered appointment on CONRAISS 8 and advanced to CONRAISS 12 is an example.

    “The arrears of salary for workers employed in 2016 were 16 months. The Director General intervened and got the IPPIS and Office of the Accountant General to pay. The remaining two months will be paid by same source.

    “The workers were employed before the appointment of the present DG. The arrears were reported to the relevant authorities. It is awaiting payment by IPPIS anytime from now.

    “Secondment is an acceptable and legal practice in public service provided for in the Public Service Rules (PSR). The secondment to SON is within the PSR. None of the seconded staff is a non-Nigerian.

     

     

  • Minister to council chiefs: use N684m Paris Refund to pay salaries

    Worried by the workers’ poor welfare, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Minister Malam Muhammad Bello has urged chairmen of Area Councils to use the recently received N684 million Paris Refund cash to defray the arrears of staff salaries.

    Bello gave the advice while answering questions asked by the Senate Committee on FCT during the Committee’s hearing on the Bill for the Political and Administrative Structure of FCT Area Councils.

    Asked by the Committee Chairman, Senator Dino Melaye whether he intends to place a demand for the Paris Refund considering the N1.6 billion the Administration gave as bailout to Area Councils in the recent past, the Minister disclosed that the repayment of the bailout money given the councils was not a priority now but to see that the Area Council staff gets paid the arrears of salaries owed them.

    He also disclosed that the FCT Administration had not yet benefitted from the Paris Refund as what hit its account was meant for the Area Councils.

    In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary, Cosmas Uzodinma, the minister also suggested a special fund to ensure prompt payment of severance packages to Area Council political office holders.

    This he indicated could be by setting aside a percentage of the Internally Generated Revenues (IGR) of the Area Councils upon collection.

    He stressed that while he had read that FCT was to receive N1.2 Billion and N684 Million representing first and second tranches of Paris Refund, respectively, it was only on Friday last week that the second tranche hit the FCT Account, saying the Administration is yet to receive the first tranche.

    Bello invited the Committee to look into the subject of the collection of Tenement Rates in the Federal Capital City (FCC) against the background of the huge investment the FCT Administration makes in the development of infrastructure and provision of services in the Capital City.

    The Minister acknowledged the support and guidance of the Senate Committee on FCT in the efforts to provide infrastructure and services in the Territory, saying: “We look at the Area Councils as an extension of the FCT Administration, we don’t intend to ask them to refund the bailout but as the days go by we would find the ways and means around it.

    “It is however, very important that this distinguished Committee be able to really recognize the critical role of FCC, which is the 250sqkm where you find the Presidency, the Diplomatic Community and the Ministries. We have had instances where the consultants go to seal up diplomatic building, being unmindful of such international treaties like the Geneva Convention on the status of Diplomatic persons and institutions.

    “When you are looking at the political structure, we hope the Committee recognizes this unique position and even when the subject of taxes is being considered; it could be done in such a way that the FCT Internal Revenue Services is the one to handle them to avoid embarrassments.”

    The Committee Chairman, Senator Dino Melaye revealed that the Committee intends to pass the Bill on the Political and Administrative structure of FCT Area Councils into law before the end of the year, to give a permanent solution to the various areas of concern.

    He commended the parties in the suit challenging the FCT Administration and the House of Representatives on the legality or otherwise of stopping the Abuja Municipal Area Councils from collecting Tenement Rates, for withdrawing the suit. He said it was a welcome development to exhaust all avenues of dialogue.

    FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye informed the Committee of the drastic decline in the FCT Administration’s allocation from the Federation Account from N4.3 Billion  two years ago to between N1.9Billion and N2.1Billion currently.

    The Permanent Secretary lamented that with staff strength of over 28,000; FCTA’s wage bill is over N4 Billion monthly, coupled with the huge responsibilities for the provision of infrastructure and services in the Territory.

    This, he said has made it imperative for the FCT Administration to rely heavily on its Internal Revenue Generation capacity to fund these projects and services.

     

  • Passengers groan as LAGBUS drivers protest poor welfare

    Passengers groan as LAGBUS drivers protest poor welfare

    Commuters in Lagos on Friday groaned as drivers of LAGBUS downed tools to protest restrictions preventing them from plying Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) lanes in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that tension had been rife since December 2015 when the Ikorodu-Mile 12 BRT corridor was opened and a new operator for the blue buses resumed.

    Some drivers told NAN in separate interviews that the management had failed to address issues relating to the restriction and poor staff welfare.

    When NAN visited the Toll-Gate depot of the LAGBUS on Friday morning, more than 60 drivers had converged at the entrance on its premises.

    Also, the protesting drivers prevented any bus from leaving the premises of the company, while those who returned late to the depot on Thursday were seen parked outside.

    A driver who preferred anonymity said: “our red buses were denied access to use the dedicated lane; and any red bus that plied it was arrested and fined.

    “So, our management asked us to comply with the directive which they said was from the government; we accepted.

    “But only yesterday, Thursday, the restriction was extended from Mile 12 to CMS and we began to experience arrests and harassment by the BRT monitoring task force for using the corridor.

    “Instead, we are being asked to use the service lane which we consider dangerous to our lives because they want us to now compete with yellow-painted buses whose drivers already accuse us of taking all their passengers.

    “So, that’s the reason for the peaceful protest.”

    The driver said apart from posing a security threat, the restriction had defeated the purpose of reducing delays for passengers and exposed drivers to stress.

    He said efforts to have the management of LAGBUS intervene bore no fruit.

    “They refused to act, instead, they told us to comply with the directive,” he said.

    Another source accused the management of paying lip service to welfare issues.

    “As drivers, we earn a salary of between N22, 000 and N42, 000 a month.

    “Our basic salary is actually N22, 000 monthly, but you earn additional N1, 000 for each day you sign in for work, then another N1, 000 if you are lucky to get a bus to drive for the day.

    “We are also given four per cent of our daily revenue, especially when we meet sales target.

    “How can we earn so little each month when our contemporaries working for the blue buses earn as much as N80, 000 monthly without targets?” the source queried.

    Efforts to reach both the managing director of LAGBUS and its spokesperson for reactions proved abortive as calls to their phones did not connect.

    However, a senior staff of LAGBUS who did not want his name in print because he was not authorised to speak on the matter said the issues would be resolved.

    He said: “It is true that our captains are on strike because of issues concerning the restrictions and management’s inability to carry every staff along.

    “But, I am sure that the issues would be resolved amicably and commuters would begin to enjoy our services once again.”

    Meanwhile, some stranded passengers who spoke to NAN urged the Lagos State Government to intervene in the matter in the interest of commuters and residents of Lagos.

    Miss Caroline Chinedu, a banker, said, “I want to appeal to Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode to wade into this issue because exposing us (passengers) to the chaotic traffic situation after a hectic day’s would be unfair.

    “The red buses have been life savers, especially during traffic, as they just glide unhindered along the dedicated lane.

    “So, asking them to use the service lane means many of us who work on the Island would arrive home in the dead of the night.”

    Another commuter, Mr. Musiliu Kamoru, a businessman, said: “The drivers and their management should ensure the issues are resolved during the weekend before Monday to reduce passenger hardship.

    “We are still battling with increased transport fare caused by fuel scarcity, and now the LAGBUS issue is rearing its head.”

     

  • OAU students protest poor welfare in hostels

    OAU students protest poor welfare in hostels

    STUDENTS of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, yesterday protested poor welfare conditions in their hostels.

    Carrying placards with various inscriptions, they demanded a reversal of the situation.

    They demanded the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bamitale Omole,  be probed by anti-corruption agencies,

    According to them, epileptic power and poor water supply had made the ‘campus not conducive for learning.

    The students condemned the university authorities for the terminating the admission of a Year 11 History student, Olawale Owolabi.

    Owolabi, popularly known as Ogunruku, was rusticated for joining a protest against the increment of acceptance fee from N2,000 to N20,000 in 2011.

    The students said the protest was a warning to the management not to increase hostel fees.

    Following the protest, many students and workers were stranded as there was a gridlock at the main gate.

    Students’ Union President Omotayo Akande said: “The union has exhausted the tool of diplomacy without getting reasonable concession on how our welfare condition would improve.

    “Our demands are more than just light and water, as the horrendous living condition of our hostels requires attention.

    “A room in Moremi Hall caught fire and the students couldn’t get a fire extinguisher in the hall block. This, among other things, informed our demand for proper hostel facilities.”