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Tag: salary

  • Oyo House okays N14.16b loan to pay salaries

    Oyo House okays N14.16b loan to pay salaries

    Oyo State Government is to access N14.16 billion loan from the Federal Government for the payment of salary.

    The House of Assembly yesterday approved its request to access the loan, as contained in a letter sent by Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

    At an emergency plenary presided over by Speaker Michael Adeyemo, it was agreed that the loan, which is spread across 12 months, will enable the state to get N1.39 billion monthly for the first three months and N1.11 billion for the following nine months.

    The Speaker said the bailout fund, which would be given by the Federal Government in addition to the monthly allocation, was meant for the payment of workers’ salary.

    The letter reads: “In view of the current fiscal situation of the state and acting on the advice of the National Executive Council (NEC) to state governments and governors, the Oyo State Government is to apply for funds from the budget support facility from the Federal Ministry of Finance in the sum of N14.16 billion. The facility will be made available in three tranches of N1.39 billion for the first three months, followed by N1.11 billion for another nine months.”

    Adeyemo said it was time the state woke up and boosted its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), to prevent reliance on bailout funds and allocations from the Federal Government.

    He said the loan would also be committed to the payment of salary and pension.

    The Speaker urged the Labour movement to see the government’s move as an act of goodwill to ensure industrial harmony.

    Deputy Speaker Abdulwasi Musah and a lawmaker representing Atiba, Gbenga Oyekola, said the loan was only a short term measure, stressing the need for the state to boost its IGR.

    They advocated a review of the percentage of allocation to states and local governments, saying there was a large concentration of funds at the federal level.

    A member representing Ibadan North II, Olusegun Olaleye, who noted that the funds would be used for the payment of salaries and pensions, hoped that the present move would address the industrial crisis.

     

     

     

  • Governors’ extravagant living causing workers’ salary arrears, says Kalu

    Governors’ extravagant living causing workers’ salary arrears, says Kalu

    Former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzo Kalu, yesterday attributed   the inability of serving state  governors to pay workers’ salaries promptly  to what he called their propensity to  squander public  funds on personal luxury.

    He spoke with State House correspondents after leading a delegation of investors in the power sector to a meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He said  some of governors claim as much as  N35 million as travelling allowance on one trip.

    Unless state governors stop withdrawal of funds as security vote, they will continue to face difficulties to get enough money to fund critical projects in the state, Kalu said

    But he said some governors are doing well in developing their states.

    On the recent demand for more funds by the governors to meet up with their statutory obligations, Kalu said the demand was unnecessary as states already have sufficient funds to function optimally.

    He said: “I think most of these governors are doing very well and some of them also are living in the euphoria of the office. You can see most of them who are very active. I don’t need to count them for you.

    “These governors have enough funds to work for their people because if you check, the money drawn as security vote is excessive. They should stop that.

    “Unless they stop drawing security vote, they will not have enough funds to work with and most of them are living in absolute luxury. So it is impossible to continue living in this manner.

    “Most of the governors are even living in Abuja now. They don’t live in their states. Honestly, if you look at the books very well, for a trip they make, they will take a travelling allowance of N35 million.

    “What are you going to do with that. So, how are we going to progress. Not all the governors. I have gone through Rivers, I see that Rivers is hitting the ground. I have gone through Adamawa, and I see Adamawa is hitting the ground.

    “I have gone through a few more states, they are hitting the ground. They are working. I don’t speak with sentiments. I don’t speak for anybody. You can see those who are working and those who are not working. Let them sit down and do the job they are elected for.’’

  • Ayade shocks workers with May salary on first day of month

    Ayade shocks workers with May salary on first day of month

    •Edo raises minimum wage to N25,000
    •Borno celebrates in open air after six years
    •Low-key celebration in Yobe

    Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade yesterday stunned workers when he announced the payment of salaries for the month of May on the first day of the month.

    A mild drama immediately ensued when the workers who were at the U.J. Esuene Stadium for the May Day celebration began to receive salary payment alert from their various banks.

    Unable to contain their excitement, the workers shouted  “alert, alert”.  The workers praised the governor.

    Before now, the governor had paid salaries between the 13th and 20th day of each month.

    Ayade told the workers, who named him the “Best Labour Friendly Governor in Nigeria”, that his administration had a duty to give workers a sense of dignity.

    “We must create opportunities for labour to feel a sense of dignity. If you are truly a Christian, you must know that as you care for your kids, you must care for labour,” he stated.

    Workers in the Edo State civil and public yesterday got cheering news during the May Day celebration.

    In Edo State, workers’ salaries were increased by 45 per cent. The minimum wage is now N25,000.

    The workers, especially members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) who were in pensive mood at the beginning of the rally, danced and sang praises of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

    Members of NULGE who wore black clothes to lament non-payment of many months salaries stormed the rally with placards demanding intervention in the payment of their salaries.

    They initially sang songs to disrupt the governor’s speech but later calm down to listen to Oshiomhole.

    Placards carried by the local government workers reads: “Can we celebrate in hunger”, “May Day: Nothing to celebrate”, “Release our bailout fund”.

    Oshiomhole told NULGE members that he had taken several difficult steps to ensure that their salaries were paid.

    Among the steps taken were his decision not to appoint caretaker committee for the local councils, sack of members of the pension board and removal of workers illegally employed.

    Oshiomhole said the unexpended funds from the federal government bailout loan to the local councils would be released to the council workers for payment of their salaries.

    He said he had approved promotion for civil servants in the state as his administration would not leave any promotion arrears for his successor.

    Oshiomhole also released N200m to the labour movement for the construction of the Labour House.

    It was different strokes for Borno and Yobe states yesterday in respect of the celebration of the Workers’ Day.

    While the May Day rally was held in an open arena for the first time in six years in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, the ceremony was downgraded in Yobe because of security concerns.

    The May Day celebration in Maiduguri was held with pomp at the Ramat Square although under a tight security.

    The state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Titus Abana, noted that civil servants have every reason to celebrate taken into consideration the crises ravaging the state in the past seven years.

    He observed that the celebration of the workers day for the first time since 2009 in an open space is a clear manifestation of the gradual return of peace.

    The occasion was reduced to a low-key one in Yobe State on grounds of  a security alert of a possible Boko Haram attack that would have disrupted the event which was planned to take place at the August 27 Stadium.

    The Yobe State chapter of the NLC had concluded arrangements to celebrate the day in a grand style until the last minute when they were advised by security agents to shelf the event at the Stadium and reduce it into a small gathering which was eventually held at the Conference Hall of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, Yobe State.

    “For the past three years, we have not celebrated May Day in open air so we thought that with the improved security in the state, we were going to celebrate the event in a grand style. We had all our arrangements going on smoothly until we got an advice from security operatives not to hold the event as we planned,” Yobe State NLC Chairman Lawan Ibrahim said.

    Presenting his demands to Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima, who was represented by his deputy Usman Durkwa, the NLC Chairman, urged the government to place top priority to workers’ welfare.

    According to him, the 18, 000 minimum wage is being implemented in 23 local government areas of the state, while the four other remaining local governments areas of Askira /Uba, Biu, Hawul and Chibok are yet to benefit from the minimum wage  due to peculiar security circumstances of the respective  local government areas.

    He urged the governor to also pay special attention to primary school teachers in the state whom in his opinion have suffered more  from Boko Haram attacks.

  • NUPENG threatens to stop fuel supply over salary

    NUPENG threatens to stop fuel supply over salary

    The lingering fuel scarcity may continue, if the over 300,000 petrol attendants in the country do not get a pay rise, The Nation has learnt.

    The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has threatened to down tools in sympathy with the petrol attendants.

    Industry sources said Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), an arm of NUPENG, planned to embark upon a strike if an agreement is not reached over the N18,000 minimum wage being proposed for the attendants.

    Confirming this, the Zonal Chairma, Southwest, NUPENG,  Mr. Tokunbo Korodo, said tanker drivers might go on strike to identify with the petrol attendants on the issue.

    The inability of stakeholders to reach a compromise, he said, has slowed discussions on the issue.

    According to him, petrol dealers are the ones working against the agreement reached on the payment of the minimum wage, not marketers.

    Korodo said efforts to get the dealers to understand the predicaments of the petrol attendants and further increase their salaries have proved abortive.

    He said: “Discussions are ongoing on the issue of increasing the emoluments of petrol attendants and others working at fuel retail outlets across the country. Several meetings have been held on the issue because we believe that the workers’ welfare must be improved.  We are going to mobilise our members, especially tanker drivers, to go on strike. If the dealers are not ready to acquiesce to our demands,we would order our drivers not to provide fuel to stations that are being run by dealers.”

    He noted that through this, NUPENG would achieve its aspirations of providing better remuneration for petrol attendants.

    Also, the National Chairman, PTD NUPENG, Mr. Akanni Oladiti, said efforts were being made to reposition the downstream sector of the oil and gas for growth.

    He said petrol tanker drivers were being trained to be professionals, adding that the training would be nationwide.

    He said many drivers would be trained in areas, such as safety, among others.

    NUPENG and other bodies involved in the agitation for improved package for the attendants fixed last February for the implementation of the scheme.

    With February gone and no solution in sight, NUPENG is threatening strike.

  • Allocation-for-salary: Will it benefit Oyo workers?

    Allocation-for-salary: Will it benefit Oyo workers?

    Labour has reached an agreement with Oyo State Government that the total monthly allocations be devoted to salary payment.Workers are excited; government is also at peace. BISI OLADELE looks at the possible threats to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

    When organised labour issued a seven-day ultimatum to Oyo State  Government last March 29 over salary arrears, it set the stage for a possible showdown over the matter.

    The ultimatum was issued in Ibadan the state capital, by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Joint Negotiation Council (JNC).

    The NLC Chairman, Comrade Waheed Olojede, announced the ultimatum at a press briefing,  warning that government workers would down tools if the government fails to dialogue with them within the given period.

    He said the unions had considered the prevailing condition of workers and pensioners, who were being owed five months salaries then and the government’s alleged failure to accede to previous requests.

    Olojede said the situation had pauperised workers, adding that their productivity, diligence and commitment would be hinged on how they are treated.

    “If government fails to meet the leadership of the labour movement in the state, we may not be able to guarantee continued industrial peace beyond the stipulated time,” he said.

    But while sympathising with workers, the government, in a quick response, decried the ultimatum, saying it ran contrary to last year’s agreement signed by both parties on how salaries would be paid.

    A statement by Mr Yomi Layinka, the Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy to Governor Abiola Ajimobi, said: “To say the least, the unfortunate situation (of inability to pay salaries) foisted on the country by the dwindling accruals from oil, the country’s major source of revenue, is a major concern to all and it is highly regrettable.

    “While the government empathises with workers and pensioners over the attendant inability to pay salaries and other emoluments as it usually did in the past, we solicit continued understanding of labour over the matter.

    “Meanwhile, it is important to note that leadership of the labour unions and the state government have had a very robust understanding on this matter long before now, following which an agreement was signed on the modality for the payment of salaries as finances are available.

    “Indeed, the options of reduced salaries and reduction in an otherwise bloated workforce were considered but deferred in concession to the workers; instead a staggered salary payment strategy was proposed by labour and acceded to by government.

    “To this end, it was agreed that about 90 per cent of income accruing from the state’s monthly allocation from the Federation Account should be dedicated to the workers while the remaining 10 per cent would be deployed to the running of other aspects of governance.

    “Till date, the state government has not reneged on the letter and spirit of that agreement.  The ultimatum issued by labour is, therefore, not only surprising but also unnecessary and uncalled for in the prevailing circumstance.”

    The following day, the two parties met to iron out their differences.

    After the meeting, the leader of the government team, Mr Olalekan Alli, explained that both parties were already reaching a truce, adding that labour leaders had apologised for acting in ways that breached last year’s agreement.

    Alli, who is a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), advised labour leaders to refrain from threats and ultimatum that run against the spirit and letter of the agreement to use about 90 per cent of federal allocation accruing to the state for salaries.

    Alli said: “At the meeting (on Friday) the state government re-affirmed its compliance with the subsisting agreement with labour whereby 90 per cent of allocation from the Federation Account is devoted to payment of salaries and wages of workers on monthly basis.

    “The government also observed that the present conduct of labour was at variance and in total disregard for due process, labour law and practice. In view of the foregoing, the government believes that labour is being insensitive and confrontational.

    “However, the labour leaders denied the allegations and apologised accordingly. It further assured the government of its co-operation and maintenance of industrial harmony in the state.”

    The former SSG said the apology has been accepted by the government and the governor has consequently directed that the subsisting agreement be adhered to pending the exploration by the government and labour of further avenues to improve the revenue of the state.

    Alli added that the Friday meeting reached a consensus that the 10-month old agreement between labour and government subsists and that the government had no intention of reneging on any term of the said agreement.

    In the spirit of collective responsibility, he stated that both parties also agreed to collaborate and evolve ways of blocking all financial leakages in the system with a view to jacking up the internally generated revenue (IGR) of the state.

    “That all financial leakages need to be jointly and urgently plugged by employing strategies including elimination of ghost workers from the salary bill of our workers as well as identification, arrest and prosecution of fraudsters within the system.

    “That a more positive and creative disposition is critical for turning around these times of adversity. It was resolved that all concerned should have learnt some lessons after this brief period of unnecessary and avoidable altercation,” the former SSG said.

    But the meeting could not placate workers. They insisted on meeting with the governor before the expiration of the ultimatum.

    Ajimobi finally joined them on Thursday for a final meeting during which a review of the former agreement was undertaken. The new agreement that evolved from the meeting ceded 100 per cent of the state’s federal allocation to payment of workers’ salaries.

    The state government, however, declined request by the labour leaders that the IGR also be used to complement the federal allocation where there is a shortfall.

    But the governor agreed to the setting up of the Joint Revenue Mobilisation Committee which will draw membership from both labour and government. The committee is to identify areas of wastages and plug them with a view to increasing the state’s IGR.

    It was further agreed that incremental difference in the future would be shared by both the government and labour to shore up funds for salaries.

    The committee is to be supervised by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government.

    It was also agreed that the MoU would be reviewed time and again as situation demands.

    Addressing reporters on the outcome of the meeting, Olojede said: “In our critical review, we discovered that devoting 90 per cent of Federal Government allocation to payment of salaries could not stand the test of time, because salaries kept running into arrears. We then agreed that henceforth, the entire 100 per cent of whatever comes from Abuja as federal allocation would be spent to pay workers salaries.”

    The new deal has been hailed by workers, according to Olojede as it raised their hope of getting salaries more regularly.

    The labour leader also revealed that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had offered states with salary issues a moratorium of 20 years, meaning that deductions from allocations of those states would be stopped or reduced to the minimum to allow them a lease of life for the moment.

     

  • Staff included 300 ‘ghost workers’ in Kogi salary payroll

    Kogi State Govermor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has decried the role of some officials of the state civil service who he said are constituting a cog in the wheel of the development of the state.

    The governor said that the committee handling the ongoing workers screening at both state and local government levels discovered mind-boggling acts perpetrated by civil servants.

    Addressing a crowd in Okene, headquarters of the central senatorial district of Kogi State on Saturday during a reception organized for him, he decried the ghost workers’ syndrome.
    He said the screening committee uncovered how a single person included “as many as 300 ghost workers in the payroll of a local government” at the detriment of development of the council area.

    He said his administration will not spare the perpetrators after the ongoing screening exercise.

    According to him: “It is ridicule to discover that a single person without an iota of fear of God placed as much as 300 ghost workers on the payroll of a local government”.

    He added that after the screening exercise, it is only the actual workers that will receive salaries from the state and local governments.

    “This one person is just one of many in the business of siphoning public funds into their private pockets. We will ensure that the law take its course with those suspected of putting ghosts into the system so that it will serve as a deterrent to others,”said the governor.

    He stated that workers’ welfare was his priority, noting that the state government has paid two salaries in less than two months of the present administration.

    He said, “The temptation to use the money available for other things was great, but we have chosen to prioritise the welfare of our workers. In that regard, we have paid two salaries in less than two months.

    “We paid the first batch of salaries across board and without asking too many questions even though we knew the nominal rolls were compromised. This was to help actual workers who needed money to handle their responsibilities.

    “The second batch we paid with the personal guarantee of the Head of each Ministry Department and Agency (MDA) because we reasoned that change begins with each of us, and a leader should know those working under his immediate supervision”.

    The Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Dr. Ado Ibrahim solicited cooperation and support for the governor to enable him deliver the dividend of democracy.

    He emphasised the need for peaceful co-existance irrespective of tribe or religion.

    “I am appealing to my people and indeed the entire people of the state to let peace prevail among ourselves. It is only in the atmosphere of peace that we can see and enjoy more dividend of democracy,” he said.

  • Judges’ salary

    •There is no excuse for not paying January entitlements

    The news that Justices of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, and all federal and state high court judges have not been paid their January salary, even as their February salary falls due today, is alarming. Also affected by the delay in the payment of salaries are judicial workers in the federal employ. We are worried over the judges’ salary particularly because of the peculiarity of their job which forbids them from engaging in private businesses, and the possibility that desperation could expose them to corrupting influences from the litigating public.

    So, whatever may have caused the delay in the payment of the salary of the over 600 judges across the country should be quickly sorted out by the executive. Perhaps that is why the 1999 Constitution considers the amount due to the judiciary from the consolidated revenue of the federation, a prerogative. Of note, section 81(3) of the constitution, provides: “Any amount standing to the credit of the judiciary, in the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the federation, shall be paid directly to the National Judicial Council, for disbursement to the heads of the court established for the federation and the states, under section 6 of this constitution”.

    For us, no excuse is good enough to justify the delay. As the executive knows, it has powers under the constitution to expend the needed resources to pay the judges, even as the nation eagerly awaits the 2016 Budget. We are referring here to section 82 of the constitution, which provides: “If the Appropriation Bill in respect of any financial year has not been passed into law by the beginning of the financial year, the President may authorise the withdrawal of moneys from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the federation, for the purpose of meeting expenditure necessary to carry on the services of the government of the federation, for a period not exceeding six months or until the coming into operation of the Appropriation Act, whichever is earlier”.

    In our view, the salary of judges is one such ‘expenditure necessary to carry out the services of the government of the federation’, to warrant a pre-budgetary expenses, within the contemplation of the constitution. The Federal Government must appreciate that among the three arms of government, the judiciary is the most vulnerable, even when its contribution to the stability of the polity is not necessarily the least. The position of the judiciary is even made more precarious by the tradition of the bench, as judges cannot resort to self-help, or raise self-serving alarm, to attract attention like the officials of the other two arms of government, when confronted by institutional challenges.

    The centrality of an independent and confident judiciary to the success of the war against corruption is one more reason why the judges should be paid without further delay. A judge who is owed salary and who has bills to pay is a vulnerable judge, and could be susceptible to corrupting influences. Such a judge, may also lack the confidence and concentration required to perform optimally, especially in dealing with the demands of trial in criminal cases, which under the laws are now more of a marathon.

    To avoid any excuses from the judiciary in the pursuit of a better country, the legislature should give the necessary support and nudge the executive to action, if need be, to ensure that our judges are fairly treated. The executive and the legislature cannot be helping themselves to the proverbial national cake, and pontificate for an independent and fearless judiciary, even when their (judicial officers’) basic entitlement is withheld.

  • ‘Review salary to avoid crisis’

    Construction workers, under the aegis of National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW), have urged the Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI) to review the salary of workers to avoid industrial crisis.

    President of the union Mr. Amaechi Asugwuni, gave the warning at a press briefing in Lagos to highlight the plight of construction workers. He said FOCI, which is the employers association in the industry, had delayed the review of the salary in spite of several negotiations.

    ‘’The employers must be in line with industrial procedures. Salaries should be reviewed based on dialogue. The only way to compensate workers for excess job is to increase their salaries. We will not accept a situation where workers are overworked and paid less,” the union leader said.

    He stated that since 2008, the union has been negotiating a review of workers’ salary in line with the National Joint Industrial Council agreement. He said since employers in the industry have been sacking workers because of economic down turn, it was necessary to increase the salaries of the few workers.

    Asugwuni said, ‘’Anybody who wants to drive a business must regard labour. The employers said that government has not paid them for jobs executed and sacked thousands of workers. The employers have continued to sack workers as a result of dwindling fortune. Now, one person does the job of three persons that is why we urge the employers to review their salary.”

    Asugwuni however, said the union has not protested the sack of workers because it wanted the few that were retained to be well remunerated.

    He, however, did not state the number of sacked workers and construction companies involved, but said the union would not tolerate workers being treated with disregard.

    The NUCECFWW president also said the union would start an interactive campaign for the workers to know the state of issue and steps to take when necessary.

  • Union secures one year salary for sacked workers

    The National Union of Chemical Footwear Rubber Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees (NUCFRLANMPE) has compelled the management of Nycil Nigeria Ltd. to pay one year salary to its workers who were sacked last month.

    The company, which is based in Sango Ota in Ogun State in December, last year, laid off 17 workers, including four union executives, without following due process.

    The company, which manufactures and markets synthetic resins, emulsions and allied chemicals, was said to have paid the workers only three months, irrespective of the number of years they have served.

    President of NUCFRLANMPE, Mr. Boniface Isok, who led union members to shut Nycil over alleged indiscriminate termination of appointments, accused the firm’s management of not negotiating with the union before sacking the workers.

    He said: “When 40 workers were sacked in June 2015, the company did not consult us and we did not query them. We directed the workers to continue their work in peace. On December 31, another 17 workers, including four union officials, were sacked without negotiating with us.

    “That is why we stopped operation in the company until the management discusses with us and stops all forms of inhumane treatment meted on our members.’’

    He said with the agreement now signed, the management would ensure that gross salary was paid within weeks and further indiscriminate sack of the workers put on hold.

    Isok said the union was not against the disengagement of any employee, but that the management must provide good reasons for its action.

    Human Resources Manager of Nycil, Prince Olufemi Olugbogi, at the meeting, however, apologised to the union for the breach, noting that the action was taken to reduce costs. He explained that the company carried out the sack to reposition the company in the New Year.

    A Controller in the Ministry of Labour and Employment in Ogun State, Mr. Muyiwa Fatoki, who reconciled both parties, advised them to respect the agreements.

    He said it was not enough to pay off workers as stipulated by the law, but that the relevant union should be informed appropriately to ensure that they are carried along in the termination exercise.

    After a rigorous negotiation among the government, union and the management, it was agreed that 12 months’ gross salary should be added to the union officials.

    The parties also agreed that six months’ gross salary should be added to the other staff. They added that no worker should be victimised for their roles in resolving the conflict.

  • FC Taraba players get two months salary Tuesday

    FC Taraba players get two months salary Tuesday

    Players of the Pride of Jalingo will smile to the bank on Tuesday as the Taraba State government has vowed to pay part of their unpaid wages

    FC Taraba players are set to be paid two months’ salary arrears on Tuesday.

    Goalkeeper Ikechukwu Obilo informed Goal that the Taraba State government has agreed to fulfill their demands after staying for a week in front of the state’s government house.

    The League Management Company(LMC) paid the players, coaches and other officials of the Jalingo side a month’s salary before Christmas.

    He confessed to Goal that things have been very tough for them for over a year as breadwinners of their respective families but are still grateful to God that nothing untoward has happened to them.

    “We have been assured that we would get two months of our salary arrears paid on Tuesday. It was difficult to pay us on Wednesday because of some issues but we are around in Jalingo waiting for Tuesday to come before travelling to our base,” Obilo told Goal.

    Meanwhile, Goal’s investigation reveals that officials of the club won’t receive a dime from the money to be released on Tuesday after it was alleged that the state government found them culpable of inciting the players to embark on their recent demonstration within Jalingo.

    Due to financial crunches, FC Taraba were unable to hold their own in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) 2014/2015 season as they ended their two years romance in the elite division.