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Tag: Senator Chris Ngige

  • Why I expect smooth relationship with labour unions – Ngige

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, in this interview speaks on efforts by the Buhari government to give special attention to skill acquisition and employment generation, why there is delay in concluding the consequential adjustment and why the ministry has refused to register the United Labour Congress. Tony Akowe reports

    What do we expect on your re-appointment as Minister of Labour and Employment?

    I wish to consolidate on what we achieved under the Change Era but this time, pay greater emphasis, more attention on job creation. So far, we have achieved an equable, stable and peaceful industrial milieu suitable for national productivity. We have also engraved dialogue as a major tool for tripartite conflict resolution; we have tackled and still tackling unfair labour practices such as casualization, unilateral declaration of redundancy, non-commensurate remunerations, among others. Here in the ministry, we have strengthened our core directorates of Inspectorate, Occupational Safety, Skills and Cooperative to effectively play their statutory roles.  We have also buoyed our international labour diplomacy, winning back positions which Nigeria lost since 10 years ago in the governing board of the ILO. On government side, we are now titular member, and also elected as chair of the government side of the Governing Board of 187 member countries. For the first time in decades, two other legs of the Nigerian tripartite  labour and NECA (organised private sector) are on the governing board too with our support, with the NLC President being a titular member on the employee side.

    So, while consolidating on these, there will be renewed emphasis on job creation. Remember that our mandate is not necessarily to collect CVs and fill up vacancies, it is to protect the existing jobs, making sure they are within decent job conditions and besides, promote conducive environment for job creation. So, the next few years will see us stretching the ambit of job creation. It is a responsibility that the tripartite community would all participate in. If you recall when NLC leadership paid courtesy visit, I charged them to move beyond the traditional role of unionism  strikes and picketing to liaising with the organised private sector towards creation of employment. The abundant opportunities in the blue collar world are yet to be exploited up to 10% in Nigeria. I will therefore liaise more with other ministries and agencies of government to bolster job creation in terms of skill acquisition, so as to unleash the creativity and the ingenuity of our people.

    In your first coming as minister, you spoke about reviving the skill acquisition centres across the country. What is the position now?

    There is a move by the ministry to seek for special fund from the government in order to bring into  a common basket, skills centres scattered all over the federation so that the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) will manage these. A lot of them were done from the constituency project fund in the last eight years without any equipment and management or instructors. So we need to synchronize the activities of even state owned skills centre to get our youths out of the streets into blue collar jobs training.

    I envisage comparative models that worked in neighboring West African countries where skill acquisition forms the base of secondary education. We shall also look at India and China to see how their models are revolutionizing job creation and copy the ones relevant to our environment. Remember also the cardinal promise of President Muhammadu Buhari to lift 100million Nigerians from poverty in 10 years.  So, beyond the traditional skills like carpentry, tiling, paint making, furniture making, POP production and laying, paint production and painting, mechanics and mechatronics, plumbing and others, we will take advantage of the opportunities in modern information and technology. The world is now about ideas.

    The world of work is changing and we must be fully prepared. There is somewhat an abstract creativity through the use of internet that is creating immense wealth in the developed economy. So, we shall teach our youths modern skills in web and computer technology as well as in business and allied informatics. We shall also broaden participation and greater opportunities in agriculture. But it requires a lot of inter-agency synergy.

     Why the delay in the consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage?

    The payment of the new minimum wage has started with the FG leading with GL1 step -6. The national minimum wage for the Grade Levels 7 -17, I am very hopeful will be done as soon as possible; the way we settled levels 1-6. It  is unfortunate that negotiations were deadlocked as a result  of disagreements on the percentage of consequential increment but the good thing is that we are back to tackle it head on. We are going to discuss and negotiate in the spirit of Collective Bargaining Arrangement (CBA) because that is what the consequential adjustment means. However, let’s be mindful of the fact that if we talk strictly about the minimum wage, one is safe to assert that it is  already being implemented, because the minimum wage is for the person on the lowest rung of the ladder, i.e GL-1 in the public service and private remuneration.

    Recall that the immediate past Head of Service, who was leading the government side, is currently no more on her seat, so it is logical that we reconstitute our own representation to bring in the relevant ministers, receive adequate briefing as to what the former committee did and where they stopped since we left office on May 29 and just came back. Luckily, the President has also put in place a new committee, called Presidential Committee on Salaries (PCS), which is now the apex committee on issues of salaries and allowances in the public service, chaired and co-chaired by the Hon. Minister of Finance and myself. The former Head of Service reported to us on progress. But importantly, we advised them that if we keep  piling on debts, the federal government might go into problem of payment and worse,  for the state governments that have always not been regular with salary payments in the past . My friend and brother in Kaduna harkened to this warning, and has taken the lead, using our 1-6 template and is even doing better than the consequential adjustment for GL 7-17.

    I have also advised for it to be sent down to the states while we show the example by paying. The state governments as at today are duty bound, as they now have a template to pay levels 1-6 for a start and then CBA for 7-17.  When we reconstitute our committee therefore, I do not see us not agreeing. We can disagree initially, but we will eventually agree.  So, we will soon sort things out. I am one of those who believe that a workman is due his wages. If you work in a vineyard, you will eat from that vineyard. So, it is unfortunate that the consequential adjustment negotiation was deadlocked over the issue of what percentage to pay the higher cadre, but the important thing as said earlier is that we will reconvene and negotiate and come to an agreement.  But I can tell you, there must be a consequential movement and government is not averse to doing that. However, what we are saying is that all parties should understand that the economy has some challenges and therefore we have to cut our coat according to our cloth. We are trying to balance issues so that we don’t run afoul of the Fiscal Responsibility Law. So many things are involved as far as this consequential increment is concerned; for example taking loans by FG and diverting it to recurrent expenditures is against the law.

    Does that mean there is going to be a new Minimum Wage Committee?

    No, not at all. What we are talking about now is the committee handling consequential adjustment. You know that the former Head of Service who was leading the government side on the negotiation and the then Minister of Budget and National Planning are out of office. And you also recall that myself and the Minister of Finance just returned after about three months that the former  Federal Executive Council was dissolved, hence, the need to re-constitute the committee.

    You had issues with the leadership of the NLC shortly before the end of the last tenure, what do we expect this time?

    I have said in several fora that what happened towards the end of the last administration was a misunderstanding which could have easily been resolved if the NLC had shown understanding for the decision I took towards the appointment of the chairman of the board of the NSITF. Unfortunately it sought to overreach its powers, tried to annul through agitations and picketing the powers inherent in my office as the Minister of Labour and Employment as well as that of the President. I stood for the rule of law and due process in the entire matter and am happy that at the end of the day, they realised I was guided by the law.  I defended the constitution because I am a Minister of Government created by section 146, 147, 148 of the Constitution and the NSITF Act 2004 gave me the power to recommend to Mr. President who should be appointed to be the chairman, a function I discharged appropriately.  We have put all that behind us and are united as one family. I have been very vigorous in fighting the cause of the Labour both as a governor and senator before I became a minister.

    What is your relationship with them now?

    You are aware that the NLC leadership came on courtesy call and conferred honorary fellowship of the NLC on me, which signifies intention for friendship and desire to work together as one. So, expect smooth relationship. Dialogue is the answer. I shall insist as I have always done in the spirit of tipartism, to ventilate all issues; smoothen all gray areas in our relationship as a labour community. The National Labour Advisory Council, which has not sat for over five years due to budgetary constraint, will be convened before the end of the year as we have been able to push it through in the 2019 budget. So everything being equal this important forum for tripartite dialogue will soon meet.  I expect greater synergy, more so as I have stated that all the tripartite members must work together to assist Mr. President realise his promise to lift 100 million Nigerians from poverty in the next 10 years. The effort starts now.

    There are complaints about your refusal to register new unions.

    Well, it is within the constitutional powers of the ministry and part of its statutory function to register unions  or regroup over bloated unions. Once an intending union meets the requirement of the law, we shall register it. This is democracy. We are not oblivious of the fact that the laws of the land permits this ministry to exercise some elastic powers over this function because nothing is static in life. You can’t prevent new unions from coming up. They must come. It means there is going to be new unionization in some places, especially those who didn’t want to unionize before. So, once those people unionize and they are not in a trade or cadre that is already unionized, we register them. It is our function to do so; it is within our powers. It is also within our powers to regroup if a union is amorphous or even de-register unions if they don’t comply with the extant labour laws. The Labour Act in section 7, sub (1) (a)  (d) gives the Registrar of Trade Union powers to withdraw certificate of registration especially as stated in section 37 if annual returns and audited account reports are not complied with and there is evidence of the use of check-off dues for unlawful purposes. We have not as a ministry exercised the powers but the workers check-off dues should be accounted for in the spirit of accountability and transparency as part of our Next Level and Change Agenda.

    Before I left in May, we wrote those in default, especially the federations. As of today, we have not registered the United Labour Congress that applied since 2016 mainly because of the provisions of section 35 sub section (1) (b) which provides: “ A federation of trade unions may be  registered by the registrar if it is made up of 12 or more trade unions NONE of which SHALL have been a member of another already registered federation of trade unions.”  That is the law and as you know the law is an ass. So my hands are tied on this matter because whereas they have five brand new unions, the law stipulates 12.

  • Community ends seven-year crisis

    Minister of Labour and Employment Senator Chris Ngige and his Alor community in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State have hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for making it possible for peace to return to the area after seven years of crisis

    Ngige and his kinsmen spoke yesterday at Nkwo Alor market square, after the inauguration of executive members of the town union, led by Chief Uzoma Igbonwa and 17 others.

    The community congratulated the elected officials, urging them to strive to restore peace, unity, harmony, brotherliness and solidarity among Alor indigenes and their neighbours.

    Read also: 31 stolen INEC’s card readers recovered from Rivers’ bush

    The community also urged Alor indigenes, both home and abroad, to support the executive to succeed.

    They deplored the actions of some disgruntled elements within the community, who, with the support of the Anambra State government, tried to scuttle the court-ordered election.

    The community appealed to state government to allow democracy thrive in Alor by resisting the pressure from some misguided elements bent on causing trouble and disharmony.

  • Breaking: ASUU suspends strikes, reaches agreement with FG

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Thursday suspended its three-month strike following an agreement it reached with the Federal Government.

    As a result of the agreement which was signed between the union leaders and government officials, the leadership of ASUU announced the suspension of the strike action.

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige told newsmen at the end of the two hours meeting that all eight areas in contention have been resolved by both parties while implementation of some the agreement has already commenced.

    The Minister listed areas in contention which has been resolved to include the Nigeria University Pension Company, constitution of visitation panels, shortfall in Salaries, Earned Academic Allowance and revitalization funds for universities, adding that while the union has already collected the certificate for NUPENCO, government has made money available for the payment of the shortfall in salaries as well as Earned Academic Allowances.

    He also said the government has agreed to release N25 billion as revitalization fund between April and May 2019 after which it will commence full implementation of the 2009 agreement, while allowances of lecturers of University of Ilorin is to be paid immediately.

    The parties, he said also agreed that the Babalakin Committee which is charged with renegotiating the agreement should reconvene latest 18th February and March 29, 2019.

    Addressing newsmen later, President of ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi announced that the leadership of the union has agreed to suspend the strike action immediately beginning from Friday, February 8, 2019 with the condition that it will not hesitate to resume the action if the government failed to meet there part of the agreement.

    He, however, lamented the role played by some Vice Chancellors who attempted to break the rank of the union, adding that it will not hesitate to tackle them head-on.

    Ogunyemi said that “Based on the initial proposals from Government, the Union made extensive consultations through its various organs.

    “The final level of consultation was the meeting of the National Executive Council (NBC) which took place 6th-7th February, 2019. NEC resolved that: Following a careful review of the report of engagements with the Federal Government on proposals for addressing all outstanding in the 2013 M011 and 2017 MoA, NEC resolved that the current strike action by the Union should be suspended conditionally with effect from 12.01 am on Friday 8, February, 2019”.

    “However, should the government fail to fulfil its part of the agreement as reflected in the 2019 Memorandum of Action, ASUU shall resume its suspended strike action as the Union deems necessary”.

    “ASUU notes, with serious concern, the covert and overt roles of some vice Chancellors in the management and application of funds attracted by our Union to Nigeria’s public universities. Consequently, we condemn, in the strongest terms, Vice-Chancellors who have made efforts to undermine and, in some cases, attempted to break our patriotic struggles for the revitalization of public universities in Nigeria.

    “ASUU will not shy away from taking headlong those Vice-Chancellors who are reputed for acts of impunity, nepotism and other forms of conduct which are antithetic to university culture and the progressive development of our universities. Our union will compile all their shenanigans and forward them to relevant authorities for further action.”

     

  • Minimum Wage: Committee N30,000 figure, was a mere recommendation – FG

    The Federal Government said on said the figure of N30,000 recommended by the tripartite committee was a mere recommendation which is not cast on stone and therefore advisory to the President.

    In a statement signed by the Assistant Director in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mrs Illiya Rhoda, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige said the N27, 000 minimum wage approved by the National Council of states and contained in the bill sent to the National Assembly is for all categories of workers in the country both those in the public and private sector.

    While apparently reacting the position of organised labour rejecting the new figure, the minister ask all those who are not pleased with the figure contained in the bill to prepare and make their submission at the public hearing organised by the National Assembly for that purpose.

    He said the recommendations of the tripartite committee was deliberated upon by all statutory organs of the constitutions which are recognised by law as advisory bodies to the President, before the final figure was arrived at.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Minister of Labour and Employment has been drawn to the various misrepresentations being given to the press briefing on the New National Minimum Wage, given at Aso Villa on January 22, 2019, after the meeting of the National Council of State.

    For avoidance of doubt, the Minister wishes to clarify that “National Minimum Wage is the minimum amount of remuneration that an employer is required to pay wage earners (workers) at the lowest rung of the salary scale for the work performed during a given period.

    “At the expiration of the last National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act, which was enacted in 2011, Mr. President constituted and inaugurated a Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage (TCNMW) in November, 2017, to consider the issue and recommend a new National Minimum Wage to the Government.

    “The constitution of the Tripartite Committee was in consonance with the provisions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention Nos. 26, 99, and 131, as well as the guidance provided by the accompanying Recommendations.

    Read also: NLC insists on N30, 000 minimum wage

    “In a bid to achieve a holistic and democratic coverage, the prescribed Tripartite structure went beyond the requirements of Tripartism (the Government and Social Partners) to extend to Tripartite – Plus in order to cover other stakeholders which included Nigeria Association of Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN), and National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME); in addition to the recognised employers’ Federation – the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA).

    “It is very important to note that the constituted TCNMW was mandated by Mr. President to deliberate on the issue of a review of the National Minimum Wage and make recommendations for its upward review.

    “The output from the TCNMW was therefore never meant to be sacrosanct but to provide a guide for the Competent Authority (The Government) to take a final decision.

    “The ILO Conventions on Minimum Wage cited above succinctly stipulate that each Member State shall be free to decide the nature and form of the Minimum Wage Fixing Machinery, and methods to be followed in its operation. They further provide that before the Competent Authority takes the final decision on a National Minimum Wage, there should be full preliminary consultations with the most representative Organisations of employers and workers. This was done when Mr. President constituted and encouraged the work of the TCNMW.

    “The Report of the TCNMW asked Mr. President to note the figure of Thirty Thousand Naira (N30, 000.00)  recommended by the TCNMW by way of motion and not by consensus, and also to note the Federal Government figure of Twenty Four Thousand Naira (N24, 000.00).

    “Mr. President considered the Report in full and looked at the differing statistics/figures presented by everybody before he arrived at the figure of Twenty – Seven Thousand Naira (N27, 000.00) per month. I must reiterate that the output by the TCNMW was a recommendation and is not cast in stone, but advisory to Mr. President.

    “In conformity with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), three (3) Constitutional Bodies further considered the figures. They are: The Federal Executive Council (Section 146 – 147 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended); the National Economic Council (Section 153 and Third

    Schedule of same Constitution) and the National Council of States (section 153 and Third Schedule of same Constitution).

    “These are all advisers of Mr. President and he is required by the Constitution to take advice and consult these three Bodies on any Political, economic, Security, and other sundry issues of the nation requiring Presidential Consultations/Advice. These bodies are therefore qualified to further consider the recommendation by the TCNMW and advise Mr. President on the best national position that would be equitable and fair to all stakeholders on the matter of a new National Minimum wage.

    “It is not the National Council of States alone that considered these figures and the new bill. The job of these three bodies to Mr President are advisory and consultative in nature especially The National Council of State.

    “The recommended new National Minimum Wage of Twenty Seven Thousand Naira (N27, 000.00) is for all category of workers in Nigeria whether Public or Private Sector and is so contained in the new National Minimum Wage Bill.

    “The workers in the Public Sector are those working in the Federal, State, and Local Government tiers of Government. The National Minimum Wage is for workers occupying the lowest rung of the remuneration ladder on Grade Level 1 step 1, and are the most vulnerable segment of Nigerian workers.

    “It is of utmost importance to note that any Public or Private Sector employer who is capable of paying more than the statutory Twenty Seven Thousand Naira (N27, 000.00) should be ready to do so even without subjecting the concerned workers to a tortuous negotiation by the applicable Negotiation Councils.

    “The Federal Government has taken the lead in this direction by proposing to augment the Twenty Seven Thousand Naira (N27, 000.00) National Minimum Wage of Federal workers by Three Thousand Naira (N3, 000.00) per month to bring it up to Thirty Thousand Naira (30,000.00) for the least paid worker per month.

    “The Federal Government accordingly, expects others in the Public and Private Sectors to do the same, and if the financial capacity permits, employers can pay more than Thirty Thousand Naira (N30, 000.00) especially where their workers are very productive and the Private Sector is a very profitable enterprise.

    “As the matter of a National Minimum Wage is in the Exclusive Legislative List as item No. 34 of the Second Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), it is therefore the Executive arm of Government that has the responsibility to prescribe a new National Minimum Wage and send to the National Assembly (NASS) for legislative action of getting the Bill passed and/or amended and reverting same to Mr. President for Assent like any other law of the nation.

  • Labour to Ngige: You are economical with the truth

    Organised Labour has reacted to claims by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige that the tripartite committee on the new National minimum wage was yet to agree on a figure with Organised Labour, but was still negotiating with them.

    In a statement signed by Comrade Ayuba Wabba, Comrade Bala Bobboi Kaigama and Comrade Joe Ajaero, Organised Labour said the Minister was being economical with the truth, pointing out that the committee arrived at a figure which is to be presented to the President.

    He said the subcommittee on figure chaired by the Minister presented four different figures which the committee deliberated on for several hours before agreeing on a figure.

    The statement said “Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige claiming that no amount has been agreed by the Tripartite Committee recommendation to government. The report further claimed that the Minister said that government was still negotiating with Labour.

    “It is rather unfortunate and sad if indeed, the Honourable Minister made those statements. For the avoidance of doubt, organised labour representatives wish to state unequivocally that the Tripartite Committee concluded is work, adopted a figure through a formal motion moved, seconded and adopted in the absence of any counter motion.

    “This was after a thorough debate of a report from the subcommittee figure, chaired by Senator Ngige himself which presented four scenarios for consideration.

    “The subcommittee worked on the basis of a figure proposed by the Federal Government, figures proposed by a number of state governments: as well as proposals submitted by the Organised Private Sector and Organised Labour.

    “The Committee formally adjourned its sitting with a decision that a date will be communicated to members for the signing of the report and submission of same to Mr. President.

    “Organised Labour therefore frowns at the manipulation and bending of facts in an attempt to delay or derail the processes needed to promulgate a new National Minimum Wage. We call on the government to take immediate necessary steps to ensure the enactment of a new National Minimum Wage as we cannot guarantee Industrial peace and harmony.”

  • Ngige restates Buhari’s commitment to job creation

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has re-affirmed the commitment of the Muhammadu Buhari administration to job creation through bilateral and collaboration between the Federal Government and the Republic Korea in technical and vocational education.

    Ngige spoke in Abuja, the nation’s capital, when he hosted the Korea Ambassador to Nigeria, Maj.-Gen. In-Tae Lee.

    He said: “The Federal Government is not relenting in its efforts at job creation through renewed emphasis on technical education alongside vocational training so that Nigerian youths could be trained on how to repair and assemble information technology gadgets, such as laptops GSM sets among others.”

    The minister said Nigeria would seek two-pronged technical assistance from Republic of Korea in technical training for officers in his ministry and technical assistance for equipping skills acquisition centres across the country.

    Ngige noted that the visit was centred on how Nigeria and Republic of Korea can exchange ideas on job creation for Nigerian youths.

    He said: “We are going to work towards a mutually beneficial bilateral co-operation which will buoy up the operations of Korea companies in Nigeria. We shall be happy to see these companies establish assembly plants in Nigeria, thereby helping Korea to exploit abundant labour in Nigeria while creating jobs for us.”

    The minister intimated the ambassador with the progress Nigeria recorded in labour migration, saying the country, in partnership with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), set up some resource centres in the country.

    He urged the Republic of Korea to equip the centres for optimum service on proper migration advisory and facilitate regular migration for interested Nigerians.

    Lee said his visit was to share ideas with the minister on how the Korean government could initiate a bilateral relationship to tackle unemployment in the country.

    He expressed his country’s readiness to support the Federal Government on job creation

  • Minimum wage war looms

    The debate over the new minimum wage is still festering with probable outcome not clearly defined. But members of the organised labour have vowed to take the battle headlong without caring whose ox is gored. Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf and Tony Akowe examine the issues

    Expectations have remained high since the debate over the new minimum wage began. But hope appeared dampened when the  Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige last week hinted that the new national minimum wage will not materialise  by the end of September as envisaged much to the chagrin of the organised labour.

    Contrary to widespread expectation, the September date was just a date to conclude negotiation on minimum wage, Ngige said while speaking with journalists in Abuja.

    According to him, “The committee on the new National Minimum wage is expected to conclude its work by the end of September and present its report to the government for deliberation and approval.”

    He also said it would be tabled the National Council of State before an executive bill is sent to the National Assembly on the issue.

    He said it was for this reason that the committee embarked on zonal public hearing across the country in order to get the input of all those concerned including state governments and the organised private sector.

    Justification for new minimum wage

    In October 2017, members of the House called for a review of the current national minimum wage of N18,000 to N30,000. , but lawmakers said no Nigerian worker could survive on that.

    The motion was moved by a former union leader, Mr. Peter Akpatason, a member of the All Progressives Congress from Edo State.

    Akpatason had informed the House how the government appeared unwilling to push the wage review plans.

    For instance, he said an agreement by the government and labour unions to begin the process was not being implemented.

    During the October debate, lawmakers agreed that the N18,000 minimum wage was no longer realistic, suggesting at least N30,000 as the new minimum.

    The current minimum wage of N18,000 came into effect in 2011 which the lawmakers said was no longer tenable.

    Early this month, the federal government had said it would prepare a supplementary budget to take care of workers’ demand for increase in salaries when the new minimum wage proposal was eventually approved.

    It is also instructive to note that the interface and discussion session across the states led to different submissions and suggestions of minimum wage from N22, 000 to N58, 000 monthly up from the current monthly wage of N18,000.

    The NLC had made a proposal for N56,000 for the least paid worker to the Federal Government’s committee on the minimum wage.

    It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had last November inaugurated a 30-manTripartite National Minimum Wage Committee headed by a former Head of Service of the Federation, Ms. Ama Pepple, urging the members to come up with a fair and decent wage for Nigerian workers.

    Buhari had said at the time that re-negotiation of a new national minimum wage had become imperative because the existing minimum wage instrument had since expired.

    But the Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation, Ben Akabueze, had stated that the fact that there was no provision yet in the 2018 budget proposals currently before the National Assembly to cater for the planned increase did not, in any way, suggest that the government was not willing to increase the workers’ salaries.

    NLC ready for war

    Expectedly, the organised labour has warned the federal government against missing the timeline for the implementation of the new national minimum wage for workers.

    The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, handed down the warning while speaking with our correspondent on the sidelines of the International Labour Conference, in Geneva, Switzerland.

    Wabba said, “The organised labour will ensure that the timeline set by the Tripartite Committee on the Implementation of the National Minimum Wage is not altered.”

    He added, “Workers, who create wealth, must also be well taken care of as we are not unmindful of the situation of the Nigerian workers, particularly with the increasing inflation in the land.”

    While commenting on the readiness of the new minimum wage by September, Wabba said the date was achievable. “Certainly, if all members of the tripartite committee are committed to doing what is right and working within the timeline that the committee has already set for itself. I’m of the firm belief that it is something that can be achieved.”

    He was however quick to add that labour will not hesitate to wield its big stick should the federal government renege on its plan.

    “I don’t want to keep repeating myself. I have told you that at the tripartite committee, we all commit to a timetable and timeline which is known and everybody is aware of it. So the organised labour represented by NLC and TUC are committed to following that timetable and timeline. We made that very clear from the beginning after the inauguration of the committee because the first thing they did was to look at the scope of the work and the time it will take for us to deliver, to complete the tripartite negotiation and make sure that we are able to deliver a comprehensive report. Given the process of give and take, with the commitment we have also received from the National Assembly, I don’t think that the centrality of the issue require any delay. So as organised labour, we are committed to the timeline that the committee has set for itself.”

    The organised labour, the NLC boss noted, is determined to actualise its mandate as far as the new minimum wage is concerned.

    “We have many ways of responding to issues and as we progress in the process, we will consult our organs and constituents and will be able to push the process through any other means that is legitimately allowed by law.”

    Echoing similar sentiments, Comrade Peters Adeyemi, Deputy President, NLC, who spoke with our correspondent at the weekend expressed dismay with the sudden volte-face by the federal government. “The issue of the national minimum wage where there was an understanding among the tripartite that everything be concluded by September. We were shock to read the Minister saying that September is no longer feasible. That is clearly unacceptable because Nigeria workers need the minimum wage. We know the efforts we put in even before government decided to set up the committee.”

    Adeyemi who also doubles as General Secretary, Non Academic Staff Union, recalled that, the committee had an agreement on the September date. “We also had an agreement in the committee that we will no longer talk to the media about anything, but do our job because it is the outcome that Nigerians are expecting and not the noise we make when the process is ongoing.”

    Rallying support for organised labour

    Thankfully, the organised labour has gotten an imprimatur of support from the upper and lower legislative quarters.

    Speaking with our correspondent at the weekend, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, representing Abia North, Deputy Chairman Senate Committee on Labour, assured that the lawmakers hope to look at the matter expeditiously once it comes to the hallowed chamber.

    “What we had promised and we still stand on it is that once that bill comes to us definitely we are going to give it accelerated hearing, we are going to fast track the bill for accelerated passage and that is what the Senate President had said. It is unfortunate that both the ministry and the executive have been going back and front. We thought that by now that would have been resolved.

    “So we are looking forward to that bill because it is going to come out as an executive bill, we are looking forward to rounding off or concluding that bill before we go on our annual break but the way it is, it is like we are going to wait. You know it is little or nothing we can do because it is an executive responsibility, they have to make the payment. Ours is that we have supported and agreed that there is very urgent need to review the minimum wage especially looking out at the situation of things and economic et cetera now.”

    The need to review the minimum wage is sacrosanct but we cannot go ahead as a Parliament to legislate on that without the executive coming up with a bill, we are waiting for them to do that.

    On the issue of labour to be on the exclusive list, the lawmaker said, “The National Assembly has taken a resolution on that but personally and since I am one of the advocate of devolution, I still believe that the issue of labour should now go into concurrent list because there are States who can decide to negotiate with labour and pay within their limits.

    “You cannot compare somebody working in Abuja with somebody working in Zamfara. They can look at the rate of transport, accommodation, feeding and all that. They are not the same, you cannot compare Abuja level to Zamfara or Bayelsa. So you should allow the States some liberty to negotiate and decide and have their own pay. The only thing the federal sovernment can do is that we can decide what the minimum wage would be but anything out of that you allow the States the liberty and freedom to negotiate with labour.

    “What I am saying is that the minimum wage can be established at the national level, the minimum wage is a foundation, you have officers at different levels so we can decentralize that and allow the officers at the States to decide. So if you now make it a unified thing for all the States of the country, that is we are having problems, some states can pay, some cannot pay and you can see the level of wage debt now, most states cannot pay so we can allow some freedom. It is just like the oil companies they don’t pay the same rates, construction companies don’t pay the same rate even in Nigeria if you are working in the ministry you don’t earn the same pay with a person working in Central Bank or in NNPC.”

    Private employers ever willing

    Interestingly, one of the leading lights in the private sector, Segun Osinowo who sits atop as the Director General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), an umbrella organisation for all employers in Nigeria has assured that the employers are ever ready to implement whatever wage agreement reached.

    Employers, Osinowo observed: “Have been the good boy over the years as far as minimum wage is concern. What we are doing now is to give expression to the issue if social dialogue in the context of negotiation. The private sector in Nigeria has been one firm believer in collective bargaining. In fact, we have been able to adhere to the principles and value of collective bargaining more than the government. We have demonstrated good faith in the outcome of collective bargaining by implementing the outcome of such collective bargaining from time to time.

    “So, the whole idea of discussing the national minimum wage is not strange to us because we have taken part in it in time past and employers in Nigeria have been very faithful to the outcome of past national minimum wage. I can assure you that just as we have done in time last, our employers will still keep that good reputation which they have as law keepers as soon as the national minimum wage is legislated into law. So, we all look forward to the conclusion of the negotiations which I think should be sooner than later. “But one thing that we as employers are quite sure of is that before the end of the year, we should be able to finish the entire process of discussing the national minimum wage.”

  • NASS awaiting minimum wage bill, assures of quick passage

    The National Assembly has said it will fast track and accelerate the passage of the national minimum wage bill once it is sent as an executive bill by the Executive arms of government and asked both government and organised labour to resolve their differences on the issue as soon as possible in the interest of Nigerian workers.

    Deputy Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labour, Senator Mao Ohuanbuwa who made the position of the upper legislative chamber known in an interview in Geneva, Switzerland said the Senate President has already given the assurance that the bill will be given express hearing and passage by the legislature.

    He however said that although the Senate is yet to take a decision on the agitation to allow the issue of labour be removed from the exclusive legislative list, he personally believe that states should be allowed to negotiate with labour on what they can pay.

    Minister of Labour anad Employment, Senator Chris Ngige had told newsmen recently that the September date for the minimum wage was just a planning date and that the minimum wage may not be feasible in September because of the long process involved.

    He said that once the tripartite committee concludes its work, it will still have to pass through the Federal Executive Council and the National Economic Council made up of the nation’s Economic team and state governors before an executive bill is sent to the National Assembly for passage.

    Read Also:Labour criticises Ngige over shift in minimum wage implementation

    However, Senator Ohuabunwa said: “We will allow the executive and the labour leaders to resolve their differences. What we had promised and we still stand on is that once that bill comes to us, we are going to give it accelerated hearing. We are going to fast track the bill for accelerated passage and that is what the Senate President had said.

    It is unfortunate that both the ministry and the executive have been going back and front. We thought that by now, that would have been resolved. So we are looking forward to that bill because it is going to come out as an executive bill, we are looking forward to rounding off or concluding that bill before we go on our annual break.

    “But the way it is, it looks like we are going to wait. You know there is little or nothing we can do because it is an executive responsibility. They are the ones to make the payment. Ours is that we have supported and agreed that there is very urgent need to review the minimum wage especially looking at the situation of things and the economic presently.

    “The need to review the minimum wage is sacrosanct. But we cannot go ahead as a Parliament to legislate on that without the executive coming up with a bill. We are waiting for them to do that”.

    Speaking on whether the issue of labour should remain on the exclusive legislative list, he said “I don’t think the National Assembly has taken a resolution on that. But personally and since I am one of the advocate of devolution, I still believe that the issue of labour should go into concurrent list because there are States who can decide to negotiate with labour and pay within their limits.

    “You cannot compare somebody working in Abuja with somebody working in Zamfara. They can look at the rate of transport, accommodation, feeding and all that. They are not the same; you cannot compare Abuja level to Zamfara or Bayelsa.

    “So you should allow the States some liberty to negotiate and decide and have their own pay. The only thing the Federal Government can do is decide what the minimum wage would be. But anything out of that, you should allow the States the liberty and freedom to negotiate with labour.

    “What I am saying is that the minimum wage can be established at the national level. The minimum wage is a foundation because you have officers at different levels. So we can decentralize that and allow the officers at the States to decide.

    “So if you now make it a unified thing for all the States of the country, that is we are having problems. Some states can pay, some cannot pay and you can see the level of wage debt across the country. Most states cannot pay. So, we can allow some freedom. It is just like in the oil companies. They don’t pay the same rates; construction companies don’t pay the same rate. Even in Nigeria, if you are working in the ministry, you don’t earn the same pay with a person working in Central Bank or in NNPC”.

  • Minimum wage may not be ready by Sept, says Ngige

    The expectations of workers in the country getting a new national minimum wage by the end of September 2018 may not materialize after all as the government said on Tuesday that the September date was just a date to conclude negotiation on the issue of minimum wage.

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige told newsmen at his residence in Abuja that the committee on the new National Minimum wage is expecting to conclude its work by the end of September and present its report to the government for deliberation and approval before an executive bill is sent to the National Assembly on the issue.

    He said however that the issue of capacity to pay is also paramount in the deliberations on the minimum wage, pointing out that it was to get the input of all those concerned including state governments and the organised private sector that the committee embarked on zonal public hearing across the country.

    The Minister said further that in the course of the zonal public hearings, many state governments made different submissions ranging from N22, 000 monthly to N58, 000, adding that the governors were also of the believe that foe the new minimum wage to become effective, the current revenue allocation formula will have to be reviewed in favour of the states and local government.

    Read Also:Minimum wage increase on table, says Oyo-Ita

    He said further that some other states are also of the view that the minimum wage should be maintained at the current N18, 000 in view of the inability of some states to pay the current wages.

    Senator Ngige said when the minimum wage committee concludes its report, it will be submitted to the National Council of State and the Federal Executive Council for approval before a bill is sent to the National Assembly to legalize the work of the committee.

    He said even though it was not an easy task, the committee was making progress in its assigned responsibility, pointing out that it was in other to carry everybody, including the states and private sector along that six governors were elected to be members of the committee as well as representatives of the organised private sector.

    On the threat non-teaching staff of universities to resume their suspended strike as a result of government failure to honour the terms of their agreement, the Minister said government was sourcing the N6 billion needed to pay them their earned allowances as contained in the agreement.

    He said his experience as Minister of Labour said him that majority of about 95 percent of agreement currently being paraded by trade unions in the country were signed before the Buhari government came into office in 2015,adding that most of such agreements had no timeline for implementation.

    He also said many of the agreement signed by the last government were not implementable because of the amount involved, adding that the principles of the International, Labour Organisation allowed employers to renegotiate agreements which they feel they cannot implement.

    He said further that what is important in all collective bargaining agreement is the ability to pay what is being demanded and what is agreed upon.

    He appealed to striking health workers to return to work while negotiations continue on their demands, pointing out that the delay in the implementation of their signed agreement was as a result of failure of the National Salaries, Wages and Income Commission to defend the two different figure presented to a government high powered committee.

    He said the committee has directed the commission and the Federal Ministry of Health to go back and recompile the figures for onward submission to the committee for deliberation.

  • Ngige to NMA: Stop meddling in JOHESU strike

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige has told the leadership of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) to stay away from the ongoing strike by members of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) as their activities are making it difficult for government to resolve issues that led to the strike.

    The Minister, in a statement signed by the Director of Press in the Ministry, Samuel Olowokore said the doctors should stop meddling in the strike, adding that such meddlesomeness arising from an unhealthy inter-union rivalry will adversely put pressure on social dialogue mechanism.

    He however appealed to the striking health workers to call off its strike as the CONHESS table that corresponds with the 2014 CONMESS adjustment with the Medical Doctors has been appropriately addressed by the National Salary Income and Wages Commission and given as an offer in the spirit of equity.  

    Read Also: FG warns JOHESU against harassing doctors, others

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige has been drawn to media reports credited to the new Executive of the Nigerian Medical Association(NMA) wherein the body  has taken to meddlesome interloping in the ongoing negotiations with the striking Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU)

    “The Minister wishes to state that in trade unionism, such meddlesomeness arising from an unhealthy inter-union rivalry will adversely put pressure on social dialogue mechanism, clog the wheel of progress and in this instance, retard the return of industrial harmony in the entire health sector.

    “Hence, the NMA should desist from further interference of any form, in the ongoing negotiation as well as stop issuing threats to the Federal Government as it is firmly resolved to achieve a lasting industrial peace in all sectors without prejudice to perceived group interests.

    “Besides, I wish to once more appeal to JOHESU to call off its strike as the CONHESS table that corresponds with the 2014 CONMESS adjustment with the Medical Doctors has been appropriately addressed by the National Salary Income and Wages Commission and given as an offer in the spirit of equity.  I therefore plead that you consider the tragic consequences your action has already brought on the vulnerable patients in hospitals across the nation.”