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Tag: Senator Chris Ngige

  • Indefinite strike: FG, resident doctors sign MoU

    Indefinite strike: FG, resident doctors sign MoU

    The Federal Government has signed a memorandum of understanding with members of the National Association of Resident Doctors aimed at preventing Resident Doctors in federal government owned health facilities across the country from embarking on their planned strike action which was scheduled to commence on Monday, September 4.

    In the memorandum signed by government representatives and officials of the association and the Nigeria Medical Association and made available to newsmen at the end of a meeting called by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, the government and the association stressed that some of the issues being complained of by the association were already being addressed by the government.

    The memorandum was signed by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, Minister of Health,  Prof. Isaac Adewole. Minister of State Labour and Employment. Prof. Stephen Ocheni, National President of the Nigeria Medical Association, Prof. Mike O. Ogirima, President of National Association of Resident Doctors, Dr. Onyebueze John and Chairman of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, Chief Richard Egbule among others.

    Other signatories to the memorandum are representatives of Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and the Budget Office of the Federation.

    The National Association of Resident Doctors had informed the government that it embark on an indefinite strike action beginning from Monday, September 4, 2017 due to failure of government to pay salary shortfall for 2016 and between January and May, 2017.

    Other issues in dispute according to the association are Failure to rectify the salary shortfall from August 2017; failure to circularize House Officers’ entry point; failure to correct the stagnation of promotion of our members and properly place them on their appropriate grade level; failure to enroll and capture our members on the Integrated Personnel Payment Information System (IPPIS) and failure to budget, deduct and remit both the employer and employees’ contributions our pension to our retirement savings account since 2013.”

    A memorandum signed at the end of the meeting reads in part: “The meeting noted that some Federal Tertiary Health Institutions (FHTI) have paid a percentage of salaries to Resident Doctors and are consequently in arrears of salary payments to members of NARD and Honorary Consultants.

    “It was also noted that the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) had started the process of paying the shortfall of salaries owed in batches. It was therefore concluded that the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) should forward the list of the recipient FHTI to the Honourable Minister of Health to ensure that the released fund was used for its intended purpose. The payment for other FHTI not captured to be implemented before the end of October 2017.”

    On the issue of shortfall in salaries, the meeting mandated “the Director Hospital Services is to address a circular/letter to the Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) and state therein that the released funds should be used solely for salaries and shortfalls. The Federal Ministry of Finance should ensure that monthly salaries are paid in full.

    “Reference was made to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reached at the 7th Senate in 2014, and House of Representatives with the Speaker presiding in 2016, where Parties agreed to use the quantum of monies contained in CONHESS 9:4 for CONMESS 1:1.

    “It was concluded that effect should be given to previous Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) reached on this issue so that CONHESS 9:4 would be in parity with CONMESS 1:1. The Chairman NSIWC to get this circularized, after getting the quantum from FmoH. All matters on this issue should be finalised before the preparation of 2018 Budget is concluded.

    “Issues of skipping and matters ancillary thereto were discussed. The meeting noted that the Federal Ministry of Health had appealed against the ruling of the National Industrial court of Nigeria (NICN) on skipping and that a date has been given by the Court of Appeal for Hearing in March, 2018.

    “It was further noted that a major issue is the improper placements on appropriate Salary Grade Levels. It was concluded that a proper guideline should be provided by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) and that Item 4 of the MoU of December 16, 2013 should be adopted.

    “The Item 4 states that ‘the FMoH, NSIWC, NMA should urgently review the NMA’s proposal on skipping of CONTISS 10/CONHESS10/COMESS 2 in the new Scheme of Service with a view to amending it to reflect the suspension of the circular on unauthorized skipping of equivalent of CONMESS 2 for Medical Doctors in the Public Service.

    “The amended proposal shall be forwarded to the HCSF through the FMoH for an onward presentation to the forthcoming National Council on Establishment (NCE) on 24th January, 2014 in Ilorin.” In view of this earlier position, it was concluded that the Honourable Minister of Health (HMoH) should drive this issue and that no circular should be issued on the matter until it is concluded by the HMoH.

    “In view of the expected meeting of the Council of Establishment, the end of October was given as the tentative time limit to conclude the assignment by the FMoH and Office of the HCSF. Hospitals that are yet to implement skipping for doctors are to commence and henceforth, promotions should be in accordance with the Public Service Rules.

    “Based on the information given by the members of NARD, it was noted that only 18 Federal Tertiary Health Institutions had so far submitted their Nominal Roll. The meeting concluded that NARD members should be on the IPPIS platform and that the CMDs as well as the MDs should be requested by the FMoH to submit their Nominal Roll to the Office of the Accountant General of The Federation (OAGF) and copy to the FMoH and FML&E on or before September 15, 2017. It was agreed that all Resident Doctors should be captured on IPPIS platform by the end of October 2017.

    “It was concluded that NARD members are on Pensionable appointment and as such the FMoH in conjunction with OAGF and Budget Office of the Federation (BOF) should take necessary steps to ensure that adequate budgetary allocations are made to cover the Pension requirements of NARD members.

    “Furthermore, FMoH should issue a letter in that regard to the Head Civil Service of the Federation who would correspond with the Budget Office of the Federation for necessary action, as the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) had in a letter of February 12, 2015, Ref.PENCOM/INSP/C&E/CCPA/66/15/1167 to the Honourable Minister of Health affirmed that members of NARD are “Employees”. The letter went further to define an employee as any person employed in the service of the Federation, the FCT, a Government of a State of Nigeria, Local Government Council or private company or organization or firm.

    “In view of the foregoing terms of settlement, NARD agreed to meet in an Emergency Session before Monday, September 4, 2017, for the presentation of this Memorandum to her National Executive Council with a view to averting the scheduled strike.”

     

  • Strike update: ASUU, Govt meeting fails to hold as union makes counter offer

    Strike update: ASUU, Govt meeting fails to hold as union makes counter offer

    The much-publicized meeting between the Federal government and officials of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) aimed at resolving the ongoing indefinite strike by the university lecturers yesterday failed to hold as scheduled.

    The leadership of the lecturers did not show up for the meeting which was scheduled to commence at 12.00 at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, but The Nation gathered that the meeting was put off at the last minute to due to counter offer received by the government from the leadership of the union.

    Addressing newsmen, Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige said the meeting had to be put off to enable the government team to consider the counter offer received from the union and to possibly get the nod of the Federal Executive Council on the some of the issues contained in the union’s demand.

    The Minister said: “The government as you know has made an offer to ASUU through the ministry of education and late yesterday (Monday) ASUU got back to us with their counter offer. By then, this meeting had been scheduled and the government side needed to deliberate on their counter offer before we can have a reconciliation meeting to further discuss areas of disagreement. That is the position right now. 

    “We are holding a government side meeting, while, the Minister of Education is also holding a meeting and we will meet later today and formalize our position. Tomorrow is Federal Executive Council meeting and there are aspects that we will need FEC approval to go on with. Thereafter, we will meet with the ASUU team either tomorrow evening or Thursday morning, which ever will be more convenient.”

    The President of the Union, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi also confirmed that the union has placed a counter demand before the government and expressed the hope that the union will receive a positive response from the government within the shortest possible time.

    In a statement made available to newsmen, the ASUU President said after due consultations with its members on August 17, 2017, meeting with the government, it has collated the views of its members and submitted same to the government.

    The statement reads: “Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) were forced to proceed on indefinite, comprehensive and total strike action on Sunday 13th August 2017 following government failure to implement issues, on which understanding was reached during the suspended warning strike of November 2016.

    “We have since held talks with Representatives of government and consulted our members nationwide in steps to be taken to immediately resolve the lingering crisis. Among issues in the dispute are registration of , fractionalization of salaries in federal universities and gross under funding/ non-funding of state universities, and arrears and implementation of Earned Academic Allowance. 

    “Other issues are the release of fund for the revitalization of public universities as spelt out in the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding, guidelines for retirement benefits of professors in line with 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, Treasury Single Account (TSA) and withdrawal of support for universities staff primary schools.

    “On Thursday, we met with officials of the Ministry of Education and Labour and Employment where it was agreed that the union should consult and “revert to government”. Following due consultations, we have collated the views of our members on the offers from the government in dispute in the letter of 16th August 2017. These views were submitted to the federal government vide our letter dated 28th August 2017.

    “As we await the federal government’s action on our letter, we hope that it would not be long before we receive a positive response which will bring an end to the dispute. Meanwhile, we thank all Nigerians, particularly our students (and their parents) and the media for their understanding so far in the need to speedily address the issues in the best interest of the Nigerian University System and for the overall development t of the country.”

  • FG not sincere about paying backlog of salaries – Labour

    FG not sincere about paying backlog of salaries – Labour

    Organised Labour has said that the federal government was not sincere about paying the over N290 billion arrears of salaries and promotion arrears owed workers in the federal civil service, saying they may not be able to stop the workers from taking action for too long.

    Labour said while the federal government was pressuring state government t and assisting the, with bail out to pay salaries and allowances owed workers in the various states, it was silent on the plight of workers in federal service whose promotion and other allowances dating back to 2007 has not been paid and has accumulated to over N290 billion.

    Secretary General, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Comrade Bashir Alade Lawal who disclosed this in an interview on the sideline of the 106th session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland,

    said since 2007, the government has failed to pay the workers arrears of promotion, transfer allowance and shortfall in salaries among others.

    Comrade Lawal said the Federal Government was not sincere about the issue of the payment, adding that it was an irony that the Federal Government would give bail out to the state governments to pay the salaries and arrears of their workers while leaving its workers unpaid.

    The labour leader said the workers are now restive, warning that the leadership may not be able to control them anymore, as the situation in many federal ministries and parastatals is getting out of control.

    He said: “If you look at the ‎entire problem, you will agree that government is not sincere with workers. This indebtedness date back to 2007, and you want to imagine that workers who are working are being promoted as at when due, but government is refusing to pay them their promotion arrears.

    “Somebody that has been promoted from level 8 to 9, from 9 to 10, from  10 to 12 and so on, is still earning level 8 salary because the employer, which is the Federal Government has refused to do the right thing. So, this issue has brought this arrears that runs to N290 billion.

    “The insincerity of the Federal Government is demonstrated in the first instance, when they gave bailout funds to states totaling about N734 billion. They asked the states to use their share to pay arrears of workers’ salaries. But the Federal Government failed to pay its own workers. That is the height of insincerity. Now, the Federal Government has accepted that there is a problem.

    “As I speak with you, the situation is very tensed, workers are very restive and no labour leader can guarantee that the situation will not go out of hand. We are just trying to manage the situation, knowing some of the other challenges facing the country.”

    Comrade Lawal expressed hope that the recent efforts by the National Assembly, Labour and the executive arm of government will resolve the issue and forestall imminent crisis, adding that Labour and the National Assembly had offered a window to be utilized to address the issue of N290 billion debt.

    He said: “Now we have come together, including the National Assembly on the issue of this N290 billion. The National Assembly has offered a window that we should utilise what is currently in the budget. What is in the budget is N30 billion and so the two side would then meet and look at the possibility of packaging a sort of loan or bond to be able to sort this out.

    “The N10 billion released by the government is just in the interim, to just start doing something. The N30 billion in the budget is not what is readily available because of the process involved before it can be accessed.

    “However, the agreement we have with the National Assembly and other stakeholders is that as soon as the budget becomes law, the money will be released immediately. So, from the N290 billion, you would have sorted out 40 billion, remaining N250b billion.

    “With the National Assembly, we are hopeful with the kind of interest shown, because most of the lawmakers saw what happened during  May Day in Abuja where they were evacuated into their vehicles during workers’ reaction as a result of frustration.

    “So, let us see the result of all these initiatives and hopefully the way we are looking at it that we will be able to sort it out this year. Anything short of that or should they decide  to foot drag on this, I bet you even with the leadership of the union, peace will not guaranteed. ”

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige had assured, that the government will go into bond market for funds to off-set all the arrears of salaries, promotion arrears and pension.

    “We have taken step and initiated payment in that same direction. Before I left home, N10 billion was already being processed for promotion allowances arrears,before I left home sum of N14.6 billion has been expended in the areas of shortfall of salaries and as we go back home we have other machinery and plans to even go into bond market and get some funds to off set all these areas,” Ngige said.

     

  • Ngige insists : Igbos made bad political investment in 2015

    Ngige insists : Igbos made bad political investment in 2015

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige has said that the Igbos of the south east must begin now to prepare for 2019 General elections and avoid a repeat of the 2015 era when they made a bad investment by putting their eggs in one basket.
    The Minister who denied endorsing perceived Igbo marginalization by the Buhari government said “all reasonable politicians in the South east accept that we played bad politics in 2015, we should effectively put it behind us.”
    In a statement by his Special Assistant, Media, Nwachukwu Obidiwe, the Minister said he is not afraid to repeat what he said, adding that politics is an investment and that as far as the 2015 presidential election is concerned, Ndigbo made a very bad investment.
    He said: “We put all our eggs in one basket despite clear signs we shouldn’t. We should therefore not allow such ill-advised investment to repeat in subsequent elections.
    “My position which I passed as a caution in that interview is that Ndigbo should start to strategically position themselves for 2019 and avoid a repeat of what happened in 2015. Other zones are already strategizing and we must not be caught napping.
    “Just as all reasonable politicians in the South east accept that we played bad politics in 2015, we should effectively put it behind us. The resilient nature of the Igbo allows no room for self-pity. We have met greater challenges and surmounted them.
    “It is for this reason that I and the APC in the South East have been welcoming our leaders like Chief Jim Nwobodo, Sen. Ken Nnamani, Sen. Emma Agboti, Sen. Nkechi Nwogu, Sen. Andy Uba, Chief Chukwuemeka Nwogu- my predecessor in the Ministry of Labour, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, former Minister of Health, former Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime and host of others people who have seen the need for this.
    “However, as I said in the interview, the bad investment of the 2105 is not enough to marginalize anybody. The present administration of President Mohammadu Buhari does not look in that direction.
    “I and other APC leaders in the South East shall continue to make sure that the Igbo is fairly treated. Every piece of information is not for the pages of newspapers but I wish to re-assure that we are doing much more than eyes can see to ensure that the South East is not left behind in the distribution of infrastructures.
    “ For example, work is going on simultaneously on all the major federal roads in the South East; Enugu- Onitsha, Enugu- Umuahia-Abia-Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt -Owerri, Oba-Nnewi– Arondizuogu- Okigwe, to mention a few while Julius Berger has been mobilized for the 2nd River Niger Bridge.
    “When last did that happen in the South East? There is also the Benin-Onitsha rail line which was not originally in the Jonathan-PDP rail masterplan. We have included that.
    “By my pedigree, as the former President General of Aka-Ikenga for eight years, member of Ohaneze Strategic Committee and member, Imezi Ohaneze, I will advise that our people should cry no more over spilt milk as there is room enough to feed the cow well and get milk in better quantity and quality. That is politics for you. A word is enough for the wise.”

  • Nigeria seeks return to ILO’s board

    Nigeria seeks return to ILO’s board

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige has disclosed that the country will be seeking a return to the governing board of the International Labour Organisation during the forthcoming in 106the session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva.
    Speaking while inaugurating members of the various committees to articulate Nigeria’s position at the conference, the. Minister said his Ministry’s ground work and diplomatic shuttle in this regards has yielded positive result as Nigeria candidacy into the ILO Governing Body has been approved by other African Countries.
    He said the country must “harness all resources as a country, hence my Ministry thought it imperative for Nigeria to get back to the Governing Board of the ILO.
    “We have started the ground work and diplomatic shuttle and am happy to announce to you that we are going to Geneva this time around with Nigeria having been nominated by other African Countries under the auspices of Africa Union Commission for a place in the Governing Board of ILO with all the attendant benefits that accrue to countries that are in the Governing Body. We are going to represent West Africa at the Governing Board meeting. ”
    Ngige added that the meeting will be very momentous for Nigeria as a lot of benefits will accrue to Nigeria in terms of technical assistance, human and material resources that will assist the Nation’s drive towards economic recovery.
    He said further that “The big idea is for us to represent Nigeria well. Nigeria is going to the Conference at a very critical period when our nation is just coming out of recession.”
    The inaugurated committees include Committee on the Application of Standards, Committee for Labour Migration, Committee on Employment and Decent Work for the Transition to Peace, Committee for the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and Finance.

  • Nigeria to contest membership of ILO governing board

    Nigeria to contest membership of ILO governing board

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige Friday announced that Nigeria will be seeking a return to the governing board of the International Labour Organisation during the forthcoming in 106the session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva.

    Speaking while inaugurating members of the various committees to articulate Nigeria’s position at the conference said his Ministry’s ground work and diplomatic shuttle in this regards has yielded positive result as Nigeria candidacy into the ILO Governing Body has been approved by other African Countries.

    He said the country must “harness all resources as a country, hence my Ministry thought it imperative for Nigeria to get back to the Governing Board of the ILO.

    “We have started the ground work and diplomatic shuttle and am happy to announce to you that we are going to Geneva this time around with Nigeria having been nominated by other African Countries under the auspices of Africa Union Commission for a place in the Governing Board of ILO with all the attendant benefits that accrue to countries that are in the Governing Body. We are going to represent West Africa at the Governing Board meeting. ”

    Ngige added that the meeting will be very momentous for Nigeria as a lot of benefits will accrue to Nigeria in terms of technical assistance, human and material resources that will assist the Nation’s drive towards economic recovery.

    He said further that “The big idea is for us to represent Nigeria well. Nigeria is going to the Conference at a very critical period when our nation is just coming out of recession.”

    The inaugurated committees include Committee on the Application of Standards, Committee for Labour Migration, Committee on Employment and Decent Work for the Transition to Peace, Committee for the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and Finance.

     

  • FG to convert Industrial Arbitration Panel to a commission

    FG to convert Industrial Arbitration Panel to a commission

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige said Thursday that the federal government plan to convert the Industrial Arbitration Panel to an Industrial Arbitration Commission to give it more power and ensure quick dispensation of industrial dispute in the country.

    The Minister who spoke while receiving the management team of the Industrial Arbitration Panel in his office said the Labour bill which will be represented to the 8th National Assembly will take care of converting the panel into a commission.

    He said the Ministry has concluded work in the bill which will soon be sent to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation for fine-tuning before it is sent to the National Assembly for promulgation.

    Senator Ngige assured that the Ministry will do everything possible to ensure that the Industrial Arbitration Commission takes off as it will help address most of the challenges currently being faced by the panel in the discharge of their responsibilities.

    He said: “there is Jos doubt that you work under very strenuous conditions which are not too wonderful. On our own part, we have to equip you and that is why we have decided to identify with you in the issue of transforming your place into a commission.

    “The Labour bill we had in the National Assembly expired with the seventh National Assembly. But we are representing it for your place to evolve into a commission. If it evolve into a commission, the benefits are monumental.

    “Like you said, it will cut down cost of people going for litigations in the courts and make for speedy adjudication and dispensation of industrial relations cases justly and equitably and justice will be brought quickly to the door step of the workers and their employers. So, we are going to assist in making that commission a reality.

    “As for IAP rules, you are handling the one that gave you four paragraphs. We have seen the new one and have worked on a new set of rules and we want to make the final baking by sending it to the Attorney General of the Federation to have a look and then send it back to the National Assembly so that it can be promulgated into the rules that will guide you. Rules that will make for better handling of cases that come to you.”

    Speaking earlier, Chairman of the panel, Barrister Dunama Azura told the Minister that the panel has been operating without guidelines and rules guiding dispute resolutions, and appeal to him to prevail on the government to convert the panel to a commission as is the practice globally.

    He said the only document guiding the operation of the panel was a four paragraphed rule which has hampered their performance, adding that inspite of the challenges; none of its decisions has been upturned by the National Industrial Court.

    He said converting the Panel into a Commission will save a lot of resources for the government, while appealing to the Government to consider members of the panel as special specie of people in view of the risk involved in their work.

     

  • FG has no funds to pay salary, promotion arrears, says Ngige

    FG has no funds to pay salary, promotion arrears, says Ngige

    The negotiation for new minimum wage may have been kept in the cooler until salary and promotion arrears owed civil servant are cleared, it was learnt Monday.

    This is coming as Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senator Chris Ngige, Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, Director General, Budget Office, Mr. Ben Akabueze and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, met Monday with the leadership of the National Assembly to find ways to clear salary and promotion arrears of civil servant.

    Also on table for discussion at the closed door meeting chaired by Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, was the issue of payment of transfer allowances of workers and death benefits.

    Ngige told reporters that they were at the National Assembly on the invitation of ledership of the National Assembly.

    He added that though some progress were made at the meeting, all sides were to go back and come back tomorrow with possible solution to the identified issues which is that “government does not have enough fund for now to tackle the issues.”

    Ngige said, “We are here on the invitation of the National Assembly, the joint committee on labour and employment and the meeting is chaired by the Senate President.

    “We are here to discuss issues relating to things that are meant for industrial disharmony in the public sector.

    “As you are aware the labour federations have said the governors have not been treating them well.

    “One of the cardinal issues of International Labour Organisation (ILO) is to give our workers decent jobs and we decided to discuss with them.

    Wabba on his own said, “We are here as usual to dialogue over a range of issues particularly the welfare and well-being of our members – the Nigerian workers. In particular, we have discussed issues bothering on arrears of allowances which have accumulated for some time and running into billions, which they have not paid.

    “Also, alongside is the issue of pension particularly the issue of bonds and the fact that some of the contributions by workers have not been remitted for time.

    “Those are some of the issues that we thought the National Assembly has led the process to bring all stakeholders on board and look at how these issues can be resolved in a win-win situation without allowing the industrial relation process to break up.

    “I think this is very healthy and commendable, and all of us are committed to a very peaceful process of resolving these issues.

    “As the minister said, we have adjourned to allow thorough reflection over some of those issues and to be able to come up with workable solutions that will address these issues.

    “Those are the totality of issues we are actually working on and it is a holistic process which you know that the processes require laws; they also require some budgetary provisions.

    “So, that is why we are here and the process is holistic, to look at how best those issues can be resolved amicably.”

    Asked why the issue of new minimum wage was not top on the agenda of the meeting, Wabba who was almost walking away said the process is holistic.

     

    On what labour is demanding, he said “Labour has spoken with one voice. We have made a formal demand which you are aware. It is N56, 000 there is no need repeating it.”

    Wabba categorized new laws and budgetary provision to clear the back log of the arrears.

    “It’s a tripartite negotiation. What we are doing here is tripartite plus because we have involved the National Assembly and when you do any such negotiations is plus.

    “We looked at the issues of salaries arrears, promotion arrears, death benefits, location expenses and transfer allowances, hotel allowance which overtime have accumulated and had ran into billions and this is what are owed to federal public servant and we started the meeting today to find a solution.

    “The labour leaders engage ourselves and we try to work out something that would help them and help us restore the confidence we have with them that is the employers and employees.

    “If we don’t have that confidence we may have break down of industrial harmony. So we made progress today and we have adjourned to reconvene tomorrow at 4pm, all sides are to go back and come back tomorrow with possible solution to the identified issues which is government doesn’t have enough fund for now to tackle the issues. So tomorrow we convey here and sort it”

     

  • Workers disrupt May Day rally in Abuja

    Workers disrupt May Day rally in Abuja

    Nigerian workers Monday disrupted the May Day rally at the Eagle Square in Abuja forcing the rally to end in chaos without the traditional match pass by labour unions.

    More security had to be drafted into the Eagle Square arena to protect dignitaries invited for the celebration, forming a barricade to prevent the protesters from getting to the invited guest.

    The 2017 May Day celebration attracted the largest crowd of workers in recent years.

    Trouble started when the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Biola Bawa was called to read the address of the Minister, Senator Chris Ngige who was representing the President.

    Even when the Minister stepped forward to address the workers, they refuse to allow him speak and all efforts to make them return to their seat failed, forcing the minister to return to his seat angrily.

    Some of the workers insisted that if the President could not attend the rally to address them; he would have sent the Vice President instead of the Minister.

    The shout of go back to your seat by the leadership of both the NLC and TUC was greater with a loud no by the workers.

    Efforts by former Edo state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to calm the few workers failed as a few of them who gathered around the podium refused to listen, nor allow the event to continue.

    While many of the workers sat down in their stand watching the development, a few of the workers went round the square chanting no marching, no marching.

    At this stage, the workers who had become tired began to leave the square en-mass, forcing the rally to end in chaos.

    As many of the workers made to leave the arena, the protesting workers took over the podium chanting “we don win, we don win”.

     

  • ASUP: Minister denies warning strike in labour law

    ASUP: Minister denies warning strike in labour law

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige on Tuesday reminded labour unions in the country that there was nothing like warning strike in the nation’s labour laws, warning however that the government may be forced to apply the no work no pay rule.
    The Minister appealed to striking Polytechnic lecturers under the auspices of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) to call of their five-day warning strike in the interest of the nation and the students.
    The polytechnic lecturers had, on Monday began a five-day warning strike over government refusal to address issues affecting the polytechnic sector after two ultimata to the government in July 2016 and November 2016 were not addressed by government.
    In a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen in Abuja, the Minister informed members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) that there was nothing like warning strike in the nation’s labour laws.
    He said: “I wish to assure you that the Federal Government is ready and willing to fully dialogue with the members of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), and Government will open an unhindered channel of communication with all Stakeholders and shall maintain this.”
    He said that the Federal Ministry of Education has been discussing the issues with ASUP on the concerns raised, pointing out that “it is important for Trade Unions to embrace social dialogue in the pursuit and attainment of the economic and social interests of their members anchored on equity, natural justice and agreed procedures
    “I wish to remind the Trade Unions that there is nothing like a “Warning Strike” in our National Industrial Relations System (NIRS) – a strike is a strike and is subject to all the rules governing strike in the world of work.’
    “Accordingly, the provisions of Section 43 of the Trade Disputes Act, CAP. T8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN), 2004, will apply regarding the law of “No Work No Pay’’ by workers/employees notwithstanding any other circumstances in any section of the Act.”
    “Once more, I wish to appeal to the trade unions to embrace dialogue as the Federal Government is fully committed to peaceful resolution of all the issues at stake”.