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Tag: Senator Chris Ngige

  • Striking workers: FG threatens no work, no pay

    Striking workers: FG threatens no work, no pay

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige on Monday reminded trade unions in the country that there was nothing like warning strike in the nation’s industrial relations circles, warning that the government may be forced to invoke the no work no pay rule on striking workers.

    The Minister said in accordance with the nation’s labour laws, a strike is a strike and is subject to all the rules governing strike in the world of work and appealed to members of the non-teaching staff of universities to call off their five-day warning strike and embrace the channels of dialogue already opened by the government.
    In a statement personally signed last night and made available to newsmen,  Senator Ngige said the government was committed to the full resolution of issues affecting the workers, pointing out that a meeting called by the government to discuss the issues had to be rescheduled at the instance of the unions.
    The statement reads: “I wishes to appeal to the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), Non – Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) who have jointly declared intention to embark on a 5 – day warning strike effective January 16, 2017 to suspend action in the interest of the nation.
    “I wish to assure that the Federal Government is ready and willing to fully dialogue with the members of these Trade Unions, operating under the umbrella of Joint Action Committee. The Government has already opened an unhindered channel of communication with all Stakeholders and shall maintain this.
    “Today (Monday), January 16, 2017, I convened a meeting of all stakeholders in dispute for us to ventilate all issues and reach an amicable settlement. Unfortunately, the Trade Unions requested for a different date, and the meeting now re-scheduled for Wednesday, January 18, 2017.
    “The Federal Government, therefore expects that the Trade Unions should suspend the strike before the re-scheduled meeting to make way for untrammelled discussions.
    “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 and natural justice.
    “I hence thought it necessary 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 what the unions termed “Full Implementation of 2009 FGN/Non – Teaching Staff Union’s Agreement”.

  • I’ve never received double pay – Ngige

    I’ve never received double pay – Ngige

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige said Wednesday that since leaving office as governor of Anambra state in 2006, he has never received any money from the state as salary or any form of emolument for former governors and deputy government in the state as enshrined in the state laws.

    Ngige became the first former governor to react to the claims by the Nigeria Labour Congress recently that some former governors and deputy governors currently occupying public offices were still receiving double salaries and emoluments.

    In a statement he personally signed and made available to The Nation, the Minister said he was compelled to respond to the issue in the public interest and in view of several calls from his friends and organised labour on the master.

    The statement reads: “It is my considered opinion that I respond in the public interest, to the issue of double emoluments to former State Governors, which has drawn sustained media discuss, and no less negative reactions from a cross section of Nigerians.

    “I am doing this, being fully aware of the relevant sections of the law, public morality and the prevailing ethos of honest and transparent leadership, which the Federal Government of our great Party led by Muhammadu Buhari GCFR is battling to enthrone.

    “It therefore becomes imperative for me to explain my own circumstance as I neither draw from nor have at any time drawn double emoluments, having been elected or appointed into public service positions at different times.

    “I wish to put on record that since I left office in 2006 as Governor of Anambra State; through the four years I spent in the 7th Senate (June 2011-2015) and currently as the Hon. Minister of Labour and Employment with effect from November 11, 2015, I have never drawn a dime even in the intervening period that I was not in public office, as salary, emolument or pension from the Anambra State government coffers.

    “In fact, I have not received any severance benefit as prescribed in the Anambra State House of Assembly law on pensions and other welfare and benefits for former Governors and Deputy Governors, 2006, and amended 2013.   Aside the two utility vehicles given to me some years ago, I have not accessed any of the privileges and other lawful trappings due to the office.

    “It is worth stating here that the Supreme Court affirmed that I was entitled to these benefits in their landmark judgment in Mike Balonwu and others Vs Anambra State Government, which declared me Governor, defacto and dejure between 2003-2006.

    “This explanation has become more necessary because of the calls and enquiries I have been receiving from so many quarters especially my friends and even from my new constituency, the labour.

    “The ultimate aim of public office is service to the people and putting the public conscience in mind is the only way to achieve it.  This I will continue to pursue”.

  • 85 percent of Nigerians live in poverty – Ngige

    85 percent of Nigerians live in poverty – Ngige

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige said Tuesday that about 85 percent of Nigerians were living in poverty, but was however quick to add that the Buhari government was taking concrete steps to address the high level of poverty in the land.

    The Minister who spoke at a productivity awareness lecture for staff of the Ministry assured that the present government was a government for the down trodden in the society and will stop at nothing to ensure a better life for Nigerians.

    According to him, the Buhari government came into office based on its three cardinal campaign promises of addressing insecurity, revamping the economy and fighting corruption in the land.

    While saying that the primary purpose of government was the security and welfare of the people, the Minister said the Buhari government was fighting insurgency in the country with a lot of vigor, giving assurance that the government will be civil service friendly.

    The Minister announced the introduction of complaint boxes in all agencies and departments of the Ministry to serve as cross fertilization of ideas between the staff and the Minister, saying “I will read all the letters you drop in the box. But don’t write frivolous petitions because I don’t like such things.”

    Senator Ngige told the workers that productivity is universally acknowledged as crucial and critical to a country’s competitiveness and its integration into the global economy.

    He said further that it has also been acknowledged that economic downturn, decline and stagnation can be traced to low productivity, saying “It is in realization of this fact that the federal government has continued to invest heavily on reform programmes directed at transforming the public service to tackle head on the various challenges that have threatened our survival as a nation, impaired our productive growth and denied us the full dividends of democracy.

    “There is no doubt that the service needs to be attuned to its responsibilities not only as a source of policy advice and primary executor of programmes, but as the custodian of data and information on which decisions are to be based. It is a matter if regret that rather than record incremental improvement in the discharge of these and other statutory responsibilities, productivities, productivity has remained extremely low in the sector.”

    He stressed that the concept of productivity as it relates to the management of human and material resources is an issue that must be tackled assiduously in the public service in order to obtain optimal performance.

    He told them that the overall objective of the awareness lecture is to sharpen the skills and competence of the human resources in the Ministry and its agencies as well as to build their knowledge on productivity improvement tools and techniques in order to enhance their capacity for efficient and effective service delivery.

    Director General of the National Productivity Centre, Kashim Yunusa Akor said the agency was established to facilitate socio economic growth and development. Through productivity improvement.

    He said the lecture is seen as a veritable tool for the centre to implement the presidential directive on the establishment of productivity units in the public service as well as assist in the development and training of productivity practitioners who will then serve as agents to be used in spreading the productivity message.

  • NGIGE to NLC: Shelve planned nationwide strike

    NGIGE to NLC: Shelve planned nationwide strike

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige has appealed to organised labour led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), to rescind its planned warning strike over the new electricity tariff in the overall interest of the nation.

    Speaking at the 3rd Triennial National Delegates Conference of the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC), the Minister said since the issue of increase is currently before the National Assembly, organised labour should give the lawmakers the opportunity to mediate in the dispute.
    “The dispute over the increment in electricity tariff is right before the National Assembly and it is only right that as law abiding social partners that all parties allow the National Assembly to arbitrate. The Chairman of NLC is not here but this occasion offers a crucial avenue for me to state government’s position on this hot button issue.”
    The Minister advised investors in the power sector to provide decent working environment for their staff as his Ministry will no longer tolerate unfair labour practices, urging workers to give their utmost best in promotion of productivity
    The Minister urged the Association to be committed to a productive change and the inculcation of sanity in the conduct of government business and hoped that the change mantra would instill discipline in the entire citizenry and promotes transparency, accountability and other good governance principles.

  • Ngige: I’m hale and hearty

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige has denied the rumours making the round that he collapsed during National Assembly budget defence.

    He described the report which trended on social media as a ruse and failed attempt by politicians to malign his ability and personality.

    Senator Ngige who spoke to our correspondent aboard an aircraft from South Africa described the rumours of his collapse as laughable and a failed cannon targeted at him by never do well politicians for selfish interest.

    He said: “I am not in Nigeria, I attended special morning session function in Zambia and am airborne to South Africa where I will be coming into the country tomorrow.

    “The rumours in social media and other quarters shows how petty people can be, I don’t see it as anything but I wish to tell those who still play this outdated and obsolete politics of bitterness to embrace change and know that it is no longer business as usual”

    He expressed explicit confidence in President Buhari’s administration to weed the country off of corrupt leaders who have retarded development in the pass.

    He reiterated that his ministry shall continue to play the complimentary role of promoting good governance in the country.

  • Anambra Re-Run: Ngige Yet To Withdraw From Race – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that it is not aware of the withdrawal from the Anambra central senatorial race re-run by Senator Chris Ngige of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    The new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the commission, Dr. Lawrence Azubike, said this yesterday while meeting with political parties and stakeholders in the state at the INEC headquarters in Awka.

    Before now, there had been speculations that Ngige had withdrawn from the race, following his appointment as the Minister of Labour and Employment.

    However the state secretary of the APC in Anambra, state Mr. Chukwuma Agupugo reminded the commission of the letter to that effect by Ngige, which was submitted by the party to the commission as required by the electoral act.

    But Azubuike maintained that he would go into the records of INEC to find out the truth of the matter as he just resumed in the state.

    According to him “we are not aware that anybody has withdrawn, we have not received any statement to that effect, this election is a re-run not a bye- election.

    “What the electron means is essentially, going back to March 28, 2015, INEC will use that same method in conducting the election and we are going to await for further directive from the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.”

    “The political parties and the candidates for the re-run election are not in doubt, only the candidates and parties who participated in that election will participate now, excluding the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) because of the court judgment,” he said.

    During the last National Assembly election in 2015, 14 political parties took part in the election; the implication is that following the disqualification of PDP only 13 parties would take part.

    But INEC was yet to decide whether APC would be allowed to present a fresh candidate, if Ngige declines to contest because of his new position.

     

  • APC disqualifies Adamawa governorship aspirant

    APC disqualifies Adamawa governorship aspirant

    •Panel clears Borno, Yobe governors

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Screening Committee for the Northeast, headed by former Anambra State governor, Senator Chris Ngige, has disqualified a woman governorship aspirant in Adamawa State for failure to present a tax clearance certificate.

    Ngige told reporters at the end of the screening in Abuja that the aspirant, whose name he refused to give, also failed to provide the mandatory number of nominators to contest the governorship primaries.

    The chairman said at the end of the two-day screening, his committee cleared 20 aspirants, including Borno and Yobe Governors Kashim Shettima and Ibrahim Gaidam, to contest the party’s primaries.

    He said two other aspirants were given provisional clearance and asked to provide outstanding documents within 48 hours to avoid being disqualified.

    Ngige said: “As we speak, we have granted successful clearance to 20 persons. We have disqualified one person because the person could not produce the required nominators and could not submit a valid tax clearance and some of the certificates tendered to us were doubtful because the original were not there.

    “The other two persons have provisional clearance. What we mean by provisional clearance is that they have been cleared but we did not give them certificates of clearance. We will not give them because their clearance is pending on certain factors.

    “One of them is supposed to give us documents, such as his tax clearance.  But what  he gave us is an internal payee system paper to show that he pays tax in his last place of work.”

    The panel chairman said  the screening was a success.

    Ngige said his committee worked on Sunday, adding that the final report would be presented to the national leadership today.

    “The exercise has gone on very well, as a you can see we have two governors from the North-east and they all want to come back, they want to do a second missionary journey.

    “We had a total of 23 aspirants screened. In Borno we have only one person which is the incubent governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, in Yobe we also have only one aspirant which is also the incumbent governor. We have about eight aspirants from Bauchi, about six from Adamawa, five from Taraba and three from Gombe.”

     

  • Ngige: I’m disappointed by INEC

    Ngige: I’m disappointed by INEC

    All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Anambra State Dr Chris Ngige has expressed disappointment with the conduct of Saturday’s election.

    Ngige said there was a deliberate attempt to dis-enfranchise voters in areas that are his stronghold.

    He spoke with reporters after casting his votes.

    “From reports reaching us, there is a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise voters in Idemili North, Idemili South, Awka South, portions of Dunukofia, all aimed at my voting strength centres.

    “Idemili North a lone has 180,000 registered voters. In the last Senatorial election, it was a place that I scored the highest number of votes, more than any other Senatorial candidate

    “Idemili South is also my home base. Part of Aniocha, like Ichida, Adazi-Enu – they have been voting for me. And in all these places, there’s shortage of electoral materials.”

  • Ngige describes APGA govt as financial waste

    The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Chris Ngige, has described the Governor Peter Obi administration as financially reckless.

    In a statement yesterday in Awka by his Media and Publicity Committee member, Mr. Tony Icheku, Ngige said the All Progressives Grand Alliance’s (APGA’s) call for him to resign from the Senate was the cry of a drowning man.

    “The beauty of democracy will manifest on November 16 as I see Ndi Anambra casting away the yoke of Obi’s eight years of the locust by rejecting his godson, Willie Obiano, because Obi’s eight years are an ordeal of plunder and mismanagement of resources.”

    Ngige alleged that the Federal Government paid Governor Obi N12.8 billion for federal roads, which he rehabilitated before he left office.

    But he said the money was squandered, instead of being spent on other federal roads in the state.

    “Despite a monthly budget of over N500 million security vote, Obi has been unable to secure life and property.

    “For eight years, he has refused to conduct council election and ‘cornered’ the allocations due to the 21 councils.

    “Anambra indigenes demand explanation how their money was spent, as there is nothing on ground to show any investment in the socio-economic infrastructure.”

  • Catholic Church clears Ngige on slap allegation

    The Catholic Church in Anambra State yesterday described the allegation levelled against the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) governorship candidate, Senator Chris Ngige, of slapping a priest, as political.

    The church said no such thing happened during the funeral of the mother of the Bishop of Awka last weekend.

    It said the attack never took place because three policemen, who pushed the gate at the funeral of the Archbishop’s mother, were not even the policemen attached to Ngige.

    Addressing reporters at St. Patrick Catholic Diocese premises in Awka, the Chancellor, Rev. (Dr.) Chudi Peter Akaenyi, said neither the church nor any priest granted an interview to anyone on the matter, adding that it was politically- motivated to malign Ngige.