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Tag: Strike

  • Resident doctors to meet on strike today

    Resident doctors to meet on strike today

    The leadership of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD)  will meet today to appraise the response of the Federal Government to its demands.

    The Federal Government in a meeting with the leadership of NARD  on September 6 agreed to pay the arrears of salaries latest by September 8.

    Dr. Arikawe Adeolu, a member of the National Executive Council of NARD, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja yesterday that the meeting would allow the leadership to appraise the events since its meeting with government.

    Adeolu, who is also the General Secretary of NARD, Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, Abuja, said the outcome of the appraisal would determine whether the nationwide indefinite strike would be called off or not.

    He said the appraisal was necessary as more than 90 per cent of members were yet to receive their arrears as at 3pm yesterday.

    He expressed optimism that the arrears would be paid as the Federal Government claims it had disbursed the arrears to the hospitals accordingly.

    “We were supposed to hold a meeting on September 8 but it didn’t hold because the essence of the meeting was defeated.

    “We thought that government would have paid by then but we got nothing. So, the meeting has been postponed to September 12; it will be a closed door meeting to carry out an appraisal of events so far.

    “The Federal Government claims that money has been paid to the hospitals. So, we need to confirm from members across the country if they have received their salary arrears.

    “Money is not usually paid directly to doctors; it is sent to the hospitals so what we are trying to do now is to verify whether the money has come into the hospitals for onward payment.

    “Today and tomorrow is enough time for this money to be disbursed to doctors if it really has been paid. By tomorrow we should have a clear view of whether this money has been paid or not,” Adeolu said.

    The association on Wednesday met with the Ministers of Health and his Labour, Prof. Isaac Adewole and Dr Chris Ngige.

    The purpose of the meeting was to find ways on how to end the strike.

    The doctors are protesting the sack of some of their colleagues, non-payment of “skipping” entitlement, non-inclusion in the IPPIS platform and non-payment of their salary arrears, among others.

    The industrial action commenced on Sept. 4

  • Resident doctors fail to call off strike

    Resident doctors fail to call off strike

    Members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) yesterday failed to call off their strike, which enters the eighth-day today, in line with terms of settlement signed with the Federal Government.

    The association signed a memorandum of terms of settlement with government four days ago.

    After a meeting, which started at about 1.30pm on Wednesday and ended at about 3.30am on Thursday morning, the government and the doctors agreed that NARD members should hold their NEC meeting on Friday to call off the strike.

    But 48 hours after the supposed meeting to call off the strike, the doctors have continued to keep silent about the industrial action, fueling speculations that they may have again rejected the terms of settlement signed with government.

    One of the terms of settlement was for the doctors to meet on Friday once they started receiving alert for the shortfall in their salaries, which was one of their grievances.

    As at 6.00pm yesterday, efforts to get officials of the association to comment on why they have not called off the strike failed as none of them respond to call put through to their phones.

    Part of the resolution contained in the memorandum of terms of settlement was the payment of the shortfall of salaries, capturing the resident doctors on the IPPIS payment platform, implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme for members, among others.

    The memorandum, which the doctors were to present to their National Executive Committee, was signed by 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 Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Prof. Mike O. Ogirima, NARD President Dr. Onyebueze John and Chairman of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, Chief Richard Egbule.

    Other signatories to the memorandum were 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.

  • Zamfara NLC to begin strike on Monday

    Zamfara NLC to begin strike on Monday

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Zamfara Chapter, said that the union would embark on a total strike on Monday following the expiration of a three-week ultimatum given to the state government by the association

    The Chairman NLC, Zamfara Chapter, Mr Bashir Mafara, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Gusau.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the NLC had given the state government three weeks ultimatum to address the problems of workers in the state.

    NAN reports that parts of the workers grievances with the state government include the non implementation of workers annual increments, promotion and the non-payment of 1, 400 newly recruited staff recruited more than over three years ago.

    Other issues according to the NLC, is that refusal of the government to implement minimum wage for local government staff and primary school teachers as well as non- payment of pensioners’ gratuities.

    The NLC said it was worrisome that primary school teachers and local government workers in Zamfara state were still receiving between N7,500 and N8,000 as monthly salary.

    The NLC chairman said that the union have been having consultations with the government officials, led by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Abdullahi Shinkafi on how to resolve the issues.

    He said that the government had failed to meet up with any of the agreement reached between the workers and the state government.

    “Therefore, we are starting the strike tomorrow, Monday as announced three weeks ago.

    “We have already announced that all the representatives of the NLC affiliated unions should meet tomorrow at NLC Secretariat by 10.00 am to mark the commencement of the strike”, he said.

    Mafara, therefore, urged all  workers to stay away from their places of works from tomorrow until the problems were addressed by the government.

    NAN also recalls that the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Media and Publicity, Alhaji Ibrahim Dosara had earlier told journalists that the 21-day ultimatum was uncalled for.

    Dosara maintained that Gov. Abdul’aziz Yari had since directed the labour leaders in the state to come up with an authentic lists of workers under the state government payroll without which the state government would not implement their demands. (NAN)

  • Doctors gear towards suspending strike

    Doctors gear towards suspending strike

    The National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD) has accepted to present outcome of re-negotiated Memorandum of Terms of Settlement (MTS) reached with Federal Government to members on Sept. 8.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the new MTS was reached at the end of the meeting between federal delegate and the Executives of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), and NARD.

    Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment had led the Federal Government delegation.

    NAN reports that representatives of Ministry of Health, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, and Office of the Accountant General of the Federation attended the meeting.

    Also in attendance were representatives of Budget Office of the Federation and National Salaries, as well as Income and Wages Commission.

    Speaking to newsmen after the session, Ngige said the meeting resolved that executive of NARD should present the outcome of the re-negotiated MTS to its members at an emergency session on Sept.8

    “This is with a view to suspending the strike once there is evidence of payment of the Mandate to the affected Institutions as presented at the meeting.

    “No member of NARD will be victimised as a result of this strike if suspended.

    “This reconciliation meeting is, however, adjourned to re-convene on Nov. 2,’’ he said.

    On the issue of salary shortfalls, Ngige said the meeting resolved that payment would be made directly to the affected Federal Tertiary Health Institutions for Doctors and Staff that had been verified.

    The minister also said the meeting agreed with NARD’s demand for a 100 per cent payment of salaries to its members.

    He said the meeting also observed that the shortfalls were basically experienced by those who were not on the IPPIS platform termed “Non Regular Allowances/Payments”.

    “In this regard, it is expected that the 100 per cent payment will be implemented as from October,’’ he said.

    He, however, said the meeting also agreed that all Resident Doctors should be captured on IPPIS platform by the end of October.

    He also said the Federal Government would appeal to State Governments and Organisations that owe salary shortfalls/emoluments to Health workers to make genuine efforts to liquidate them.

    Ngige said this was in the spirit of revamping the Health Care System in the country.(NAN)

  • Resident doctors meet today on peace terms to end strike

    THE National Executive Council of the National Association of Resident Doctors will meet today to decide on whether or not to accept the terms of settlement reached with the Federal Government.

    It will also decide whether to call off the ongoing strike or to continue.

    The government has, however, assured the striking doctors that all issues contained in the memorandum, especially the enrollment of resident doctors on the IPPIS payment platform, will be concluded by the end of October.

    It added that the National Income, Salaries and Wages Commission will issue a circular on the entry point for House Officers as soon as the greenlight is received from the Presidency.

    For the second time in one week, the Federal Government team led by Minister of Labour and Employment Senator Chris Ngige and his Health counterpart, Prof. Isaac Adewole, signed a six-point memorandum of terms of settlement with the resident doctors.

    A copy of the memorandum received by The Nation, however, showed no significant difference from the one rejected by the doctors, which led to the ongoing strike action.

    Part of the resolution at the meeting was the payment of the shortfall of salaries, capturing the resident doctors on the IPPIS payment platform, implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme and the issuing of circular to regularity the House Officers’ entry point.

    The memorandum of terms of settlement was signed by Ngige, Adewole. Minister of State for Labour and Employment Prof. Stephen Ocheni, National President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Prof. Mike O. Ogirima, President of NARD Dr. Onyebueze John and Chairman of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, Chief Richard Egbule.

    Other signatories to the memorandum were 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 memorandum wants the “Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to employ checks and balances in disbursing government funds. Accordingly, though verifications had been done by the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA), there was still need to carry out authentications. Payment would therefore be made directly to the affected FTHI for Doctors and Staff that have been authenticated, and additionally, a soft copy would be forwarded to the parent ministry (FMoH), Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, CMDs, NARD and NMA.”

    On the issue of failure by government “to rectify the salary shortfall from August 2017, the memorandum said the shortfalls were basically experienced by doctors not on the IPPIS platform termed “Non Regular Allowances/ Payments”.

    “The challenges on this issue were discussed extensively and it was noted that the OAGF was currently capturing the paramilitary staff on IPPIS Platform and would be ready to deal with members of NARD by first week of October precisely October 4, 2017.

    “In this regard, it is expected that the 100% payment will be implemented as from October 2017, as September salaries were already at advanced stage of preparation. However, any shortfall that occurs will be treated together with that of August, 2017.”

    The memorandum added: “The Federal Government will appeal to state governments and organisations that owe salary shortfalls/emoluments to health workers to make genuine efforts to liquidate these arrears in the spirit of revamping the healthcare system in the country.

    “The meeting agreed that NARD national officers are to present the outcome of the re-negotiated Memorandum of Terms of Settlement to an emergency meeting of its members by Friday September 8, 2017 with a view to suspending the strike once there is evidence of payment of the mandate as presented to the meeting, to the affected institutions.”

  • Anambra doctors defy strike

    The nationwide strike embarked upon by the medical doctors was not complied with yesterday in Anambra State.

    At the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching hospital in Awka, doctors were seen attending to patients.

    When The Nation visited the hospital, patients were receiving medical attention while at the Out Patient Department (OPD), few patients were also waiting for their turns to see doctors.

    One of the nurses, who spoke with The Nation in one of the hospital’s consulting rooms yesterday, said the resident doctors were on duty.

    “There is no strike here in Amaku. As you can see, the doctors are both in the consultation rooms attending to patients,” the nurse said.

    The hospital was busy as people were going about their normal businesses with patients in the wards.

    When contacted, the hospital’s Chief Medical Director (CMD), who refused to mention his name, said Anambra State had peculiar issue, which according to him, they were being handled.

    According to him, “that is the reason why we are not joining the strike.”

    But the case was different at the General Hospital in Onitsha yesterday when the resident doctors were not on duty.

    Though patients were seen at the OPD Department, there was no doctor on seat to attend to them.

    One of the patients, Mrs. Ekwutosi Omasi, told The Nation yesterday that she had been in the hospital since 10am with her sick mother to see the doctor only to be told that doctors were on strike.

  • Only positive response to our demands will end strike, ASUU insists

    Only positive response to our demands will end strike, ASUU insists

    Only speedy and positive response from the Federal Government regarding a letter the  Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) submitted to it would  end the on –  going dispute.
    ASUU said the particular letter was dated August 28, 2017 and bore the position of members on what the FG is offering in respect of the issues in dispute.
    According to the union, the letter followed earlier  meeting with the officials of the Ministry of Education and that of the Labour and Employment where it was agreed that ASUU should consult with members and “revert back to the Federal Government.”
    This position of the union was disclosed in a release by the National President, Biodun Ogunyemi, on update about the nationwide strike and made available to The Nation.
    Ogunyemi identified “registration of Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company (NUPEMCO), fractionalization of salaries in Federal universities and underfunding/non – funding of State universities” as issues requiring resolution between the ASUU and the Federal Government.
    Others are arrears and implementation of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), release of fund for revitalization of the nation’s  public universities as spelt out in the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding, guidelines for retirement benefits of professors in line with the 2009 FGN – ASUU agreement, Treasury Single Account(TSA) and withdrawal of support for Universities’  staff primary schools.
     The ASUU National President, lauded Nigerians particularly, students, parents and the media for their understanding “on the need to speedily address the issues in the best interest of the university system and overall development of the nation.”
    I ASUU proceeded to comprehensive and total strike action on August 13 following what the lecturers alleged as FG non – implementation of the agreement with the academic body.
  • FG, doctors sign MOU to prevent indefinite strike

    FG, doctors sign MOU to prevent indefinite strike

    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 an 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.

    “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.”

  • ASUU gives govt six new conditions to end strike

    ASUU gives govt six new conditions to end strike

    FEC to discuss union’s terms today

    University teachers have presented six new conditions for calling off their two-week old strike.

    But the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, yesterday pleaded with the lecturers to embrace peace for the sake of innocent students.

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) is to discuss today the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and chart the way forward.

    Some of the options include:

    • bringing back ASUU to the negotiation table;
    • allowing the Wale Babalakin Panel to conclude its assignment;
    • suing ASUU to either the Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP) or the National Industrial Court (NIC); and
    • referring all issues to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, in line with the Trade Dispute law.

    According to a source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, the six conditions were not part of the previous demands  referred to the Babalakin Committee for arbitration.

    The new conditions are that:

    • the Federal Government should immediately  accept payment of shortfall in salaries of universities;
    • universities to manage their IGR the way they like and exemption from TSA;
    • exemption of Endowment Funds, JV cash from TSA;
    • payment of University Salary Scale to teachers in primary schools in universities;
    • release/implementation of guidelines for the retirement of Professors in line with 2009 FG-ASUU Agreement; and
    • waiver/ government fiat to set up Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company

    The source said: “ASUU has brought proposals different from the agreement they reached in the Senate with the Federal Ministry of Education.

    “They are asking the government to take over the shortfall in the salaries of universities when there were glaring cases of abuse of recruitment process and non-compliance with Integrated Personnel Payment Information System (IPPIS).

    “They want the government to accept liability for the shortfall in spite of the fact that universities acted arbitrarily in increasing their wage bill.

    “The lecturers have also asked the government to manage their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) henceforth instead of remitting such to the Treasury Single Account (TSA) in line with their demand for autonomy for universities.”

    But, according to the source, the government does not want to waive the TSA policy for universities. It, however,  expressed readiness to exempt Endowment Funds and Joint Ventures Funds from TSA.

    “In their new demands, the lecturers asked for the issuance of a fiat to the Pension Commission to register the Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company.

    “PENCOM has expressed its readiness to register Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company, if ASUU and other stakeholders can quickly address the lapses already highlighted in the registration process. PENCOM is insisting that the guidelines in the 2005 Pension Reforms Act must be fully complied with,” the source said.

    The the government is said to be shocked by ASUU’s fresh request that the Federal Government should pay University Salary Scale to primary school teachers in varsity staff schools.

    It said: “They are saying that the staff school should be allowed to continue to collect tuition fees.”

    “The government has a different approach to the staff school. Apart from retaining its policy that primary education is free under the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Scheme, the government is of the opinion that teachers in varsity schools be either paid by the Universal Basic Education Commission(UBEC) or be placed under the salary scale of the Federal Ministry of Education or Federal Salary Scale,” the senior government official said.

    “Another demand from ASUU is the release of the guidelines for the retirement of professors in line with 2009 Agreement.”

    Responding to a question, the source said: “We believe that ASUU is trying to be difficult with the new conditions after the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, had conceded N23billion to pay earned allowances of the lecturers.

    “The ASUU strike will be tabled before the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday (today). The FEC will weigh options and chart the way forward.”

    Contacted last night, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige said: “They have brought some proposals different from the demands we are already addressing. I want ASUU to toe the path of peace for the sake of the innocent students in our universities.

    “I am asking ASUU to know that this dispute is already apprehended by this ministry. And when we apprehend a dispute, it is necessary for parties to come for talks and consideration of issues.

    “Going by Section 3 of the Labour Dispute law, any further discussion on ASUU demands should be done with the Federal Ministry of Labour.”

     

  • Strike: ASUU’s demands unrealistic-Ezekwesili

    Strike: ASUU’s demands unrealistic-Ezekwesili

    A former Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, on Sunday said that the demands by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) were unrealistic in light of the current economic situation in Nigeria.

    Ezekwesili said this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan while reacting to the ongoing strike embarked upon by the union.

    The former minster said that lasting solution to the crisis bedevilling the education sector could only be found from strong analysis of the issues raised by ASUU and evidenced based policies.

    “Money is not limitless and yet everyone must acknowledge that investment in education is crucial and it is key.

    “There are, however, some fundamental reforms that the sector needs in order to ensure that it is not about the size of the funding but about the productivity of the funding.

    “You cannot simply express a desire, it must be founded on reality and that means you must know what can be achieved within a given period,” she said.

    According to her, a structural and policy change which allows public and private investments should be integrated into the university system.

    “If you remember, the ASUU negotiation started in 2007 when I was the Minister of Education and we constituted a government negotiation team, led by the late Gamaliel Onosode,

    “Even though that period was short, one of the major issues for me was for us to make sure that we were being evidenced based in the way we were solving the problem,

    “We considered issues like the existing model in countries similar to us in emerging economies,’’ she said.

    The former minister said the team also considered what could be done by the public and private sectors about university funding among others.

    “Those are the kinds of evidence that we had and on the basis of which we hinged our negotiation at that time,

    “It was a very short period and then we had to leave and the next government that took over had to continue.

    “I do not know the basis of the final agreement they reached with ASSUU, but if it was not anchored on analytical evidence, I am not surprised that there has been inability to implement it.”

    Ezekwesili urged both the Federal Government and ASUU to return to the negotiating table and work on the basis of analysis and evidence to find lasting solution to the dispute.

    NAN reports that ASUU on Aug. 14, embarked on an indefinite strike to press home its demands for the implementation of an agreement signed between it and the Federal Government on condition of service.

    ASUU is also asking for increased funding of university, autonomy of the institution and academic freedom. (NAN)