The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Strike

  • Ekiti Federal varsity workers suspend two-month strike

    Workers of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) have suspended their two-month strike embarked upon to press for better condition of service.

    The strike which commenced on May 15 was declared by the local chapters of Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).

    In a communique issued at the end of a meeting made available to The Nation in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, the staff unions said the suspension of the industrial action was to restore normalcy to the university and pave the way for further negotiations.

    The workers downed tools over alleged non-payment of their hazard allowances, irregular payment of their salaries and alleged nepotism and contravention of federal character principle in the last promotion exercise carried out by management of the university.

    The allegations were denied by the university’s authorities.

    The communique was signed by SSANU Chairman, Mutiu Ademola and

    Secretary, Babafunso Awe; NASU Chairman, Adebayo Dada and Secretary, Ganiyu Afolabi and NAAT Chairman, Ekundayo Ajibaye and Secretary, Owoeye Adebayo.

    It reads: “The current strike action embarked upon by the Joint Unions of Non-Teaching Staff Unions (SSANU, NASU and NAAT) in the Federal University is hereby suspended premised on the pre-negotiation agreement signed by the management and unions.

    “The suspension of the strike is to allow normalcy return to the university while issues that led to the strike were still pending for negotiation.

    “Negotiation on the lingering issues with reference to the pre-negotiation agreement is expected to commence on 31st July, 2017.

  • Union vows to continue strike

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the Kogi State University (KSU) has vowed to continue with its seven-month strike despite proscription of the union by Governor Yahaya Bello.

    The union’s Acting Chairman, Daniel Aina, at a news conference in Lokoja, said the union was unperturbed by the governor’s threat of sack.

    According to him, members of ASUU-KSU will continue with the seven-month strike despite the governor’s pronouncement. He said no amount of intimidation will dissuade them from demanding what is legitimately theirs.

    Also, the union’s Zonal Coordinator at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Enugu State, Prof. Ukooh David Ikoni, at a news conference in Anyigba, said Governor Bello lacked powers to proscribe the union.

    Ikoni noted that ASUU is a body of intellectuals, which cannot be proscribed on the pages of newspapers or social media.

    He said: “By Section 40 of the Constitution, every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons, and in particular, he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of his interest.

    “Governor Bello’s actions, therefore, smacks of ignorance of the position of law, and brings to fore the question of whether he has the mental capacity and the needed leadership quality to be governor.

    “It is evident that some academic staff are yet to get over 14-month salaries, contrary to the governor’s statement that they have met over 90 per cent of ASUU’s demands, and gone a step further to pay outstanding salaries of both cleared and uncleared staff, including those accused of crime.

    “This is a white lie orchestrated by the governor to blackmail members of ASUU.”

    The don noted that for the university system to function efficiently and effectively as expected, stakeholders must work in harmony, collaborate with ASUU, with a clear sense of focus, vision and mission.

    He, therefore, called on members of ASUU-KSU to remain steadfast, saying no amount of intimidation by the government could stop them from the legitimate pursuit of their rights for a better working environment and personal emolument.

  • Kogi: JAC suspends four-month strike

    The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of  the Trade Unions of Tertiary Institutions owned by the Kogi State Government has suspended its over four-month-old strike.

    The strike, JAC said, would be suspended for one month, to pave way for resolutions of outstanding issues with the government.

    Its Chairman Comrade Moses Balogun, who addressed a joint briefing at the Ministry of Education, Lokoja, called on his colleagues to resume work immediately.

    At the meeting were the Commissioner of Education Dr Tolorunleke Sunday; representatives of the Governing Councils of the state tertiary institutions, as well as the leadership of JAC.

    Tertiary institutions in the state, including Kogi State University, Ayingba; and Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, have remained under lock since January 3 when JAC declared an industrial action over some issues with the administration.

    Balogun, who addressed reporters at the end of their session,praised Governor Yahaya Bello for some of the steps taken, including the constitution of credible governing councils, which according him, led to the suspension of the strike.

    “We have agreed to suspend the strike for four weeks to allow issues that have not been fully addressed. We have consideration because 80 per cent of workers have been paid, and we agreed that the rest will be paid in the next two weeks.

    “We appreciate Governor Bello for constituting credible governing councils, who are not politically appointed, but drawn from universities across the country. We pray that God Almighty will continue to sustain him,’’ he said.

    The workers appealed to the government not to compromise on the agreement, adding that no worker in any of the state-owned tertiary institutions would be victimised as a result of the strike.

     

  • Cross River urges workers to end strike

    The Cross River State government has called on civil servants to call off their strike, saying it is uncalled for since it has met all their demands of the workers.

    Addressing Government House media in Calabar yesterday, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs Tina Bankor Agbor, urged the striking workers to consider the interest of the state and return to work.

    She said no member of the staff will be victimised for doing so.

    Accompanied during the briefing by the state Head of Service, Ekpenyong Henshaw, the SSG said the strike was “unnecessary, especially coming at a time that government, in spite of the dwindling federal monthly allocation, has remained committed to making workers welfare a priority.”

    The government, in a letter dated June 14 to the state civil service commission, conveyed the approval of the governor for the promotion of civil servants .

    In a Memorandum of Understanding between the government and workers on May 30, it was agreed that, “the promotion of deserving civil/public servants shall resume forthwith and letters released while financial implications will be worked out by the Head of Service and Commissioner for Finance for implementation.”

  • Ekiti fuel crisis: NUPENG, IPMAN suspend strike as Aregbesola intervenes

    Ekiti fuel crisis: NUPENG, IPMAN suspend strike as Aregbesola intervenes

    The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) yesterday suspended their three-week-old strike in Ekiti State, following the intervention of Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

    Leaders of the two unions and Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose met at the Osun State Government House and signed an agreement to suspend the strike.

    In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the Ekiti State government agreed to pleas for the reversal of some Certificates of Occupancy of landed property on which filling stations were built except those on waterways, canal and where there is no justification for such revocation.

    The communique was signed by Governors Fayose and Aregbesola, NUPENG’s General Secretary Joseph Ogbebor, IPMAN’s Zonal Chairman Debo Ahmed and Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association’s (PTD’s) NUPENG National Vice Chairman Solomon Kilanko.

    The communique said an ad hoc committee, comprising of Ekiti State government and oil and gas marketers would be constituted to spell out the conditions and guidelines for the establishment and operations of filling stations in the state.

    It was also agreed that demolition should stop, pending the outcome of the Committee’s report.

    After the meeting, Fayose, who addressed reporters, expressed happiness with the suspension of the strike.

    The governor hailed Aregbesola for his intervention and prayed for the progress of the country.

    Aregbesola expressed appreciation to the unions for their understanding.

  • Doctors in Kogi suspend 10-day old strike

    Doctors in Kogi suspend 10-day old strike

    The Kogi chapter of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has suspended its 10-day old strike to give room for dialogue with State Government.

    In a statement issued after its Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) in Lokoja on Saturday, signed by its Chairman, Dr. Godwin Tijani, the association said the decision to suspend the strike was unanimously taken to honour the Kogi paramount ruler, Attah Igala, and other imminent stakeholders, for their intervention.

    “NMA has agreed to suspend its strike for two weeks to enable prominent personalities and stakeholders, mediate.

    “Since the Attah of Igala, NMA National President and our honourable members of the House of Assembly have requested the association to suspend the action and give them time to intervene, we have no choice than to honour them.

    “We will reconvene in a forth night to decide on the way forward if no positive progress is made and our demands are not met.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kogi chapter of NMA had directed its members to embark on indefinite strike from May 3, alleging government’s failure to pay doctors’ salaries and arrears, among other demands. (NAN)

  • Labour threatens nationwide strike over minimum wage review 

    •’ Nigeria workers hungry, angry’

    The organised labour has threatened a nationwide strike, if the government fails to begin process of reviewing the workers’ minimum wage.

    It said workers are hungry and legitimately angry.

    The National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), an affiliate member of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), issued the threat in Kaduna yesterday.

    Addressing reporters with NUTGTWN National President Comrade John Adaji, the union’s General Secretary and Vice President, IndustriALL Global Union, Comrade Issa Aremu, called on the Federal Government to urgently constitute a committee on the review of the national minimum wage.

    The labour union equally called on NLC and TUC to make urgent case for workers’ control of the country’s pension industry, saying pension fund is workers’ capital and should not be a play-ground to reward failed politicians.

    According to Aremu, “As demonstrated by workers during the May Day in Abuja, Nigeria risks national industrial crisis, except governments at all levels give due attention to the critical issue of compensation of workers. Hungry workers are legitimately angry workers. Nigerian workers are not only hungry but legitimately angry.

    “We commend both the Senate and the House of Representatives for their respective facilitating roles to address the current issue of national minimum wage.  However, the responsibility lies squarely with President Muhammadu Buhari ably being represented by Vice President Osinbajo.”

    “National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2011, which offers the current N18,000 was for a five-year cycle due for review in 2015. The five-year time limit was to avoid minimum wage stagnation and attendant seemingly increases that follow. In United Kingdom (UK) minimum wage is reviewed yearly. Today, it is £7.5 per hour, about N37,000 per day!

    “Long before the current recession, Nigeria workers have long been in depression. With Naira devaluation and high inflation, 2010 negotiated national minimum wage of N18,000, which was about $120 in 2010, has fallen to below $50 in 2017, worsening income poverty.  Nigeria cannot get out of recession with poorly paid work-force,” the labour leader said.

    He, however opined, that “the best way to reflate the economy is through wage increase linked with productivity improvement and prompt payment of the existing salaries by states and local governments.

    “President Buhari should, therefore, urgently constitute the tripartite committee on the review of the current national minimum wage within a short time-limit”, he urged.

    On the pension matter, the textile union leader said, NUTGTWN as an affiliate of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and a critical stakeholder in the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) was concerned with recent developments in the pension industry.

    He added that Nigeria’s pension industry risks avoidable crisis following the recent abrupt termination of the appointment of Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, former Director General of PenCom and appointment of Dikko Aliyu Abdulrahman as new director-general by President Muhammadu Buhari subject to confirmation by the Senate.

  • Shekau in new video denies he was hit in air strike

    Shekau in new video denies he was hit in air strike

    Boko Haram factional leader, Abubakar Shekau, has denied  a report earlier this week that suggested  he was hit in an airstrike by the military in Borno State.

    Shekau, in a video message posted online on Thursday, said claims that he was injured in an attack by the air force were untrue.

    He was reportedly wounded and one of his deputies killed when two air force jets bombarded fighters at Balla village, on the edge of the Sambisa Forest in Borno state, last Friday.

    Surveillance footage showed missiles being fired on what the air force said were Boko Haram fighters, while the army announced it had “neutralised quite a number of terrorists”, including Shekau  at  Balla.

    “There were indications that quite a number of the terrorists’ key leaders have either been killed or wounded,” army spokesman Brigadier-General Sani Usman said earlier Thursday, without naming Shekau.

    But in a 14-minute video, Shekau  leader claimed ignorance of the incident and the location, insisting he was not injured and that none of his key lieutenants was harmed .

    “I’m alive, I’m alive, I’m alive,” he said, wearing his trademark camouflage jacket and cradling an assault rifle.

    “I’m alive, you have not killed any of my men. I didn’t even know this incident you are talking about ever happened.

    “What surprises me is your claim that I’m nursing wounds. Look at me well. Look at my sitting posture.”

    There was no indication where the video was shot.

    He boasted that it was not yet time for him to die, and that he would carry out more killings in the future.

    “You claimed your jets struck at our gathering while we were praying, killed some of us and injured me near Damboa. I don’t even know the town you mentioned,” he said.

    “Earlier you claimed I was in Sambisa, now you said I was near Damboa road. You will never know my location. Allah kept out of sight because I believe in him and doing his biddings. Be patient, once my time on earth ends, I will die. Nothing will happen to me.

    “We are not worried. We are making this video to dispel your propaganda. Deceitful people end in shame. Shekau is alive… I have not started killing in the name of religion yet. I will start in future.”

    Shekau also attacked President Muhammadu Buhari and Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff.

    He said both men were shouldering a burden beyond their capacities.

    “To Buhari, Buratai and lawmakers you are shouldering a burden beyond your capacity. Your imagination is more incredible than the tale of a hawk that lifts an elephant,” he said.

    “So I’m alive. But if God wills that you will kill me, it is not surprising because many prophets of Allah were killed by infidels. I will be happy to die in the cause of Allah.”

  • PENGASSAN warns of imminent strike

    PENGASSAN warns of imminent strike

    The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has threatened to go on indefinite strike by Monday over the anti-labour activities of ExxonMobil and the sacking of some of their members by the company.

    Addressing reporters in front of Exxon Mobil premises in Victoria Island office, its Lagos Chapter Secretary, Comrade Georg-day warning strike, saying that the full strike will commence on Monday if their conditions were not met.

    Olusola accused the company of sacking of about 83 of its members who are Nigerians without terminal benefits.

    He also accused the management of the oil company of sacking its members, while negotiations were still on going.

  • ASUU strike paralyses UI

    The University of Ibadan (UI) was calm yesterday, following the one-week warning strike  by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    ASUU members shunned classrooms and other academic activities.

    The university teachers are protesting shortfall and fractional payment of salaries, illegal pension deductions, non-payment of postgraduate supervision allowance, non-payment of promotion arrears, refusal of the university to conduct a credible and transparent staff audit, failure to make regularly available the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) profile of the university, among others.

    The strike monitoring committee, led by the Chairman, Dr Deji Omole, which moved round the faculties, described the strike as successful.

    The university’s spokesman, Tunji Oladejo, was not available for comments.