The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Trade Union Congress

  • NUPTE expresses concern over proliferation of labour unions

    The Nigerian Union of Postal Telecommunication Employees (NUPTE) on Thursday expressed concern over the proliferation of labour unions in the country, saying that the Federal Government allowed.

    NUPTE President, Mr Sunday Alhassan, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the Ministry of Labour and Employment should be blamed for the proliferation.

    Alhassan said that it has been observed that more unions are springing out of the sector whereas the same unions already exist and this was causing problems in various unions.

    “The Trade Union Act, Cap 1, Cap. T, 14, of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004, Section 3, 2, provides, that no trade union shall be registered or represent workers or employers in a place where there already exist a trade union. That is the law.

    “What we have discovered is that as at today the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment for whatever reason, is busy registering other unions in the sector where unions already exist.

    “The labour leaders are supposed to have seen this as a calculated attempt to weaken the system of the labour movement.

    “Because there are a lot of unions that have applied for registration and already, they exist.

    “I do not understand what somebody mean by Senior Staff Association of Road Transport Workers. But these are applications before the registrar of Trade Union, ” he said.

    Alhassan, however, noted that the proliferation of the labour unions was a calculated attempt to weaken the system of the labour movement in the country.

    He said that the Trade Union Congress and the Nigeria Labour Congress were strongly against the development.

    “Every serious minded labour leader in this country, who has the interest of the Nigerian workers and the masses at heart will not canvass for the proliferation of industrial unions and labour centres.

    “Why, because, in unity, we can stand with strength but when we are divided the government knows how to use the tool of divide and rule,” he said.

    The NUPTE president noted that the lack of cooperation in labour movement had delayed the new minimum wage.

    Alhassan also appealed to labour leaders to have a rethink by ensuring that personal interest, ego, among others should be put aside in order to achieve the struggle for workers’ welfare.

    However, a reliable source, who spoke on condition of anonymity from the Ministry of Labour and Employment, told NAN that the allegation of proliferation of labour unions was not true.

    She said that the NUPTE president was complaining due to a fresh registration right that was given to the Private Telecommunication and Communication Senior Staff Association of Nigeria.

    She said the association was given the registration to manage the affairs of the senior staff in the sector, while NUPTE would continue to take charge of the junior staff.

    “What initiate this move was that there were two unions vying for the membership in that sector, so they went to court and the judge rule against the unions.

    “The judgment was that another union should be registered to take care of those categories of workers, so that is how the registration of that union came about.

    “I want to assure you that we followed the rules and regulations of the Trade Union Act of 2004 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” she added.

    Dr Peter Eson-Ozo, General Secretary, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), also told NAN that the process of registration should take cognizance of the category of workers in a particular sector before any resgistration.

    Eson-Ozo said that this was imperative as any attempt to register another union would lead to unnecessary proliferation.

    “Well as of today, all we have canvassed for is that, the rule should be applied in the process of registering any new union,” he said.

    He said that the labour movement would continue to work with the ministry to ensure that aspect of the law was not violated.

  • Minimum Wage: FG refutes NLC accusation on constitution of committee

    Minimum Wage: FG refutes NLC accusation on constitution of committee

    The Federal Government on Friday refuted the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) accusation of foot-dragging to constitute a tripartite committee which is expected to deliberate on the proposed N56,000 minimum wage for workers in the country.

    Sen Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment said this in a statement signed by Mr Samuel Olowookere, Deputy Director of Press in the ministry.

    Ngige said his attention had been drawn to publications in some section of the media, alleging the Federal Government of intentionally stalling the process of constituting a tripartite committee for the minimum wage.

    “The above statement is false and misleading as the Federal Government has demonstrated its commitment to improving the welfare of the Nigerian workforce by holding series of meetings with stakeholders on the subject matter.

    “The final meeting of the technical committee on new minimum wage was slated for 23rd February 2017 but could not hold as scheduled.

    “The Nigerian Labour Congress and its Trade Union Congress counterpart requested for a postponement of the meeting.

    “This was in order to attend the delegate conference of National Union of Civil Engineering Construction/ Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW), at Asaba Delta State, ‘’he said.

    He said that in a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment, a new date for the meeting of the technical committee on minimum wage has been scheduled for March 14 by 2:00 pm at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

    The minister said that the new date had been communicated to both the government and worker’s representatives of the technical committee.

    Ngige, therefore, said the allegation as ascribed to the NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, was `”mischievous and unfounded”.

    “The NLC President is fully aware of the rescheduled meeting and the reason for the postponement of the earlier meeting which was at the instance of labour unions,” he added

  • Ortom debunks rumour of workers retrenchment

    Ortom debunks rumour of workers retrenchment

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has dismissed widespread rumour that his administration was planning to downsize the state’s workforce because of economic constraints.

    Governor Ortom who stated this while fielding questions from journalists at the end  of the meeting he held with officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress, TUC, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE  and affiliate unions at Benue Peoples House, Makurdi, said the  meeting addressed the problem of non-payment of salaries.

    Governor Ortom said the difficulties he has faced in paying salaries arose as a result of the dwindling allocation to the state which dropped to N1.3 billion and explained that the allocation was too meager to meet the challenges confronting the state.

    He maintained that Benue workers contributed immensely to his emergence as governor, and reiterated that he has no intention to downsize the workforce even in the face of economic challenges.

    “I am not thinking of downsizing the workforce for now, we are thinking of industrializing the state so that even civil servants can go into the industries and forget about civil service; workers in Benue state are part of me, they contributed immensely in making me governor, and there is no way I will toy with their welfare,” he added.

    He said, the only way the state can wriggle out of the quagmire is to borrow money to offset the backlog of unpaid salaries of workers who are the ‘drivers of the economy’.

    In separate interviews, the state Chairman of NLC, Comrade Godwin Anya, as well as his NULGE and TUC counterparts, urged the state governor to obtain more loans to clear workers’ salaries.

    “I support the idea that the governor should borrow money again to clear workers’ salaries because as long as we live, we cannot die because there is no money, so, if it means borrowing one hundred times, NLC will agree that government should go ahead and borrow”, Anya said.

    On his part, the state NULGE Chairman, Mr. Terungwa Igbe, also supported the move to obtain another loan to pay workers, stressing that local government workers needed to be paid.

  • Don’t separate offices of Minister of State Petroleum, GMD NNPC – Group

    Don’t separate offices of Minister of State Petroleum, GMD NNPC – Group

    The Niger Delta Youths Coalition on Tuesday opposed the call for the separation of the office of the Minister of State for Petroleum from that of the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

     

    The NDYC in a statement made available to our reporter in Abuja said that the insinuation that the combination of the two offices as presently constituted is too demanding for the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, lacked substance and is not founded on facts.

     

    Endorsed by Comrade Ebipade Jackson (Bayelsa), Comrade Eghosa Idehen (Edo State), Comrade Tony Gbemudu (Delta State), Comrade Amezhinim Ekiye (Rivers State), Comrade Aniebiet Nsikan (Akwa Ibom State) and Comrade Odey Christopher (Cross River State) statement said that the merger of the two offices is also not the cause of the current fuel scarcity.

     

    NDYC said that it is on record that the relationship between the two offices when they were separate, was characterized with friction, power tussle and policy inconsistency.

     

    It added that fuel scarcity had been a perennial occurrence in the country’s history at those times when the offices of Minister of State for Petroleum and the GMD of NNPC were under separate management, as was the case in the era of Funsho Kukpolokun, Austin Oniwon, Andrew Yakubu, Joseph Dawha, and others.

     

    “We wish to condemn in strong terms the call by the President of the Trade Union Congress, Mr. Bobboi Kaigama for the separation of the office of the Minister of State for Petroleum from that of the Group Managing Director of the NNPC because, according to him, the office as presently constituted is too demanding for Dr. Kachikwu.

     

    “Such an argument lacks substance and is not founded on facts. The merger of the two offices era of Funsho Kukpolokun, Austin Oniwon, Andrew Yakubu, Joseph Dawha, and others.

     

    “It is common knowledge that the cause of the present fuel scarcity is as a result of the inability of fuel importers to source enough foreign exchange for the importation of fuel.

     

    “The Central Bank should as a matter of urgency grant these fuel importers access to foreign exchange to alleviate the pains being experienced by all as a result of the scarcity of petroleum products.

     

    “We wish to utilize this opportunity to call on the ordinary Nigerian to rally round Ibe Kachikwu.

     

    “It is on record that Dr. Kachikwu has made some far-reaching changes since assumption of office.

    “His re-engineering of the NNPC to make it more profit oriented and a veritable revenue earner for Nigeria is a great feat which past administrations failed to achieve.

     

    “As a matter of fact, the NNPC has been running at huge losses over the years and was mostly dependent on the finances of the country for sustenance.

     

    “Another major feat recorded by Dr. Kachikwu is the jettisoning of the fraud called fuel subsidy which had served as a drain pipe on the resources of this country for years.

     

    “Available records show that fuel subsidy payments gulped over N5 trillion between 2011 and 2015. With the recent down-grading of the fuel subsidy regime, the system is now free for fair and competitive businesses that can grow the economy unlike in the past where a very few held the system hostage and continually made false declarations on the quantity of products brought into the country.

     

    “Dr. Ibe Kachukwu has been very proactive in the management of the Petroleum sector since assumption of office and we urge him not to be deterred because  President Muhammadu Buhari’s change agenda as is being brilliantly prosecuted by Dr. Ibe Kachikwu through revolutionary policies geared towards revamping the oil and gas sector.

     

    “We also want to use this opportunity to thank and commend His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari for finding in Dr Kachikwua worthy change agent who has the capacity and skills to deliver on the determination of his administration to restore hope to Nigerians.

     

    “We therefore thank Mr President for his unwavering support for Dr. Ibe Kachikwu’sprogrammes in the petroleum sector since assumption of office and urge him to discountenance and disregard all negative insinuations which without doubt, are borne out of greed and mischief.

     

     

    “South South people are solidly behind Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and we remain profoundly proud of his outstanding achievements in life, including the giant strides he has already recorded in the Nigerian oil and gas sector where, on resuming office, he has characteristically grabbed the bull of corruption and inefficiency by the horns, and began a transformation of the NNPC to a modern and more efficient oil company.

     

    “We finally urge Dr. Ibe Kachikwu to remain focused and unrelenting in his commitment to justify the confidence placed on him by Mr President.

     

    “Dr. Ibe Kachikwu remains one of our best brains in the Niger Delta region and we are glad to note that this administration recognizes the importance of engaging our best unlike in the past, to head sensitive positions in government and thus bring good governance to bear not just on the Niger Delta region but in Nigeria as a whole.

     

    “For the avoidance of doubt, it must be put on record that for the first time in the history of this country, the era of profligacy in the management and administration of the oil sector is now over and this is as a result of the dexterous application of the world acclaimed professional skills of a sincere and honest administrator, against all the odds placed on his way by devious persons in the industry who are opposed to the change agenda.”

  • Workers in Taraba commence 3-day warning strike

    Organised labour in Taraba on Wednesday, commenced three-day warning strike over illegal salary deductions, omissions and non-payment of primary school teachers.

    This is contained in a statement signed by Mr. Solomon Obaji, Secretary, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Alhaji Tukur Taji, Secretary, Trade Union Congress (TUC), and issued to newmen in Jalingo.

    The statement criticised the state government for being `insensitive’ to the sufferings of its workers and pensioners.

    “Government has failed to address the abnormalities, ranging from underpayment of salaries, omission of genuine workers from salary vouchers, removal of approved allowances and non payment of teachers salaries,” it stated.

    When contacted, the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Anthony Danburam, said that government was holding meetings with the labour leaders with a view to resolving the matter.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) checks showed that workers complied with the directive of their leaders on the issue as all the offices in the state secretariat in Jalingo were locked.

     

  • Photo: Rally against corruption

    Photo: Rally against corruption

  • Osun workers end strike, resume work today

    Osun workers end strike, resume work today

    •Government begins payment of salaries
    •’Protests politically motivated’

    OSUN State workers yesterday ended their six-week strike after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government.

    Labour leaders at the end of the meeting at the Governor’s Office in Osogbo  called on civil servants to resume work today.

    The government yesterday began paying backlog of salaries. State workers are to receive January and February while local government workers will be paid March and April.

    Other payments include those of primary school teachers’ balance of November pensions, outstanding pensions for January and February for retired primary school teachers and March pensions for retired local government workers.

    The MoU was signed by the government, Joint Public Service Negotiating Councils (JPSNC), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

    NLC Chairman Jacob Adekomi, who spoke on behalf of other labour leaders, said Organised Labour ended the strike when it considered the state’s parlous financial situation.

    The NLC chairman added that the government and labour agreed to sign an MoU, following efforts put in place to end delays in salaries.

    He said the strike was suspended to  appreciate   government’s commitment to workers’ welfare.

    Adekomi said committees would be set up to screen workers  and pensioners.

    “Committees will be set up to screen, determine the wage bill, the number of workers, the number of pensioners and their wage bill.”

    The NLC chairman called on workers to be more diligent and committed, saying government could only progress when its workers are productive.

    Adekomi assured workers that the government and labour leaders would fashion out the modalities of payment for the remaining four months.

     

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    Organised Labour dissociated itself  from the protests over unpaid salaries.

    The unions condemned the protests and described them  as “politically-motivated”.

    JPSNC Chairman Bayo Adejumo said the protests were sponsored by some fifth columnists, who used the opportunity to tarnish the government’s image.

    He added that none of the known labour unions participated or sponsored any of the protests.

    “We were not part of any protests neither did we sponsor one. As an organised workforce, we are aware of the constraints of government.

    “As at the time we embarked on the industrial action, it was assumed that we had no other choice than to embark on the strike, despite our understanding of the state of funds in the state.

    “All the purported protests were aimed at tarnishing the government’s image.

    “They were sponsored and the workforce did not participate or organise any. All we did was to order our members to embark on an industrial strike and at no time did any of the unions called its members out for a protest rally.”

  • Unpaid salaries: Take political sentiments out – Group warns

    A group of professionals under the aegis of the Progressive Communication and Strategy Think-Tank (PCSTT) on Sunday cautioned politicians against what it described as a “growing politicisation” of the ongoing problem of the unpaid salaries across the country.

    The group called the attention of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and other affiliated bodies to critically examine the condemnable degrees to which the very crucial problem of workers’ salaries in many states of the federation and under the Federal Government is being gradually turned to tool in the hands of politicians to score political points against one another.

    The PCSTT, after its meeting in Abuja at the weekend, said it reviewed the ongoing problems of revenue crisis in Nigeria especially as it affects the welfare of workers.

    In its release signed on behalf of the group by the Administrative Secretary, Mr. Adewale Adegoke, the Think-Tank group said workers must view with disdain and warn politicians not to turn their fate to tools of political brinksmanship.

    “We have in the last few weeks followed with keen interest and utmost attention the painful inabilities of many states of the federation to meet their obligations to their workers. While we recognise the efforts being made by the concerned states to clear the unpaid salaries, we are however miffed by an unsavoury development as politicians now see the development as a tool to play dirty politics.

    “The salary crisis, we believe, is one development that must wake us up from our inertia to fully understand the import of the faulty federation we run; the size and character of our bureaucracies and the urgent need to juxtapose what we earn and what we pay as remunerations vis-a-vis national productivity index,” the group stated

    The group also called the attention of workers across the federation to resist attempts to use their welfare and fate by politicians to score cheap points by embarking on propaganda against one another.

    “The interest of workers is beyond the political ambitions and interests of individuals and groups. This is why workers must stand up to condemn anyone found playing politics with this serious issue.

    “A politician who is genuinely interested in lasting solutions to the problem would not wait till he gets to power or use the plight of workers as bargaining tool to win supports. He should go straight to proffer solutions to end the hardship created by the unpaid salaries,” the PCSTT said.

    The group also called on the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari to accelerate its processes towards resolving the logjam adding that “the government cannot afford to allow the problem to get out of control with its attendant humanitarian complexities before it rises to the occasion”

    “We are confident to say that failure to take decisive actions by the Federal Government at this critical stage will provide rooms for more politicians to see the development as something to play dangerous politics with. This is a purely and national economic issue which must not be toyed with as it has the capacity to throw Nigeria into crisis of unimaginable proportion,” the group concluded.

  • NGF poll crisis: Oshiomhole urges Labour to step in

    NGF poll crisis: Oshiomhole urges Labour to step in

    The ripples of the disputed Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) election continued yesterday at the ninth Triennial Delegates Conference of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Abuja.

    Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, a former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), held the delegates spell-bound on what transpired at the NGF election.

    He spoke of his shock at the attitude of some of his colleagues who are disputing the result of an election of only 35 electors.

    Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi won the election, but Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang, who lost by 16 votes to 19, with the backing of the Presidency, is claiming victory.

    Oshiomhole urged Labour leaders to speak out on the matter, saying they should advise Jang to stop parading himself as the NGF chair.

    Oshiomhole said: “When the facts are so clear, Comrade President of TUC, you can’t be quiet. You must take a position, if you believe from all that you have heard and seen. If you believe that Jang won, say so. And if you know that he did not, tell him to stop Janging.”

    “Thirty five people went into a poll and, then they were saying ‘let us make this open, the world is watching us. And then they were talking. One by one, they were sermonising; very seasoned pentecostal pastors.

    “They said we must do open ballot and I said how can we do open ballot when you were already fighting before the ballot. Let’s do secret ballots. I said secret ballot has been domesticated worldwide and I said we are products of secret ballots, why are we afraid to do secret ballot. I said one man, one vote.

    “And 35 men voted and my twin brother from Delta State (Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan) became the chief agent of the two candidates. He went to stand by the Director-General of the NGF, Dr. Asissana Okauru, who was unanimously appointed one month earlier as the returning officer.

    They counted 35 ballot papers. They had 36, but one person was absent. So, one by one in the open, open-secret ballot, we voted. The papers were with two names; pick the one you want.

    “And they counted these votes and they were 35 representing the 35 people that were present. And when they were counting ‘Jang! Jang!!, the Niger Governor (Babangida Aliyu) said ‘Jang in early lead’. I said early lead indeed. After that they said Amaechi! Ameachi!! , Amaechi!!’

    “And in the end, the votes were counted and Jang janged in 16 votes and Ameachi mashalled in 19 votes. The winner emerged and the same people started saying ‘no! no!!; we are going to walk out’. I said ‘how can you walk out? Even in madness, there are levels of madness’. “

    Outgoing TUC President General Peter Esele said he was yet to recover from the shock of the NGF election. He added that the crisis surrounded the election was needless and unneccessary.

    Esele urged the government to diversify the economy if the realisation of its Vision 20:20:20 agenda must be taken seriously.

    He said: “The oil and gas sector still remains the determinant of our economic growth. Regrettably, this has created an unhealthy situation as other sectors have been neglected. A country with this mindset cannot fulfill the Vision 20:20:20 agenda. The only way out is to diversify the economy urgently if we must take our rightful place in the comity of nations.

    “We strongly condemn the unwarranted importation of petroleum products, which, no doubt, has led to loss of foreign exchange. It does not make sense if we continue to create jobs in other countries while our youths constitute nuisance here in our country out of frustration.”

    Esele said the TUC believes in the PIB, if passed exactly the way TUC saw it.