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Tag: TUC

  • Mismanagement of oil, gas led to austerity, says TUC

    The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has said that the impunity of politicians and mismanagement of the fortunes of the oil and gas industry by successive governments in the country led to the ongoing austerity measures introduced by the Federal Government, especially following the slump in oil price at the international market.

    TUC also called on the Federal Government to review its policies that would create a conducive working environment for employers of labour and workers in the country, stressing that the nation’s labour movement may have no option than to resist any government policies that would inflict more hardship on workers after next month’s general elections.

    TUC’s President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, who made the declarations at an interactive session with newsmen in Lagos on the adverse effects of the ongoing austerity measures on workers, noted that the labour movement is aware that government may pretend not to implement some policies that may affect their political interest in next month’s general elections until March this year.

    He said: “The impunity of politicians and mismanagement of the fortunes of the oil and gas sector by successive governments in Nigeria led to the ongoing austerity measures introduced by the Federal Government on December 17, 2014 as a result of the slump in oil price at the international market.

    “The Congress feels at this time that it is important it calls government’s attention to a number of issues plaguing employers and employees relationship to ensure a friendly working environment this year as we are also aware that Government may pretend not to implement some policies that may affect their political interest in next month’s general elections until march this year.”

    According to Kaigama, Congress laments the way and manner politicians go about their politicking. He said workers’ bravery, doggedness and loyalty to the project Nigeria in the face of gross abuse of human rights, insecurity, terrorism, arson, dislodgment and chaotic situation is an eloquent testimony to the fact that lives of Nigerians are not in the hands of the government nor the Bretton Wood institutions and their perfect policies.

    He noted that what is predominant today in the nation’s democratic governance is government’s use of state’s coercive power, especially the police and resort to use of touts and idle youths to molest political opponents and journalists. “In the 1970s, we had political parties with manifestos, and the likes of Awos, Ziks and Tafawa Balewas’ of this world chronicled what they planned to do and how they planned to achieve them. But what do we have today? Are we wiser now.” he queried.

    In a related development, the Secretary General of TUC, Comrade Musa Lawal stated that government deliberately refused to listen to advice on oil windfall before the oil slump. He said: “The labour movement and some fore-sighted well-meaning Nigerians have on uncountable times called on government to make utmost use of the excess dollar we got by diversifying the economy. Unfortunately, our politicians are only interested in rushing down to Abuja for monthly allocation. Government of allocation, this is certainly not our idea of social contract.”

  • TUC urges govt on welfare, good governance

    TUC urges govt on welfare, good governance

    The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has drawn government’s attention to some issues plaguing employer and employee relationship to ensure a friendly working environment this year.

    The President of the Union, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, drew the government’s attention to politicians’ impunity and the mismanagement of the fortunes of the oil and gas sector, adding that the way  politicians go about their politicking is bad.

    His words: “What we could read on the wall can best be described as ‘I must get there no matter whose ox is gored’, which is an aberration. They use power and money to win the people to their side because they lack the required ideas to transform the country. What is predominant today is use of state’s coercive power; especially the police and resort to use of touts and idle youths to molest political opponents and journalists. In the 1970s, we had political parties with manifestoes. The Awos, Ziks and Tafawa Balewas of this world chronicled what they planned to do and how they planned to achieve them. But what do we have today? We are wiser now.”

    On the recent drop in the price of crude oil, he said following the unexpected drop in the prices of crude, government is planning to employ some austerity measures to cushion the effect on the economy. He called on the government to make utmost use of the excess dollar by diversifying the economy.

    He said: “Unfortunately, our politicians are only interested in rushing to Abuja for monthly allocation. Government of allocation is certainly not our idea of social contract. Yes, our economy has just been rated the biggest in Africa. It would have been laudable if it had a positive effect on the lives of the average Nigerian and the industrial environment. How do we agree with that when in practical terms the lending rates, cost of living and doing business are unreasonably high?”

    The unionist added that the hasty and deliberate devaluation of the naira, which has also brought untold hardship to the real sector and all other facets of the economy, has to be addressed as congress will not tolerate cases of job losses arising from government’s insensitivity. He said it has become pertinent to warn against such move now to avoid worsening the spate of insecurity in the country, which was occasioned by the gross mismanagement of the economy.

    “No wonder, unemployment figures remain high, unimaginable crime rates, poverty, epileptic energy sector and inexplicable high tariffs have become our lot. And it is yet a tragedy of national proportion that as parents we sleep in the comfort of our homes when the over 250 Chibok girls and the series of other kidnapped youths are nowhere to be found,” he added.

    Kaigama expressed concern that government has refused to reduce the prices of petroleum products even though the price of crude has collapsed in the international market, which was the reason given when it wanted to increase the price of fuel in 2012.  He urged government to direct the appropriate agency to immediately adjust prices of petroleum products as it will ameliorate the suffering of the  masses.

    On the content policy, he praised the government’s initiative. He, however, said since the policy came into place in 2010, there has been no yardstick to measure the progress made. “We have observed that the entrepreneurs that are being empowered are compromising employment standards and flagrantly breaching workplace rights and decent work principles with intimidation and myriads of victimisation.

    “Finally, we wish to inform politicians that the labour movement is not oblivious of the fact that we are in an election year. Meanwhile, while we make case for free and fair elections, we also want politicians to know that we, the workers and masses, are going to do the voting and that we are going to ensure that our votes count,” Kaigama said.

  • TUC urges reduction of fuel pump price

    The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has called on the Federal Government to directs its appropriate agencies in the oil and gas sector to immediately lower the prices of petroleum products as it will ameliorate the sufferings of the masses.

    In a statement jointly signed by its President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama and Secretary-General, Comrade Musa Lawal, the group called for immediate reversal of the pump prices of petroleum products, stressing that the devaluation of the naira has weakened the purchasing power of Nigerians.

    He said: “Congress expresses concern that government has refused to reduce the prices of petroleum products even though the price of crude oil has collapsed in the international market, which was the reason given when it wanted to increase the price of fuel in 2012. We urge government to direct the appropriate agencies to immediately adjust the prices of petroleum products as it will ameliorate the sufferings of the masses.”

    He said TUC has put government on notice that following naira devaluation, the Congress is going to ask for wage increase to cushion its effect on workers. He drew government’s attention to a number of issues plaguing employers/employees relationship to ensure a friendly working environment this year.

    TUC said: “Worried about the impunity of politicians and mismanagement of the fortunes of the oil and gas sector, the Congress laments the way and manner our politicians go about their politicking.

    “Our major concern is that what is predominant today is use of state’s coercive power, especially the police and resort to use of touts and idle youths to molest political opposition and journalists.”

    On local content policy, he said: “it has been observed that since the policy came into place in 2010, there has been no yardstick to measure progress made as we have also  observed that the entrepreneurs that are being empowered are compromising employment standards and flagrantly breaching workplace rights and decent work principles with intimidation and myriads of victimisation.”

  • TUC decries non-payment of federal workers

    •Urges reduction of fuel prices

    Trade Union Congress (TUC), has  condemned the delay by the Federal Government  in paying thousands of civil servants their salary for over two months now, saying the act is a threat to industrial peace.

    The union made the condemnation in a communiqué issued at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Lagos. It  frowned at non-payment of salaries to thousands of civil servants since October this year without any justifiable reason.

    Jointly endorsed by TUC President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama and its Secretary General, Comrade Musa Lawal, he said the same problem happened late last year when many public servants celebrated Christmas with empty stomach as a result of refusal of government to pay them their salary.

    It urged the Federal Government to immediately settle all arrears of salaries owed affected workmen in the interest of industrial peace.

    However, spokesman of the Head of Service of the Federation, Haruna Rasheed Imrana told journalists that  it was absolutely not true to say that thousands of civil servants have not been paid their salaries.

    Imrana said: “You better find out which ministry or ministries.  It is possible to have one or two government agencies facing a little delay but it is definitely not a civil service thing. “It is not in the mainstream civil service.To say thousands, you better get the facts right because  there would have been a riot.”

    The communiqué also expressed dismay that the prices of refined petroleum products have remained unchanged despite the significant fall of crude oil prices which the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has acknowledged as a being steady.

    It called on the government to immediately adjust the pump price of petroleum products which to ameliorate its impact on their purchasing power occasioned by the devaluation of the naira.

    It condemned the prsecution of employees in the private sector through the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) to scrap or abolish Gratuity Benefits from the existing retirement benefits in the country and also called for the re-emplacement of gratuity in the public sector.

    It said it will fight with all legitimate means at its disposal to ensure the emplacement and the continued existence of the gratuity scheme in Nigeria’s industrial relations system.

  • NLC, TUC warn govt over stunted N4b housing project

    NLC, TUC warn govt over stunted N4b housing project

    THE Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have petitioned the House of Representatives over “the refusal of the government to fund the workers’ housing project under existing agreements.”

    The unions are, therefore, threatening strike if the right thing is not done.

    The House of Representatives Committee on Finance headed by Abdulmumin Jibrin, chided the Federal Government yesterday for moving money into a mortgage re-financing company when the promised houses were not yet built.

    It said the move jeopardised the N4 billion housing project meant for Nigerian workers under the aegis of the NLC and the TUC.

    “Does it make sense to have mortgage refinancing when the houses are not on ground,” Jibrin asked.

    But the Managing Director of the Nigeria Mortgage Re-financing Company was not available to answer the questions posed by the committee and other stakeholders.

    The Chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE- P) was also not available, although he was invited.

    President of the NLC, Abdulwaheed Omar, and his TUC counterpart, Musa Lawal, however, met with the committee and complained that the Federal Government had reneged on an agreement meant to provide the Nigerian workers houses after their retirement.

  • TUC blames misapplication of funds 

    TUC blames misapplication of funds 

    The Trade Union Congress has blamed   misapplication of funds for the pervasive corruption in the country.

    Its President, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama,  lamented that  most projects in the country would have made Nigeria one of the most developed nations of the world were they completed.

    “The fact on ground is that it is really a challenging period for Nigeria as its external debt stock is about $35 billion with the borrowed funds for most capital projects not seen on ground,”  he said.

    Kaigama warned that the economy is collapsing in spite of the rebasing of its gross domestic product (GDP),  which repositioned the country as the 26th biggest economy in the World, and the largest in Africa.

    According to him, the irony of the whole issue is that after the rebased GDP to the present estimate of $509.9billion (N280.2trillion) for 2013, overtaking South Africa’s $372billion for the same period, Nigeria has been described by the World Bank as a very poor country with majority of its populace living below the  poverty line on less than $1.25 (N213) per day.

    He said:“Moreover, the constant epileptic power supply, high unemployment rate, inflation, poor wages to workers, infrastructural decay, low per capital income make us to conclude that the new economic status declared by the government is just an ego boosting exercise and a pure illusion.”

    He called on the Federal Government to implement consistent and realistic monetary and fiscal policies that woul favour the growth of the real sector rather than the current unnecessary borrowing that have negative implications on all sectors of the economy.

    Kaigama  said only an effective mechanism  put in place by the government to curb all unnecessary borrowing  as well as good governance that  will save the nation’s economy from collapse

    He decried the recruitment process  into the civil service, describing it as  irregular and bias.

    Kaigama condemned the appointment of graduates with 12 years ‘ post National Youth Service corps (NYSC) experience as Director in the civil service at the expense of those who have put in over 30 years in service, stressing that the Federal Government should reverse  past cases to restore sanity in the system.

  • ‘NLC, TUC to reclaim Labour Party’

    ‘NLC, TUC to reclaim Labour Party’

    Organised labour, under the auspices of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has said it will reclaim the Labour Party (LP) and build a strong, virile party to work for the interest of the people.

    Addressing a news conference in Abuja yesterday, NLC President Abdulwahed Omar and his TUC counterpart, Boboye Kaigama, said they would not watch the independence of the party taken over by another party.

    The labour leaders, who spoke against the backdrop of the defection of Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),  said they would not accept the party as an appendage of another party.

    Urging members and other stakeholders not to attend the national convention holding in Akure this weekend, until a new date and venue is fixed, they said although there is nothing wrong in parties forming alliances, they would not accept a situation where a governor, who has defected to another party, would sponsor and host LP.

    The labour leaders noted that such a convention would not be independent and called for a new date and venue.

    Omar, who spoke on behalf of the labour leaders, said: “We have been watching with interest the activities of the Labour Party recently. We were present at the last National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party where a date and venue for the convention were fixed.

    “The date was fixed for October 4 and was again shifted. More important was the venue, which was slated to be Akure. However, we are concerned about the fixing, the sponsorship, the supervision and the hosting of the convention.

    “You will recall that recently, the only governor elected on the platform of the Labour Party, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, declared for the Peoples Democratic Party with members of his executive and members of the House of Assembly.

    “It is a major concern to us that a governor, who has already defected to another party, is the one sponsoring, hosting and supervising a convention of an independent party, such as the Labour Party.

    “It is that concern, which made us to call this meeting of stakeholders of the Labour Party with a view to making sure that we call for the postponement of the Akure convention with a view to fixing a new date and a new venue that will be more independent to allow for the party to hold its convention  independent of external forces.|

    “I enjoin labour conscious people, who are either set to attend the convention or are already there to disregard this convention and return home. The labour movement is committed to building a strong and prosperous Labour Party, which will serve the interest of workers and other Nigerians.”

  • TUC urges strengthened pension administration

    The Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria has said it will soon mobilise workers and pensioners to mount serious pressure on the government for prompt and adequate payment of pensions to retirees in the country.

    Its President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, who noted this in his independence day message, said the pressure was necessary in order to strengthen pension administration in Nigeria. He lamented the increasing cases of embezzlement of pension funds with no one being brought to book to account for the criminal act.

    “Why a few individuals should be feeding fat on the misery of the poor and hapless pensioners remains a mystery to us. Pensioners’ woes are made worse by the virtual collapse of social services, which in effect has turned every household into a mini-government on its own.

    “Incidentally the pain is more excruciating because monetary contributions are deducted from workers’ salaries into the pension funds unlike what obtained in the past when government paid from its coffers. In this milieu, retirement aggregates to being sentenced to permanent poverty or even death, except in the case of the privileged few in the society. This ugly trend must stop,” he said.

  • NLC, TUC move to restore order to Labour Party

    NLC, TUC move to restore order to Labour Party

    •Warn members against Akure convention

    The two umbrella labour bodies, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have asked members of the Labour Party (LP) to ignore the party’s convention scheduled for Akure, the Ondo State capital, this weekend.T

    The unions, who are major stakeholders in the LP, said in a statement by Abdulwaheed Omar and  Bobboi Bala Kaigama, presidents of the NLC and TUC that a broad-based consultation would be carried out to decide on the modalities for convening a national convention for the party.

    Both unions at a meeting of the National Executive Committee of the party, held at its national secretariat in Abuja, said it would henceforth take interest in the affairs of the party.

    The statement said in view of the fact that they were committed to the development and sustainability of a true working people’s party, they had directed the National Labour Political Commission to organise a broad, all-inclusive stakeholders’ meeting tomorrow to discuss the way forward for the party.

    The statement reads: “There had been speculation that Governor Olusegun Mimiko, the only governor on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) would defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “The die has now been cast and Governor Mimiko, who was elected Ondo State governor for a second term on LP’s platform, has defected to the PDP. This has brought changes and challenges to the LP.

    “One implication of this action of the governor is that he is no longer a member of the LP. Consequently, the proposed convention of the party in Akure, which venue was hitherto chosen in deference to the office of the then only Labour Party governor is no longer tenable.

    “Even before Dr. Mimiko’s defection, NLC and TUC, through their political commission, had cautioned on the dangers of proceeding with the proposed convention, given a number of disturbing developments, including court challenges and factionalisation in the party.

    “As major stakeholders, the two labour unions are committed to the development and sustainability of a true working people’s party. To this end, the NLC and the TUC are convinced on the imperative of holding broad-based consultations to decide on the modalities for having a successful convention.

    “We have mandated the National Labour Political Commission to organise a broad, all-inclusive stakeholders’ meeting on October 9 to discuss the way forward for the party. We, therefore, urge LP members to refrain from participating in the convention called for October 11 in Akure.”

  • Insecurity in Northeast worries NUPENG, TUC

    Insecurity in Northeast worries NUPENG, TUC

    The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have expressed worries over  current insecurity in the Northeastern part of the country where Boko Haram insurgents are over-running towns and villages.

    The union noted that  towns such as Gulak, Madagali, Michika, Uba, Bazza in Adamawa State have fallen to the insurgents, while Banki, Gwoza, Bama have been taken in Borno State as the onslaught and senseless killings  continue.

    NUPENG President, Mr Igwe Achese and General Secretary, Mr. Isaac Aberare, in a statement,  said the union is calling on the military to declare the area as war-zone and flush out the insurgents as there cannot be a caliphate within a republic.

    The oil workers’ union leaders said  the military must be fully equipped with modern weapons to challenge the insurgents carrying sophisticated arms and ammunition, adding that the union wants a concerted effort with the support of neighbouring countries such as Cameroon, Niger and Chad to help stem the tide.

    The Federal and state governments in the Northeast, NUPENG said, must address the problem of people running out of the disaster zone, while the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) must deploy more men and relief materials to assist them.

    TUC urged the Federal Government to take necessary measures to safeguard the territorial integrity of the country.

    Its President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, in a statement in Abuja, said the call became imperative following reports that some major cities in Borno and Adamawa states had come under threat and may have fallen into the hands of Boko Haram militants.

    He pointed out that if the insurgents were allowed to establish their footholds in any city in Nigeria, it might spell doom for the territorial integrity and continued existence of the country as a corporate entity.

    “If any part of Nigeria becomes the base for the insurgents, no part of West Africa will be safe and the human tragedy that will follow is better imagined than experienced.