The Nation Newspaper

Tag: TUC

  • ‘Africans should re-examine relations with China’

    ‘Africans should re-examine relations with China’

    African labour unions have urged governments on the continent to re-examine their relationship with China, accusing it of unfair dealings in tapping the continent’s resources.

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the Trade Union Congress, Ghana (TUC-Ghana) spoke in Abuja where they brainstormed on issues affecting Africans.

    A communiqué signed by the First Deputy President of COSATU,Tyotyo James; President of NLC,Abdulwahed Ibrahim Omar and Secretary-General ,TUC (Ghana), Kofi Asamoawa, also urged governments to create a roadmap for the reindustrialisation in the continent.

    It said: “Africa should re-examine its relationship with China as China is not interested in Africa’s industrialisation but only in its raw materials to drive China’s industrialisation.

    “Industrialisation is an agenda that the people of Africa must pursue and that Africa must develop in order not to remain a market for goods and services from industrialised nations.”

    It added that women and youth structures must be accommodated in the unions, constitutions, saying there must be deliberate policies to address their issues.

  • TUC threatens strike over pension scheme

    THE Trade Union President (TUC), Mr Bobboi Kaigama, has threatened to shut the economy should there be any case of corruption or fraud in the new Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

    Kaigama, who is also of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), said despite checks against abuses in the new CPS, labour would not hesitate to declare a strike should there be fraud.

    “We will not hesitate to shut the entire space if this happens,” he added.

    Also, employers in the private sector are kicking against a further hike in their contributions to the scheme, arguing that it would affect them.

    Director-General, Nigeria Employers Consultative Association,  NECA, Mr Segun Oshinowo, said employers were over-burdened by various financial commitments, including payments to the Employees Compensation Act (ECA), insurance for employees, among others.

    He said the proposed review would have a ripple effect on the economy, adding that it could trigger layoffs of workers in organisations that may not be in position to accommodate further increase.

    “The argument is that it will become unsustainable. We should appreciate the fact that the scheme is to make life easy for employees. What of the ripple effect that will come with the increase in the percentage contribution? Some employers may want to reduce workforce because they cannot sustain it. Even government is finding it difficult to comply with the 7.5 per cent contribution, that is why they are having cold feet.

     

  • Nigeria Airways: TUC, ATSSSAN, others write Jonathan

    Nigeria Airways: TUC, ATSSSAN, others write Jonathan

    Former workers of liquidated national carrier Nigeria Airways Limited yesterday pleaded with President Goodluck Jonathan to pay their outstanding 20 years severance benefits. Their colleagues who worked in other countries received  their benefits nine years ago, they said.

    The workers, who gathered for prayers yesterday at the secretariat of the AIr Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), along the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road, under the aegis of Aviation Union Grand Alliance ( AUGA), mandated the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other unions to intimate the President about their plight.

    One of the union leaders, Comrade  Ibrahim Husseini,  said government will require about N70 billion to offset the outstanding severance benefits of the former workers and pensioners, which has been pending for the past nine years.

    He described, as gross insensitivity to the plight of ex- Nigeria Airways workers, government’s reluctance to pay the former workers, saying many of the workers have died due to lack of funds for medicare.

  • Airways’ ex-workers seek payment of N70b benefits

    Airways’ ex-workers seek payment of N70b benefits

    Former workers of the liquidated national carrier, Nigeria Airways Limited, yesterday urged the Federal Government to pay their 20 years’ severance benefits.

    They said their colleagues in other countries had received their benefits nine years ago.

    The workers gathered for prayers at the secretariat of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road, Ikeja, under the aegis of the Aviation Union Grand Alliance (AUGA).

    They mandated the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other unions to write President Goodluck Jonathan on their plight.

    One of the union leaders, Comrade Ibrahim Husseini, said the government would need about N70 billion to offset the severance benefits of the former workers and pensioners, which had been pending in the last nine years.

    Husseini described the attitude of the government to the plight of the former workers and its refusal to pay them their dues as gross insensitivity.

    He said many had died because they did not have money for their health care.

    According to him, many of the retirees beg to feed themselves.

    The union leader described as discriminatory the payment of full benefits to some former workers of the liquidated airline outside Nigeria.

    Husseini named some of such stations as New York, London, Rome and Cote D’Ivoire.

    He stressed that after the payment of five years’ severance benefits from the 25 years being owed the retirees by the late Umaru Yar’Adua administration, there had not been a positive response from the government to the requests of the retirees.

    The TUC, the ATSSSAN and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) yesterday wrote to Jonathan to revisit their matter in the interest of peace in the Aviation sector.

    The letter, by Comrade Aba Ocheme, the secretary general of NAAPE, urged the President to intervene in the matter.

    The letter, titled: Delay in the Settlement of Terminal Benefits of ex-Nigeria Airways workers – Appeal for Mr President’s Intervention, reads: “May we also emphasise the determination and resolve of Aviation unions towards a wholesome resolution of the issue.

    “This is an irresolute duty we owe them, considering that their toil and contributions did sustain our union in their days…”

  • How to tackle unemployment, by TUC chief

    THE Vice President, Trade Union Congress (TUC) Mr Olusoji Salako has said only a strong economic and monetary policy can reduce unemployment.

    Salako, who is also the president, Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSIBIFI), said: “The three tiers of the government as a matter of compulsion must provide opportunities for youths through, self-employment initiatives, as well as a sustained economic growth.

    “Also, a conducive economic atmosphere must be created and sustained for the economy to thrive and for jobs to be created and sustained.”

    In the organised labour the government could forge a common alliance to tackle unemployment through sincere discussions.

    He said: “It is only when labour and the government present frank arguments devoid of deceit that such collaboration can work. It is not all issues, disputes or disagreements that require or calls for strike or public protests. Nigerian workers should be made to feel appreciate the effort they are making through payment of adequate and timely wages, and provision of decent workplace.

    “The average Nigerian worker, unlike his counterparts in other parts of the world, only looks to the government to provide the atmosphere for them to thrive and be productive. So, the government must always put these factors into consideration when dealing with workers and labour-related issues.”

    On the challenges facing other sectors of the economy, he said the association was working hard to proffer solution to the various challenges.

    He said: “As an association, we are constantly thinking and trying out new ideas of how to grapple with the challenges the sector is facing.

    “We (ASSIBIFI) are not in any way limited to the issues of labour and workers welfare alone.”

    He said ASSIBIFI has contributed in no small measure toward initiating policies that can move the sector forward. This is aside other efforts that may not be readily visible to those outside the sector.

     

    He said it is important that government develop the right political will to implement its own policy. If you deploy money into a system, effort must be made to ensure that the system works. “When government begins to do things and write several versions of its own policy, then there is a problem. Government must develop the right political will to tackle the issues involved,” he said.

  • TUC, FMBN partner on 3.5m housing scheme

    The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has said it will partner and work with Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) on the National Housing Fund (NHF) for the provision of minimum of 3.5 million housing units of various ranges for workers in the next 15 years. This will also be in collaboration with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). The housing scheme has the necessary infractructure.

    In a communiqué signed by the TUC National President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, after its National Executive Council (NEC) in Kaduna, the Congress said good and affordable shelter is a critical issue of major interest to workers, adding that there was need to provide good shelter for every worker.

    The TUC decried the situation where many workers who religiously contributed to previous housing schemes of the Federal Government did not get the houses or any refund of their contributions. The Congress was particularly bitter by the fact that most records of such contributions were not properly kept by the project operators which include both the federal and state governments.

    TUC lamented the high-cost of the houses which made the houses to be essentially beyond the reach of the average worker.

    TUC said it will give the FMBN a trial period of one year to show substantial commitment to the project, threatening to back out of the project should the bank show any sign of unseriousness.

    “That the TUC and NLC must be fully carried along from start to finish of the project. That is, from conceptualisation to planning, costing, building supervision and allocation of the houses. To this end, the TUC insists that the labour centres must be duly represented in the boards of the FMBN, NHF and other relevant bodies involved in housing projects for workers.

    “FMBN must render monthly progress reports on the project to the two labour centres and ensure that all pre-existing, present and future records of NHF contributions made by workers are duly updated and made readily and easily accessible to the contributors,” the communique read in part.

    It added that full refund of contributions plus accrued interest thereon shall be immediately made to workers who were wrongfully denied the houses under previous schemes.

    The communique noted: “That relevant portions of the law be reviewed to compel employers to be more transparent and accountable to their workers on matters relating to remission of contributions to the NHF on behalf of the workers as and when due.”

  • TUC wants FG to end ASUU strike

    The Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Friday called on the Federal Government to take measures to end the four-month-old strike by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    This call is contained in a statement signed by the Secretary General of the union, Mr. Musa Lawal, in Abuja.

    ASUU had embarked on strike to protest against the non-implementation of 2009 agreement reached between the union and the Federal Government.

    The TUC said the union was disturbed that in spite of protests and appeals by parents, students, market women and others, government had not shown concerned about plight of the students.

    “TUC is again appealing to government to address this critical issue that bothers on our collective future as a nation.

    “It is high time our governments at all levels embrace the culture of respecting and adhering to agreements.

    “There is no gainsaying the fact that ASUU’s strike has been allowed to drag on for too long, and the consequences are incalculable.

    “We insist that it now behooves on government to move and decisively address the issues at stake,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the union as saying in the statement.

    According to the statement, any nation that abandons its youth developmental and educational system inadvertently abandons its tomorrow.

    “We shall not fold our arms and allow the nation’s educational system to collapse.’’

    It said the situation was worrisome, noting that Nigeria, arguably the richest country in Africa and sixth largest producer of crude oil in the world, seemingly could not guarantee education for its citizenry.

     

     

  • Defer handing over of PHCN to investors, TUC tells FG

    The Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Wednesday called on the Federal Government to defer the proposed handover date of Power Holding Company of Nigeria’s successor companies to their new owners until all agreements with the unions are met.

    The government had proposed November 1 as the date for the handover of the successor companies to their new investors.

    TUC’s Deputy Secretary-General, Mr. Simeso Amachree, made the call in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.

    He said: “It will be unfair if the government go ahead with the hand over, without first settling all the workers.

    “What is the hurry about? We are not opposed to privatisation if it is in the best interest of Nigerians and the country.

    “But the workers must be paid their entitlements before the handover, ’’ he said.

    Amachree said the government must be seen to deal fairly and transparently with the workers, to avoid unpleasant consequences.

    “We will not hesitate to call out our other affiliates in other sectors to join in the struggle, because an injury to one is an injury to all,’’ he warned.

    Amachree said the unions would engage in peaceful and legal means to compel the government to honour its agreement with them.

    “We have decided to stage protests and eventually embark on total strike, if the government reneges on its agreement,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that the contending issues include the non-payment of retirement savings to pension fund administrators and non-remittance of dues of two per cent deducted from workers’ salaries to the unions.

    Others are the non-payment of benefits of retirees who disengaged in 2011, non-regularisation of the service of some casual workers and the non-payment of the severance package to some of the workers.

     

  • Lead by example, TUC urges leaders

    Lead by example, TUC urges leaders

    The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) yesterday advised Nigerian leaders to lead by example.

    The admonition was contained in its Eid-el-Kabir message to Muslims through its National President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama and the General Secretary, Comrade Musa Lawal, titled: TUC Preaches peace at Sallah.

    The congress described the prolonged Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike as a failure to lead by example, which had culminated in juvenile delinquency in Nigeria.

    The TUC added: “Development from all parts of the country attests to the fact that the youth are angry because they are hungry. As such they vent their anger on fellow Nigerians through kidnapping, armed robbery and terrorism. The time for the government to reduce hunger in the land is now. Nigerians are tired of bloodshed.”

    According to the statement, the union urged Nigerians, especially the Muslims, to use the Eid-el-Kabir celebration to make amends and see every Nigerian, irrespective of their religion, as their brothers and sisters.

    This edifying way, said the TUC, was the only way the country could move forward.

    The congress also advised Nigerians to reflect on the challenges facing the country and submit to the will of Allah in the belief that only Him can help to overcome the challenges.

     

     

  • Minimum wage: NLC, TUC storm Senate

    Minimum wage: NLC, TUC storm Senate

    Following the Senate’s vote to move the minimum wage from the exclusive list to the concurrent list, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) will today storm the National Assembly to protest the proposal.

    The Senate, during the recent constitution amendment exercise, voted for the decentralisation of negotiations on the National Minimum Wage Act, while the House of Representatives overwhelmingly turned down the proposal.

    Although the proposal is currently awaiting the harmonisation of the National Assembly, the leadership of both the NLC and TUC, at a meeting with the principal officers of the House of Representatives yesterday in Abuja, rolled out plans to stage a protest to the Senate today to register their displeasure over the proposal.

    According to the NLC President, Comrade Abdulwahed Omar, the protest would take off at 9am from the Labour House at the Central Business District and end at the Senate where the unions are expected to present a protest letter to the Senate President David Mark.

    Omar, who described the decision of the Senate to undermine the popular wishes of the Nigerian workers as unfortunate, however, praised the House of Representatives for standing for the masses.

    He said although the House of Representatives displayed a high sense of responsibility in throwing away the proposal, they should resist any overture that would make them succumb to the whims and caprices of a few individuals driven by self motives.

    Omar warned that the House of Representatives should be wary of some people, who would want to exploit the avenue of the joint harmonisation session of both chambers to push through what they could not achieve earlier.

    He said: “We are very happy to note that the House did not even consider the removal of the minimum wage law from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent legislative list because of your belief that the Nigerian workers deserve a very proper place. As our logo depicts, it is the Nigerian workers that turn the wheels that generate the wealth of the nation and therefore it would be a disservice to undermine the workers and relegate them to the background.”

    However, there is still much to be done because, if we understand the working of the National Assembly, it will still have to move to the concurrent before being passed to the Houses of Assembly. This is a very major concern. The Nigerian workers have great fear that the hands that have been working behind the scene to influence some people elsewhere can still highjack the process.

    “Perhaps some people may still want to achieve what they could not hitherto achieve, at the joint harmonisation level. That is why Nigerian workers are very concerned and we say we need to come on solidarity to you to keep faith with the promise you have made to Nigerians.

    The Speaker Aminu Tambuwa said the House decided not to tamper with the Minimum Wage Act in line with the promise it made to the Nigerian people to always be committed to their cause.

    He noted that it was the Nigerian people that rejected the removal, stressing that all that the House did was to uphold the popular wishes of the people.

    He said: “We have come under severe pressure to come to where we have got today. All we did was to work on the agenda of the interest of Nigerians. It was the public that rejected the transfer. We only came here and upheld it.”

    While promising to continue to do the bidding of the Nigerian masses, he admonished the leadership of the two unions to extend their campaigns to the Houses of Assembly, who would also be required to vote on it.

    Reacting to the unions’ demand for the House of Representatives to intervene in the lingering face-off between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government to end the ongoing strike, Tambuwa said the House would table it for discussion tomorrow(today).

    He said one of the House members has already moved a motion on the strike.