The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Union

  • Union secures one year salary for sacked workers

    The National Union of Chemical Footwear Rubber Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees (NUCFRLANMPE) has compelled the management of Nycil Nigeria Ltd. to pay one year salary to its workers who were sacked last month.

    The company, which is based in Sango Ota in Ogun State in December, last year, laid off 17 workers, including four union executives, without following due process.

    The company, which manufactures and markets synthetic resins, emulsions and allied chemicals, was said to have paid the workers only three months, irrespective of the number of years they have served.

    President of NUCFRLANMPE, Mr. Boniface Isok, who led union members to shut Nycil over alleged indiscriminate termination of appointments, accused the firm’s management of not negotiating with the union before sacking the workers.

    He said: “When 40 workers were sacked in June 2015, the company did not consult us and we did not query them. We directed the workers to continue their work in peace. On December 31, another 17 workers, including four union officials, were sacked without negotiating with us.

    “That is why we stopped operation in the company until the management discusses with us and stops all forms of inhumane treatment meted on our members.’’

    He said with the agreement now signed, the management would ensure that gross salary was paid within weeks and further indiscriminate sack of the workers put on hold.

    Isok said the union was not against the disengagement of any employee, but that the management must provide good reasons for its action.

    Human Resources Manager of Nycil, Prince Olufemi Olugbogi, at the meeting, however, apologised to the union for the breach, noting that the action was taken to reduce costs. He explained that the company carried out the sack to reposition the company in the New Year.

    A Controller in the Ministry of Labour and Employment in Ogun State, Mr. Muyiwa Fatoki, who reconciled both parties, advised them to respect the agreements.

    He said it was not enough to pay off workers as stipulated by the law, but that the relevant union should be informed appropriately to ensure that they are carried along in the termination exercise.

    After a rigorous negotiation among the government, union and the management, it was agreed that 12 months’ gross salary should be added to the union officials.

    The parties also agreed that six months’ gross salary should be added to the other staff. They added that no worker should be victimised for their roles in resolving the conflict.

  • Union of lovebirds

    Union of lovebirds

    The Managing Director of Vision Link Communications, Chief Tunde Omikunle, has given out his daughter Oluwadamilare Adesola in marriage to Olukayode Olamide Ayo, son of the Managing Director of Goldlink Insurance, Pastor Olatunde Ayo at a colourful ceremony, reports NNEKA NWANERI

    Oluwadami and Olukayode’s relationship wasn’t all that rosy, but it stood the test of time, having survived the travails of four years courtship.

    Penultimate Saturday, while many were still basking in the euphoria of the yuletide festivities, the Ayos and the Omikunles were celebrating the union of their children.

    After years of courtship, their friendship climaxed into a lasting relationship as they were joined in a holy matrimony before many of their friends and family members at the Shepherdhill Baptist Church, Obanikoro, Lagos.

    The couple, before exchanging wedding bands, said their vows by heart to the admiration of their friends and well wishers who turned out in their numbers decked in pink and gold laces and headwears.

    Oluwadamilare, a Unilag graduate of Mass Communication, in a brief interview with The Nation,said  she met Olukayode,  an accountant with Barclay’s Bank, London, through a family friend, who had seen they had a lot in common and thought they both would make a perfect match.

    Not only is Olukayode’s father, Pastor Olatunde Ayo, the Managing Director of Goldlink Insurance, he also pastors for Deeperlife Christian Ministries.

    Bride’s father, Chief Omikunle, who also holds the Loogun Losaamu-Iloro of Igbajo (a warlord title), said he expects a lot from the couple, judging from their Christian backgrounds.

    The marital rites were finalised with a reception at Equilox Events Centre along Airport Road, Ikeja.

  • Union seeks implementation of workers-friendly policies

    The Leadership of Senior Staff Association of Communications Transport and CorporaFtion (SSACTAC) has urged federal and state governments to ensure the effective implementation of the government formulated policies geared towards improving the welfare and living conditions of the workers.

    Speaking to reporters in Abuja, the union’s National President, Comrade Mohammad Yunusa, said the government’s commitment to implementation of programmes would not only better the living conditions of the workers but all Nigerians.

    Yunusa said government has enormous goodwill from the Nigerian workers to achieve positive change for the betterment of the people.

    He also urged the government to reactivate the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) for the training of young Nigerians in industrial entrepreneurship.

    The union’s boss said the training of the young Nigerians would boost the industrial sector of the nation’s economy, stressing that training is key to developing the right attitudes in the young Nigerians’ entrepreneurships.

    He added that the union is totally in support of the war against corruption and other societal ills currently being carried out by the government.

    He said government officials must make things happen by embarking on the right actions, create a system to expand the nation’s economy, stressing that the government invest upgrade industrial and commercial centres to international standards to justify the country’s role as a hub for commerce and industry in the West African sub-region.

    The union’s boss said its leadership would continue to give priority attention to the welfare of its members through meaningful dialogue with government officials at all levels.

  • Union urges Buhari on agric workers’ plight

    Union urges Buhari on agric workers’ plight

    Nigeria’s dream of repositioning her economy through agriculture may suffer a setback if the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration fails to address issues on workers’  welfare.

    One of such issues is the agitation for the implementation of the hazard allowance for workers in the agricultural and allied sector. The agitation has been on for over 15 years.

    Speaking with reporters at the weekend, the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurants, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers Association (IUF), urged Buhari to, as a matter of priority, approve for implementation, the allowance for which a memorandum was forwarded to the last Federal Executive Council (FEC) in April, before the inauguration of this administration.

    Its Chairman, Leke Success, said the international body decided to intervene to make the Federal Government appreciate the importance of hazard allowance. He noted that the allowance is necessary because workers continue to suffer one form of injury, or the other in the course of doing their jobs.

    He said: “Our demand is against the backdrop of the determination of President Buhari to diversify our economy and make agriculture the pillar for national growth and development. We believe that for this to be realised, genuine efforts must be made to resolve all issues capable of hindering the smooth operation and administration of all the necessary policies being designed for the revival of  agric activities in the country.”

    Mr. Success lamented that all these years, agric workers had taken the line of dialogue instead of outright confrontation to demand for the implementation of the welfare package, whereas their counterparts in the livestock and veterinary sub-sector, categorised as health workers, have long been enjoying the benefit.

    He said the demand for the implementation of the allowance for workers, under the Agriculture and Allied Employees’ Union of Nigeria (AAEUN), is not on the basis of a penchant for allowances, but rather on a realistic appreciation of occupational dangers encounter on a day-to-day basis in the line of their duties.

    The IUF chief, submitted that both international and local research have validated that out of a total of 335,000 fatal workplace accidents that occur yearly globally, about 170,000, involve workers engaged in agricultural activities.

    He said even the advent of technology aimed at reducing stress and hardship associated with agriculture, has come with its risks which are related, not only to the operation of sophisticated machinery such as tractors and harvesters, but also exposure, resulting from intensive use of pesticides and a variety of agro-chemicals. According to him, these often account for  the high rate of illness, injury and even death of workers in the sector.

  • Union leaders take the oath

    Union leaders take the oath

    The Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) in Imo State, on Tuesday, held a swearing-in ceremony for the elected members of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) at the Resource Centre.

    The union leaders were elected in August in an exercise conducted by Independent Students’ Electoral Commission (ISEC) led by Uzoma Nwachukwu.

    The event started at 11 after the arrival of the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Chigozie Asiabaka. Other guests at the occasion included the Dean, Students’ Affairs, Prof M.C. Offor, Registrar, Mr Orje Ishe-Nor, and Bursar, Mr Don Nwokeocha, amongst others.

    Prof Asiabaka congratulated the union leaders, urging them to work as a team. He told them to deliver their promises to the students who voted for them, pledging the management’s support in the discharge of their duties.

    •Obinna (right) being sworn in
    •Obinna (right) being sworn in

    In his address, union president, Obinna Ezenwa, appreciated students for supporting his aspiration, promising to run a responsible administration.

    The highpoint of the event was oath-taking, which was administered on the union leaders by a member of the judicial arm of the union.

    Other members of the union include the Vice President, Vivian Ezechukwu, General Secretary, Elvis Onuoha, Assistant General Secretary, Stellamaris Onuoha, Finance Secretary, Smart Ekejiuba, Treasurer, Uzoamaka Ekezie, Public Relations Officer, Rochas Ogbonna, Director of Welfare, Ebuka Odunze, Director of Socials, Lynda Akwuagu, Director of Sport, Collins Ugwu, and Director of Transport, Nnamdi Madu.

    Amara Uju, a 300-Level student, described the event as historic, urging the union leaders to fulfil their promises.

  • Union advises Buhari to woo investors to agric sector

    Union advises Buhari to woo investors to agric sector

    As part of measures to encourage more people, especially youths to go into agriculture, Agriculture and Allied Employees Union of Nigeria (AAEUN) has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to encourage more foreign investors to invest in the country.

    Speaking at a reception for reporters, the National President of Nigeria branch of Ecosystem Based Adaptation for Food Security Assembly (EBAFOSA), a United Nations initiative and the Lagos State Chairman of AAEUN, Obafemi Oyenubi said agricultural products would be in high demand and  wastes would be checkmated if more investors are in the country.

    “The problem we have in the past is the issue of monopoly where exporters who have market abroad do not want other investors to come into the country”, he said.

    Obafemi said  Nigeria has a huge potential of being the leader in prosuction of various agricultural products in the world, giving the expanse of land and the favourable climate, but lamented that most of the products coming from farms now get perished easily.

    This he attributed to non availability of processing firms, who could easily take off the excess fresh products from the farmers, process and preserve it, thereby making farming as a profession or vocation, more rewarding.

    He advised the government to create an enabling environment for the would be investors, while also calling for the re-engineering of the old farm settlements across the country to further encourage those who want to go into agriculture.

    Speaking further on some of the government policy banning agricultural products, like rice, poultry and fish, the labour leader said this was not appropriate as Nigeria presently is not self sufficient in the production of these products.

    He said, “The problem is that most of the government policy is sectional, as it it done to favour some people. We should stop politicizing everything in the country. Some few peolpe who are producing these products are behind this,but you discover that what they are producing cannot be enough for the whole country, and Nigerians due to the scarcity of the products, will have to pay more. So it is the few rich that are bennefitting.”

    The National President of EBAFOSA, James Oyesola, in his contribution said  EBAFOSA seeks to combat food insecurity, climate change, ecosystems degradation and poverty in Africa using an innovative approach that decentralizes the development and application of the policy solutions in the least bureaucratic channel.

  • Union petitions EFCC over alleged fraud

    Union petitions EFCC over alleged fraud

    Workers under the aegis of the Chemical and Non Metallic Products Senior Staff Association and National Union of Chemical Footwear Rubber and Leather and Non Metallic Products Employees have petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC] over alleged fraud at the International Glass Industry [IGI] Aba.

    The union is appointing accusing fingers at a senior management staff of the organisation that is said to be colluding with one of the former general manager of the IGI, an Indian to defraud the company.

    The labour union said that the activities of the duo has made the Abia state government the owners of the industries to lose huge sums of money running into several billions of naira and is therefore asking the EFCC to wade into the matter.

    The petition, signed by Bar Eze Obinna Onwuma alleged that the management staff wields so much power.

    Also copied in the petition is the state governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, who the union also urged to intervene in the matter threatening the peaceful existence of the company.

  • Union celebrates ‘outstanding students’

    Union celebrates ‘outstanding students’

    The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Students’ Union Government (SUG) has held an award night to celebrate students with special talents and qualities and achievements.

    The event held at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium and was attended by guests from corporate organisations, including banks.

    It featured comedy, dance, music and an instant quiz tagged: Who Wants to be a Millionaire, where students contested to win N10,000 cash. The quiz became interesting when the first contestant jovially requested to walk away after the first question. The union president, Peter Oji, and members of the parliament also participated in quiz.

    Highlights of the event included presentation award and certificates of recognition to some students for their exceptional abilities. The Most Inspiring Aluta Leader award went to the union Vice President, Joy Nebo, while Most Punctual Parliament Member award went to Victor Emenike.

    The award for Filmmaker of the Year was given to Kingsley Nebo; Best Male Hostel of the Year award went to Eni Njoku Hall, Akpabio Female Hostel won the Best Female Hostel of the Year and Rotaract Club, the Best Club of the Year.

    Peter was honoured as the Grand Commander of the Lion Republic. The union president said the event also had a purpose as to celebrate graduating students for their excellence in academic and extra curriculum activities. The union leaders also hosted graduating physically-challenged students.

  • FUT MINNA elects union leaders

    A 400-Level Chemical Engineering student, Joseph Adeolu, has emerged the president of the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMINNA) Students’ Union Government (SUG). The election was held on Saturday at the school e-Centre on Gidan Kwano Campus.

    According to the results released by the union electoral commission, Adeolu garnered 1,388 votes to beat Kazeem Mohammed, who had 1,185 votes and Ibrahim Olayinka, with 885 votes.

    Rashidat Abdukareem was elected the Vice President 1, while and Justice Nwangbe emerged the Vice President II.

    Others elected include General Secretary, Richard Ayoola, Assistant General Secretary, Olayemi Babatunde, Financial Secretary, Benedicta Nwachukwu, Treasurer, Afolabi Olawale, Director of Sport, Dotun Lawan, Director of Social, Joshua Oluwafi, Welfare Officer 1, Saheed Tijani, and Welfare Officer II, Aminu Badamosi.

    However, some students criticised the method used by the electoral committee to conduct the exercise, saying some accreditation centres were overcrowded, which prevented many from voting.

    Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, Adenike Ojo, a 300-Level Chemical Engineering student, said the electoral committee made the process “very difficult”. She said the procedure used the previous year to conduct the union election was easier.

    A 200-Level Computer Engineering student, who identified himself as James, said the process “wasn’t as good as expected, but praised the committee for the outcome.

    Mohammed Buhari, another student, said: “The process was okay but next time, there should be an improvement.”

     

     

  • Union demands probe of governors over judiciary’s autonomy

    Union demands probe of governors over judiciary’s autonomy

    The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to probe governors who are against financial autonomy for the judiciary.

    Rising from its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting  in Abuja, JUSUN said the governor’s action amounted to floating the constitution and court order.

    According to a communique signed by the President, Comrade Marwan Mustapha Adamu and General Secretary, Isaiah Adetola, corruption can be reduced if judiciary is granted financial autonomy.

    The union said it had raised a committee on the matter.