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Tag: United Labour Congress (ULC)

  • Nigerian labour leaders are hypocrites, says Ajaero

    President of the yet-to-be-registered Labour Centre, the United Labour Congress (ULC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, has said labour leaders in Nigeria play double standard and are hypocritical in things that concern their members and other Nigerians.

    Ajaero spoke on Wednesday when he led some leaders of the ULC to protest its non-registration at the ongoing International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland.

    He said Nigeria labour leaders often went to Geneva to criticise what was going on in other countries while closing their eyes to situations back in Nigeria.

    The union leader stressed that some labour unions in Nigeria were often opposed to the registration of new unions.

    According to him, such behaviour runs counter to the principles of freedom of association, which is one of the hallmarks of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

    Ajaero also faulted a statement credited to the immediate past Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, that the ULC was not registered because it had not met the requirements for registration.

    The union leader recalled that Ngige was only quoting the relevant laws upside down.

    He said: “There is freedom of association, but we are seeing victimisation of unionists for belonging to unions of their choice. You see people quoting obsolete laws, apparently to stop unions from existing or restrict people from belonging to unions of their choice.

    Read Also: Ajaero’s faction backs out of strike

    “Our mission here is to tell the whole world that Nigeria and Nigerian unions are paying lip service to freedom of association. We have a situation where unions discourage the formation of new unions.

    “Most unions in Nigeria …don’t want other unions to exist. This is against the freedom of association in Nigeria. We have seen a lot of hypocrisy in Nigeria. You come to Geneva and criticise the situation in Sudan and you fail to look at the violence in Nigeria and the number of people who have died, who could be more than those who have died in Sudan.

    “That is hypocrisy of the highest order; either from the state or Nigerian leaders in Geneva. I think the international community should know the situation in Nigeria so that if there is a need for them to assist us, they will do so. We came here to highlight that the hypocrisy in Nigerian labour unions must cease.

    “That hypocrisy also affects the movement to the extent that while we were talking about the N18,000 minimum wage, reviewed now to N30,000, some states were not paying N18,000.

    “As a result of that hypocrisy, those unions and labour centre in charge of those states kept criminal silence. A state like Zamfara was still paying N7,500 and the entire labour movement in Nigeria, the unions and centres in charge of those sectors kept quiet.

    “A state like Lagos was not paying the minimum wage; Imo was paying 70 per cent. If there is no awareness created by the press, the N30,000 minimum wage will be sold out.

    “So, we should go back to Nigeria and do our homework. We should not be seen as saints in Nigeria, while we suffer at home. So, we should go back to Nigeria and put our house in order.”

    Faulting the non-registration of ULC by the former Ministry of Labour, Ajaero said: “The minister was wrong in what he said about the non-registration of ULC because he was hinging that on the attainment of 12 new unions. That is why he was saying there were few unions remaining for the ULC to be registered.

    “The law is very clear that 12 unions can form a centre. But the minister refused to recognise existing unions and instead was talking about forming 12 new unions. That is a complete breach of Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution which says that everybody has a right to belong to a political party of his choice, a religion of his choice and a union of his choice.

    “I have never seen where it is said that for belonging to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), you cannot belong to the All Progressivees Congress (APC). Even in secret societies, you can leave and join another organisation. It is only in the labour movement that somebody is telling you that the moment you join centre A, you cannot leave until you die.”

    Ajaero emphasised that since the Trade Union Act was in conflict with the constitution, the constitution should have taken precedence, saying “you can’t quote the Trade Union Acts when the constitution has spoken. So, for the Minister or any other person for that matter to violate the constitution, it is wrong and not acceptable to us. We have been playing this down and that is why I spoke about freedom.

    Asked if they have challenged the decision in any court of law, he said: “As we speak, the only letter we got from the Ministry is that they have received our application for registration and is being processed. Before you head to court, you must have evidence that you have been rejected.

    “I have it on good authority that it took TUC about 27 years to be registered and the law was still clear that the moment you fulfil these things, you exist.

    “Even before they were registered, the government was inviting them to meetings until they were registered even though they were having little disagreement with the NLC.

    “They were recognised just like ULC is recognised now, but not yet registered and that was why he invited them to the valedictory speech. The process of doing these things are within them and if they do us a letter saying we will not be registered because you existed somewhere before and you must remain there. Then, we will be talking about taking legal steps.”

     

  • Prioritise workers’ welfare, union tells Gov. Bello

    The United Labour Congress (ULC), has called on the Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to prioritize workers’ welfare and clear salary backlog.

    Mr Simeon Opaluwa made the call in a statement by Wale Abydeen, President, Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists (NGIJ) on Sunday in Abuja.

    “Opaluwa, the state chairman of ULC, while chatting with members of the NGIJ on Media Tour of the state in Lokoja, noted that the state civil servants were not happy.

    “Civil servants are not happy due to inability of the state government to clear outstanding salaries and pensions, and the ugly situation is having an adverse effect on the economy of the state.

    “Kogi is a civil service state and any development without payment of salary amounts to nothing.

    He said that the core responsibility of any government was to provide security and prioritise the welfare of the people.

    “I can categorically say that Bello has failed woefully in the area of welfare and he must address the issue of salary backlog without further delay,’’ he said.

    Read Also: Kogi poll: Odds against Bello

    Opaluwa, however, admitted that the governor had so far been able to eliminate many ghost workers from its payroll through the screening exercise, but salaries had not been regular.

    He commended the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, for what he described as “an impressive performance in area of health, security, road construction and revival of cultural activities, especially in Igala land’’.

    The labour leader advised the governor to sustain his achievement in area of security, so as to avoid the return of thuggery, hooliganism, kidnapping and other criminal activities in the state.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NGIJ during the tour of the state met with some officials of the state including Mrs Folasade Ayoade, the Secretary to the State Government who represented the governor.

    The NGIJ team was also expected to meet with the state Accountant General, Alhaji Momoh Jubril, to get the official angle to the issue of staff verification, utilisation of bailout funds and payment of salaries.

  • Minimum wage: Organised Labour rejects FG’s technical committee

    Labour leaders have rejected plans by the Federal Government to set up another high-powered technical committee on the new national minimum wage.

    Leaders of the union comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the United Labour Congress (ULC) stated this in a communiqué jointly signed at the end of a national leadership meeting of organised labour in Nigeria.

    They dismissed the establishment of another committee in Lagos on Thursday as diversionary and delay tactics.

    They lamented almost two months after submission of the report by the national minimum wage tripartite committee, which included a draft bill, no bill has been submitted to the National Assembly for passage into law.

    NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said: “As far as we are concerned, all the issue has been addressed by the Tripartite Committee.

    “This one is a delay tactic by the Federal Government and it will not work”.

    ULC President Comrade Joe Ajaero said it is not the duty of the Federal Government to know how the states or private sector will implement the minimum wage.

    “Federal Government should allow the labour union in each state to discuss with their states government on how to start the implementation,” Ajaero said.

    They explained the Federal Government was expected to transmit the new national minimum wage bill to the national Assembly on or before the 31st of December 2018.

    They noted the Federal Government was planning to set up a high-powered technical committee, which they considered alien to the tripartite process and ILO convention on national minimum wage setting mechanism.

    They urged workers to be vigilant and prepared to campaign and vote against candidates and political parties not supportive of implementations of the new national minimum wage.

    TUC’s President Comrade Bobboi Kaigama said if government fails to transmit the bill to the National Assembly for implementation on or before 31st of December, labour will re-open the suspended strike.

    “Organised Labour will not guarantee industrial peace and harmony if after the 31st of December 2018, the draft bill is not transmitted to the national assembly,” he said.

     

  • Labour calls for quick passage of wage bill after negotiation

    The organised labour on Sunday called for the immediate passage of the National Minimum Wage bill into law as soon as the committee concludes negotiation.

    Mr Joe Ajaero, President of the United Labour Congress (ULC) made the called at the end of its Central Working Committee meeting in Lagos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria {NAN) reports that the committee is expected to wrap up negotiation on the minimum wage bill in August.

    Ajaero said that the minimum wage negotiation had dragged on for too long and the committee should endeavour to meet up with the deadline.

    “We also hope that all relevant agencies that should implement the new wage will do so as soon as the bill is passed,’’ he said.

    The ULC president also called for the immediate payment of arrears of severance packages owed to defunct Nigeria Airways workers and Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

    According to him, this is necessary to end the suffering of 48,000 electricity workers whose payment was not fully made and 2,000 others who were not paid at all.

    “50,000 workers were disengaged during the PHCN privatisation in 2013,  48,000 workers received their severance package but short changed by six months while 2,000 workers were not paid,’’ he said.

    Ajaero said that in spite of various negotiations on the issue nothing has been achieved.

    The labour leader called on the National Assembly to review exiting industrial relations and other labour laws to alien with modern reality in work places.

    He said that it was necessary for all stakeholders to be carried along in the process of crafting a better and progressive law.

    He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill since it has already been passed.

    He further called on the government to release the certificate of the ULC so that the nation’s industrial relations clime would be inclusive and robust.

  • Labour wants Ngige to clarify comments on minimum wage

    The United Labour Congress (ULC) on Friday told the Minister of Labour and Employment Dr. Chris Ngige, to explain his `double-speak’ on the planned new minimum wage, to avoid confusion on the issue.

    On May 30, Ngige announced that the new National Minimum Wage would not be paid to workers by the end of September, contrary to a previous announcement by the Federal Government.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) labour correspondent reports that Ngige’s announcement appears to have dampened the morale of workers, who have been expecting a new wage in September.

    Nigeria currently operates a wage structure for civil servants, described as one of the lowest in the world, despite its position as Africa’s top oil-bearing nation.

    Addressing newsmen in Lagos, the President of the ULC, Mr Joe Ajaero, told Ngige to clarify his statement to avoid creating tension among workers.

    He said that the minister’s statement that the wage would no longer be paid in September amounted to double-speak on the matter.

    Ajaero described the minister’s statement as unfortunate, saying that he should have consulted with members of the tripartite committee on the minimum wage before making an announcement on the wage.

    “We are not sure the stakeholders, who are members of the committee were consulted and this is undemocratic and lacks due process.

    “Our fear and worry is that the statement is laden with intentions.’’

    Ajaero said there was need to be sensitive to the plight of Nigerian workers, who had been facing immense hardships over the years.

    The labour leader said it would not be good for any government official to sabotage the interest of workers, vowing that the labour movement would not accept anything that would affect workers adversely.

    He assured workers that labour would continue to put pressure on government to ensure that the committee submitted its report next month.

  • Aviation unions ground operations at Bristow, Caverton helicopters

    Aviation unions ground operations at Bristow, Caverton helicopters

    Aviation Unions on Thursday grounded the operations of Bristow Helicopters and Caverton Helicopters over refusal of their management to address issues bordering on the welfare of their members. The unions comprised of National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers ( NAAPE ), Association of Aviation Professionals ( ANAP ), and other affilates in the United Labour Congress ( ULC ).

    Members of the unions in the two helicopter companies withdrew their services, including the supply of fuel until issues raised by the unions are equitably resolved.

    At the General Aviation Terminal ( GAT ), wing of the Lagos Airport, scores of union members blocked the entrance and exit gates of Bristow Helicopters to prevent passengers and others planning to patronise the firm from gaining access.

    Singing solidarity songs and dancing to music blaring from loud speakers, the union members expressed disenchantment over the way and manner the management of Bristow Helicopters maltreats and humilate its Nigerian workers.

    They dislayed placards with inscriptions that drives home the maltreatment of Nigerian workers by the helicopter company.

    Some of the placards reads: “Racism in Bristow must stop”.

    “Nigerian Jobs for Nigerians”

    “We say no to forced labour in Bristow”.

    “Stop abusing and violating our rights and privileges “.

    Addressing members of the unions, National President of NAAPE, Comrade Galadima Abednego said they were forced to shut down Bristow and Caverton Helicopters because of the failure of their management to address issues concerning their members.

    He said attempts by NAAPE in the last four years to impress it on the management of Bristow to do the needfull has failed despite interventions by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Federal Ministry of Interior and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA ).

    He said : “The management of Bristow Group has been unrelenting in violating both the spirit and letters of the Conditions of Service wittingly agreed to by them. 

    The airline has kept pilots and engineers progression at bay.

    Refusal to pay for forced work rotation which they kept in place for the whole year January to December of 2017. 

    Declared redundancy but refused to offer any justification as required by labour law and Condition of Service, while bidding for time to render potential victims helpless. 

    Commenced a policy of witch-hunting, intimidation and victimization of union members leading to arbitrary sacking of a pilot without recourse to the procedures established in the Conditions of Service. 

    Created and forced engineers into a shift pattern that requires them work for in excess of what is agreed in the Conditions of Service.

    Read also: Buhari vows to improve aviation infrastructure

    “Our union has tried its best to be calmed, composed and matured under this maze of malfeasance on the part of the management. 

    “We have tried every form of engagement with the hope of securing an amicable settlement of these issues. But our forbearance has been taken for granted, and our patience has been repaid with scorn and mocking by the management.

    “Having no further means to get amelioration, our union has no alternative than to embark on this industrial action.” 

    The NAAPE President said the strike could only be called off, if the management of Bristow takes steps to resolve pending issues.

    He said : “Accordingly, this strike action will remain in place until the following demands are met.

    “That the  management of Bristow Group justifies their extraordinary recruitment of expatriates, or streamlines the  number of expatriates in its employ to be in alignment with Nigeria’s Expatriate Quota Laws.

    “Recalls the NAAPE member sacked arbitrarily with due apology and immediately locate all pilots and engineers appropriately on the progression matrix established by the Conditions of Service.

    “Pay  arrears of all work done as per approved pay structures in the company  as  contained in the Conditions of Service,  abrogate all shift systems that are contrary to the progressions of the Conditions of  Service and for work done presently in excess of approved hours of work in the  Conditions of Service. 

    “Undertake to abstain from current strong arm tactics, impunity, intimidation, manipulation of facts, and general recklessness.

    “We call on the Minister of Labour and employment, the Minister of Interior,  Minister of State, Aviation, the leadership of the National Assembly, the Director General of the NCAA and all agencies of government connected to these issues to come to our aid  in confronting and bringing under control, this hydra-headed monster called Bristow Helicopters. 

    This will be in the general interest of Nigeria and her citizens, as well as the orderly development of the aviation sector in Nigeria.” 

    On Caverton, the NAAPE boss said the firm’s operations was shut because it has been shortchanging its members.

    He said : “We shut down Caverton Helicopters operations because the the condition of service has expired. The management has been using delay tactics.”

  • No truth to fuel scarcity in Ogun – DPR

    No truth to fuel scarcity in Ogun – DPR

    • Urges consumers not to panic

    The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on Wednesday said there was no truth to the information making the round that “scarcity of fuel” had hit Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, and Sagamu area of the state.

    The Nation gathered that the rumoured scarcity of petroleum in the state was fueled by the United Labour Congress (ULC) strike which a section of the oil workers joined on Monday, but later suspended on Wednesday.

    The DPR urged consumers in Ogun  not to resort to “panic purchase” as there were enough petroleum products in all the retail outlets visited in the state by its field Operatives, dismissed the scarcity and attendant worries as one induced by “rumours.”

    The DPR Chief Inspection Officer, Lagos Zonal office, Umaru Mohammed, made this known to reporters in Abeokuta, after he led a team of officers to inspect over a dozen filling stations in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, and its environs.

    Umaru added that the team elected to take a proactive step in line with the DPR mandate to “do a general check on distribution pattern and volume of sales going on in the retail outlets in Ogun state to guard against hoarding of the products.”

    He said: “the rumours have gone round that there is no fuel. People said tank farms are not loading. We are trying to be proactive and tell the public that there should be no panic buying. And we have a lot of products in the retail outlets. We have gone round to see for ourselves and also asked the taxi drivers.

    “We want to assure the public that all these are mere rumours. There should not be panic purchase. Things are normal.”

  • Labour union rejects bill on hate speeches

    Labour union rejects bill on hate speeches

    …Issues two-week ultimatum to Fed Govt

     

    The United Labour Congress (ULC) has rejected a proposed bill seeking to criminalise hate speeches.

    It said the bill’s intention was to prevent any criticism of public office holders when passed into law.

    This was among demands ULC said must be met by the Federal Government within two weeks or it embarks on a nation-wide strike.

    “The proposed Bill at the National Assembly seeking to control free speech couched under the guise of the Bill Against Hate Speech has the real intention of protecting the ruling elite from being held accountable by the citizenry.

    “We, therefore, demand the discontinuance of that obnoxious Bill by whoever sponsored it,” ULC said in a statement by its General Secretary Comrade Didi Adodo.

    ULC, made up of labour groups including the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), said it has constituted strike committee after the Federal Government failed to meet its demands.

    “It is a large committee made up of 15-members drawn from some industrial Unions who are affiliates of the ULC,” it said.

    ULC issued a fresh ultimatum to the Federal Government which it said must be met on or before September 8, failing which it shall be forced to embark a nation-wide strike.

    Among the demands is that the Federal Government bans the stationing of the soldiers and policemen in workplaces and factory premises.

    It said the Federal Ministry of Labour should set up a task force immediately to carry out factory inspections as most of the factories are death traps.

    ULC called for the immediate inauguration of the national minimum wage negotiating committee.

    The Labour organisation called for the immediate payment of all the arrears of salaries owed workers at all levels of Government without exception.

    ULC also wants an immediate review of the privatisation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to save Nigerians the agony of suffering under the suffocating darkness.

    It wants the Federal Government to honour its 2009 agreement with university lecturers so that universities will re-open.

    The statement added: “The roads leading to all the Petroleum refineries and depots nation-wide be repaired to avoid the present carnage of lives, wastage of products and properties on these roads.

    “The withholding of registration certificate of the ULC be stopped and the certificate released forthwith so that the nation’s Industrial Relations clime will be made more inclusive and robust.

    “If these demands are not met within two weeks of this date, the ULC shall embark on Industrial actions to assist your Government respect the interests of workers and the citizenry,” the statement added.

     

  • May Day: NUPENG Warriors floor Electricity Bombers in novelty match

    The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) Warriors on Sunday defeated the National Union Electricity Employees (NUEE) Bombers 3-1 in a novelty match.

    The match was organised in Lagos by the United Labour Congress (ULC) as part of activities to celebrate May Day, held annually by workers on May 1.

    Mr Joe Ajaero, ULC President, said that it was the first time such a sporting activity would be organised in the spirit of May Day celebration.

    Ajaero, who scored the only goal for NUEE Bombers in the match, said it was pertinent to organise such sport for unionists because of the need for them to exercise.

    “ULC is trying to involve members in recreation activities. It will not only be protest and prolonged demand; and we intend to sustain it annually.

    “It is also important to exercise because between January and April this year, the organised labour has lost four general secretaries. Our health should be our priority,” he said.

    The ULC leader,who said he was happy scoring the only goal for his side, promised that subsequent football matches would be made more colouful.

    Mr Joseph Ogbebor, NUPENG Warriors team manager, told NAN that the objective of the match was to add colour to the May Day celebration.

    “It is not a time to make speeches but to create an atmosphere for people to relax and have fun,” Ogbebor said.

    He said he was happy that the NUPENG team won the match.

    The team manager for NUEE Bombers, Mr Isaac Babatunde, told NAN that the game was aimed at making solidarity stronger.

    According to Babatunde, the labour movement is full of struggle, hence the need to entertain one another.

    He said that though they lost the match, it was played in the spirit of love.

    Babatunde said he looked forward to a better performance by the team next year.

  • Workers deserve N96, 000 minimum wage — ULC

    The Northern Coordinator, United Labour Congress (ULC), John Gimbason on Saturday reiterated the union’s demand for N96,000 minimum wage for workers in the country.

    Gimbason, also former Kaduna State NLC chairman spoke while inaugurating a ULC 12-member State Executive Council on Saturday in Kaduna.

    He said the proposal was realistic and realisable considering the current inflation in the nation’s economy and in view of workers’ contributions to nation’s building.

    He said that the new Labour Centre had opened negotiations with the Federal Government on the proposed N96, 000 minimum wage, assuring members that the proposal would soon yield fruits.

    According to him, while workers are over burdened with lots of responsibilities, they receive stipends as monthly salaries, even as some others do not receive their wages for months.

    He frowned at the Kaduna State government’s plan to sell off government quarters to the highest bidder, saying that it was unacceptible and called for the reversal of the decision.

    He appealed to the 25 unions under the ULC to give their maximum cooperation to ensure that workers in both public and private sectors were treated with human face.

    Meanwhile, the State Chairman of the ULC, Ephriam James, in his inaugural speech, said the council would ensure that workers in the state were liberated to earn salaries they deserve.

    He said the Union would engage the state government and other employers of labour in dialogue to ensure they arrived at agreements to improve welfare of workers.

    James, also State chairman, National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), assured that whatever decision taken at the national level would be replicated in the state, especially with regard to wages.

    He called for support from members and 25 affiliated unions that formed the United Labour Congress to seek improved welfare of workers in the state without compromise.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NUPENG, NUBIFIE and NUEE officials were among notable associations that attended the inauguration.