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Tag: Warning strike

  • Warning strike: Osun govt workers stay away from offices

    Osun State government workers yesterday stayed away from the state secretariat, Osogbo, the state capital, in compliance with the directive of the Joint Labour Unions (JLU) to begin a three-day warning strike.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that all the offices at the state secretariat were under lock and key except the places manned by security personnel.

    The same scenario played out at the Olorunda and Osogbo local government secretariats, both in Osogbo.

    NAN recalls that the strike followed a notice issued on Tuesday by the state’s JLU, comprising the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

    The statement directed all civil servants in the state to begin a three-day warning strike to demand the payment of their salary arrears and other entitlements.

    In the statement, the unions urged the state government to pay the payment of 34 months’ salary arrears of 50 per cent for officers on Grade Level 08 and above, equalling 17 months full salary.

    “Payment of 34 months pension arrears of retired workers in the state, remittance of 34 months contributory pension arrears and payment of outstanding gratuity to all pensioners,” the statement said.

    Also, the workers are demanding payment of the 2016 leave allowances across board to officers of the state government.

    The Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Mr Adelani Baderinwa, said a meeting was being arranged with the workers to resolve the issues they raised.

    He said: “We always find a way of resolving whatever differences we have with the workers in the state. I assure you that this is not going to be an exception.

    “The issues raised are always being addressed, even without anybody asking. I am sure we are going to find a way of resolving the issues.”

  • Health workers in Ilorin to begin warning strike

    Health workers in Ilorin to begin warning strike

    •Plans to disrupt health minister’s visit

    Joint Health Workers Union (JOHESU) of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) yesterday marched against unpleasant working conditions.

    The union is planning a seven-day warning strike tomorrow.

    It accused the outgoing Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof. Abdulwaheed Olatinwo, of insensitivity to workers’ plight.

    The placard-carrying protesters told the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, who is to visit the hospital on Saturday, not to come.

    JOHESU’s Chairman in UITH Comrade Olatunde Oluwawumi lamented workers’ ordeal, and vowed that to shut down the hospital.

    He said: “We wrote to him about our demands two weeks ago, giving him an ultimatum. We also listed our demands and asked him to attend to lack of drugs, consumables and equipment in the hospital; payment of 2009 and 2011 promotion arrears; payment of skipping arrears.

    “But now we want the Federal Government to start to audit the accounts of teaching hospitals in the country. We don’t want the government to choose a Minister of Health from teaching hospital. During Prof. Eyitayo Lambo’s administration, there were no strikes because he is not a medical doctor and so was fair to all.

    “So long as the government chooses a medical doctor as minister, problems in the health sector will continue. If there is no response, we will wait for directives from the headquarters.

    “We pray and hope that God will give us the one who has the interest of members of staff at heart; who will have mercy on us and not deny us our rights and emoluments.

    “There is no water in the hospital, no electricity supply; the hospital has obsolete equipment. What we have discovered is that Prof. Olatinwo does not have the interest of the hospital at heart.

    “Instead of purchasing drugs and equipment, he prefers to build unwanted structures. They are building houses because of the 10 per cent they will get from contractors. The CMD is bringing the Minister of Health to inaugurate irrelevant structures. The man is leaving the hospital worse than he met it.

    “Based on all these issues, we are doing our befitting send forth for the CMD by this protest and planned strike which starts tomorrow.

    “We had a meeting with the man yesterday but he was adamant and gave us approval to go on with the strike. It shows the insensitivity of the chief executive.

    “We will meet the minister with our placards on Saturday so he will know the situation in the hospital.”

    The Director of Administration, Mr. D. Odaibo, said the management was aware of the issues raised. He added that the workers would be addressed when revenue improves and when approval is received from the Ministry of Health.

  • Row over Oyo workers’ warning strike

    Row over Oyo workers’ warning strike

    The Oyo State government and organised labour in the state are trading words on a three-day warning strike, which workers in the employ of the government started yesterday.

    While the government blamed labour unions for violating the rules stipulated in Section43 (1)(a) of the Trade Dispute Act 2010, thereby failing to honour government invitation to resolve the industrial dispute, the labour unions accused the government of peddling lies to cover up its shortcomings.

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) announced a three-day warning strike on Tuesday, which started yesterday, following the expiration of a seven-day notice to the government last Wednesday.

    Few workers turned up for work yesterday.

    Most of the offices were deserted.

    At some ministries, offices were open for work, but only few workers were seen.

    The entrance gates into the secretariat were manned by armed policemen, with three police patrol vans stationed in front of the gates.

    Dissatisfied by the reasons the unions gave for the warning strike, the government, in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Olalekan Alli, expressed dismay about how organised labour ignored government invitation for talks to resolve their grievances.

    The government warned the workers not to abandon their duty posts, saying it would enforce a “no-work, no-pay” rule, in line with the Trade Dispute Act 2010 Section 43(1)(a).

    The statement said: “The Oyo State government received a letter yesterday (January 23) from Labour, conveying its decision to embark on a three-day warning strike from January 24 to 26, on the following issues:

    • alleged 17-month arrears of salaries of workers in the state’s tertiary institutions
    • alleged 56-month arrears of pension and gratuity of retired primary school teachers, and
    • sack of 256 workers of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso.”

    He said the government invited Labour leaders to a meeting, which they promised to attend at 4 p.m yesterday but did not attend.

    The State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Waheed Olojede said: “For the purpose of setting the records straight, the unions, last Wednesday (January 17), issued a seven-day strike notice to the government, which expired on Tuesday. They never responded, even after the last day. So, at the close of work on Tuesday, the union called a congress of the workers, where it declared a three-day warning strike, beginning on Wednesday (yesterday).

    “It was on Wednesday, when the union received a letter from the government, inviting us to a meeting by 4 p.m. But we explained, through a letter to the government, that since the unions’ leaders do not live within Ibadan, the meeting slated for 4 p.m would be impossible. And we suggested that the meeting should come up at 12 noon on Thursday (today).”

    The NLC described the government’s threat of “no work, no pay” as empty.

    The government said it was doing everything humanly possible to make workers happy with the resources at its disposal.

    It added: “Salaries and pensions of workers at the state level have been paid up till and including November 2017 with only one month salary and pension (December 2017) outstanding.

    “By the laws setting up the tertiary institutions, government is not responsible for the payment of salaries of workers in those institutions. In order to assist them, government is ONLY obliged to grant the tertiary institutions subventions, which each institution would apply to whichever area of need that its Governing Council and Management may decide upon.

    “The recent forensic audit reports on the tertiary institutions revealed a great deal of shortcomings such as inefficiencies, leakages, poor management, and other ineptitudes.  Some institutions were even declared unsustainable and unviable. The consultant further recommended their closure.  However, the recently constituted Governing Councils have been mandated to review their statuses and act suitably.

    “Contrary to Labour’s allegation, although Government on assumption of office in 2011, inherited Local Government Pension arrears totalling N4,736,741,934.49, it is on record that Government has disbursed pensions and gratuity of retired primary school teachers to the tune of  N11,729,534,282.54.

    “Meanwhile, to avert further build up and eliminate the hardship arising therefrom, the Contributory Pension Scheme has been adopted as a solution to effectively address the issue.

    “In view of the foregoing, and while dialogue continues, Government views the unilateral declaration of a 3-day warning strike by Labour as absolutely illegal, unwarranted and unjustifiable.  Government hereby appeals to Labour to shelve its illegal unilateral industrial action.”

  • Crisis looms at DELSUTH as union embarks on warning strike

    CRISIS is looming at the Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara in Ethiope West Local Government.
    The state chapter of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria has notified the board Chairman, Dr. Chris Oghenechovwe, of a 21-day warning strike.
    It said it would embark on an indefinite strike should he fail to reinstate the two directors of administration and chief accountant posted from Asaba.
    The resolution, which was taken at an emergency meeting of the state council, took effect from March 8.
    It said failure by the chairman to address the demand, the union will go on an indefinite strike from April 1.
    A letter by the Secretary, Comrade V.N.C. Ochiaka, copied to the commissioner for health, head of service, director, State Security Service and others, demanded reinstatement of the director of administration and chief accountant.
    Other demands are implementation of the report of the White Paper by the government as it affects members’ welfare and recognition of the branch executive as the only organ the board can negotiate with on behalf of medical and health workers in DELSUTH.

  • LASPOTECH joins ASUP strike

    LASPOTECH joins ASUP strike

    Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has joined other chapters of the union on a one-week warning strike.

    The Chairman of the union’s LASPOTECH chapter, Akinriola Ibitoye stated this Monday at a press briefing following a congress held with members.

    The strike is expected to last till next Monday.

    Ibitoye, who described the strike as ‘total’, said it strike was commenced following government’s failure to meet the union’s demands.

    He added that stakeholders had evaluated the progress of polytechnic institutions in the country and how it affected the students.

    The chairman also said the chapter had therefore set up a committee to monitor the institution’s campus for compliance.

    “The main reason for the congress is to inform our members that there is a directive from the national body as to commencing the one-week warning strike. The reaction of our members was that we should join the strike and it should be a total strike.

    “When we say strike, it is not a local strike but a national strike because all resolutions are important and in one way or the other, the resolutions affects all of us. As a matter of fact, some rare fundamentals like the dichotomy against HND holders compared to BSc holders and that alone is enough reason to why the strike must commence.”

    Ibitoye also frowned at earlier statements that Lagos State Polytechnic Chapter of the union would not partake in the strike.

    A recent statement signed by the ASUP National leader, Usman Dutse, stated that lecturers in the nation’s polytechnics had been mobilized for the strike stressing that “we will withdraw our services, both academic and administrative jobs.’’

    Also among the union’s demands are the non-implementation of the NEEDS Assessment report since July 2014; sustained poor funding of Polytechnics, non-implementation and non-release of CONTISS 15 migration arrears; delay in review of the federal polytechnic act, among others.

  • LASU non-academic workers begin warning strike

    LASU non-academic workers begin warning strike

    The Non-academic staff of the Lagos State University (LASU) yesterday complied with the five-day warning strike by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) to press home their demands.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the unions are the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).
    SSANU-LASU Chapter chairman Saheed Oseni told NAN that the unions complied with the strike in line with the directive of their national bodies.
    Oseni said administrative activities were grounded because of the strike.
    He said a strike monitoring team was in place to ensure that workers complied with the action.
    Oseni urged the government to attend to the issues raised by the unions’ national leaders before the warning strike elapsed.
    “But we will await further directive from our leaders on the next line of action if the government does otherwise, as failure to do the needful, will be unacceptable to the unions,’’ he said.
    NASU-LASU chairman Albert Agosu said NASU-LASU earlier sent a letter to management to inform it of the action.
    “Henceforth, for the five days declared, the strike will be total as directed,’’ he said.
    The JAC declared the strike because of what it called the Federal Government’s inability to implement the 2009 Agreements with the unions.
    It said a joint letter for the strike by SSANU President, Samson Ugwoke, NAAT President Sani Suleiman and NASU President Chris Ani, was sent to the Minister of Education.
    The letter, it said, was copied the Minister of Labour and Employment, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission and President of Nigeria Labour Congress.
    The statement quoted the committee as saying: “The university system is challenged by poor governance and administrative lapses which need to be addressed holistically.
    “Poor funding of our universities, shortfall in payment of staff salaries, increasing corruption in the university system should be addressed’’.

  • NASU, SSANU begin one-week warning strike

    NASU, SSANU begin one-week warning strike

    Non-academic unions in Nigerian universities yesterday began a one-week warning strike to protest the Federal Government’s non-implementation of the 2009 agreement it entered into with it.
    Chairman, University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) NASU, Mr. Yakubu Simon, told reporters that the strike began after series of meetings with members of the union.
    Simon said the Federal Government needed to implement the 2009 agreement for the good of all universities.
    His words: “We are on strike because of poor funding, increase in corruption in the system, as well as shortfall in staff salaries and more. It is a one-week warning strike and we will take our decision at the end of the strike.
    “On corruption, management of universities should find a way of fighting it. If a particular person is found wanting and is brought to book, it will deter others.
    “Students also need to help us by reporting any lecturer who asks for bribe instead of keeping such issues to themselves.
    “By doing so, it will help us curb corruption on the campus.”

  • Varsity unions begin 5-day warning strike tomorrow

    Varsity unions begin 5-day warning strike tomorrow

    Non Academic Staff of Nigerian Universities under the auspices of Joint Action Committee is to begin a five-day warning strike tomorrow, to protest government’s refusal to implement the tenets of the 2009 agreement for non teaching staff.
    The notice of the warning strike signed by the presidents of the three unions, Comrades Samson C. Ugwoke, (SSANU President), Sani Suleiman, President of NAAT and Chris O. Ani, President of NASU, was copied to the Ministers of Education, Labour and Employment, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission and President, Nigeria Labour Congress.
    The unions said the warning strike had become necessary in order to force government to take necessary action to fully implement the 2009 FGN/Non-Teaching Staff Unions Agreements it freely entered into with the unions.
    They said that the university system is challenged by poor governance and administrative lapses which need to be addressed holistically.
    They lament lack of adequate teaching and learning facilities which they said has reduced the productivity of their members and the non-payment of Earned Allowances being product of the 2009 Agreement.
    They also want the government to immediately resolve the issues of the Nigerian University Pension Management Commission (NUPEMCO), which is expected to address the problem of university staff pensions, the non implementation of the National Industrial Court (NIC), judgment on university staff schools and the non-implementation of the negotiated career structure for technologists, CONTISS 14 and 15.

  • Labour begins action with NUPENG’s warning strike

    Labour begins action with NUPENG’s warning strike

    Labour is set to begin a regime of strikes from tomorrow when junior oil workers down tools for a three-day warning strike.
    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has also expressed its readiness to go on strike soon if the minimum wage is not raised from N18,000.
    The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) also yesterday raised the alarm over looming scarcity of the petrol and the high cost of kerosene.
    At the end of last year, labour leaders warned the government that strikes would characterize this year because of unresolved issues.
    The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) said y there is no going back on its warning strike scheduled to commence tomorrow to protest unresolved labour issues with multinationals operating in the oil and gas industry.
    The South-West Zonal Chairman of the union, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the union had mobilised its members for the strike.
    “The warning strike notice had been given since the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting that was held in Port Harcourt in December and we picked second week of January which commences from Jan 8.
    “We are having another NEC meeting in Abuja on Jan. 10, to appraise the preparation for the planned strike and meet the government officials.
    “It has been the practice of the Nigerian government to wait until the ultimatum day before they start to run from one place to other to find solutions to it.
    The NLC said the government must set up a tripartite committee to review the minimum wage.
    According to the Labour leadership, the N56,000 proposed increase is no longer tenable because of inflation and other economic indices.
    NLC General Secretary Comrade Peter Ozo-Eson said: “The issue of minimum wage remains sacrosanct because of the fact that by law and practice, the review is due and overdue. We have said clearly that we cannot guarantee any industrial peace any longer if necessary steps are not taken by government to try to resolve this issue this year.
    “This is very clear because as we said, we have sent formal notice of demand as required by law to government to try to constitute the committee.
    “Essentially, the committee to dialogue and negotiate the minimum wage which is supposed to be tripartite has not been set up. If it is set up, all of you will be aware of the membership and also their terms of reference and the timeline given to them to actually dispose with this very vital issue.
    Ozo-Eson said the N56,000 proposal was made some years back when the economy was not as bad as this, adding that the meeting between the stakeholders and the government would address this.
    He said:: “We made the N56,000 proposal as at the time the situation was not as worst as this. Lots of things have changed. Prices of things have gone up. So what we propose them was based on the situation on ground. “These are the things the tripartite meeting will address.
    President of the United labour Congress (ULC) Comrade Joe Ajaero, said the acceptable minimum wage for the Nigerian workers in the present economic circumstances is the N96,000 being proposed by the l ULC to the Federal Government.
    IPMAN Vice President Alhaji Abubakar Dankigari, yesterday said the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which sold petrol for N133 per litre at the depots, was no longer loading.

  • Strike: UI ASUU suspends ongoing examinations

    Strike: UI ASUU suspends ongoing examinations

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Ibadan chapter, says it will ensure total compliance with the directives by its national body to proceed on one- week warning strike.

    The union announced this on Tuesday at a congress held at the Faculty of Arts, presided over by its chairman, Dr Deji Omole,

    The union also resolved that the ongoing examinations at the Faculty of Education stand suspended till after the strike.

    The congress was attended by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Idowu Olayinka and some Deans of Faculties.

    Omole said that letters of the strike have been sent to the Vice-Chancellor, Deans, Head of Departments and Director of Institutes to stop all academic meetings, lectures, examinations and ‎all board meetings.

    He said that it was in the spirit of accommodating Nigerians and letting them judge between the union and the government that the union decided to proceed on one-week warning strike‎.

    In a letter addressed to the Vice-Chancellor, ASUU UI stated that “We write to inform you that the strike will be total and comprehensive.

    “No teaching, no examination and no attendance at statutory meetings of any kind.

    “In line with the national directive of the union, our members will henceforth withdraw their services till the end of the warning strike,” the letter stated.