The Nation Newspaper

Tag: welfare

  • Benue Speaker advocates better welfare for teachers

    Benue Speaker advocates better welfare for teachers

    Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly, Mr. Terkimbi Ikyange, has advocated a better welfare package for teachers so as to compliment the important role they play in reshaping learners into better citizens.

    He said the time has come for people who are in position of authority to consider themselves as the creation of teachers, and as such begin to fashion out policies and programmes that would reposition the teaching profession to its pride of place in the country.

    The Speaker in a message of felicitation to teachers in the state as they celebrated this year’s World Teachers Day, said the theme for the celebration, “Empowering Teachers, building sustainable societies” and the sub-theme as “Better working conditions for teachers as a means of better learning conditions for learners” were not only apt but timely.

    He argued that a society that does not empower its teachers through training, enhanced welfare packages and comfortable working environment would witness a steady decline in the quality of graduates.

    While acknowledging the difficulties being faced by teachers in the state as a result of delayed payment of salaries, the speaker blamed it on the last administration and appealed to teachers to be patient with the Ortom administration, assuring that everything was being done to alleviate their hardship.

    Ikyange charged teachers to rededicate themselves to the task of building a solid educational base for the country.

     

  • Lagos promises to improve security, welfare

    As the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) marked the World Teachers’ Day, the Lagos State government promised to improve security in schools.

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, addressed the teachers during their programme to mark the day at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Sports Complex.

    Represented by his deputy, Dr Idiat Adebule, he assured the teachers of the government’s determination to protect them from harassment of outsiders in the course of carrying out their obligations in schools.

    “We are aware of the security issues in some of our public schools as a result of encroachment by some individuals or groups of people.  This will be decisively addressed as this administration will not compromise the safety and security of its citizens including students and teachers,” he said.

    In line with NUT Theme for this year, “Empowering teachers, building sustainable societies”, Ambode said his administration would empower teachers through regular training.

    He also said the state was recruiting 1,300 teachers for public primary schools.

    In his speech, Chairman of the NUT, Lagos Wing, Comrade Adesegun Raheem, urged the government to address seven issues affecting teachers and public schools in Lagos State.

    They include, shortage of classroom teachers; the restriction of Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary post to only serving principals; creation of Headmaster general post to boost the career of primary school teachers; and improvement/extension of Eko project to primary schools.

    Others are: increment of running costs from N20,000 per month; returning schools to former owners with caution; and appointment of professionals in positions of authority within the education sector.

    On his part, the National President, NUT, Comrade Michael Alogba Olukoya, represented by Mrs Adebola Raheem from NUT Abuja, advised the Federal Government to address problems of security challenges, poor funding of primary education; privatisation and commercialisation of education; and bail out states to pay workers’ salaries.

     

  • TUC urges Odusile to fight for NUJ members’ welfare

    TUC urges Odusile to fight for NUJ members’ welfare

    The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has congratulated the new National President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Waheed Odusile, urging him to use his position to fight and improve the welfare of journalists.

    In a congratulatory letter signed by the Secretary General of the union, Comrade  Musa Lawal, the TUC said: “On behalf of the President, the National Administrative Council (NAC) and entire members of the Congress, we hereby heartily congratulate you on your recent election as National President of the NUJ. We also felicitate with your union on the peaceful and successful conduct of the elections.”

    Lawal said an overview of Odusile’s election manifesto leaves TUC persuaded of his ability to take the practice of journalism to greater levels in Nigeria.  “We trust that you would ensure the entrenchment of professionalism and high ethical standards in the practice of journalism in the country, bearing in mind the fact that mismanagement of information does no society any good,” he said.

    The union implored Odusile to work assiduously to improve the welfare of the NUJ members. “Taking into cognisance the risks involved on the job, a good insurance programme that guarantees the future of journalists would be a welcome initiative.

    “We also urge you to make the issue of training and re-training of journalists a priority during your tenure to ensure that journalists in the country stand tall among their counterparts in other parts of the world and sustain the respect the profession commands globally,” Lasal advised.

    He said the congress is particularly disturbed that several journalists, who are also heads of families, are owed as much as 10 months salaries at a time when their counterparts in other countries are being well taken care of. This is very improper, and we hope your administration will rise up to the challenge,” the union said.

  • NPA workers seek better welfare

    The Senior Staff Association  of Communications Trans-port and Corporation (SSACTAC), Maritime branch, has urged Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Managing Director Alhaji Lamido Sanusi Ado Bayero to ensure workers’welfare.

    The workers blamed the immediate past Managing Director, Mallam Habib Abdullahi, for what they called “poor remuneration”, urging Bayero not to follow his footsteps.

    For almost two years that Abdullahi served as the helmsman, SSACTAC President Comrade Benson Adegbeyeni said, the workers did not benefit from his administration.

    “The sacked Managing Director, Abdullahi rose from the Personnel Department of NPA to what he was, but he failed to understand that workers were supposed to be taken proper care of.

    “The new MD has inherited so many challenges which the sacked MD failed to address.

    “The challenges are numerous, and they included the new minimum wage. For the last four years, our salary has not changed, even during the administration of Abdullahi, it was the same and that is why we are telling the new MD to understand that truly, he has inherited so many challenges.

    “We have been promised up to this period, yet we have not earned the new wages, promotion and the issue of financial guide is also there,” he added.

    Adegbeyeni also said concessioning of the ports had caused more havoc than good, pointing out that the process was a failure.

    Also, the retrenched workers of the NPA have appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan and the President-elect Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on NPA to pay their entitlement 24 years after they were sacked.

    At a conference in Lagos, the chairman of the retrenched workers Comrade Babriel Shotunde said hundreds of their members who were sacked in 1991 have died due to hardship, noting that some families have divorced because of poverty and other domestic challenges.

    He added that the workers who were sacked in 1991 had sought redress at the court, stressing that the NPA refusal to obey the judgment of the courts which directed it to pay the sacked workers.

    “We are about 2,750 retrenched staff of NPA in 1991, although 7,000 workers were forcefully served letters of retrenchment. Some were due for pension having served 15 years and above while others were due for retirement.

    “This has led to premature death of our members as a result of the wretchedness and poverty. For instance, at the Calabar Port, 60 out of the 201 workers sacked from there are dead.

    “Our children born 24 years ago when the incident happened now roam the streets because we could not afford to send them to higher institutions,” he said.

    Shotunde urged President Jonathan prevail to on NPA to obey court judgement to pay the workers. “We are equally calling on President elect Buhari to intervene on our behalf to end our suffering which started in 1991.

    “With no inheritance or property of their own most of our members have become professional beggars and insolvent. We appeal to government to halt the impunity of NPA to pay us our dues.”

     

  • 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.

  • Labour may down tools over welfare

    Labour may down tools over welfare

    •Civil servants condemn Assembly fracas

    The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has threatened to call its members in the federal public service out on strike if the Federal Government continues to dilly dally over the union’s demands for government to address the avalanche of welfare issues affecting its teeming members.

    This fresh strike is coming barely one month after the union paralysed activities at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Education, the Inspectorate Offices, and the 104 Federal Unity Colleges (FUCs) for four weeks over non-payment of promotion arrears and other allowances.

    In a press statement issued in Lagos and signed by its Secretary-General, Comrade Alade Bashir Lawal, the union drew the attention of the general public to the fact that the Federal Government had refused to enter into meaningful dialogue with the association to address lingering labour issues captured in 12 memoranda and placed before the  Government since March this year.

    ‘‘Since March, 2014, all efforts by the union to bring the Federal Government to the negotiating table to discuss the labour issues contained in the 12  memoranda have been frustrated by strategic government agencies including the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) saddled with the responsibility of handling welfare issues of workers,’’ the union said.

    According to Lawal, the issues in dispute include the non-payment of promotion arrears and other entitled allowances of workers, demand for the upward wage review in the civil service, payment of civil servants rent allowance en-bloc, payment of end-of-year incentives to all public servants, upward review of retirement age in the civil service, payment of special allowance to civil servants engaged in teaching including those teaching in the Federal Unity Colleges.

    Other grievances are non-payment of first 28 days allowance in lieu of hotel accommodation, the vexed issue of conducting promotion examinations in the public service at mid night, non-payment of allowances in respect of 2010 mandatory training programme organised by the OHCSF, payment of responsibility allowance to officers in the Directorate cadre in the Civil Service, among others.

    Lawal regretted that several meetings called since March, 2014 by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity to resolve these volatile labour issues had been aborted by deliberate absence at the parleys of the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

    ‘‘It is not quite clear why these government agencies are frustrating the negotiation process. Could it be that they subtly want to push thousands of workers in the public service into the streets to complicate the security challenges posed by the insurgents?’’ he asked.

    The ASCSN urged President Goodluck Jonathan to direct relevant government agencies to enter into serious dialogue with the union on the labour issues listed above which had been outstanding for several years.

    ‘‘It must be emphasised that the patience of thousands of employees in the public service has been exhausted on these issues and they may resort to self-help without further notice. This is the more reason why the Federal Government should come to the negotiation table with the union immediately before the entire public service is engulfed in industrial crisis the country can least afford now,’’ he said.

    The union also condemned in very strong terms the invasion of the National Assembly (NASS) by men of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agents to prevent lawmakers from having access to their chambers.

    In a statement issued in Lagos and signed by its National President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, the union stated that the action of the security agents negated democratic ideals. ‘‘No matter the disagreement between the executive arm of government and some members of the House of Representatives, there is no need to use force to prevent the lawmakers from entering the premises of the National Assembly,’’ Kaigama said.

    He said the show of shame by the Nigeria Police Force and other security agents in preventing the number four citizen of this country along with other federal lawmakers from entering the assembly complex by firing canisters of tear gas at them all in a bid to prevent the House from re-convening to deliberate  on the request of Mr. President for an extension of the state of emergency rule in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states was highly condemnable and  makes a mockery of the nation’s democracy.

    It argued that the defection of the Speaker of the House of Representatives to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was not enough for the fundamental human rights of the legislators to be trampled upon by the executive arm of government.

    The union  urged politicians to respect the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which they swore to uphold. “This is a nation that is governed by laws and aside from that, we have our values which should normally dictate and govern our operations. Our respective actions must therefore, be driven by the provisions of the constitution and they must always be in agreement with the rule of law”.

  • ‘We are committed to improving people’s welfare’

    The Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Micah Jiba has urged residents of the council to be patient and support his administration to enable him to deliver dividends of democracy to them.

    Hon. Jiba, who made the appeal while speaking with newsmen, said his administration has not completed projects that would improve the lives of people, saying that there are more projects to be put in place which would enhance the living standards of the residents.

    According to Jiba, government that means well for the people does not stop delivering dividends of democracy to its people until the last day of its administration, adding that his desire was to improve on the living standard of the people the best way possible.

    “There are many people that we are yet to reach in the council, mostly at the rural areas. I believe that with the remaining period before the administration’s tenure elapses, we will be able to reach out to them. We will ensure that nobody is left out as government works hard to improve the standard of living of the people.

    “My desire is to reduce poverty among the people at the rural areas to the minimum. They are part of this administration and they need us to improve their living standard.

    “That is why we always go back to our people to find out what they need. If they tell us their immediate needs, we will ensure that we provide them for them. That is what we are still doing because; we have to satisfy our people. We cannot afford to disappoint them,” he said.

    In a related development, Hon. Jiba has vowed to make local government areas in Nigeria autonomous, if given the mandate to become the next National President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).

    Hon. Jiba, who spoke during a press briefing in Abuja, said he did not see the reason for local government, which is part of the three tiers of government, cannot be autonomous, since over 70 per cent of Nigerians are from the grassroots and the local government.

  • Scholars demand better welfare for journalists

    Media owners have been advised to pay journalists well, to enable them meet their responsibilities.

    This was contained in a communiqué at the end of a two-day conference organised by the Association of Communications Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN).

    The event attracted stakeholders and professors of Mass Communication.

    ACSPN, according to the communiqué, would partner the National Universities Commission (NUC) and other regulatory authorities to re-design the media and communication curriculum. The ACSPN also advocated an improved welfare for media scholars and professionals.

    The association agreed to partner NUC to institute a six-month mandatory industrial training for media and communication students.

    Also, the apex body for mass communicators recommended that conflict reporting should be included in the media and communication curriculum and urged journalists to report conflict with a sense of responsibility. The association frowned at the use of inflammatory, misleading and sensational headlines by the media to attract sales and advised that such should be discouraged.

    It recommended that proper and responsible journalism should be encouraged among professionals, particularly journalists, to reduce the psychology of fear intended by terrorist groups.

    The association encouraged young female communication scholars and professionals to be active members of ACSPN as a way of improving their competencies and impacts in the industry. It recommended that communication institutions and associations in public relations, marketing communications, broadcasting and film production should promote professionalism.

    ACSPN advised communication scholars and professionals on the need to frame children and youth issues as they were a vulnerable group that must be given special attention.

    The media, according to the communiqué, needed   to get acquainted with and adopt the conflict sensitive approach in reporting elections in the country.

    The media was also enjoined to develop capacity as mediators in political conflicts by paying attention to their gate-keeping, agenda- setting and status- conferral roles in political reporting process.

    Prof. Idowu Sobowale, Prof. Lai Oso and Prof. Owems-Ibie Nosa were re-elected as the Chairman Board of Trustees, President and General- Secretary.

    Others are Prof. Umaru Bête, Deputy President. Six vice-presidents were elected for the six geopolitical zones:

    Dr. Wilson Joseph, Northeast; Prof. Kate Omenugha, Southeast; Dr. Beatrice Okonkwo, Northcentral; and Dr. Odion Odiboh, Southwest.

  • Ex-militants to storm National Assembly today over welfare

    Former militants from the Justice Camp in the Niger Delta have threatened to shut down legislative and all other activities today at the National Assembly complex in Abuja.

    The aggrieved ex-militants, who claimed to have made other peaceful entreaties for Federal Government’s attention to their plight, said theyadopted the protest approach because their camp had been sidelined by the Amnesty Office in the Presidency.

    They said the officce  refused to document and integrate them into the third phase of the amnesty programme.

    Addressing reporters at the weekend in Ughelli, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, General David Owhegbe, the State Chairman of the Justice Camp, alleged that his members had been deliberately excluded from benefitting from the programme.

    He described the development as a daylight robbery.

    Owhegbe said counsel to the former militant, A. Movie, in a letter about three months ago to the Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta, Kingsley Kuku, regretted that the time they were promised for documentation and payment of stipends had expired.

    The letter reads: “On the proclamation of amnesty by the Federal Government, our clients, with a retinue of militants under their authority, voluntary submitted arms and ammunition under their control and management to Sector 1, Joint Task Force (JTF), at the Effurun Barracks, Delta State, recently.

    “Contrary to expectations, the express promise made to our clients that they would be paid stipends and documented at the slated period has elapsed and unfulfilled.

    “Note that the caption date – July 14, 2014 for amicable resolution of the issue raised in the said letter further briefed us to remind you and request for your urgent reply to the said letter within 30 days of the receipt of their letter and that, our clients’ modest demand; an urgent integration and documentation into the amnesty programme, like other ex-militants, who keep to the tenets of militancy renunciation be granted.

    “If the office of the amnesty fails or refuses to accede to our clients’ demands, then we will have no option than to institute legal action against you and federal government and also organize an unusual demonstration in every part of the Niger Delta region, beginning from Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, to district the sitting of national legislators and others until our demands are met.”

  • ‘I have passion for my people’s welfare’

    ‘I have passion for my people’s welfare’

    Though from the famous Gambari royal family of Ilorin Emirate, Princess Tinuola Bilikisu Gambari derives joy in identifying with people at the grassroots who she serves with passion. She also fights for the well-being of the downtrodden.

    What attracted her to the murky waters of Nigerian politics still remains a puzzle. Explaining why she ventured into politics, she said: “The dilemma of my people in Kwara State as regards the political structure that we’ve had since 1979 gave me the impression that democracy is all about the right of every citizen to participate in as against a particular group of people imposing themselves on the people against their will. I realised that it will pay me to be on the side of the masses that yearn for change.”

    Going down memory lane, Gambari said the political terrain is not a jolly ride but that which has a lot of challenges and disappointment.

    “Actually, it hasn’t been easy. The first time I ventured into politics was just to support my sister who contested for the House of Representatives in 1999. “Watching her and her campaign and every other thing, I saw a lot of things that I thought could be done differently. But unfortunately, after the elections, she got a job with the United Nations and she left the country. So, she wasn’t able to continue.

    “I knew what to expect. What happened were things I did not envisage would have happened. For me, it wasn’t about winning election but more about making a statement. That we would aspire, campaign and might not win didn’t matter. What mattered was that a statement has been made. That statement you have the right to aspire and contest any election and it is your right to drive round the city, telling them about what you want to do for them. But all the resistance I received actually made me stronger.”

    On her criticisms of the Saraki Dynasty she said: “As much as I criticise Saraki and his style of democracy and politics, there are still certain aspects that I notice are good. I have imbibed those good ones and also tried to put them to use. One thing that he did over the years is to gather caterers to cook for ordinary people who are hungry.

    “People would get together in his house to eat. Then, when they are going, they get transport money too. Anybody coming from outside would see it as political strength and not just that they are being fed.

    “That was a good one and so, I copied it. For me, it is not the feeding that matters but the joy I derive from it. By so doing, I started having more people around me and the Saraki’s Dynasty saw it as an affront and a reason to also attack.”

    Twice, Gambari had contested for the Kwara Central Senatorial District elections without any success. She still would want to take a shot at it whenever the opportunity comes, even as she alleged she was rigged out.

    “The problem is that we have not really had anybody to oppose the Saraki dominance in the past. Most of the people that had challenged him are people that passed through his ‘school’. In my own case, I have never been to Saraki for anything before. I came out on my own and joined the party that I wanted.

    “Regarding my chances, I contested in 2007 and did so well that even the Saraki family had to start campaigning. They never were used to campaigning; it was just a question of ‘Oloye has endorsed this person and everybody would just be going to congratulate him.’

    “I know that if they had allowed a situation of one man, one vote, they knew it was over. That was why they rigged the election.”

    She explained that if there is free and fair election in her senatorial district today she is sure of victory because she has what it takes to win.

    “If we have an election as free as those of Ekiti and Osun where military men were on ground to make sure everything is done correctly; INEC is ready to do it right, the police that they usually use are not participating, then, I know I have a very good chance.

    Still on her chances, Gambari pointed out that the game is still open for any contender.

    “You have to remember that today in Nigeria; all political parties preach the same thing: education for all, water for all, road, health. The difference that you get is the individuals that form the party; their drive, ideology and principles.

    “So, the 2015 is not going to be about the party but about the people in Kwara State,” she said.