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Tag: workers

  • NEMA seeks approval of hazard allowances for workers

    The National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA) has reached some agreements with its workers including the introduction of a life assurance policy for its employees.

    The agency is also expected to seek approval from the Federal Government for the payment of hazard allowances

    The acceptance of the agreements  led  to the suspension of a nationwide strike  by the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria( ACSN).

    The Federal Ministry of Labour had on Friday brokered peace between NEMA management led by its Director-General, Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria( ACSN).

    The agreements are as follows: “An Implementation Committee comprising the ASCN, NEMA Management to be chaired by the Director, Finance and Account( DFA),  Federal Ministry of  Labour was constituted to facilitate the verification and commence payment of staff claims by  October 24.

    “It was agreed that the management should work with the ASCN to conclude the process of acquiring life assurance policy for the staff within one week.

    “It was also agreed that the management should come up with a compensation package for the families of the deceased staff in line with the provisions of the Public Service Rules( PSR).

    “That a training Schedule using existing template should be drawn to accommodate all the staff and the training needs of all the departments within two weeks. An implementation committee comprising Director, Human Resources, Director, Special Duties and a representative of the union is to be constituted to monitor and report the level of compliance.

    On the fate of some redeployed staff, the two parties agreed that “the management should issue the letters recalling the two unit executives by 20th October, 2017.”

    Regarding hazard allowances for NEMA workers, the management explained that it was seeking approval from the Federal Government for the payment.

    The agreement added: “The meeting noted that the management has already initiated the process and the DG was advised to fast-track the process with the relevant government agencies.”

    Both parties also resolved not yo victimize workers who participated in the strike action.

    Other issues to be addressed are proper placement if staff, voluntary redeployment and promotion.

  • Kogi: Many workers, pensioners have died due to non-payment- NLC

    Kogi: Many workers, pensioners have died due to non-payment- NLC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ) on Sunday appealed to workers in Kogi State not to see suicide as a way out of the current hardship imposed on them as a result of non-payment of their salaries.

    The state Chairman of the NLC, Mr Onu Edoka, who made the appeal in Lokoja warned the workers against taking extreme actions because the tough time would soon be over.

    Edoka, who was reacting to the suicide of a director in the state, Mr Edward Soje on Oct. 16 as a result of financial hardship, insisted that taking one’s life should not be an option.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the deceased’s wife has yet to be informed of the tragic death of her husband.

    A source close to the family said a team of pastors and relations who visited her at an Abuja hospital to break the news were advised by the management against it due to her state of health.

    Edoka, however, told NAN that many workers and pensioners had died due to non-payment of their salary and pensions by the state government.

    According to him, many workers in the state have had their ailments aggravated as a result of lack of salary.

    He said that high blood pressure and diabetes had become common among them.

    Edoka said that the organised labour had started compiling statistics of workers and pensioners that have lost their life in the last one year, adding that figures of victims would soon be made public.

    Edoka appealed to relatives, friends, religious organisations and good spirited individuals in and outside the state to come to the aid of the workers to stem the tide of untimely deaths.

    The NLC Chairman again called on President Muhammadu Buhari to come to the aid of workers in Kogi State by sending foods, drugs and other relief materials to them through the National Emergency Management Agency.

    He also pleaded with the presidency to set up a fact finding committee to come and ascertain the true situation of things with workers in the state.

    The Chairman expressed displeasure with the state government for taking to the pages of newspapers to publish the names of workers and their salaries.

    He explained that the figures quoted by the government was not correct and urged the governor to invite the workers to the negotiation table.

    Also a statement jointly issued by the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) described the publication of workers names and salary figures as a wrong step.

    “The security implication of this very wrong step is that criminals could get hold of this document and begin to trace the workers whose names government has published.

    “Workers are walking the streets of Lokoja like beggars because their salaries and allowances have not been paid for a period of three to twenty-two months by the government,“ the statement said.

    The statement signed by Mr Olakunle Faniyi and Mr Kolawole James, state secretaries of NLC and TUC respectively called on the state government to publish the names and the amount being owed cleared workers and pensioners in the past 21 months.

    The unions expressed shock on the death of Soje and prayed God to grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss. (NAN)

  • ‘Reccession affecting workers’mental health’

    ‘Reccession affecting workers’mental health’

    Many Nigerians, especially those in employment, have been victims of recession and it is affecting their mental health, the Medical Director of Neuro-Pscychiatry Hositpal, Yaba, Lagos, Dr Oluyemi Ogun, has said.

    She said this during the  World Mental Health Day and the hospital’s 110th anniversary.

    The hospital was established  as an asylum on October 30, 1907 at Nigerian Railway in Yaba, where its first 48 inmates were admitted.

    The theme was: Mental health in the workplace.

    Mrs Ogun said: “The choice of the theme could not have come at a more appropriate time than now when the twin forces of economic global melt down and uncertain political climates have led to non-performance of most organisations and the resultant effect includes poor organisational policy framework to protect the right and privileges of employees.

    “This has led to employee exploitation, bullying and poor welfare packages as the employees are made to bear the brunt of the economic reality and it is therefore a common place to find cases of mental challenges on the increase in the work place.”

    Mrs Ogun, who advocated that mental health should be subsidised, if not made free, said more than 300 million people globally suffer from depression and anxiety and a recent World Health Organisation (WHO) study reveals that both cost a total  US$1 trillion yearly.

    Mrs Ogun also advocated the importance of employers to put in place arrangements that promote mental health and support people with mental disorders as the mental status of employees has a direct impact on organisational performance and productivity.

    A consultant psychiatric and a health service provider Dr Femi Olugbile highlighted the major causes of mental health in the work place and way forward.

    Olugbile said mental health’s major causes need to be understood,  saying:  “A significant number of people in the work place are experiencing mental health issues at some point in their life and because we spend most time of our life time in our work place, we experience such health issues there. In addition to that, part of the issues has always been that despite our focus on it, there is little recognition in tackling it. Very negative prevalent attitude among the employer and employee themselves are major causes of  lots of stigma attached to the very mental illness, leading to a lot of denials in the work place.”

    Continuing , he said: “Modern approach is actually to shift the focus in promoting wellness, so the gain of what we are celebrating today, is strategic in a way of strategising people in the existence of mental illness both in and out of the work place, the fact that the work place is the critical aspect in the life of individuals.

    “We need to understand that we can’t run away from the mental health, we need to shift focus to promoting wellness and every organisation in promoting mental wellness are making services available to treatment of illness should know that they are doing it to improve their bottom line. The gain of what we are celebrating today is making the awareness, the responsibility of the employer to the employee and making structure for employee to function well.”

    That is why we are advocating for – Employee assistant program, which is a concept that talks about the responsibility of the employer not only to treat illness of employee but to help to promote the wellness both psychologically and socially, that is where we should all be heading to develop mental wellness in the society. Getting it right in work place we will definitely get it right in the society at large.

    “So the way forward is awareness and focusing on wellness and start giving resources in critically improving the wellness the emotional and social wellness of their employees not as a philanthropic activity but as a necessity to improve the economy,” Olugbile explained.

    A consultant psychiatric, Dr Steven Olamide Oluwaniyi, spoke on: ‘Factors that improve or affect employee mental health in the work place’, said: “The environment where you work  if it is hostile, threatening or unfriendly, or gives excessive work load can generate stress in an individual.Where you feel your employer is a bully, you don’t feel save, you wake up in the morning and you are afraid because you don’t know what will happen, all these things constitute stress. And we know that when stress is high and it is persistent, everybody at one point will break down. But a situation whereby you are challenged positively, you wake up and feel happy to go to your working place where you spend more than 50 percent of your day, whereby you are looking forward to see your happy colleagues, that individual will feel very happy and motivated, so these are the issues that we are talking about, that is an aspect at the place of work.

    “So, when people now have problem in the other part of their lives, they are withdrawn to themselves, thinking about the problem and nobody seems to care, the productivity of that individual that used to be very productive has now gone down and despite that the boss is shouting at him for not getting things done, all these becomes a problem. So the employer needs to get training in the ‘Employee assistant programme.”

    But if an employee finds himself in an environment where the superior notices that something is wrong and call to either counsel and ask what is bothering the individual, in that circumstance the person is likely to open up and the advice given at that moment can help the mental health issue the individual might be going through. So I will advise the employees to know that making their employers happy is for their own and for the organisation greatness, vice versa.

    ‘’Having a healthy mental work force will improve productivity. And also, for everyone to come together to create policy, such that someone with a mental health issue can also be more productive and not be stigmatised- ensuring open culture in the society will minimise mental issues,” said Oluwaniyi.

  • NLC to workers: vote out governors owing salaries

    NLC to workers: vote out governors owing salaries

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged workers to vote out governors who are owing salaries.  It has advised its members to get their voters’ cards ready for the next election.

    Its President, Ayuba Wabba, who was in Benue State to support the workers in their battle against unpaid wages, said workers would be taking their destiny in their hands, if they registered and voted wisely.

    He urged the workers and their families to ensure that they obtained voters’ registration cards.

    He said most governors believed that workers did not vote, and that this explained the shabby treatment meted out to them.

    Wabba told Benue workers that experience had shown that governments were not ready to pay salaries and pensions without a fight, adding that it was up to them to do the needful to get their salaries and pensions regularly.

    A delegation led by Wabba, was in Makurdi, the Benue State Capital, in solidarity with the workers at the end of their one week warning strike against non-payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities.

    The NLC chair described Benue, with a record of seven months of non-payment of salaries in ministries and parastatals, 11 months in  local governments and teaching institutions, and 13 months of pension arrears, as the worst in the country.

    Wabba further said Congress could no longer fold its arms while the workers were being maltreated.

    He condemned the refusal of the the government to pay the workers after collecting bail-out funds.

    The labour leader said though  some states had met salary and pension obligations to their workers and pensioners, the Benue government had been indifferent.

    Wabba said: “The wilful act of the government was illegal as it violated all known rules of employment, callous, morally reprehensible and a betrayal of the trust of workers and pensioners who had voted the government into office.

    “In the light of the pains and indescribable suffering brought upon the workers, pensioners and their families, congress had no hesitation in giving full support to any lawful action including a full strike action, in pursuit of their salaries, pensions and gratuities.”

    He urged the workers and pensioners to remain united and not allow officials of the government or anyone to distract them from their objectives.

    Wabba said the NLC resolved that it would take steps to mobilise all workers for effective action to defend their interests.

  • Unions canvass decent work conditions for workers

    Unions canvass decent work conditions for workers

    Organised Labour, last week, joined other workers across the globe to celebrate this year’s World Day for Decent Work (WDDW).

    For over a decade, October 7 has been observed annually as a day to champion the cause of ending workers’ enslavement through casualisation.

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) picketed many companies, which allegedly have casual workers, and banned their workers from joining unions of their choice.

    Among those affected were telecommunications giant MTN, CHI Nigeria Limited, Orange Group, Namoh Nigeria Limited, Consolidated Business Holdings, and Abuja Environmental Protection Board.

    NLC President AyubaWabba said the picketing was necessary as the companies, despite repeated warnings and visitations by labour leadership, refused to stop their anti-workers’ activities.

    The companies’picketing, he said, would be done in batches and a continuous exercise until employers stopped the violation of workers’ right and casualisation.

    Chairman, NLC Committee on Casualisation, Solomon Adelegan, who is also the union’s Vice President,  led the picketers. According to him, only the government’s political will can stop workers’ abuse in the country.

    He said:“Political will by the government through laws made by the National Assembly and passed by the Presidency will put a stop to casualisation of Nigerian workers by employers, as any of such laws can be enforced by the law enforcement agencies.”

    Adelegan said this year’s event marked the 10th anniversary of the WDDW, and the second edition to be celebrated under the Ayuba Wabba- led NLC, adding that labour would ensure that the evils of casualisation were tackled.

    To him, picketing is inevitable as employers engage in casualisation, contrary to the laws on employment, international labour and human rights conventions, and the basic principles of decent work signed by member nations of the International Labour Organisation (ILO); and, particularly, UN Sustainable Development Goals on the right and welfare of workers.

    Adelegan said the NLC demands were for employers to stop workers’ casualisation, pay them living wages, and allow them to form and belong to trade unions of their choice in compliance with the labour laws and the ILO Convention 87.

    Others are: “Integrate these workers and their unions in your internal collective bargaining machinery in all work places in compliance with ILO Convention 98 and respect of all national laws and international  labour conventions on the rights of workers.”

    The picketing in Lagos was quite successful as the management of the two companies visited,  Orange Group and Consolidated Holdings, signed agreements with the NLC to allow workers in their organisations to belong to union.

     

    Minimum Wage

    The unions under the auspices of IndustriALL Global, however, dreaw awareness to workers’ plights as they marched across Lagos with placards, and called on the two labour centres, the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to issue ultimatum to the Federal Government on the new minimum wage.

    The IndustriALL Global Union members said the ultimatum should be given to the government over the protracted new minimum wage issue, noting that the government must be given a time frame to either inaugurate a minimum wage committee or face industrial unrest.

    Vice Chairman of the global body, Mr. IssaAremu, said workers could not scontinue to work under a precarious wage, while the government continued to delay on a new minimum wage after the expiration of the N18,000 minimum wage in 2015.

    He said: “We have to call on all the labour centres in the country to give the Federal Government an ultimatum on the new minimum wage. The labour centres should give the government a time frame to immediately constitute and inaugurate a new minimum wage committee to negotiate a new minimum wage failing which we will withdraw our services.

    “We cannot continue to work under this precarious pay, under this high cost of living and hardship. It is our right to have a new minimum wage because the N18, 000 minimum, besides the fact that its life span has elapsed since 2015, the present socio-economic situation makes it imperative for us to have a new minimum wage.”

    Aremu, who is also the General Secretary of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), lamented the working conditions of workers across the country, and called on them to unite and fight against unfavourable working environment.

    He said the ILO set aside October 7 every year for workers to create awareness on their plight, adding that IndustriALL Global Union started marking the event five years ago.

    In his contribution, Chairman of the Nigeria National Council of IndustriALL Global Union, Igwe Achese, represented by the council secretary, Mr. Ismail Bello, said: “It is a day of action; a day to mobilise workers to organise and fight for change.  It is a day to engage employers-private or public, to respect the law and workers’ rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining.”

    He listed affiliates of Industriall Global Union in Nigeria to include the NUTGTWN; Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG); National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and National Union of Chemical Footwear and Rubber, Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees (NUCFRLANMPE).

    Others are Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN); Chemical and Non-Metallic Products Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (CANMPSSAN) and Steel and Engineering Workers Union of Nigeria (SEWUN).

     

    Unemployment

    The Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI), at its programme to mark the day, however, said employers hide under the high rate of unemployment in the country to casualise workers.

    Its President, Oyinkan Olasanoye, said organised labour was, however, insisting that there must be a condition of service that would bring dignity into the contract staff service and into whatever role they occupy.

    Olasanoye, while speaking on the theme:“End corporate greed: The world needs a pay rise”, lamented that the wage difference between full -time staff and casual workers was very high.

    She added: “But instead of saying they shouldn’t work at all as contract workers, we are saying, the remuneration they are being paid should be something that shows work done with decency.

    “We have seen a lot of workers that have been on the same level for 10 years because they are contract staff. We are working with the house committee of the House of Representatives and labour that there should be a collective agreement for these contract workers.”

    Trade Union Congress (TUC) Secretary General Musa Lawal said ending corporate greed was ending capitalism, which to him is impossible to do. The problem cannot be solved until all workers came together to face the issue, he said.

    The guest speaker, Dr. Francis Anyim, said only a pay rise could stop greed in the workplace. He called for the urgent increase in the wages of workers, saying: “There is an urgent need to address the wage issue, if it is not  listed in the 2018 budget under consideration, there would be industrial actions by the workers as witnessed this year.”

    He joined ASSBIFI  President to call on workers to register to participate in the coming elections to better their lot.

  • Workers demand N1.1b unpaid salaries from Emeka Offor

    Workers demand N1.1b unpaid salaries from Emeka Offor

    •Firm: we had no job to execute

    A law firm, Falana & Falana’s Chambers, has asked chairman of Chrome Group, Sir Emeka Offor, to pay his workers who are owed over N1.1billion.

    In an August 16 letter on behalf of staff of Chrome Group, the firm demanded the immediate payment of all their outstanding salaries.

    It also asked for the remittance of all statutory deductions from their salaries since July 2015.

    The law firm said its clients comprise “all the staff of Chrome Group and others associated with it nationwide” whose salaries and emoluments have not been paid by Offor.

    “Our clients’ brief is that since July 2015 till date, you (Offor) willfully refused to pay their salaries and entitlements, remit their pension deductions and contributions to their pension administrators, and refused to remit the PAYE taxes deducted to the tax authorities.

    “They have also worked for your companies without you providing the mandatory healthcare insurance as required by the National Health Insurance Act till date,” the letter reads.

    According to the letter signed by Samuel Ogala of Falana & Falana’s Chambers, efforts to resolve the issues peacefully have been unsuccessful.

    The firm accused Offor of breaching resolutions reached towards clearing the arrears.

    “Our clients made several representations to your good self to amicably resolve these issues but you have consistently breached all resolutions jointly agreed between you and them to pay their outstanding salaries and remittance of their statutory deductions to the appropriate government agencies.

    “Your actions further contravene all known labour laws and is termed as an unfair labour practice and has put our clients and their families under a degrading  condition as they can no longer pay their bills and earn a decent living even though they work day and night to keep your business afloat.

    “Our clients’ right to their wages having worked for your companies is non-negotiable and as such they are entitled to be paid all outstanding salaries and allowances being owed them in full,” the firm said.

    The workers are demanding that N1,139,806,054.94, being their outstanding salaries and wages between September 2015 and August this year, be paid them forthwith.

    They also asked that all pension deductions and contributions outstanding to them from July 2015 to August 31 amounting to N244,172,464.80 be remitted to the pension fund administrators.

    The workers want Pay as You Earn (PAYE) deducted from staff payroll from July 2015 to August 2017, amounting to N153,775,382.58, to be remitted to the states/Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Internal Revenue Board.

    They further demanded that N579,219,429.58, being their disengagement benefits as at August 3, be paid to their bank accounts.

    “We demand that you take immediate steps within seven days of the receipt of this letter to act on it and meet our clients’ demands.

    “We have their instruction to commence a legal action against you and your companies and also petition you to the various government agencies whose laws you have consistently breached by failing to remit the deducted pension, PAYE and Health Insurance,” the firm wrote.

    Billionaire businessman Offor, a leading Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) financier, is known for his interests in oil and gas, power and construction.

    His company was awarded turnaround maintenance (TAM) contract to fix the refineries.

    In the 1990s, his company got a contract for the 115,000 barrels per day (bpd) Warri Refinery and Petrochemicals Company in Delta State.

    In 2014, the Goodluck Jonathan administration reportedly awarded Chrome Energy the TAM contract for both the old 60,000 bpd Port Harcourt and the 150,000 bpd new Port Harcourt refinery.

    With the refineries not functioning optimally, some have criticised the TAM contracts.

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo accused Offor’s firm of lacking the capacity.

    “What I met were refineries that were not working, refineries that were given to an amateur for repairs, for maintenance, what they call turn around maintenance to the company of Emeka Offor – Chrome Group

    “Where has Emeka Offor maintained refineries before? Where has he? That’s what we met. So, the refineries were not working,” he said.

    Former Petroleum Minister Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, three years ago, she was shocked at the extent of dilapidation of the refineries when she visited them on assumption of office as minister.

    “To get a replacement for the equipment was not possible because they were obsolete. For over 20 years, the equipment were not changed or maintained,” she said.

    Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, while briefing the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Upstream) in March last year during fuel scarcity, said the non-performance of the refineries was due to alleged fraud and lack of holistic maintenance.

    “We have also had issues of fraud. It got to a point where I started wondering whether as we repair this, somebody was going there to destroy, so that contracting will be done.

    “Over the last 10 to 15 years, we have not done a serious, conclusive turnaround maintenance of these refineries; they are averagely 30 to 40 years old; the equipment are far dilapidated,” Kachikwu said.

    Like several companies and businessmen who were prominent during the 16 years of PDP in power, Offor and his companies’ fortunes seem to have taken a hit.

    Chrome Group’s Abuja office on 22 Lobito Crescent had been under lock, as admitted by Offor’s lawyer.

    Employees of Offor’s other company, Global Scansystems Limited, who claim not to have been paid for two years, are said to have filed a suit at the National Industrial Court, demanding their payment.

     

    ‘Why we closed office’

     

    Offor’s lawyer, Jeff Njikonye, blamed “the general economic meltdown and recession” as leading to a “halt” in Chrome Group’s businesses and closure of its office.

    In an August 22 reply to Falana & Falana’s Chambers‘ letter, Njikonye described as “bogus” the claim that all the staff of Chrome Group and other companies associated with it were owed.

    “This claim is bogus, presumptuous and is straightaway, repudiated,” the lawyer said.

    He added: “The totality of your claims, allegations, inclusive of monetary claims and allegations of unfair labour practices and failure to make remittances are with respect, gold digging and grossly unsubstantiated. They are unequivocally repudiated.”

    Njikonye, however, said Offor’s companies have had no jobs in recent times as to meet their financial obligations.

    “Sequel to the general economic meltdown and recession, our client’s businesses suffered frustration commencing from March 2015 and grounded to a halt in September 2015.

    “Consequently, out client had no job to execute and closed office starting from September 2015.

    “It is reasonably inferable from the circumstances above that the contracts of employment of staff were consequentially discharged by frustration since office was closed and there was no job going on or tasks performed by staff.

    “If our client’s businesses revive as our client hopes they will, our client will determine whom to re-engage as staff and on what terms and conditions such re-engagement will be,” Offor’s lawyer wrote.

    Despite the financial challenges of Chrome Group and its subsidiaries, including Kastech Engineering Ltd, it was learnt that they were on bid list of major projects of Shell and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    It was also learnt that Offor’s companies have also been included in the bid list of Bonga South West-Aparo field development project, a Shell project involving a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) package.

    Sources said the company pre-qualified for the project worth over $10 billion, as well as for an NNPC gas transmission project worth more than $1 billion.

    Offor’s lawyer told Falana & Falana’s Chambers that the businessman would meet the workers in court should they choose to sue.

    “With this insight, we hope you will guide whoever might have briefed you appropriately and desist from further malicious demands and comments as contained in your letter under reference.

    “Be assured that our client is not perturbed by your threats of legal action and threatened report of our client to government agencies.

    “We have our client’s full instructions to meet your case if you have the luxury of proceeding with your unsubstantiated cause,” Njikonye added.

  • ‘Why Plateau pays workers regularly’

    ‘Why Plateau pays workers regularly’

    It is not the money, because the state has little of it. The reason Plateau State government pays its workers promptly is simply to help grow its economy.

    Governor Simon Lalong made salary payment top priority as soon as he took office. Neither an economist nor a businessman, the lawyer understood that a state with unpaid civil servants cannot have a strong economy.

    Taking office, Lalong cleared seven months salary arrears  and 13 months of unpaid pension.

    The state commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Hon. Samuel Daju said, “Unbeknown to many in the state and particularly past administrations, payment of salaries to workers in this state is the key to economic prosperity of the state. This administration of Governor Lalong inherited seven months’ salary arrears and several months of unpaid pension. Meanwhile, we never inherited a dime from the immediate past administration. But the governor in his wisdom came up with the belief that the only thing that can stimulate the economy of this state is regular payment of salaries.

    He said, “The governor believes strongly that each month government pays salaries to its workers, government must have injected over N2 billion into the economy of the state. Each month salary is paid, you realise that buying and selling pick up in the state. On the contrary, whenever salaries are not paid for months, the society will be so dull and traders will be complaining of poor sales, citizens will be complaining of weak purchasing power. But as soon as salaries are paid even social activities in the state pick up, the environment will be bubbling, families are happy, traders are happy and so on. To put it in a very simple term, the governor has commercialised payment of workers salaries, and this is because the policy has ended up boosting commerce and businesses in the state.

    “Apart from the economy, payment of salaries has a lot to do with security in the state, a hungry man, they say, is an angry man. When there is money in the system everyone is at peace, it helps to reduce tension a lot. Mark you, the governor has also promised to restore peace in the state because we inherited a state that was insecure. You hear of attacks every night, but since this government took over, you hear no more of attacks. This helped government to save huge cash that is always deployed to address security challenges.

    “So, you can see the multiple advantage of paying salaries in a state like ours, you stimulate economy, discourage conflicts and made citizens happy. As a matter of fact, workers unrest and all manner of industrial disputes that characterised past administrations has disappeared.

    “It is obvious that citizens are really happy with the regular payments of salaries, it is also true that payment of salaries obviously facilitated the restoration of peace by Gov Lalong’s administration. Mr. Samuel Obadiah said, “I fully agree with the government’s policy on salary payment, by doing so he has directly and indirectly avoided a lot of conflict. It is true, a hungry man is an angry man. Apart from that, every salary paid to any workers in the state civil service affects almost every family in the state. Parents are able to pay school fees, buy food stuff, go to beer parlor, and do so many things.”

    Hanatu Dalyop, a petty trader in the famous Jos Terminus market said, “I am retiree from Plateau State government. I’m doing this small trading from the pension paid me by Governor Lalong, he is the reason why I am in the market, and I’m comfortably feeding from the little that I make from this trading.”

    A shop owner in Tudun Wada Jos, Mrs. Martha Matthew said, “Our market here in Tudun Wada is mostly dependent on the civil servant, because majority of the civil servants are living in Tudun Wada. We sell on credit to them and at the end of the month they come and pay us after receiving their salaries. So if government fails to pay salaries, we will be out of business.”

  • Health workers await minister’s signature to suspend strike

    Health workers await minister’s signature to suspend strike

    Health workers on strike may be waiting for the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole to sign the memorandum of settlement entered into on Saturday, between the Federal Government and the leadership of the Joint Health Sector Unions before asking their members to suspend action and return to work.

    The leadership of the striking workers had told reporters after their meeting with the government on Saturday night that they were suspending their strike action in principle, pending the outcome of the meeting of their National Executive Council scheduled to hold t6omorrow.

    However, Chairman of JOHESU Biobelomoye Joy Josiah told a news conference yesterday that they were suspending the strike action in principle because “there are certain things we expect the government to do between now and Tuesday and once that is done, the strike will be officially called off and our members will be directed to resume work immediately”.

    Although Josiah did not mention what they expect the government to do, The Nation was informed by sources at the meeting that the workers are afraid that if the Minister of Health failed to sign the agreement, it may become invalid and not implementable.

  • Benue workers prepare for indefinite strike

    Benue workers prepare for indefinite strike

    Benue State residents are preparing for an indefinite strike scheduled to begin tomorrow.

    Organised labour has directed workers to down tools.

    The strike, according to a circular made available to The Nation, is to demand payment of seven-month salary arrears, 11 month for local government workers and one year owed primary school teachers, including pensions and gratuities.

    Governor Samuel Ortom appealed to the workers for understanding, saying he met an over bloated wage bill of N7.8 billion.

    But labour is determined to go on with the strike.

    Investigation by our correspondent showed since the strike notice was given last Thursday, Makurdi residents had been stock-pilling foodstuffs.

    A resident, Peter Ayila, said he had filled his car’s tank and that of his wife with petrol ahead of the strike.

    At Wurukum Market, people bought food items in large quantities.

    A 40-year-old woman, who came to buy rice and tomatoes, Elizabeth Ugoh, told The Nation she didn’t know how long the strike would last, since workers had not been paid for months.

    “There is need to take precautions,” Elizabeth said.

    Shop owners at Katsina Ala, Vandeikya and Iyorikyaa Ako streets said they had experienced more sales in the last three days.

    The government is trying to convince labour to shelve the strike and come to the negotiation table.

  • Ministry holds training for workers

    Civil service sector reforms continue to be an integral part of governments’ efforts to modernize civil service for optimal performance thereby making it more responsive. This prompted the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to organize a Two-day Staff Retreat for its Senior and Junior cadre.

    Speaking at the Opening Ceremony which was held today at theFolarin Coker Staff Clinic Hall Secretariat Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, Lagos State Commissioner for Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Dr. Lola Akande while declaring the retreat opened pointed that the retreat is in line with the State Government efforts at actualising the various reforms on-going in the State through a dynamic workforce that is efficient and result oriented.

    According to her the retreat is a strategic tool for the enhancement of employee performance and in line with the Ministry‘s Mission of ”Women Development and Poverty Reduction as a Means to attaining Sustainable Growth through efficient and Prompt Service Delivery” , she said.

    According to Akande, the objective of the retreat is to create to create opportunity in enhancing efficiency and better performance. “As a Ministry, we are resolved to work harder to drastically reduce poverty and hunger in the State; combat inequalities amongst women, build peaceful, just and inclusive societies; promote gender equality and protect rights of women as well as their empowerment”, said Akande.

    The retreat which was organized by the ministry in collaboration with Archetype Management Consultancy Limited has as its theme: Driving Reforms through Efficient Public Service. In its topic titled Service Standards in Public Service-Rules & Disciplines, the Facilitator, Engineer Tayo Bewaji, explained that Civil Service rules enhance quality of public service delivery by: Preventing arbitrariness and high handedness; ensuring accountability and probity in the use of public resources, among others. According to him, officers who break civil service rules relating to conduct and ethics can be prosecuted through the courts and imprisoned, he warned.

    Effective communication according to Mrs. Sola Oloke, Partner, Archetype Management Consultancy Limited, are critical life skill that influences ones degree of professional success stability of family life, quality in social relationship. “These skills are critical and one can enjoy the benefits of having more rewarding relationship with others if someone is a competent communicator”, she said.

    Other topics treated include: Strategic Work habit-Work life balance, Time management and Reward management, managing your boss, among others.