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Tag: workers

  • Workers shut down firm over gratuities

    Workers shut down firm over gratuities

    Workers of Beauty Fair Laboratories Limited, a cream and perfume making firm stormed the company yesterday, demanding payment of their gratuities following their sack.

    It was gathered that they were sacked on Friday, following an alleged theft of 10,000 pieces of product packaging jars from the store.

    The Nation gathered that when the workers got their sack letters last week, they locked the company’s chairman, Mr Fola Ogunlesi, in his office, demanding their gratuities.

    It took the intervention of riot policemen for the chairman to regain his freedom.

    Yesterday, the workers barricaded the entrance, alleging that they were sacked to enable the  company recruit casual workers for cheap labour.

    Neither the chairman nor his children, was around during the protest.

    The workers denied stealing from the firm, accusing the management of using that as smokescreen to sack them.

    Wahab Adisa, the store keeper, denied that any material is missing from the store.

    If there was a theft, Adisa said the chairman’s son and Director, Olumide Ogunlesi, who is always the last person to lock the store and keep the keys, should be in the position to explain how the materials got missing.

    Adisa, who claimed to have been with the company for 15 years, said he personally took the delivery of the jars when they were imported in June and counted them after they were moved into the store. He said some of the materials had been used for production, alleging that the management wanted to frame up the workers to have reason for sacking them.

    He said: “I am in charge of extra reach jars, which they claim are missing. Towards the end of June, a senior management staff ordered a staff in charge of the labelling order, Aaron Chukwuma, to take stock of the jars without my consent. But Chukwuma came to inform me about it and I told him there was no way to get accurate figure since part of the jars had been used for production immediately after they were brought from abroad.

    “Based on the stock I took after we took delivery of the consignment, I counted 53,850 pieces and I made the figure available to the management. They started using the jars immediately. When I took the stock again, I discovered 9,333 differences, which were used for production. Then, I made the figure available to the management but they responded that the jars had been stolen by workers.

    “If the jars were truly stolen from the store, they (management) are the ones that keep the keys. The moment we leave the factory, they would lock up everywhere and keep the keys in secret places known to them.”

    Ben Imoikor, chief chemical mixer, who claimed to have been with the company since 1994, said he was no longer interested working for the firm, because of his chest problem, which resulted from long hours of exposure to chemicals’ fumes.

    Imoikor said he had a clinical operation to remove a growing lump of tissue from his left hand last year. He said he decided to resign to prevent his early death because of the constant occupational illness he suffers.

    But the company, he said, did not accept his resignation. Rather, he was given a sack letter on Friday. He demanding his gratuity from the company.

    The company chairman could not be reached; his son, Olumide, refused to pick our reporter’s calls.

    When The Nation sent a text to him, Olumide replied at 3:34pm, saying: “Good day to Mr. Ajetunmobi. Sorry am (sic) seeing your text late. I am in a meeting and will get across to you.”

  • Ondo workers suspend strike

    The Ondo State government yesterday said it had reached an agreement with Organised Labour to suspend its proposed indefinite strike.

    At a joint meeting at the Governor’s Office, Alagbaka, Akure, the two parties agreed  on the payment of all outstanding allowances and deductions for March and April within 24 hours.

    The unions and the government directed the payment of May salary of local government workers and primary school teachers.

    Other workers will be paid after the sharing of the next federation allocation.

    The Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), Sunday Adeleye, threatened that the unions would go on strike, if the government failed to honour the agreement.

    Head of Service Toyin Akinkuotu said the government was committed to workers’ welfare and would fulfill its part of the agreement.

    The meeting was attended by the governor’s Special Adviser on Labour Matters, Dayo Fadahunsi and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance as well as the chairmen and secretaries of various labour unions.

  • Kwara council workers seek stakeholders’ intervention

    The striking local government workers in Kwara State have urged stakeholders to intervene by appealing to the government to pay their five-month salary arrears.

    The National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) last Thursday embarked on strike over unpaid salaries.

    NULGE Secretary, Comrade Abayomi Afolabi, who was a guest on a programme at a private radio station in Ilorin yesterday, said members had suffered, following unpaid salaries.

    He said most members had withdrawn their children from schools, as they could not afford school fees, adding that they were indebted to food sellers and landlords.

    The President, Kwara State College of Education Multipurpose Cooperative Union, Alhaji Ayinla Jimoh, said the cooperative spent N5million to buy food items for members, to cushion the effect of non-payment of salary.

  • Job cuts, poor working condition at CCECC irk workers

    Job cuts, poor working condition at CCECC irk workers

    Permanent and casual workers of China Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation (CCECC) yesterday stormed the office of the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwumi  Ambode, to protest the sack of about 500 workers by the corporation.

    The workers who are engaged in ongoing construction of Lagos Blue Line Light Rail also lamented the poor working condition that the company subjected them to.

    The workers, in a protest letter to Governor Ambode said many of their colleagues had been employed by the company for the past five years and were laid off without any form of payment.

    They demanded the governor’s intervention in their plight to ensure that what duly belonged to them was paid by the Chinese firm.

    One of the protesters, Mr. Mark Okila, who lost one arm while working for CCECC  said the protesters want CCECC to pay the casual workers sacked N600,000 severance package and workers laid off N800,000 severance package.

    He said: “We were deprived of our rights while working for the company in such a way that the company will offer us a job without appointment letters. Even when they employ most of their workers for the space of five years, they will not convert them to staff.

    “We are treated like slaves in the company and whenever we try to defend our rights, they will start dismissing us from work. They will say that if we are not ready to work in accordance with their policies, we should leave.”

    Okila lamented that casual workers with the Chinese firm earned N550 per day while workers were paid N850 per day, adding that issues of safety had been jeopadised by the company as lots of industrial accidents had occurred during work-hour.

    “We were given appointment without any safety induction, certification and safety gadgets. This has led many workers to have permanent disabilities and others even death in the process of working for the company and nothing serious has been done about it.

    “We are seeking the intervention of the governor for justice to be done in this matter of abuse of citizen’s right by CCECC,” he said.

    He vowed that the sacked workers would shut down the site of the rail project today if their entitlements were not fully paid by CCECC.

    The protesters stated that in the process of working for the company, Mr.  Okila was involved in an accident which led to his right arm being amputated while Mr. Aondowase Fidelis lost his eye and Mr Moses Ajar lost his left thumb.

  • Workers’ salary: The Ambode example

    It is no longer news that about 24 states of the federation are currently feeling the heavy burden of the economic crisis occasioned by the fall in international oil price, which consequently led to the decrease in revenue allocations to states.

    As it would be expected, in some of the states, workers have embarked on industrial action in order to press home demands for the prompt payment of their wages. The recent parley held between President Muhammadu Buhari and the governors, over the issue of unpaid salaries and allied matters, perhaps, underscores the gravity of the wage crisis currently bedeviling most states in the country. At one time, the Nigeria Governors Forum was agitating for a financial bailout from the federal government as a way out of the imbroglio.It is, however, heartwarming to state that it is not all the states in the federation that are enmeshed in salary crisis. Lagos State, for instance, does not have any issue with regards to the prompt payment of salary. This has always been the trend since 1999 when Asiwaju Bola Tinubu began the process that led to the financial emancipation of Lagos State. The trend continued under the immediate past governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola. However, that trend is now being taken to a new level under the leadership of the current governor, Akin Ambode, who incidentally was one of the brains behind the financial re-engineering that has solidified the economic base of the state as spearheaded by Asiwaju Tinubu.

    First impression, as the saying goes, lasts longer. This undoubtedly summarizes the attitude of Governor Ambode towards the payment of civil servants salaries. It was quite a new and refreshing experience for the civil servants who all got salary alerts from their various banks for the month of June by the 23rd of same month. To the civil servants, it was a joyous thing and a welcome development. But to the governor, it was a way of fulfilling one of his campaign promises that was hinged on the prompt payment of workers’ salaries and creating of a conducive atmosphere for workers in the employment of the state government to thrive in the discharge of their statutory responsibilities.

    In our climes, there is, indeed, no better way to motivate workers than ensuring their wages are paid as at when due. This makes them to avoid distractions that emanate from financial worries. Perhaps, Ambode’s gesture, which is the basic practice in most multinational firms, originates from his firm belief that the workers are the ones that determine the pace of development in the state and as such must not be denied their wages which is, indeed, one of their core entailments. Those that are closer to the governor would readily tell whoever cares to listen that the man values hardwork and would go to any extent to reward those who are committed to the value and principle of hardwork. Hence, prompt payment of salary is just one of his ways of encouraging the Lagos State civil servants to buy into his vision of provision of diligence service to the state and her people.

    Without a doubt, especially with the current trend in the country where workers are being owed months of salaries, Ambode has started on a rather good note. It is expected that other states’ governors would take a cue from him by making prompt payment of staff salaries a priority. This is the only way forward for our dear nation in the face of current economic difficulties. When workers are owed salaries, it portends great danger for our already troubled nation. With the crisis of Boko Haram insurgency in the north, kidnapping, armed robbery, unemployment and other difficult challenges that the country is presently contending with, to add unhappy civil servants to the lots would, no doubt, suffocate the nation. This is why one is canvassing that the federal government intervenes, as much as it could, by assisting some of the troubled states in lessening the burden of unpaid salaries. Any aid in this direction would be a worthwhile one as it would save the nation from chaos, workers’ rebellion and labour unrest. As it has been previously emphasised, with the myriads of problems we are contending with as a nation, labour unrest should be the last item that we should include in the list.

    This is why the Ambode’s model is the best for the country.

    It is, however, not in the area of prompt payment of civil servants’ salaries that Ambode is displaying a strong resolve to make Lagosians happy. He is equally making great efforts to ensure that Lagosians experience free flow of traffic in a mega city that is infamously renowned for its chaotic traffic situation.

    The governor recently set the ball rolling when, in company of the Secretary to the State Government and other top government functionaries, he embarked on an on the spot assessment of traffic gridlock situation across the state. The objective is to have an on-the-spot feel of the traffic situation. This becomes quite imperative in view of the huge economic implications of what the state loses to traffic gridlocks.

    It is the conviction of the governor that the several manpower hours that are daily lost to traffic chaos, if properly reversed, could translate into economic boost for the state. Consequently, during the governor’s visit to Berger Bus Stop, along the ever busy Lagos- Ibadan Expressway, he reiterated his administration’s commitment to providing solutions to the traffic snarls as he approved the construction of a pedestrian Bridge at Berger Bus Stop.

    Also during his visit to traffic points in Apapa and Ajah axis, the governor who despite a heavy gridlock at the area on that day, together with all that accompanied him, walked through Apapa to Tin Can, expressed his displeasure about the torment that commuters and motorists are condemned to on a daily basis, which he said was largely due to the indiscriminate parking of articulated trucks attempting to access the port and tank farms located within the axis. He said: “We’ve all seen that the gridlock in Apapa is multifaceted. We have examined things that relate to activities of trailer drivers and tanker drivers. Apapa belong to the Federal Government and this Tin Can Bridge that has been under construction for about six years has been abandoned. This, however, has given rise to tankers parking indiscriminately on the road. It is totally unacceptable that we would be having tankers parked on our bridges”.

    On the whole, one could safely conclude that Ambode has started his sojourn as the state governor on a good stead. Judged by the direction of his government so far, Lagosians are, no doubt, in for a pleasant experience. The progress and development of Lagos is what the people voted for. This is what he governor promised. This is what he is set out to deliver!

     

    • Olopade writes from Governor’s Office, Alausa, Ikeja.
  • Don’t come to LASU, workers threaten VC

    Don’t come to LASU, workers threaten VC

    •Mgt: this nonsense must stop

    As the Lagos State University (LASU) begins its 2014/2015 first semester examination today, the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU)  has warned that any attempt to “smuggle” Vice-Chancellor Prof John Obafunwa into the university may truncate peace in the institution.

    This development is coming against the backdrop of a conference organised by the Faculty of Arts, which Obafunwa is expected to chair.

    Speaking to The Nation after a congress yesterday, SSANU Chairman Saheed Oseni said the congress decided that Obafunwa must not come to the campus, until outstanding issues are settled.

    But LASU Registrar Akinwunmi Lewis said the union  members should stop the “nonsense”.

    Govenor Akinwunmi Ambode, last month, invited the workers’ union and management to the Governor’s Office, Alausa, where he pleaded that Obafunwa should be allowed to complete his term, which expires on October 31.

    But the workers reportedly told Ambode that they would hold a congress and send its decision to the governor.

    Oseni said against Ambode’s directive, Obafunwa had been sponsoring hate campaigns on workers in the media, leaving them (workers) with no choice but to also re-launch a media war.

    Lewis said the workers were taking their freedom for granted.

    He said: “We are in a democracy and all this nonsense must stop. Some people think they have absolute right. They do not know that where their rights end is where some others begin.

    “This is a university and  academic culture is sacrosanct. But what is happening here (LASU) is simply an abuse of that academic culture.

    “Government has told them (workers) they have no right as regards who comes or leaves campus because we are all employees. If they have any issue, the government said they should put it in black and white but they don’t want to do that.

    “Ask them (workers) in whose interest are they fighting? The 2014/2015 academic session would have ended by September last year, if the previous academic calendar had been followed. Now students will write the 2014/2015 first semester exam tomorrow (today). The university and our students have lost four months already. “

  • Aregbesola denies plan to sack 10,000 workers

    Aregbesola denies plan to sack 10,000 workers

    Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun on Monday denied speculations that that his administration was planning to sack 10,000 workers.

    Aregbesola in a statement by his media aide, Semiu Okanlawon, said in Osogbo that “the so-called plan’’ to sack 10,000 workers is a figment of an imagination by the opposition party in the state.

    According to the statement, nowhere has the Aregbesola administration signifies any intention to sack any worker.

    “The workers’ sack speculation was part of the opposition party calculated move to misinform workers, confuse them and demoralise them.

    “Discerning and decent people have come to the conclusion that when opposition makes any allegation, you must quickly dismiss it as being in its character to fabricate falsehood to confuse unsuspecting masses.

    “This latest falsehood is part of the opposition tactics to misinform workers, confuse them and demoralise them. Nowhere has the Aregbesola’s administration signified any intention to sack any worker.”

  • Fayose has no excuse not to pay us, say workers

    Fayose has no excuse not to pay us, say workers

    Some workers in Ekiti State, under the aegis of the Enlightened Workers’ Forum (EWF), have said Governor Ayo Fayose has no excuse not to pay last September and June  salaries.

    They praised President Muhammadu Buhari for approving funds for the states to pay salaries.

    They warned governors not to spend the money on frivolities.

    In a telephone chat yesterday, EWF Coordinator Mike Bamidele said the bailout would enable Fayose  pay the backlog of entitlements, including September salary.

    Bamidele said with the “bailout” ordered by the President, Fayose now has no excuse not to pay September salary.

    He said workers would “resist any attempt to substitute June salary for September”.

    Bamidele spoke of rumours that the government was planning to omit one month’s pay by claiming that it would use September pay to offset June.

    The EWF coordinator said: “We are grateful to President Buhari for offering the ‘bailout’ to states. This is a golden opportunity to pay us our September salaries.

    “Ekiti State workers are no longer interested in excuses because this bailout is coming at the right time as the government must pay our September, June salaries and pensioners’ entitlements.

    “This is not ‘money for the boys’. It is not meant for sharing among political office holders and their hangers-on because they will account for it at the appropriate time.

    “We also call on labour unions to be alive to their responsibilities and put the government on its toes, rather than being appendages and lapdogs.”

  • Union demands workers’ release

    The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) has condemned the detention of its members by the Directorate of State Security (DSS) in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State .

    The union is demanding their unconditional release.

    A petition to the Director-General, DSSS, dated July 7, signed by the General Secretary of ATSSSAN, Captain Tarnongu, reads: “It’s our great expectation that you would deploy your good office to redress this wrong by ordering the immediate release of our members who are being conspiratorially detained by your officers in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

    “May we remind you that under a democratic society, rule of impunity is strongly frowned at.”

    Tarnongu said trouble started when members of the ATSSSAN and NUATE at Akwa Ibom Airport Development Company Ltd (IADCL) embarked on strike to express their grievances  over the management’s high handedness, mismanagement of the airport,  unpaid wages/allowances and desperate transfer of 150 specially- trained staff to ministries and other departments outside the airport.

    ATSSSAN stated that the management of IADCL has been displaying anti-union attitude,  adding that Barrister Idara  Etim, the resource administrator, in a memo, directed that no worker should join any union as the state government had not approved any form of trade unionism, while workers already in the union were given February 12, to renounce their membership or face disciplinary action.

    The union noted that there is right to  freedom of association, to join and belong to unions.

    The union alleged that the IADCL has planned to spend $34million to train workers to replace those redeployed to ministries saying it was a grand scheme to corruptly mismanage the state tax payers money.

    “To our chagrin however, security agencies were dragged in to a purely industrial relations matters that been mediated on by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity yet the management remained recalcitrant and refused to honour all hallowed agreements,” the workers alleged.

    The Police arrested five of our members while the DSSS arrested three others. Our Lawyers were able to secure the release of members picked up by the Police but the Directorate in Uyo arm-twisted the judiciary in the State to get a back-door order permitting the Directorate to detain three of our members till 18th July, 2015”

    “It is imperative to add that the business of aviation all over the world is never micro-managed, there is nothing like Akwa Ibom aviation standards but there are only global standards as set out by ICAO. We are determined to make sure that these standards are maintained as well as those of industrial relations set by ILO.”

     

  • Call off your strike, Osun monarchs appeal to workers

    Call off your strike, Osun monarchs appeal to workers

    •Rally support for Aregbesola

    Traditional rulers in Osun State over the weekend appealed to workers to call off their industrial action in the interest of peace, progress and development of the state.

    In a release signed by 15 prominent Obas from across the state, the royal fathers said though the workers have genuine ground to go on strike, they, however, appealed to them to protect the interest of the state.

    Speaking on behalf of the monarchs, the Akinrun of Ikirun, Oba AbdulRauf Olawale Adedeji, expressed sympathy for workers, government and the people of the state over the lingering industrial action.

    While noting that the overall interest of the state is paramount, the monarchs said it is imperative for the workers to call off their industrial action.

    They said: “We sympathise with the workers and also sympathise with the government. We also sympathise with the people of Osun State, because they are also affected in one way or the other by the financial crisis.

    “We commend the labour unions, particularly its leadership for comporting themselves. We salute their endurance. We want to appeal to them to bear with government. We assure them that from what we have seen, this challenge would soon be resolved.”

    According to them, the state governor, Rauf Aregbesola, means well judging from how he has turned around the state in the last five years.

    They noted that the era when the state was referred to as a glorified local government and Osogbo, the state capital, as a glorified capital, has gone, due to the massive development Aregbesola has brought to the state.

    “One does not need to look at the crystal ball to know that the Aregbesola administration has, in the last four years, been busy turning the state around in all ramifications.

    “This is a government whose presence is felt in all the nooks and crannies of the state; this is one government that had been paying workers’ salaries as and when due; this is the government that has introduced novelty by paying bonus to workers at the end of the year; that is the 13th month salary,” the monarchs noted.

    The royal fathers warned that the current situation in the state should not be politicised by those who are seeking to capitalise on the situation to score cheap political points.

    The monarchs equally appealed to the government to intensify its effort geared towards resolving the problems.