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Tag: workers

  • Workers urged to call off strike

    Workers urged to call off strike

    An advocacy group, Access to Justice(A2Justice), has appealed to the leadership of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) to call off its strike.

    Its Executive Director, Joseph Otteh, and the Senior Programme Officer, Chinelo Chunweze, stated this in a letter to JUSUN’s National President, Marwa Adamu.

    The group noted that while the strike had been called off in many states and at the federal level, it was still on-going in about 15 states where the governments had refused to obey the court judgment on the matter.

    It noted further that in the affected states where the strike is five  months old,  the courts had been shut by the union.

    A2Justice gave two reasons for its action. It said: “First, the impact of the strike has been massive and has had the most disproportionate effect on persons who are mostly ‘outsiders’ to the policy making circuit and who exercise little or no influence over policy makers who alone can address the grievances being expressed by JUSUN in the sustained strike.

    “Second, there will be considerable changes to the composition of the executive branch in a significant number of states where the strike is taking place soon”.

    According to the group, “newly elected governors will be sworn into office in some of these states on May 29, 2015, which is less than a month from this time. This is the situation in states like Kaduna, Enugu, Plateau, Taraba and Nasarawa, among others.

    “The in-coming administrations could pursue a different policy from those being applied by the group of incumbencies, and could very well differ on policies relating to compliance with the Justice Ademola judgment. But coming into office and meeting a pre-existing and on-going strike that has effectively crippled the operations of a vital branch of the government will not represent a healthy inheritance, nor a good start to the business of governance.

    “In this instance, it appears to be more meaningful that new governments begin on a clean slate and have the space and opportunity to articulate their own policies as well as correct past policies that have created obstacles to good governance.’’

    A2Justice urged the leadership of JUSUN to consider the case of those who were affected by the strike. It listed them to include the “innocent”, there are thousands, probably 10s of thousands of people who are languishing in detention, in police and prison cells because their cases cannot be processed by courts that have been shut following the strike.

    It added:  ”The wholesale denial of the constitutional rights of these people over this protracted period, with no immediate expectation of amelioration or relief, is a staggering and grave injustice to them. These “casualties” of the strike bear no responsibility for the state of affairs that triggered the strike by JUSUN.

    “In fact, many of them will include those who support the cause of a free and independent Judiciary – the mantra of the struggle now waged by JUSUN – and they will wonder how they should bear responsibility, on this kind of debilitating scale, for the failure of governments to guarantee the implementation of the high court’s judgment.

  • ‘Edo not owing workers’

    The Edo State Government has denied owing its workers salary arrears.

    The government said it was up-to-date in its obligation to the workers.

    The government, in a statement yesterday, insisted that it should not be lumped in the league of some states in default of payment of salaries because it meets its wage obligations before the end of each month.

    In the statement, Commissioner for Information and Orientation Louis Odion said: “We read with deep shock  the claims that the Government of Edo State owes workers five months’ salary arrears. Nothing could be more misleading and mischievous.

    “While it is true that some states are currently unable to meet their financial obligation, Edo remains an exemplar. For the records, Edo State Government does not owe workers salary arrears as the government has fully discharged its obligations. As a matter of state policy since Comrade Adams Oshiomhole assumed office in 2008, pensioners receive their pay first, followed by workers who get paid not later than the 25th of every month. The policy has not changed. For April, all pensioners and workers were also paid on schedule.”

    “Oshiomhole’s life has been devoted to the defence and advancement of the workers’ cause. While it is true that states have come under heavy pressure on account of the steep fall in oil price, for the Comrade Governor, the pay day remains sacrosanct.

    “Through prudent management, the Comrade Governor is not just paying salaries and pension on schedule but is also able to keep contractors working on sites across the state.”

  • Workers believe in my leadership, says Wabba

    The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, has said  workers believe in his transparency and leadership style, adding that this is the reason he was elected.

    Speaking with reporters in Abuja, Wabba said the NLC March election was free and fair, adding that contrary to the allegation of the aggrieved group, delegates from all states voted and represented their union.

    “Permit me to clear the air over the campaign, which our erstwhile opponents in the February/March NLC elections used to try to cause division within our ranks as union. We were accused of excluding our members from the Southeast and Southsouth geo political zones from our delegates’ selection because we were unsure that our members from these two zones would vote for the union’s candidate for the NLC President as the two opponents for the position where from the zones.

    “Our National Executive Council (NEC) met in Enugu just before the NLC conference and mandated the National Administrative Committee of our union to work out the modalities and logistics of our participation in the NLC conference where our delegation was more than the total number of delegation for our conference today. Contrary to the falsehood that was propagated that states from the two zones were excluded from our union’s delegates composition, virtually all states were given representation on the list of our union’s delegation to that conference”, Wabba said.

    He said his leadership will continue to be transparent and accountable to the Nigerian workers. He said the union’s detractors have sought to argue that payment to the NLC over the years since the leadership took over has been because of the ambition of some of its leaders to occupy elective positions in the NLC.

    According to Wabba, the truth of the matter is that the leadership only chose to do what is right. “Our colleagues in other unions that are short changing the NLC by paying less than the statutory 10 per cent meant for the NLC are breaking the Trade Union Act and therefore, breaking the law. We therefore, refuse to be apologetic for doing what the law requires of us,” he said.

    Wabba said although efforts have been made to settle with the aggrieved group, the group rebuffed peace moves.

  • Don to workers: plan for retirement

    Don to workers: plan for retirement

    The 155th inaugural lecture of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) was held last Thursday at the institution’s Akin Deko Auditorium. A professor of Accounting, Famous Izedonmi delivered the lecture titled: If you want to be poor, be an employee only: An accountant’s perspective on wealth creation.

    Izedonmi argued that being employed does not lead to wealth, asking how many civil servants make it beyond their income. He decried what he called “overspending” by civil servants, urging them to invest part of their income on shares, fixed deposits and entrepreneurship.

    Izedonmi said lack of information on how to create wealth has made many civil servants to live from hand to mouth. According to the don, the present economic reality can make people living on their salaries only to regret.

    Stressing the need to divest their income to other productive venture, he said: “If you are in a paid employment, I want you to realise that you will retire one day. Learn from retirees around you. Plan for retirement and build your retirement home peacefully to avoid dying in penury. Keep debt profile low and never abandon the responsibility of wealth creation to your employer only.”

    He condemned what he called the government’s anti-worker policies, which he said had resulted in the suffering of workers and retirees. The don noted that tertiary institutions were breeding armies of job-seeking graduates, majority of whom, are unemployable.

    He called for the promotion of skills acquisition programmes for graduates, advising schools to ensure attitudinal re-orientation of students to avoid overdependence on government for job. He also advocated for mass education for workers on the dangers of a single source of income.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Faraday Orumwense, who chaired the event, hailed the lecturer for his “cerebral expedition”. He said the theme of the lecture was timely and called on members of the audience to spread the message.

     

  • Don to workers: plan for retirement

    The 155th inaugural lecture of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) was held last Thursday at the institution’s Akin Deko Auditorium. A professor of Accounting, Famous Izedonmi delivered the lecture titled: If you want to be poor, be an employee only: An accountant’s perspective on wealth creation.

    Izedonmi argued that being employed does not lead to wealth, asking how many civil servants make it beyond their income. He decried what he called “overspending” by civil servants, urging them to invest part of their income on shares, fixed deposits and entrepreneurship.

    Izedonmi said lack of information on how to create wealth has made many civil servants to live from hand to mouth. According to the don, the present economic reality can make people living on their salaries only to regret.

    Stressing the need to divest their income to other productive venture, he said: “If you are in a paid employment, I want you to realise that you will retire one day. Learn from retirees around you. Plan for retirement and build your retirement home peacefully to avoid dying in penury. Keep debt profile low and never abandon the responsibility of wealth creation to your employer only.”

    He condemned what he called the government’s anti-worker policies, which he said had resulted in the suffering of workers and retirees. The don noted that tertiary institutions were breeding armies of job-seeking graduates, majority of whom, are unemployable.

    He called for the promotion of skills acquisition programmes for graduates, advising schools to ensure attitudinal re-orientation of students to avoid overdependence on government for job. He also advocated for mass education for workers on the dangers of a single source of income.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Faraday Orumwense, who chaired the event, hailed the lecturer for his “cerebral expedition”. He said the theme of the lecture was timely and called on members of the audience to spread the message.

     

  • ‘Ekiti has no excuse not to pay workers’

    ‘Ekiti has no excuse not to pay workers’

    the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has sympathised with civil servants for their unpaid April salary.

    APC insisted that Governor Ayo Fayose had no reason not to pay workers, saying “all excuses for the delay are stunts of an insincere administration out to fleece workers”.

    In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, the APC said Ekiti workers were experiencing  a “systematic defrauding of the state”.

    The party asked workers to reflect on their experiences during ex-Governor  Kayode Fayemi’s tenure and then ask how the former governor was able to pay them regularly while servicing debt and implementing capital projects.

    The APC said: “Governor Fayose has not paid one kobo of Ekiti debt since he assumed office. He sought a moratorium of six months within which there would be no deduction in Ekiti federal allocation.

    “That means Fayose saves N500 million that Fayemi was paying in debt when he was the governor. Therefore, the tale that Fayemi left a huge debt is boring and unconvincing.

    “The Federal Government refunded the N22 billion Fayemi spent on federal projects. Another N2 billion Ecological Fund was paid. Fayose denied payment of the Ecological Fund until we obtained the FOI Law to expose his lie.

    “He owned up and two weeks later announced that he had awarded contracts on ecological disasters across the state where the N2 billion was spent.

    “We are asking Ekiti people to point to any ecological project in their communities to prove the governor right.

    “The governor has cancelled so many of his predecessor’s social schemes in a bid to save money.

    “He stopped funding security agencies but increased his personal security vote to N200 million monthly. He started running streetlights from 7pm to 10:30 pm daily, which Fayemi did from 6:30 pm to 6:30 am.

    “He reduced ministries from 19 to 14. He sacked 180 workers in the House of Assembly and nine permanent secretaries.

    “We now wonder why a governor has a three-man cabinet? After these cancellations and non-existent capital projects, we want to ask him what he is doing with the money saved.”

    The APC regretted that workers had cut their nose to spite their face in their rebellion against the former administration that made their welfare its watchword.

  • Workers hail NTDC DG

    Workers hail NTDC DG

    THE newly promoted workers of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) have praised the seamless efforts of the Director General of the Corporation, Mrs. Sally Mbanefo and the governing board of the corporation for the approval of their promotions.

    The 53 senior staff and three junior staff, who benefited from the newly approved promotion in the corporation described the Sally Mbanefo-led administration as the one with a clear-cut goal to practically develop and promote Nigeria’s domestic tourism, while not undermining staff welfare.

    Reacting to the development, the NTDC boss said staff welfare is pivotal to her tourism promotion and development, explaining that “NTDC staff are the core stakeholders in the Nigeria’s tourism industry, hence I cannot afford to neglect the staff and their welfare, which included their promotion as at when due”.

    “As a result, capacity building and staff welfare are the priority on my agenda in repositioning the Nigeria’s tourism industry and promoting domestic tourism in the country. And this, I will execute to the letter”.

    “I believe that for any tourism master plan to work NTDC staff must be well-treated, well-equipped, with good attention to their welfare, and they must be practically made ambassadors of the Nigeria’s tourism, because they are going to drive the project, direct the strategic imperative of the organization. We must feed the goose that lays the golden egg.”

    One of the newly promoted staff, who pleaded anonymity said, “I now believe without any shadow of doubt that the Sally Mbanefo-led administration is keenly interested in the welfare of NTDC staff. The DG assured us at the press conference she held sometime in February this year that her team and the board were working on resolving the issues on the staff promotions and conversion. Now their effort has indeed worked out for our good. I am so happy to be among the newly promoted staff of NTDC. It assured me of a better future in the service to my fatherland.”

  • Mark, Saraki salute workers on May Day

    Mark, Saraki salute workers on May Day

    Senate President, David Mark, yesterday expressed solidarity with Nigerian workers, urging them to uphold the spirit of resilience that has propelled the nation to greatness.

    He also urged workers to sustain the hands that produce the wealth of the nation just as he told employers of labour to reciprocate the workers’ gesture through improved welfare.

    According to a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, in Abuja the Senate President said: “On this day as always, I salute the indomitable spirit of the Nigerian worker. I commend your resilience and steadfastness that have kept the nation alive.

    “I am to remind you to always make productivity the cornerstone at all times. That way, you will be contributing to the survival of the nation.

    “To this end, I earnestly request that we review our strategies and penchant or resort to industrial action at will.

    “I am convinced that dialogue remains the best road map towards resolving any disagreement no matter how complicated.

    “Resort to strike action always carries far reaching political and economic consequences which unarguably retard growth.

    “As a people, we must think otherwise in the interest of our nation. Development can only be achieved if labour and employers work along the same line.”

    Also yesterday, the Chairman Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, saluted the workers as they marked the May Day celebration.

    Saraki urged them to remain steadfast and courageous in the face of current economic turmoil which has created a situation where some states are not able to pay salaries on time.

    Saraki, who issued a statement in Abuja, said: “Every first day in the month of May provides an opportunity to salute the efforts of the labouring hands behind the socio-economic balance of our great country.

    “I join millions of Nigerians not only to felicitate, but also to commend the boundless efforts and sacrifice by Nigerian workers.

    “In the quest for sustainability, stability, tranquility, and social growth of our fatherland, the civil servants remain the gear and the driving force. Today therefore will remain a historic day of appreciation.

    “I use this opportunity to implore our dear workers nationwide to remain steadfast and courageous as Nigeria passes through the current economic turmoil which has created the challenge of some states not being able to pay salaries on time.

    “This I believe our president-elect will urgently and aggressively attend to.

    “I commend the Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress for the leadership they provide for Nigerian workers and urge them to close ranks to hold a united front to assist the 8th Assembly to build on the achievements of improving work conditions in Nigeria.

    “The labour of our heroes, past and present, must never be in vain.

    “As a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I am committed to raising and supporting Bills that will create jobs, protect the Nigerian workers and improve our work environment.”

  • Gov Elechi tells workers to support Buhari

    Gov. Martin Elechi of Ebonyi state yesterday commended workers in the state, for their support of his administration in the last eight years.

    The commendation came as part of the address the governor delivered to the people on Friday in Abakaliki during the 2015 Joint Workers Day Celebration in the state.

    He urged them to extend such support to the incoming administration. “My administration did its best to enhance workers’ welfare through prompt payment of salaries and other entitlements.

    “We also trained workers in Information Communication Technology (ICT), construction of ultra-modern civil service secretariat, which will be inaugurated in a fortnight,” the governor said.

    Elechi was represented by his deputy, Dave Umahi, who is also the governor-elect, who used the forum to assure that his government would fight corruption when he assumed office on May 29.

    “I made a promise to God during my campaign that I will not embezzle state funds, award contracts to myself, relatives or friends’’.

    Chief Ikechukwu Nwafor, Ebonyi State Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) commended workers for their solidarity and support during its month-long strike.

     

  • Protesting workers lock out Anyim over N1.2b allowances

    Protesting workers lock out Anyim over N1.2b allowances

    THERE was a protest yesterday at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF). The workers are demanding the payment of N1.2 billion allowances.

    The staff who had earlier planned the protest for Tuesday postponed it till yesterday as SGF Anyim Pius Anyim was away from the office.

    The angry staff blocked all the entrances around 2pm when Anyim arrived the office.

    The staff said they had petitioned Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chair Ibrahim Lamorde over the matter.

    The EFCC Chairman, it was said, visited the SGF after receiving the petition. This could, however, not be confirmed last night.

    The angry civil servants gave Anyim a 24-hour ultimatum to pay the allowances.

    When contacted on telephone last night, the Special Adviser on Media to the SGF, Sam Nwabasi, told The Nation that the office was surprised with the figure being thrown up as no money has been mentioned in the earlier discussions between the unions and the management.

    According to him, the union had earlier demanded for 18 items, including erecting an ATM machine and a canteen in the office.

    He said that management had looked into their demands and communicated back its responses to the union. They have been waiting for them to make their views known to management on the proposals.

    But rather than come back to the management, he said that they took the action and made the spurious monetary allegations.