The Nation Newspaper

Tag: workers

  • ‘8,500 construction workers lost jobs’

    Over 8,500 workers in the construction sector lost their jobs last year due to non-payment of funds to contractors handling various jobs for the Federal Government, the National President, Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association (CCESSA), Dr. Augustine Etafo has said.

    He also expressed fears that more jobs are likely to be lost this year because there was no budgetary provisions for the execution of projects this year, putting contractors and workers in a dangerous position.

    Speaking with reporters in Lagos, he lamented that the development was counter-productive to the growth of the nation’s economy. He urged the Federal Government to live up to its responsibilities by paying contractors as at when due so as to save the sector from collapse.

    While expressing hope that the construction sector local content bill at the National Assembly would bring renewed hope for the construction sector when passed into law, he charged the management of two cement companies, Lafarge and Holcim to ensure that the  welfare of workers are protected as the companies plan to merge.

    He tasked the companies to guarantee that all collective agreements reached are honoured, adding that  the companies must also commit to maintaining global level social dialogue that Lafarge previously participated in with unions.

    In a related development, CCESSA has urged the Federal Government to fulfil the agreement reached with companies in the construction industry.

    Etafo, who made the appeal, told newsmen in Lagos that the industry may have more job losses this year as uncertainties surround the Federal Government implementation of austerity measures.

    He said: “We call on the three tiers of government, especially the Federal, the state and local governments to fulfil their agreement reached with companies in the construction industry as over 8,500 workers in the sector lost their jobs in 2014 due to non-payment of funds to contractors handling various jobs for the Federal Government.”

  • Stop insulting Oyo workers, says APC

    Stop insulting Oyo workers, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has warned the governorship candidates of Accord, Rashidi Ladoja and his counterpart in the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Seyi Makinde, to stop insulting civil servants, who they alleged have been forced to support Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

    In a statement by its Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare, the APC faulted the allegations that Governor Abiola Ajimobi was coercing civil servants, including teachers, to support his re-election bid.

    The statement reads: “In Oyo State, and indeed across the globe, public/civil servants, including teachers are recognised as a population of discerning, informed and dynamic minds. Therefore, it would be wrong for any individual, group or political party to describe them as worthless puppets, who could be treated with disdain or disrespect in the name of playing politics.

    “For the record, Sen. Ajimobi has impacted positively on the lives of teachers more than any other governor before him.

    “He has instituted life insurance policy for civil and public servants;  100 per cent upward review of housing loans for civil and public servants from N1million to N2million;  150 per cent upward review of car loans to civil and public servants from N200,000 to N500,000; clearing of outstanding promotions for workers spanning 2009 to 2012; raising the bar of graduate primary school teachers from GL 14 to 15 and gazzetting the employment of public primary and secondary school teachers.

    “And to crown it all, Ajimobi administration has prevented the people of the state including workers from falling victims of insecurity and political violence while it also reduced the workload of teachers with the recent appointment of 5,300 people to work in public schools as teaching and non-teaching staff.

  • SEC deploys over 50 mgt workers

    SEC deploys over 50 mgt workers

    Top management staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have been redeployed 48 hours after Arunma Oteh left office.

    Scores of SEC employees were moved from their positions to new ones, while some considered to be close to the former Director-General were moved out of the headquarters to Lagos and other offices nationwide.

    A source told The Nation that the redeployment exercise may be on for some time, saying that it is part of a strategic plan of the new helmsman to get optimal value from all employees.

    “I can confirm to you that changes are being effected in the various departments. We heard that at least 50 people were moved today (yesterday). As it is, it is most certain that some other top management staff will still be moved within the next few days”, the source confirmed.

    Oteh failed to get a tenure renewal for the top job of SEC and as such had to leave her office on Monday while the former Executive Commissioner, Operations, Alhaji Mounir Gwarzo, was appointed to act as DG.

    The Acting DG has however assured staff of the SEC of a breath of “fresh air that will return the  commission to its traditional core values experienced a decade ago.”

    Gwarzo spoke during the staff party organised by SEC. He spoke about rebranding the Commission because “the SEC suffered battered image in the past due to abuse of rights of its officials.”

  • Teachers are ‘worst treated’ workers in Kogi, says union

    The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Kogi State Wing, has bemoaned the fate of Basic Education teachers, saying they are worst-treated civil servants in the state.

    Speaking in Lokoja last week, the state NUT Chairman, Suleiman Ndalayi Abdullahi, said primary and junior secondary school teachers are not at par with other civil servants in the state in terms of salary and welfare.

    He said minimum wage has not been implemented for them, several years after other workers have been enjoying same and their promotions have not been cash backed for four years.

    He also said the yearly salary increments have not been implemented, while their leave allowances have not been paid for years.

    Abdullahi said these are happening despite meetings and agreements reached with government officials, screenings and verification exercises carried out, and long periods of strikes.

    “Is this the way to motivate teachers? The question we are asking now is who is sabotaging all efforts to make teachers get their dues? It is sad that some of us are assessing October salaries in January, while November is just commencing. So, when will December salary be paid?

    “Today, our teachers cannot take care of their health needs, pay their bills, feed their families and provide the basic needs for their families and relations. What do you expect from a teacher that faces all these challenges? ” he asked.

    Abdullahi alleged that there is an attempt to kill public schools in the state so that the private ones can excel.  He appealed to the government, royal fathers, opinion leaders, well-meaning citizens and other stakeholders to help salvage basic education in the state.

     

  • LASPEC chief urges workers on CPS

    SOME workers are yet to understand the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), Director-General, Lagos State Pension Commission, Rotimi Hussain, has said.

    He spoke during the seventh pre-retirement seminar for the civil servants and other employees of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Teacher’s Establishment & Pensions Office (TEPO), Government Parastatals and Local Government staff, who are retiring from the state Public Service between January and June, this year.

    According to him, the seminar is aimed at  preparing the government’s employees on the workability of the CPS.

    He said LASPEC organises the seminar on with the state-approved Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) and insurance firms.

    He stressed that workers should have the right knowledge to guide them into retirement.

    He said: “The state was mindful of the fact that the rudiments of the scheme had yet to be fully understood by many workers which necessitated the need for understanding in the scheme.

    “The pre-retirement seminar is aimed at assisting prospective retirees to adequately prepare for physical, emotional and financial well-being in retirement as well as afford them the benefit of being in a better position and frame of mind to build a comfortable and rewarding life in retirement.

    “Participants will, among other things, be exposed to the procedures for processing of their end of service benefits; how to monitor and ensure that their Retirement Savings Account is consistent with their 7.5 per cent statutory monthly deductions and the 7.5 per cent counterpart contributions by the employer, and also highlight the two exitoptions of the programmed withdrawal provided by the PFAs and the annuity for life provided by the insurance companies.”

    Executive Director, Technical, Mrs. Folashade Onanuga, explained that the Lagos State Pension Reform Law 2007 allows a retiree to choose from two options for his monthly pension. These are the withdrawal module of the PFAs or Life Annuity from a licensed life insurance firm.

    “Life annuity is a regular income payment (monthly or quarterly) made to a person (retiree) for the rest of his life, in return for payment of the purchase money (lump sum premium). It is provided by the insurance companies and would be paid for life with the pension guaranteed for 10 years.’’

    On the programmed withdrawal, she said it is a product of the PFAs. She said its computation is based on the template given by the National Pension Commission (PenCom), adding that the higher the lump sum, the lower the monthly pension in the programme.

    “It is a periodic (monthly or quarterly) pension payment to a retiree from the balance in his retirement savings account for an estimated guaranteed pension period or life span. PFAs owed the retirees the duty to enlighten and agree with them on the preferred withdrawal option.

    She said the process entails PFA to provide current total RSA balance, amount for lump sum and other necessary data for the purpose of generating annuity quote

    “Retiree should provide life insurance Company chosen with RSA balance less amount for lump sum and collect the quotation or provisional agreement from Life Insurance Company and submit same to his PFA as soon as possible.

    “PFA shall within seven days of receipt of application seek approval from PenCom to pay lump sum and release annuity premium. PenCom will send approval to PFA and copy Pension Fund Custodian (PFC) and the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM).

    “PFA will pay the lump sum of the retiree and transfer balance to Life Insurance Company. Life Insurance Company will issue the policy document of the retiree. Payment of monthly pension is made by standing order to the bank account of the retiree,” she said.

  • Coal shortage looms as Indian workers strike

    Coal shortage looms as Indian workers strike

    In one of the biggest direct industrial protests in recent times, over 500 000 coal workers across India went on a five-day strike as negotiations failed.

    Trade union representative said talks between the unions and government lasted for several hours yesterday, with discussions taking place until midnight, but unions said that the government officials had nothing to offer to reverse the “denationalisation of the coal sector”.

    The government, in turn, said that the trade unions were “adamant” on their stand.

    “Negotiations at the secretary level have failed. But we are open for discussions at the political level either with the Prime Minister or the Coal Minister,” Indian National Mineworkers’ Federation secretary general S Q Zama said after the failed talks.

    “We did our best to arrive at a solution but the coal secretary has its own limitations and around 350 000 workers of Coal India Limited (CIL) commenced their strike today,” CIL chairperson Sutirtha Bhattacharya said.

    Significantly, yesterday was the second day at the office for Bhattacharya after he took charge as chairperson of CIL.

    Government estimated about 75 per cent of the country’s daily coal production of around 1.5-million tonnes was affected by the strike.

    The direct industrial actions, the biggest in the country since railway workers’ went on strike in 1977, was to protest the proposed restructuring of CIL, divestment of government equity holding in the largest mining company and trade unions’ apprehensions of “denationalisation of the Indian coal sector” through the government’s recent liberalisation of coal mining with the proposed permitting of private investors into the sector.

    The strike impacted production at major government-owned and -managed coal mining companies like Singareni Collieries Company Limited, Neyveli Liginte Company Limited, as well as CIL, with the latter accounting for over 80 per cent of domestic coal supplies.

    The strike was being supported by all major trade unions representing coal mine workers in the country including, Indian National Trade Union Congress, Centre for Indian Trade Unions, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), All India Trade Union Congress and Hind Mazdoor Sangh. Ironically, BMS was the labour arm of the Bharatiya Janata Party, which headed the current Indian federal government in New Delhi.

  • Workers’ strike hits courts in Abuja, others

    Workers’ strike hits courts in Abuja, others

    COURTS were paralysed yesterday as workers under the auspices of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) began an indefinite strike.

    The strike followed the alleged refusal of the Executive arm of government at the federal and state levels to comply with a January 13, 2014 judgment delivered by Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court.

    The judgment, among others, upheld financial autonomy for the judiciary and declared as unconstitutional, the piecemeal release of its budgetary allocations.

    The strike came at a critical stage in the nation’s electioneering process, when many politicians, who are dissatisfied with the outcome of their parties’ primaries, are in court, hoping to have their cases resolved before next month’s general election.

    This is the second time the nation’s judiciary workers would be going on strike on the issue since the judgment was given by Justice Ademola.

    The workers shut courts for over two weeks in July. They suspended the strike when the Presidency, through the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, intervened.

    Representatives of parties relevant to the execution of the judgment, including the accountant general of the federation (AGF), states’ accountants general, commissioners of Finance, among others, held meetings with leaders of JUSUN, which culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in November.

    The MoU, dated November 27, 2014, directed the accountant general of the federation to deduct directly from allocations to states’ judiciaries at the last Federation Account Allocations Committee (FAAC) meeting in December.

    But yesterday in Abuja, the main gates to the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal headquarters (located within the Three-Arms Zone), the Federal High Court headquarters within the Central Business District and the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama were locked when The Nation visited.

    Some court officials, who reported for work after the holidays, were turned back by JUSUN officials, led by its President, Marwan Adamu.

    The JUSUN officials went round courts to enforce the strike.

    On the strike, Adamu said: “There is no going back. We will persist until they (the Executive) respect the judgment of the court. This strike is, therefore, indefinite.

    “Since we suspended our initial strike, the government and its representatives engaged us in series of meetings, where  about seven agreements were signed.  The last one was the MoU signed in November.

    “Yet, noting has happened. They promised to comply, but at the last FAAC meeting, we were surprised when they all started shouting no, no, no.

    “The accountant general of the federation has refused to obey the judgment. We have tolerated and accommodated them enough.

    “In a situation where courts’ judgments are not obeyed, we are heading towards anarchy. We are happy that there is total compliance with this strike throughout the federation.”

    The JUSUN president, who sympathised with litigants and other court users, said the workers had no choice, but to go on strike to compel implementation of a subsisting court judgment and the agreement reached with them.

    All was quiet at the high and magistrates’ courts in Lagos  State  yesterday, as  workers also complied with the directives of the national leaders of JUSUN.

    Among cases caught in the industrial action was the application filed by Pastor Temitope Joshua, seeking to stop the inquest into the circumstances surrounding the September 12, 2014, building collapse.

    Justice Lateefa Okunnu could not deliver her ruling in the matter.

    Also, the coroner, Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, could also not sit.

    Litigants and lawyers were prevented from entering the Lagos and Ikeja High court by officials of JUSUN.

    Judges, who reported early for work and hoping to carry on with court proceedings, were turned back as the gates were locked.

    The situation was also the same at the state’s magistrates’ courts.

    Court registrars were  around, but they could not access the court rooms.

    JUSUN’s National Deputy President Samuel Adesanya told reporters yesterday that the strike began on January 2 as scheduled, despite the public holidays.

    An executive of the Lagos branch of JUSUN, Mr. Adelenu Tajudeen, said the court gates would remain locked till further notice.

    The National Industrial Court (NIC) in Ikoyi was also locked as the workers stayed off. Those who reported for work returned home.

    Angry litigants and lawyers, who had thought the association would not carry out the threat, expressed displeasure over the situation.

    They said JUSUN should have considered the implication of its action on the masses.

    They explained that the strike would cause hardship to those in detention while police cells would witness more congestion.

    A Lagos-based lawyer, Kayode Bankole, expressed worries that state governments were yet to compile with the judgment several months after it was delivered.

    When contacted, the National Secretary of JUSUN, Isaiah Adetola, said: “All state high courts will remain closed until they complied with the judgment of the court and grant financial autonomy to the judiciary.”

    In Edo State, courts’ gates were also locked as the state’s JUSUN officials monitored events to ensure full compliance .

    Besides the demand for judicial autonomy, the state JUSUN is also seeking the payment of July 2013 salaries to its members.

    The salary was reportedly withheld because the state government enforced the “no-work no-pay rule” after JUSUN members joined a national strike. Its Chairman, Uyi Ogieriakhi, said his members were being victimised by the state for participating in the strike.

    According to him, “The July salary is a right Edo State cannot continue to keep. We embark on a strike to fight for autonomy of the judiciary.

    “The strike we went for was a statutory strike, but workers are being victimised by the government. We are urging the governor to take a look at the July salary. We cannot continue to wallow in a situation, where the judiciary will be caged.”

  • Workers advised on service delivery

    The Lagos State Government has charged public servants to render qualitative services.

    The Head of Service, Mrs. Josephine Williams, gave the charge yesterday at the 2015 First Working Day Inter-religious Prayer held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, The Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

    Christian and Muslim clerics led prayers at the event.

    Mrs Williams urged public servants to reflect on what they did in the past in order to improve.

    She said many public servants lacked self-esteem, adding: “Self-esteem will make you do a lot of things right. It will make you to do the wrong thing; so, we need self-esteem to do things right. Self-esteem will make you have the right relationship with others. Don’t think others are better than you are. Enjoy whatever position you find yourself and don’t run yourself down.”

    Mrs Williams stressed the need for public servants to join hands with the government to build a virile and vibrant public service.

    She said the government remained committed to workers’ welfare and would continue to take steps to improve their lots, noting that Lagos is one of the few states in the federation that paid workers promptly.

    Mrs Williams urged the workers to  reciprocate the welfare gesture, pointing out the state‘s has the wherewithal to always deliver.

    “You have to resolve to give your best because the state government is paying your salaries despite all odds. Some states even owe up to six months salaries, but that is not our case; we were have paid your bonus. You need to have the ‘can do it’ spirit. I know we are all vibrant, but our best is yet to come. Let us work together in peace and harmony,” she said.

    Rev. Veras Alawale of the Chapel of the Christ the Light Church, Alausa, advised the workers to improve their attitude to work, adding:

    “You need to dedicate your lives to God more in the New Year. You need God to do better on your job. Always do the right things and seek God`s guidance in all you do through fervent prayers.”

    Imam Babatunde Kassim of the Lagos State Secretariat Mosque, Alausa, enjoined public servants to always thank the Almighty Allah and endeavour to seek His guidance and protection in all their endeavours.

    Prayers were also offered for Governor Babatunde Fashola and members of his executive council, the public service, the state and the nation.

    The event witnessed the addition of five new staff buses to the existing fleet.

    Mrs Williams said the buses were part of measures to solve workers’ transportation challenges, urging those in charge to ensure efficient use of the vehicles.

  • Workers urge domestication of ILO protocol

    The Textile Garment and Tailoring Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (TGTSSAN) has urged the Federal Government to ensure that the new global protocol against forced labour is given attention.

    The protocol, which was adopted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland, is aimed at accelerating action against modern slavery.

    Its National President, Comrade Ambi Karu, made the declaration while interacting with reporters on how the protocol has put other world leaders on the spot in efforts to combat forced labour which is rampant in the private sector.

    He said: “We are very comfortable with the new ILO Protocol on forced labour that will put the government of member-states of the ILO on the alert. This is because the private sector is responsible for 90 per cent of the estimated 21 million victims of forced labour, reaping about $150 billion from some of the most severe forms of exploitation in existence.”

    According to Karu, the call became necessary to prevent jobless youths from being exploited by the political class to create political crisis in the country as the nation prepares for this year’s general elections.

    “We are more comfortable because over 92 per cent of employers and workers’ delegates at the  ILO conference voted in favour of the protocol, which the ILO described as bringing one of its longest-standing instruments, Convention 29, into the modern era.

    “We are optimistic that the new ILO protocol, if taken seriously by the three tiers of government will revitalise action to ending forced labour, especially in the textile and garment industry, as the new rule will put those who make money from anti-workers’activities on notice,” he said.

  • 22 state governors owing workers salaries

    22 state governors owing workers salaries

    Secretary General of the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), Comrade Issa Aremu, has expressed concern over non payment of workers salaries by many state governors.

    Speaking with newsmen in Kaduna at the NUTGTWN meeting, Aremu described the development as a wage theft, wage robbery and economic crime.

    Aremu who is the Vice President of the Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC) said for about three months now, 22 state governors are delaying or refusing to pay salaries but paid the delegates during the just concluded primary elections across the states.

    “We see that delay in payment of salaries as wage theft, wage robbery. It is actually an economic crime because Nigeria labour law says thou shall pay the worker as at when due. In fact by 22nd of every month you must have pay the workers fully.

    “We never heard of any delegate being owed a single penny during the primary elections, but they cannot get money to pay the workers. In fact, some of the delegates even bought new cars and properties after the primaries because they money they got in just few days is much more than what workers earn in many months. The governors should go to the place they got they money to pay delegates and settle the workers’ salaries ,” he said.

    He also said the NUTGTWN has succeeded in negotiating a 15% increase in wages for its members, making it a 35% increase in the last four years.

    “This shows that the process of collecting bargaining is working in the private sector and we will like to recommend this process for the public sector because most of their crisis is on the increase of wages and salaries which has been causing endless strikes and unfavourable industrial actions,” he added.