The Nation Newspaper

Tag: workers

  • Boko Haram: Electricity workers seek mass transfer

    • Revenue collection adversely affected

    Workers of the successor companies unbundled from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) are seeking mass transfer from the northern part of the country as a result of the state of insecurity created by the Boko Haram religious sect, The Nation has gathered.

    Besides, the officials of electricity generation and distribution companies in the affected states are complaining about the dip in revenue generation as customers of the utility companies are unwilling to pay their electricity bills despite persuasion by the companies.

    It was also gathered that the chief executive officers (CEOs) of generation and distribution companies from the north complained about the situation when the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, had a meeting with them, heads of parastatals of the power industry and the leadership of the ministry in Abuja.

    An official of the Power ministry, who spoke in confidence to The Nation, said: “The officials in charge of power facilities in the northern parts of the country complained about the peculiar problems created by the security situation in the region.

    “They told the minister that the security situation in the region is adversely affecting their operations and income generation as most corporate consumers have closed shops. There is serious apathy for payment of electricity bills by the customers. There is mass request for transfer by the workers as well as irregular work attendance for fear of attack.”

    According to the source, the CEOs noted that service delivery and revenue generation had been hampered by the high incidence of illegal re-connection and evasion of payment by some consumers in different parts of the country.

    The source added that the development may affect the power sector privatisation programme of the Federal Government as investors in the power assets in the north may decide to withdraw.

    On the strength of the complaints of the CEOs, the minister was said to have set up an action committee chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Dr. Godknows Igali, to look at the issues and report to him for presentation to the Presidency.

    The follow-up action committee, it was gathered, was inaugurated with seven terms of reference, which include the setting up of timelines for the attainment of the various key performance indicators; drawing up an executive summary for work and possible submission to Mr President and the Federal Executive Council (FEC), among others.

    The minister, it was gathered, re-assured the CEOs that measures were being taken to ensure adequate funding, especially their imprest,urging them to work harder at their revenue-generation efforts.

    Other issues that were discussed at the meeting include how to move the privatisation programme forward, settle outstanding labour issues, fast-track work on ongoing power projects, strengthen the transmission profile by ensuring the inauguration of the Supervisory Board of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), and finalising management issues for the company.

    Nebo reiterated the government’s resolve to generate 40,000MW by 2020, and praised the efforts the Niger Delta Power Holding Company to delivering on the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP).

    He acknowledged the indispensable roles of the CEOs and other heads of the ministry’s agencies in the task of accomplishing the Federal Government’s aspirations in the power sector.

  • Oyo trains 500 female workers on ICT

    THE Oyo State govern-ment has through the office of the First Lady trained 500 female civil servants on Information Communi-cation Technology (ICT).

    The training was to improve their work performances and expose them to the abounding opportunities on the internet.

    Speaking at the graduation ceremony, which coincided with her 54th birthday at the weekend the First Lady, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, said it was time for women to claim their rightful positions through acquisition of knowledge.

    She said: “These are projects I hold very close to my heart and I enjoin you all today that rather than give me personal gift for my birthday, I would appreciate it very much if everyone could make a contribution towards any of these projects so that together we can make a joint impact on our people.”

    She solicited additional support not only for the ICT centre but also for the Educate a Rural Child Project geared at bridging the gap between children educated in the urban and rural areas of the state.

     

     

  • Protecting the workers

    Protecting the workers

    • Proposed law to curb late payment of salaries deserves support

    It is a welcome relief that a Bill seeking an end to exploitation of workers by their employers has passed the second reading in the House of Representatives. Irked that millions of Nigerians in employment usually go without salaries and other emoluments for months, the Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, said there was the need to punish those employers who adopt a flamboyant lifestyle and globe-trotting, while denying their employees their legitimate incomes.

    The Workman (Unpaid Wages Prohibition) Bill states that: “An employer shall not hold onto the salary, wage, pension and any other benefit and emolument of any workman for a period of seven days and above from the day the payment of such salary, wage, pension and any other benefit and emolument falls due save in the event of any force majeure.”

    Those who fail to settle the wage bill within seven days are to be fined 10 per cent of the total wage bill, while delay for more than seven, but below 30 days would attract 20 per cent surcharge. Employers who seize employees’ pay for more than 30 days but less than two months are to pay 30 per cent to government coffers, while those who hold on to the emoluments of staff for more than two months are due to be fined 30 per cent plus an imprisonment term of one month.

    If passed, the law would introduce sanity in the labour market, both in the public and private sectors. The practice is now rife for employers in the private sector and the authorities in the public sector to collude with bank officials to deny workmen their rights, in a bid to make money off deposits that would be kept at commercial rates in the finance houses.

    Hiding under the guise of a poor economic environment, employers and personnel managers turn deaf ears to the cries of workers who are further pauperised by such unholy acts. The plight of pensioners who sometimes die on long queues contrived by the greed of officials to trade with their money is now well advertised. Many senior citizens are known to have died as they turned up at centres where they were meant to have turned up for screening. Governments are known to have introduced hurdles on the way of such pensioners ostensibly to weed out ghosts and locate the dead. Every year, new measures are introduced despite previous capturing of biometric data.

    We are not unmindful of the distress in the work place. Many textile firms, for example, have closed shop in the past years. The current spate of terror attacks, too, has made many firms, especially in the North, unhealthy. But, there are standard practices to handle such developments. In some climes, corporate organisations are known to file for bankruptcy whenever they are unable to meet obligations to their staff and customers. Here, the workers bear the brunt.

    As the Bill is remitted to the relevant committees to consider, we urge the lawmakers to grant the employers a 30-day period of grace to sort out cash flow troubles and other unforeseen developments that may not fall under the “force majeure” proviso in the Bill.

    It is gratifying that the proposed law provides that, in the case of public and private limited liability companies, the directors shall be liable to the punishment due employers who might have defaulted for more than two months.

    It is hoped that the public hearing to be organised by the committees would enable labour unions and employers make their contributions. The fact that the Bill still has to pass the Senate test would help ensure that all shades of opinions are taken into consideration.

    However, nothing should be done to scuttle the proposed law. Heartless employers who owe their Nigerian employees, only to ensure prompt payment of workers in subsidiaries abroad, deserve to be punished. It must be remembered that every labourer deserves his wages.

     

  • Ondo workers accuse official of harassment

    Some workers in the Ondo State Development and Property Corporation (OSDPC) yesterday alleged a threat to their careers at the State Civil Service.

    They urged Governor Olusegun Mimiko to assist them.

    The workers accused an OSDPC director of depriving about 11 workers promotions. They alleged that the director had been harassing the workers, adding that he only gave those he liked the opportunities to be promoted.

    The aggrieved workers are: Mr. K. Paul, Mr. Osanife, Mr. I.F Julius, Mr. J. Mathew, Mr. J. Akerele, Mrs. R.O Ayegunle, Mrs. R.O Ajayi, Mrs. O. Folarin, Mrs. E.O Olaniyi-Afere, Mr. Afalusi and Mrs. O. Adeniran.

    Speaking with The Nation in Akure, the state capital, OSDPC Union Chairman Comrade Jones Akinrolayo alleged that the director had formed a cabal of unscrupulous officers working against the interest of the staff and the progress of the corporation.

    He said: “He is in the habit of denying some officers promotion to favour those who do not qualify but who are his friends.”

    When contacted on phone, the director said he could not speak on the allegations because, as a civil servant, he is not permitted to talk to the media.

  • Research workers accuse OAU of intimidation

    Academic and non academic workers of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ibadan campus, at the weekend accused the management of using soldiers, policemen and members of the Odua People’s Congress (OPC) to intimidate them.

    The workers, who have been on strike for nine months, said soldiers and policemen of the state special security outfit, Operation Burst, threatened to shoot them when they were holding their congress.

    Speaking with The Nation, the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr. Olufunmilayo Ande, and the Chairman of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), Comrade Oladeinde Olufemi, narrated how members were dispersed at their congress twice by security agents allegedly invited by the management to force them to sign the register.

    Olufemi said: “Some members of Operation Burst stormed our congress and threatened to shoot our members. They switched off our electricity generating set, seized our microphones and harassed our members.

    “Why should the management decide to force workers to sign the attendance register when the issue that led to the crisis is yet to be resolved? The Director, Prof. Benjamin Ogunbodede, is being economical with the truth and his words need to be taken with caution. How can he say that the Vice-Chancellor ordered the opening of attendance register when there is no circular to back it up. It is all lies. It is part of his insincerity and high-handedness that led to this crisis.”

    Ogunbodede said “the story of the union leaders was concocted to give the dog a bad name”.

    He said the workers were not intimidated by security agents to sign the attendance register, claiming that the union leaders prevented willing workers from signing the register.

  • Oil workers urge speedy passage of PIB

    Oil workers have called on the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to attract investment into the sector and grow the national economy.

    The oil workers, acting under the aegis of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) and its counterpart, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), lamented that investors are relunctant to invest in the sector because of the uncertainties surrounding the PIB which has generated bitter acrimony among members of the National Assembly.

    Adopting NUPENGASSAN as acronym for the two unions, the oil workers said: ”Investors have continued to adopt a wait and see attitude, refraining from making any new investment pending the passage of the bill.”

    They, therefore, called on the National Assembly to ensure that the provisions of the PIB covers not only the agencies and companies created under the proposed law but all companies operating in the petroleum sector.

    Addressing reporters in Lagos, PENGASSAN President, Comrade Babatunde Ogun, observed that the PIB proposes to exclude the successor companies to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) from the operations of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) and Public Procurement Act (PPA).

    He argued that the involvement of all the companies will ensure transparency and erase the “black hole” perception of the oil and gas industry, adding that the proposed law was to check inherent corruption and misappropriation of funds in public entities.

    Ogun, who spoke alongside NUPENG President, Igwe Achese and other National Administrative Council (NAC) members of both unions added that subjecting the NNPC successor companies to the FRA and PPA will further entrench transparency and accountability in the organisations.

    However, he was swift to state that the time frame for approval by FRA and PPA should be within a short period to avoid unnecessary bureaucratic bottleneck.

    He said the provision of the PIB granting the president “discretionary powers” to award petroleum licenses and leases should be expunged from the bill as it is a recipe for cronyism and corruption.

    “One of the major areas of grave concern about Nigeria’s petroleum industry has been the opaque nature of the industry. Many processes and activities are shrouded in mystery that controversies usually arise even amongst government agencies on matters such as the country’s daily production or revenue arising from there.

     

    He also recalled occasions when Nigerian’s presidents and their petroleum ministers awarded lucrative oil blocks to themselves or their conies.

    “It is commendable that the PIB provides that agencies and companies established under the proposed law should be bound by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. However, to ensure greater transparency, it is important that the provision covers not only the agencies and companies created under the PIB, but all companies in the petroleum sector,” Ogun stated.

    Ogun, while calling on the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the bill noted that investors are refraining from making any new investment in the sector pending the passage of the bill.

    He stressed that the country cannot afford the luxury of time while politicians indulge in unnecessary bickering over such an important bill on a sector that is the main stay of the economy.

    “We believe that the PIB represents a great opportunity for Nigeria to ensure a solid foundation on which the future of oil and gas operations in the country will rest. Also, that the petroleum resource which Nigeria have been endowed, work for the benefits of the Nigerian people.

    “Nigeria therefore cannot afford the luxury of time while politicians indulge in unnecessary bickering over such an important bill on a sector that is the main stay of our economy accounting for over 90 per cent of our foreign exchange earnings, about 40 per cent of the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) and 80 per cent of government revenue,” he added.

    The oil workers specifically demanded their inclusion in the Boards of the following Agencies/Institutions, to further ensure transparency- National Petroleum Inspectorate (which should incorporate Upstream Petroleum Inspectorate and the Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency proposed by the PIB), Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF), Petroleum Host Community Fund (PHCF), National Petroleum Assets Management Corporation, National Oil Company (NOC), National Gas Company Plc (NGC) and Petroleum Training Institute (PTI).

     

  • NLC seeks car loans revival for Niger workers

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Niger State, is seeking revival of car loan grant for workers in the state.

    The Chairman, Malam Yahaya Ndako, said this would enable the workers to give their best.

    Ndako made the call during a visit to Alhaji Saidu Idris, the Secretary to the State Government. He sought the revival of the labour transport service as an affordable means of transportation to the people.

    He said there was need for the government to involve the organised labour in matters that affect civil servants.

    Ndako commended the state government for its efforts in repositioning the state for the advancement of the citizenry and assured the government of organised labour’s support at all times.

    Alhaji Idris said the state government had put necessary measures in place for stronger collaboration with the organised labour.

    He urged the workers to continue to support the government programmes and policies which, he said, were designed to put the state on the path of growth.

  • Judiciary workers on strike over allowances

    The Bauchi State chapter of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) is in a face-off with the Bauchi State Government over the suspension of the workers’ allowances approved under executive fiat.

    But the government said the suspended allowances are those approved by Governor Isa Yuguda under his executive fiat, which has led to the suspension and withdrawal of their salary structure approved by the Federal Government and is being implemented nationwide.

    In a signed statement by the JUSUN Chairman Musa Abubakar three days ago, it asked its members to embark on an indefinite strike, which they have complied with.

    Abubakar also directed the newly-employed judicial workers, whose salaries have been put on hold by the government, to be patient, as the union is working to ensure they are paid.

    But in defence of the government, Commissioner for Information, Mohammed Damina, told the workers to suspend their strike and dialogue with the government to resolve the matter.

    He said: “Government has suspended the payment of judicial workers’ allowances under the executive fiat because of the dwindling resources of the state and it affects civil servants in the state. Government did it in the interest of the state. When our economy improves, the allowances will be restored.”

    Besides the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) that embarked on a strike over the suspension of the payment of allowances under executive fiat on February 6, JASUN is the only union that has embarked on a strike despite government’s threat to sack the striking workers if they refuse to call off the over one month strike.

     

  • Sidmach Tech rewards workers

    Sidmach Technologies Nigeria Limited, a foremost ICT company in a bid to motivate staff and friends of the company, recently celebrated them for their efforts at moving the company forward.

    The company presented special awards to Major General Sebastian Achulike Owuama (Rtd); Dr. Mohammed Sakiwa Abdulrahman and Mrs. Deborah Tinuola Ajayi in appreciation of their support and contributions to the growth of company.

    The chairman, Mr. Mike Olajide speaking on the awards said: “Today is awesome; I am excited that Sidmach has grown to this level. We have been in business for 18 years now and we have no abandoned project.”

    Mr. Olajide explained that the Company also maintained its presence in the public and private sectors of the economy and delivered best-in-class solutions and services to customers and stakeholders.

     

  • The killing of health workers in Kano

    The killing of health workers in Kano

    SIR: A man’s house is on fire and a concerned neighbour ran with a bucket of water to quench the fire. The man whose house is on fire turned and stabbed the neighbour with a bucket of water to death. The above scenario pictured the recent killings of health workers in Kano and Yobe states. How can one explain the madness behind the killings of those health workers who came to save lives of brothers and sisters of these unknown gun men?

    To exonerate the dreaded Islamic fundamentalist organisation “Ahlan Sunnah Lid Da’ Waati Wal Jihad Yaanaa”, also known as Boko Haram from this nefarious act is like exonerating anterior placenta from the survival of a foetus in a woman’s womb.

    This insane act reminded me of a recent report from a journalist from Somalia. The journalist Ghaith Abdul-Ahad in Mogadishu reported that a procession of famished mothers with their skeletal children burdened further with outsized bellies travelling many miles on foot across the desert to get food were driven back home by al-Shabaab: “They told us it was better to wait for God’s mercy than to beg for food from the unbelievers.” Why? Because Western aid is a sin and so is western knowledge of routine immunization, and the polio eradication programme in Northern Nigeria.

    Boko Haram is wielding the same guns and bombs (the only instruments in which western education is not a sin) and spreading hate and insecurities in Nigeria.

    Boko Haram, how do you want poverty and high rate of illiteracy to be eradicated in your area? When you are causing local and foreign investors to flee? The Yorubas will say: ‘ronu’ meaning think. Please, Boko Haram members, you should think deeper so to heal the past wounds instead of inflicting deeper wounds.May the souls of those innocent health workers killed in Kano and Yobe states rest in peace, Amen.

     

    • Eyeke Solomon Eyeke.

    Department of Mass Communication, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.