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  • Strike: NLC condemns court ruling favouring FG

    Strike: NLC condemns court ruling favouring FG

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the ruling of the National Industrial Court (NIC) of favouring the Federal Government against the interest of the masses and workers in the country.

    Mr Joe Ajaero, NLC President said this in a communique jointly signed with Mr Emmanuel Ugboaja, General Secretary of the Congress at the end of an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.

    It said that the NEC meeting was called to discuss the outcome of the dialogue between the NLC and the Federal Government on the petroleum product price hike.

    The NLC had on June 3 ordered a nationwide strike that was supposed to commence on June 7 over the hike in fuel price.

    It would also be recalled that the federal government had procured a Court injunction restraining Congress from proceeding with the proposed nationwide strike.

    The NLC said NEC in session resolved that there was need to show government that it was important to comply with laid down laws and court rulings.

    “Especially as it concerns obedience to the rulings of the Courts and their brazen disregard to the 2023 Appropriation Act.

    “To therefore support and accept the decision of the leadership of Congress to suspend the proposed strike action in compliance with the flawed rulings of the NIC.

    “Also to allow negotiations to flow freely and enable final agreement during or after the 19th June, 2023, negotiation round with the federal government.

    “To however register in strongest terms its disgust and disapproval with the ruling of the NIC for its continuous weaponisation of the instrument of Exparte injunction in favour of government.

    “That is against the interests of Nigerian workers in defiance of the position of the Supreme Court on the use of this instrument,” it said.

    Congress further stated that all Affiliates and State Councils of Congress are hereby directed to suspend further action and mobilisation until the outcome of the final negotiations.

    The communiqué commended all Affiliates and State Councils on their robust mobilisation towards a successful nationwide strike and to also remain vigilant in case there is a need to continue.

  • BREAKING: Finally, NLC declares nationwide strike over fuel subsidy removal

    BREAKING: Finally, NLC declares nationwide strike over fuel subsidy removal

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said it would begin a nationwide strike on Wednesday over the current increase in the pump price.

    Mr Joe Ajaero, NLC President, said this while addressing newsmen at the end of its emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Friday.

    Ajaero said that Labour would embark on strike if the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) fails to revert the current template on the increase in the price of fuel occasioned by the withdrawal of fuel subsidy.

    “Consequently, NLC has decided that If by Wednesday, the NNPCL, a private Limited Liability Company, that illegally announced the price regime in the oil sector, refuses to revert itself for negotiation to continue, the Nigeria Labour Congress and all its affiliates will withdraw their services and commence protest nationwide until this is complied with.

    “The NNPCL does not have the monopoly to fix prices even as a private company.

    “The NLC, therefore, directs all its state councils and industrial unions to commence mobilisation from this moment to make sure that the action is carried out,’’ he said.

    Ajaero also said that the ongoing negotiation between the NLC and Federal Government might not produce any meaningful result until President Bola Tinubu constitutes his cabinet.

    He said that it was important that the NLC entered into negotiation with properly constituted government that would see that any decision taken would be binding on it.

    According to him, it is instructive that until a government is properly constituted and the people who will negotiate with labour are such people with mandate and capacity to commit the government of the day, such negotiations may not be valid.

    The NLC president, however, said that hence, there was need to revert to the old pump price of petrol as a necessity for labour to continue its engagement with the government.

    He also called for a wholistic investigation into the fuel subsidy regime to determine the beneficiaries of what he described as the fraud in the system.

    Ajaero added that this should have been tackled by the current government, rather than going ahead to withdraw subsidy entirely.

    NNPCL had recently announced a new pump price for petrol ranging from N488 to N570 per liter depending on the region of the country.

  • No protest against fuel subsidy removal for now – NLC

    No protest against fuel subsidy removal for now – NLC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it has no plan to hold any nationwide protest tomorrow, Friday against the present hike in price of petrol caused by subsidy removal.

    The Congress said though it was outraged by what it described as “mindless price increase which is intended to bring untold hardship to ordinary Nigerians” no protest yet.

    President of NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, in a statement on Thursday signed by the Congress’ Head of Information Unit, Benson Upah, reacted to reports in some quarters that the organised labour had scheduled a protest for Friday.

    Recall that the meeting between the organised labour and the federal government representatives on Wednesday at the State House, Abuja, on the removal of subsidy ended in a stalemate as no agreement was reached.

    Clarifying the labour’s position, Ajaero explained that the union would hold meetings tomorrow (Friday) to deliberate on the issue.

    He said, “Our attention has been drawn to stories circulating in the social media space claiming that the Nigeria Labour Congress would commence protest action tomorrow (Friday, June 2nd) against the increase in the pump price of PMS.

    “In as much as we are outraged by this mindless price increase which is intended to bring untold hardship to ordinary Nigerians, we have no plan to start any action tomorrow.

    “What we do have for now are organ meetings slated for tomorrow, Friday, June 2nd, 2023 to deliberate on the price issue. We promise to keep Nigerians informed on our next line of action after our meetings.

    “In light of this, we advise the public to disregard these stories. They did not emanate from the Congress.”

  • NLC tells Tinubu what to do before removing fuel subsidy

    NLC tells Tinubu what to do before removing fuel subsidy

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged President Bola Tinubu to put palliative measures in place before removing fuel subsidy.

    Mr Joe Ajaero, the NLC President, made the appeal in a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.

    It would be recalled that Tinubu announced the fuel subsidy removal during his inaugural speech on Monday, saying that subsidy can no longer justify its ever-increasing costs in the wake of drying resources.

    Tinubu pledged to re-channel the funds into better investment in public infrastructure, education, healthcare and jobs that would materially improve the lives of millions.

    Ajaero said that the NLC would staunchly oppose the decision.

    “We at the Nigeria Labour are outraged by the pronouncement of President Bola Tinubu removing ‘fuel subsidy’ without due consultations with critical stakeholders.

    “Or without putting in place palliative measures to cushion the harsh effects of the ‘subsidy removal,” he said.

    He said that within hours of Mr President’s pronouncement, the nation had gone into a tailspin due to a combination of service shut downs and product price hike, in some places representing over 300 per cent price adjustment.

    He said that by the decision, Tinubu on his inauguration day had brought tears and sorrow to millions of Nigerians instead of hope.

    The NLC president also said that Mr President had equally devalued the quality of their lives by over 300 per cent and counting.

    According to him, it is no heroism to commit against the people this level of cruelty at any time, let alone on an inauguration day.

    “If he is expecting a medal for taking this decision, he would certainly be disappointed to receive curses for the people of Nigeria consider this decision not only a slight but a big betrayal.

    “On our part, we are demanding the immediate withdrawal of this policy. The implications of this decision are grave for our security and well-being.

    “We wonder if President Tinubu gave a thought to why his predecessors in office refused to implement this highly injurious policy decision?”.

    He added that “we also wonder if he also forgot the words he penned down on January 8, 2012, but issued on January 11, 2012.

    “In light of the foregoing, we advise Tinubu to respect his own postulations and economic theories instead of daring the people. It could be a costly gamble,” he cautioned.

  • NLC president lambasts president Buhari, scores him low on all development indices

    NLC president lambasts president Buhari, scores him low on all development indices

    Joe Ajaero the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, has knocked president Muhammadu Buhari, saying that he performed poorly for eight years in areas of power supply, infrastructure, and industrial relations with aggrieved unions.

    Ajaero added that political parties also contribute to the poor performance in government, saying that politicians always underperform after being elected into office.

    According to him, political parties in the country lack ideologies.

    He added that he does not expect much from the incoming administration, since they are from the same party.

    He said this on Monday, when he paid a visit to the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) head office in Abuja as part of his familarisation tour of unions.

    His words, “We want a government that Nigerians will enjoy and this level of underdevelopment will stop. Because what we are saying is that Nigeria is underdeveloping. We are rescinding everywhere. At the point that Buhari took over government, in the power sector, for instance, they were hovering between 4,000 to 5,000 megawatts averagely. And in the past eight years, it has been reduced to about 3,000. That is moving back from where we were.

    “ASUU strike used to be three to four months, under his watch, we started recording eight months of ASUU strike. We are rescinding.

    “If you check the infrastructure, it is still the same thing. If we were paying N50,000 for air ticket before, we are paying about N80,000 today. So, the new government, we are still waiting to get their own agenda. Because if we follow the manifesto of the APC, they will sustain what Buhari has done, and if it is underdevelopment that they are sustaining, then there is a problem. So the NLC will wait for the agenda of the new government before we comment.

    “You can see that parties no longer implement their manifesto. So that is why we are worried. We can’t talk about the agenda of any government. We can only wait for them to state their own agenda.”

  • Workers’ Day: NLC demands for 65 years retirement age

    Workers’ Day: NLC demands for 65 years retirement age

    Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for review of civil servants’ retirement age and years of service in the entire public service to 65.

    NLC President, Joe Ajaero, made the call during the 2023 Workers’ Day celebrations on Monday in Abuja.

    Ajaero also called for general review of core civil servants’ salaries to narrow the gap in other civil servants’ emoluments and those in other segments of the public service.

    He said that the extension of years of service should go round, as it had been done in other sectors of the public service in the country.

    “Only few other establishments, including the core civil service, are now left out.

    “We are, therefore, demanding that the age of retirement and length of service in the entire public service, including the civil service, be reviewed upward to 65 years of age and 40 years of service, ” he said.

    Ajaero said that the union had, over the years, demanded for salary review but had yet to receive Federal Government’s attention.

    “It is necessary to recall that we have continued over the years to demand that the salaries of core civil servants be beefed up to narrow the gap between their emoluments and those in other segments of the public service.

    “They all possess the same educational qualifications and cognate experience on the job. So why the disparity?” Ajaero queried.

    On gratuity payment, the NLC president said union leaders had, on several occasions, presented the issue to government without any positive response.

    “Fellow comrades, we have consistently presented the issue of gratuity payment to the government but nothing has been done in that regard.

    “As you are all aware, the concept of gratuity payment to employees is predicated on the fact that those who have laboured for public institutions or private enterprises are entitled to the proverbial golden handshake from their employers.

    “Thus, gratuity is a monetary benefit given by an employer to his/her employee at the time of retirement without the worker making any financial contribution whatsoever to the fund,” he said.

    According to him, such a lump sum is meant to enable the retiree finance any post-retirement endeavour of his/her choice.

    “The Pension Act did not abolish gratuity payment and we demand its restoration in many public sectors where it has been stopped, ” the labour leader said.

  • War: NLC urges FG to guarantee safety of Nigerians in Sudan

    War: NLC urges FG to guarantee safety of Nigerians in Sudan

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the Federal Government to guarantee the safety of lives of Nigerians in the ongoing war in Sudan.

    Mr Joe Ajaero, NLC President, said this on Saturday in Abuja in a statement titled, “Nigerians in Sudan Should Not Die’’.

    According to Ajaero, “we have watched with increasing alarm and despair the unfolding tragedy in Sudan as a result of the ongoing war in that country.

    “That is between two major factions of the Military; the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, and the Sudanese Army, commanded by Gen. Abdul Fattah al-Burhan, which has led to untold human carnage and destruction of properties of citizens of that nation.

    “At this point, we are not specially concerned about the history and immediate causes of the war but are worried because many Nigerians have become unwitting victims of the war and are stranded in that country and unable to get out.

    “They have cried out for help to escape the horrors which the war has continued to mete out to persons still trapped in Sudan,’’ he said.

    He said that the NLC was worried that since the war broke out towards the end of last week, reports have said that the number of human casualties were horrendous and frightening.

    He added this leaves every patriot anxious about the safety of our nationals in that country, especially that of our students.

    According to Ajaero, “we believe that it remains the responsibility of any government to ensure the safety of their nationals.”

    He said this includes making sure that in the event of a war in foreign countries, their citizens are protected in whatever way possible.

    He noted that this was one of the central reasons of governance: the safety of lives and properties.

    Ajaero added “we are at a loss as to why the federal government of Nigeria finds it difficult to guarantee the safety of the lives of our citizens in that country.”

    He said that this was beyond the tokenism effort at protection through an advisory to all Nigerians in that country to either seek refuge in Nigeria’s embassy in Khartoum or stay indoors which they believed was safer.

    The NLC president also said the excuse that attempting to evacuate Nigeria nationals through the Airport was risky begs the question and is unacceptable.

    “We do not understand whether other possible options at evacuating our citizens have been explored before relapsing to this seeming helplessness and apparent abandonment of our citizens who are obviously in great distress and are afraid for their lives on daily basis?

    “It is trite diplomacy that in such a situation, serious governments will reach an understanding with the warring parties for the removal of their nationals from the theatre of war which drastically reduces the risk of loss of lives and that of the equipment used in such operations.

    “If the airports are not safe as suggested by the government, can we not work out a safe-corridor to neighbouring countries to allow our citizens safe passage and evacuated through the various land borders,’’ he asked.

    He also suggested that the government should work out an arrangement with the international community to create a safe heaven for all foreign nationals in that country.

    “Our concern is that while our government resorts to the usual lethargy and excuses, the lives of our nationals in Sudan already exposed to serious danger may begin to experience losses or injuries.

    “We urge the federal government through the concerned agencies and Ministries to take urgent step to avoid death and injuries to our citizens in that country.

    “Nigerians must not be allowed to die in Sudan because of negligence. No effort should be spared in ensuring their safety and ultimately evacuation to Nigeria if the war persists and escalates into a full blown war.

    “It remains the duty of the government and we urge the federal government to make this happen.

    “As we await a quick and positive action towards evacuating our citizens, we would want measures to be put in place to make their lives comfortable on arrival, especially for those who own businesses in the Sudan and have suffered loss of businesses as a result,’’ he said.

    Ajaero, however, commiserated with the people of Sudan, while calling for an immediate ceasefire to allow for a peaceful resolution of the issues in dispute that led to the war.

  • NLC vows to resist attempts to sabotage Labour Party

    NLC vows to resist attempts to sabotage Labour Party

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it will resist any attempt from any quota to sabotage the Labour Party (LP) in the country.

    The NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero said this while addressing newsmen during a solidarity visit to the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.

    It would be recalled that a Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, had ordered Mr Julius Abure, to stop parading himself as the National Chairman of the party.

    Also, the court ordered that the party’s National Vice Chairman, Mr Lamido Apapa, should take over the party in acting capacity.

    However, in a twist of event, a High Court in Benin, Edo, also gave an order, restraining anybody or group from removing the embattled party chairman from office.

    Ajaero said “today, we say enough is enough! Never again will any human being enter here, under any guise, under any order.

    “Even if we lose our leadership, we have to meet as trustees of this LP to decide the next line of action.

    “For anybody to illegally declare himself either as chairman, secretary or whatever, we urge all workers in the country to arrest such impostors.

    “We have come to take our party. As the fastest growing party, you can see that envy and jealousy is creeping in.

    “For anybody, or group of people, to think that they will sabotage or derail our ideological movement, we will resist any attempt to sabotage the party with everything within our powers,” he said.

    The NLC president, however, noted that the LP was a child of circumstances and the party was formed when all confidence was lost in the existing political parties.

    He stressed that “this is our party. Nobody can come from the blues and declare himself as the chairman or secretary of our party without our consent. It is not done”.

    Responding, Mr Julius Abure, suspended national chairman of the party said that he was not opposed to peace in the party.

    Abure said that no amount of intimidation or deceit would stop him from pursuing and reclaiming the party’s mandate, which was given to them at the presidential elections.

    “I want to state here clearly that I remain committed to the struggle for a new Nigeria. I want to say that no man can stop an idea whose time has come.

    “The time has come for Nigerians to take back their country. A new Nigeria I believe is possible and no amount of harassment, intimidation that will slow us down or make us to lose track.

    “No amount of falsehoods or falsified stories that will derail us from our pursuit. We refuse to be distracted. We will continue to pursue the course of reclaiming of our mandate in the court.

    “We will remain in court till that mandate is recovered. We will not rest on our oars until we reposition Nigeria for greatness,” he said.

    Abure commended the NLC leadership for the solidarity visit.

  • BREAKING: Nigeria Labour Congress set for showdown over cash scarcity

    BREAKING: Nigeria Labour Congress set for showdown over cash scarcity

    The Nigeria Labour Party (NLC) has disclosed plans to order workers to sit at home if in seven days the Federal Government fails to address the current cash crunch.

    Its President, Mr Joe Ajaero made the declaration on Monday in Abuja at the end of an emergency meeting of the Central Working Committee of the NLC.

    He noted that Nigerians had suffered enough from the cashless policy of the CBN.

    “The NLC is giving the Federal Government and agencies under it, including the CBN and other banking institutions seven working days to address the cash crunch.

    “If they fail to do so at the expiration of the seven working days, the Congress is directing all workers in the country to stay at home.

    “This is because it has become very difficult to access even one naira, especially by traders who do not have bank accounts.

    “We have also discovered that even when banks give out old currencies, they cannot be spent. Even when you take them back to the same banks, they do not accept them.

    “We have been frustrated to a level that we can no longer keep quiet,’’ Ajaero said.

    The NLC president also lamented difficulties being experienced at petrol stations.

    “At fuel stations where there is petrol, it sells for as much as N350 a litre in some parts of the country.

    “We will no longer be quiet about this issue of perennial fuel scarcity and arbitrary increase in prices,’’ he said.

    On the on-going state council elections of the NLC, Ajaero said some state governors were interfering with the process.

    “Some state governors now dictate to the NLC through the chairmen in those states,’’ he said.

    He alleged that a governor in one of the states in the Southeast openly campaigned that NLC members should vote for a particular candidate.

    He explained that NLC’s attempt to resist the approach was met with the manhandling of its officers by hoodlums engaged by the state government.

    “They disrupted our election in that state. Our state secretariat has been destroyed by thugs sent by the governor.

    “The thugs took over that place for three months. The state chairman of the NLC was driven out of the state,’’ he said.

  • NLC elects new excos, gives FG two weeks to end fuel queues

    NLC elects new excos, gives FG two weeks to end fuel queues

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday swore-in new executives, with Mr Joe Ajaero as the new president to lead the workers for the next four years.

    Ajaero, former General Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Union, was voted on consensus at the 13th NLC’s National Delegates Conference in Abuja.

    Ajaero took over the NLC leadership from Ayuba Wabba, who served between 2015 and 2023.

    In his acceptance speech, the new NLC president said that the executives were committed to pursuing the interest and desires of workers and the entire Nigerians.

    He promised that his leadership would speak for the millions of Nigerians and also seek a platform to lift them out of poverty.

    ”We, therefore, pledge our loyalty to the NLC, workers, the Nigerian people and the country. Our thoughts and actions shall be propelled by this avowal,” he said.

    He said that his leadership would pursue a new national minimum wage law that would take into consideration the objective reality of the socio-economic situation, and expand its reach to capture more workers.

    According to him, the wage review law will be sought through the national labour advisory council, to ensure that all loopholes exploited by workplace partners to restrict the efforts of making workplaces more decent compliance are blocked.

    ”We urge all employers of labour who have unsettled issues with their workers and unions to immediately resolve them to avoid our intervention,” he said.

    Ajaero urged the government to review the privatisation policy on electricity sector as it was mired in corruption.

    Other members of the executive include Prince Adewale Adeyanju, Deputy National President; Mr Audu Amber, 2nd Deputy National President; Mr Kabiru Sani, also a National Deputy President.

    Ambali Olatunji was elected the National Treasurer; Benjamin Anthony, Vice President; Mr Steve Okoro, Vice President; Mr Michael Nnachi, Vice President; Mr Olawole Sunday, Vice President; Mr Marwan Adamu, Financial Secretary.

    Others are, Mr Williams Akporeha, National Trustee; and three Internal Auditors, Mr Babatunde Olatunji, Mr Mohammed Ibrahim and Haruna Ibrahim; as well as two ex-officio members.

    Fuel: Ajaero urges FG to end queue in 2 weeks

    Meanwhile, the newly-elected President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero, has urged the Federal Government to find a lasting solution to persistent fuel queues to avoid industrial action.

    Ajaero made the call on Wednesday while addressing workers at the 13th NLC National Delegates Conference in Abuja.

    He said that the government had two weeks to address the ongoing fuel scarcity to avoid reaction from organised labour.

    According to him, Nigerians suffer and queue to get fuel and that should not be.

    ”We will definitely not keep quiet in the face of this deliberate defilement of citizenship by the ruling elites as we may mobilise across the nation to nudge the government to act more responsibly towards the citizenry.

    ”We will also seek ways of alleviating the suffering that currently walks our streets with arrogance,” he said.

    On election, the NLC leader said that politicians should play according to the rules and avoid actions that could truncate the democratic process and imperil the nation.

    He said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should ensure a transparent and equitable conduct of the elections at all levels, adding that Nigerians should also seize the opportunity to vote the right people into positions of power.

    ”Those that are destroying our nation and stealing our collective patrimony must not be allowed any longer in our corridors of power.

    ”As Nigerians, we must not allow them divide us along religious and regional lines. Our demands on the Nigerian State are basically the same.

    ”We are only asking for a secure nation where we can move freely and carry out our daily activities without violently losing our lives and properties.

    ”We have demanded equity and fairness in the sharing of our nation’s resources, functional and accessible education system for our children.

    ”That is increasing access to quality medical care, quality roads, increasing access to nutrition and generally elevating the factors that increase human wellbeing,” he said.

    Ajaero, therefore, advised the people to vote the candidates who have the competence and character to deliver on these demands in February and March.