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Tag: Nationwide Strike

  • Fuel marketers lecture NLC on deregulation, pulls out of planned nationwide strike

    Fuel marketers lecture NLC on deregulation, pulls out of planned nationwide strike

    The National Executive Council of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) on Saturday said members would not partake in the proposed strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

    The National Public Relations Officer of IPMAN, Alhaji Yakubu Suleiman, said this in a statement issued in Lagos.

    He said that the national body of the association had directed all IPMAN members to continue with their normal businesses while NLC goes ahead with the strike.

    “We are calling on the NLC to realise that deregulation is inevitable. It remains the surest way to bring back our economy to normalcy.

    “There is no country in the world that can sustain its economy without deregulating it.

    “We urge Nigerians to cooperate with government in ensuring that our economy grows,” Suleiman said.

    The NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had jointly declared their readiness to embark on a nationwide strike to compel the Federal Government to reverse the recent hikes in electricity tariffs and petrol pump price.

    TUC had written to all its affiliates and state councils urging them to take charge of the process.

    The letter, signed by its Secretary-General, Musa-Lawal Ozigi, stated the TUC and NLC had jointly resolved to commence a national industrial action from Sept. 28.

  • Minimum wage: Labour commences mobilisation for nationwide strike

    Preparatory to the looming strike action over the non-implementation of the new national minimum wage with its consequential adjustment, Labour will commence serious mobilization of its members and workers on Wednesday.

    Already, the leading union under the Trade Union Side (TUS) of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has summoned all its unit chairmen, Secretaries and Treasurers in the Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to an emergency meeting in Abuja to commence “serious mobilization.”

    The ASCSN has also sent a circular titled: “Mobilization for nation-wide strike,” to all its states secretaries, directing them to “liaise with the Joint Council, the TUC, and the NLC officials on your state of coverage to start serious mobilisation to ensure that the strike is successful,” if the government eventually allowed it to commence.

    The organised labour resolved to commence this mobilisation, as the Federal Government, has also moved swiftly to summoned the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Council (TUC), the JNPSNC and the ASCSN to a crucial meeting by 11 a.m on Wednesday.

    The meeting, which was called at the instance of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, was initially scheduled for Tuesday but was shifted till 11 a.m on Wednesday at the instance of ASCSN leadership.

  • JOHESU holds emergency meeting, may resume nationwide strike

    Indications emerged on Thursday that the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) may resume its suspended strike.

    The union is holding a crucial meeting and the outcome will decide it will embark on strike.

    The union had threatened to resume the industrial action it suspended last May and the meeting was called after the two weeks’ ultimatum it gave the government to resolve “issues in dispute” elapsed today.

    JOHESU is a body of all health workers, except doctors. Since 2014, they have been asking the government to increase their pay and improve their members working conditions, among other demands. This has resulted in pockets of strike actions, over the period.

    Last year, Nigeria’s health sector suffered one of its biggest blow when JOHESU members downed tools on April 17 over similar demands.

    The strike, which lasted six weeks, caused many deaths and left millions without care. Patients passed through untold pain and their relatives grumbled as both federal, state and local government health institutions were brought to their knees.

    The strike was however suspended on May 31.

    According to the Vice President of the union, Ogbonna Chimela, the government is yet to call them for a continuation of negotiations, despite the two weeks strike notice given.

    “We gave 15 days’ ultimatum to the government to call us so we can start negotiations and be on the same page. They have not invited us.

    “The law provides that during the period of an ultimatum, it’s the responsibility of the government to invite the aggrieved party to a meeting but they (government) have acted as if the ultimatum was not given them.

    “We heard nothing from the federal ministry of health, the parent body,” Chimela said.

    Meanwhile, Chimela insisted that the health workers remain undeterred by the no work no pay rule.

    “The government in their usual spirit has kept quiet and maybe they are still relying on their old tactics of no work no pay. That will never deter us from asking them to do the needful.”

    The federal government invoked the ‘no work no pay rule’ rule on health workers during their suspended six weeks’ strike last year.

    Upon resumption, the government did not pay them for the period they were on strike (two months).

    Section 43 of the Trade Dispute Act states that where any worker takes part in a strike, he shall not be entitled to any wages or other remuneration for the period of the strike, and any such period shall not count for the purpose of reckoning the period of continuous employment and all rights dependent on continuity of employment shall be prejudicially affected accordingly.

    “That particular rule was erroneously implemented on us because we followed all the due process before the strike action”, the JOHESU official noted.

    “Two months salaries were not paid then but we are not deterred. We are willing to go on strike again in as much as it is a call for justice and fair play.

    “We are ready to make more sacrifices for what is due us. Besides, that (two months salary) has not gone down the drain. It is one of the things we are asking for in the ultimatum, it is part of our demand.”

     

  • BREAKING: NLC suspends nationwide strike

    The organised labour union has called off the nationwide industrial action initially scheduled to commence on Tuesday to press home workers’ demand for a new national minimum wage.

    The National Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba, announced the suspension at the end of the last meeting of the tripartite committee set up to come up with the new minimum wage on Monday evening.

    Wabba said the decision to suspend the action was reached after agreements were reached and documents signed.

    “Having reached this position and agreements signed, the proposed strike action is hereby suspended,” the labour leader said.

    Wabba, however, refused to disclose the figure of the new minimum wage arrived at by the committee.

    He said the figure would only be made public after the committee’s report would have been presented to President Muhammadu Buhari by 4.15pm on Tuesday.

    He, however, said only one figure would be presented to the President.

    He thanked all their tripartite partners for their understanding while particularly appreciating the roles of the private sector.

    The Chairman of the committee, Amma Pepple, expressed delight that their assignment had been concluded.

    “I am happy to report to you that we have concluded our assignment and we will submit our report to the President by 4.15pm on Tuesday.

    “We will reveal the figure at the presentation,” she said.

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, thanked members of the committee for doing a wonderful job. He described the process as a long journey.

    “The committee has worked assiduously to reach the conclusion,” he said.


  • ASUU commences nationwide strike

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has commenced a nationwide industrial action following the inability of the Federal Government to respond to their demands.

    Specifically, the union accused the government of not implementing the Memorandum of Action signed with it, declaring that the strike would be total as all federal and state varsities would join the strike.

    The union made the announcement after their National Executive Council meeting held at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State on Sunday night.

    Briefing journalists after the NEC meeting, the National President of the ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi said all entreaties made to the Federal Government to honour the agreement with the union fell of deaf ears and they had no other alternative but to begin the strike action.

    He said, “Having waited patiently for action and meaningful negotiation with reasonable men using the principle of collective bargaining that ASUU at its NEC meeting of 3rd and 4th November 2018 at the FUTA, resolved to resume the nationwide strike action it suspended in September 2017 with immediate effect.

    “This strike will be total, comprehensive and indefinite. Our members shall withdraw their services until government fully implement all outstanding issues as contained in the MOA of 2017, and concludes the renegotiation of the 2009 agreements.

    “We have today (Sunday) been subjected to 20 years of continued re-colonisation under alleged democracy in which all that the ruling circle have been regrouping among themselves in their various faction they called political parties.”

    Ogunyemi alleged that the government was not interested in public universities as the children of the top politicians and rich men in the society patronise private universities at the detriment of public institutions.

     

  • Fuel scarcity imminent as NUPENG backs NLC November 6 nationwide strike

    Nigerians maybe in for another unsavoury experience from next week as the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) of Saturday threw its weight behind the proposed nationwide indefinite strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) scheduled to commence on Tuesday, November 6.

    Recall that the Federal Government on Friday obtained an order from the National Industrial Court restraining the organised labour from embarking on strike.

    The NLC, the Trade Union Congress and the United Labour Congress had, however, insisted on embarking on the strike, claiming that they had not been served with court processes.

    As a sign of solidarity, the National President of NUPENG, Prince Akporeha, insisted that since his union is an affiliate of the NLC, it would comply fully with any directive the NLC gave.

    When asked if NUPENG would join the strike, he said, “Are we not an affiliate of the NLC? Is NUPENG on its own? Of course we are with the NLC.”

    When reminded of the fact that a court had ordered unions not to go on strike, the NUPENG president said, “We are waiting for directives.”

    Attempts to get the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria on Saturday also proved abortive as its President, Mr Francis Johnson, neither picked repeated calls to his telephone nor responded to a text message on Saturday.

    The organised labour had fixed November 6, 2018 for the commencement of an indefinite strike over the failure of the Federal Government to approve the N30, 000 it is demanding as minimum wage.

    Last week, the Nigeria Governors Forum said it could only pay N22, 500 as minimum wage, a position which was rejected by the unions.

  • New Minimum Wage: Labour insists on Nov 6 nationwide strike despite court ruling

    The Organised Labour has insisted on embarking on a nationwide strike over the non-implementation of N30, 000 as the new National Minimum Wage, in spite of the National Industrial Court ruling in Abuja.

    Mr Ayuba Wabba, President, Nigeria Labour Congress President, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Abuja.

    The National Industrial Court of Nigeria in Abuja has restrained the organised labour from proceeding on a nationwide strike on Friday.

    The strike by organised labour is scheduled to commence on Nov. 6 over the new National Minimum Wage for workers in the country.

    According to Wabba, we are not aware of any court ruling and we have not been served any notice.

    “We have just concluded our joint organ meetings of the Central Working Committees of the Labour Centres of the NLC, Trade Union Congress and the United Labour Congress here in Lagos.

    “The meeting is the final preparation for a full engagement with the government on the new National Minimum Wage and we have taken our decision to go on the strike.

    “Our decision is to go ahead with the nationwide strike unless the government does the needful,” he said.

    Also, Mr Musa Lawal, TUC General Secretary, also told NAN said the centre was not was aware of any court ruling concerning the planned strike by organised labour.

    “We are not aware because we have not been served any court order; we have taken our decision and we are going to stand by that,” he added.

    The Nigerian Governors Forum had issued a communique after its meeting claiming that state governors can only pay N22, 500, as the new national minimum wage.

    The organised labour has reiterated its position that any figure below N30, 000 would not be acceptable to labour.

    Labour had earlier called on its members to mobilise in preparation for the commencement of an indefinite strike on Nov. 6, unless necessary steps are taken to adopt the recommendation of the Tripartite Committee.

     

  • Minimum wage: NLC dares Buhari, governors, insists on November 6 nationwide strike

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has charged its members to continue to mobilize in preparation for the commencement of an indefinite strike on the 6th of November if recommendations of the Tripartite Committee are not adopted.
    President of NLC, Ayuba Wabba gave the charge at a press briefing on Wednesday in Abuja.
    Comrade Wabba reiterated that any figure below N30,000 will not be accepted by the organised labour union.
    According to him, We wish to reiterate our position adopted at our National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of 23rd October, 2018 that any figure below N30,000 will not
    be accepted by us. We call on our members to continue to mobilize in preparation for the commencement of an indefinite strike on the 6th of November, 2018, if by then necessary steps have not been taken to adopt the recommendations of the Tripartite Committee.
    Reacting to claims by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) that it can only pay N22,500 as the New Minimum Wage, Wabba noted that the Forum is not a negotiating body but a mere political organisation for the convenience of state governors.
    He explained that the organised labour’s demand was initially N66,500 but a compromised figure of N30,000 was arrived at the end of negotiations last year by the Tripartite partners that comprises of Government, Employers and Organized Labour.
    “The new minimum wage was a product of intense negotiations that lasted for almost one year”, Wabba added.
    The Labour Union therefore condemned the communique issued by the Nigeria Governors Forum on October the 30th stressing that it is an attempt to undermine the authority of President Muhammadu Buhari.
     

  • Bleak yuletide as PENGASSAN insists on nationwide strike Monday

    Bleak yuletide as PENGASSAN insists on nationwide strike Monday

    The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria on Saturday insisted that its planned industrial action will commence on Monday.

    The group however, noted that it was ready to discuss with the government and other concerned organisations on the strike.

    According to PENGASSAN, nothing has changed since it issued a statement to announce that its meeting with the Federal Government to avert the strike ended in a stalemate.

    This is coming as the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Ndu Ughamadu, told newsmen that the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Maikanti Baru, has been meeting with the unions in the oil sector to ensure stability in the industry.

    Ughamadu was optimistic that the NNPC would be able to persuade the association to rescind its decision to embark on strike by Monday, as the planned industrial action had led to panic buying in Abuja.

    He said long queues of motorists had been noticed at the few filling stations that dispensed petrol on Saturday.

    PENGASSAN on Friday announced that it would embark on an indefinite strike on Monday, following a stalemate in the peace meeting which the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, brokered between the union and Neconde Energy Limited.

    The oil union and Neconde had been embroiled in crisis over allegation of anti-worker practices.

    The union alleged that the management of Neconde wrongly terminated the employment of some of its workers, and threatened to go on strike if the sacked workers were not recalled within 72 hours.

    The issue made the government to initiate a meeting between the two parties in Abuja last week, but the meeting ended in a deadlock.

    When asked if the union would halt the strike should the government meet with its officials on the matter, the Public Relations Officer, PENGASSAN, Fortune Obi replied, “One thing you should know is that at PENGASSAN, we are a body of professionals and we are open to discussion at all times because we believe in dialogue. We keep our doors open for effective discussions and that has been our style.”

    Meanwhile, many motorists queued for petrol on Saturday, as some users of the commodity said they were stockpiling fuel in order to have enough should PENGASSAN embark on strike on Monday.

    “It’s better to stockpile fuel now because PENGASSAN is going on strike by Monday, and once that happens, the fuel scarcity situation will worsen,” said one of the motorists at the largest NNPC mega station along the Kubwa-Zuba Expressway identified only as Sam.

     

  • Fuel scarcity: More worries as PENGASSAN threatens nationwide strike

    Fuel scarcity: More worries as PENGASSAN threatens nationwide strike

    The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to address injustice and lawlessness in the oil and gas sector companies or face a nationwide strike from December 18.

    The General Secretary, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Mr Lumumba Okugbawa, gave the ultimatum in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

    Okugbawa said this was imperative in order to address anti-labour issues and lawlessness by some indigenous oil and gas companies and marginal field operators by relevant agencies of government.

    He said if this was not addressed properly, it would culminate in the shutting down of all oil and gas installations, including disruptions to fuel supply and distribution across the country.

    The unionist said the anti-labour practice includes the termination of employment of any worker who indicated the willingness to belong to the union.

    “Those that are threatened and compelled to disown the union are then treated as slave workers within their own country.

    “The case of Neconde Energy Ltd (of Nestoil Group of companies) is particularly worrisome as the issue of dignity in labour and infringement on workers’ rights to Freedom of Association is foreign to them.

    “This has led to the mass sack of workers that joined the union and dehumanisation of some in total disregard to rule of engagement and the laws of the land.

    “The actions of companies such as Neconde in the mass sack of Nigerian workers contribute in no small measure to the unending militancy in the Niger Delta.’’

    He said Neconde had not only conducted itself as being above the provisions of extant laws and regulations guiding the operations of oil and gas companies in Nigeria, but also boasted that no government agency would call it to order.

    “Having explored all options without getting the necessary understanding, and an apparent failure of relevant authorities of government to call to order these recalcitrant organisations especially Neconde, we are giving the Federal Government and its relevant agencies seven-days’ notice to embark on nationwide strike effective Dec. 18.

    “If the government fails to direct the management of Neconde and other companies to recall our sacked members, as the only option to address this injustice and lawlessness.

    “PENGASSAN appeals to all Nigerians to show understanding and to use this window to stockpile adequate quantity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and other petroleum products that will last them during the period as this strike will be indefinite.”