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Tag: NLC

  • 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.

  • NLC seeks end to fuel importation policy – Wabba

    NLC seeks end to fuel importation policy – Wabba

    The outgoing President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Ayuba Wabba, has said that the organised labour is seeking an end to the nation’s fuel importation policy as it will lead to a reduction in the prices of fuel.

    Wabba gave the hint on Tuesday in Abuja at the congress’s 13th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference.

    The theme of the conference is ”Building People’s Power, National Unity and Quest For A New Social Contract”.

    According to him, rather than seek a reduction in the prices of fuel, labour will seek a policy change.

    “The policy of importation was imposed on Nigerians in 2003 by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and that is why the price model of products is based on importation,” he said.

    Wabba said that the Federal Government could remove the subsidy on petroleum products when it starts refining locally.

    “Refining locally will eradicate subsidy and corruption in the entire industry.

    “When we refine petroleum in Nigeria, it will create job opportunities for the people. We can organise youths in clusters and give them jobs and by so doing, 50 per cent of the problem is solved,” he said.

    The NLC president noted that oil was God’s gift to Nigeria and hence it should impact on the economy positively.

    “It is sad that people queue endlessly at the banks to access money and at filling stations to buy fuel.

    “Nigerians have been pushed to the wall concerning getting their money in the bank and buying fuel at filling stations; if the issue is not addressed within the shortest possible time, nobody can predict what can happen,” he said.

    On tax, the labour leader said that the government should prioritise tax to be self-reliant.

    “Correct tax payment will enable the country to remain a solid state because we have opened our borders and we have all manners of textile materials coming in.

    “In fact, this is the reason why the textile industry is going down,” he said.

    Wabba, however, pointed out that irregular power supply was a major factor affecting textile companies as the few existing one could no longer pay the exorbitant rates.

    On Public Service, he called for 100 per cent review of workers salaries, different from minimum wage increase.

    He said that salary review was implemented for political office holders in 2008, therefore, a boost in the salaries of workers would enhance productivity.

    He advised the Federal Government against privatising the health and education sectors as these were the fundamental rights of every citizen.

    “In some regions, 20 million children are already out of school, so, if education or health is privatised, people will not receive quality healthcare service and education,” he said.

    On security, the outgoing NLC president appealed to the government to do everything possible to address the challenge.

    He recalled that the late Musa Lawal, the General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), was among those killed in the Kaduna train attack as a result of insecurity.

    Wabba, who was elected president from the health union in 2015, thanked the workers for their support, adding that in his 35 years as a labour activist, he contested 13 elective positions and won all.

  • NLC urges CBN to revisit policy on new Naira notes

    NLC urges CBN to revisit policy on new Naira notes

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to extend its January 31 deadline to phase out old notes in circulation in the country.

    Mr Ayuba Wabba, NLC President, said this when speaking with newsmen on Thursday in Abuja on his achievements and challenges as congress president for the past eight years.

    Wabba, who was elected as president in 2015, had served two terms and have only weeks to bow out.

    Wabba said that the directive of the Senate of the National Assembly seeking an extension of the deadline was appropriate.

    He said that this was owing to the fact that majority of Nigerians who live in remote areas where banks do not exist were yet to access the new Naira notes.

    According to him, as NLC, “we have tried to respond officially by writing to the CBN governor. We also wrote to the President to say that this new policy of changing our Naira needs to be revisited.

    “It is obvious that even in the city centers, banks are still dispensing old notes and this is correct. I remember, I went to about 10 banks and none was actually dispensing the new notes.

    “In fact, most of the banks now, if you are lucky, they will dispense only few notes and you can check that around.

    “So the new notes are not available and they are not in circulation and the old notes are being rejected.

    “Even in city centers, where we have banks, the banks are not dispensing.

    “If you go to the rural areas and see the chaotic nature of how people have come with their money to change, it has become a problem,” he said.

    He added that no policy should be meant actually to haunt people like what is happening now.

    The NLC president therefore called on the Federal Government to look at the issue carefully before it snowballs into a major crisis in the country.

    He noted that the new notes are not easily available. There are only few in circulation, adding that the rural areas is worse. As most of the rural areas don’t have banks.

    “The state I come from in the entire states. You have only three banks in three local government out of  27 local governments.

    ”All the other local governments, 24 of them, do not have banks and some of them are not accessible,” he said.

    Wabba said government must think through the new Naira policy in order for the people not to suffer the consequences of the policy.

    ”It is the poor masses and even the working class that will feel the pinch of this policy. Because how will you not withdrawal the old currencies when the new one is not even available.

    ”The policy, certainly, will also impact negatively on our economy, because the notes are not available and people are now rejecting the old notes.

    ”The policy certainly is not a policy that is making people to believe that the policy is meant to address the fundamental issues.

    ”We align ourselves fully with the position of the Senate, we call for this policy to be reviewed and to give extension, so that all the old notes can then be mopped up by the bank,” he added.

  • Put an end to fuel shortage, price hike – Labour urges FG

    Put an end to fuel shortage, price hike – Labour urges FG

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have urged the Federal Government to put an end to the fuel shortages and price hike in the country.

    The Presidents of NLC and the TUC said this in a statement, signed by Mr Ayuba Wabba and Mr Festus Osifo on Saturday in Abuja.

    It said that the fuel shortages, price hike and avoidable long queues in filling stations are unacceptable and no longer tolerable.

    The labour leaders said the Federal Government should put an end to the avoidable, unnecessary, crippling and pain-inducing fuel shortages and unapproved price hike of up to N240 per litre in the country.

    They warned ”No excuse is good enough to cripple the country.

    ”If there are challenges, they should be fixed. We have a government in power to fix challenges not to make excuses,’’ they said in their statement.

    The statement said the labour leaders were bewildered and disturbed by the persistent shortage and uncontrollable prices that players in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry were meting out to Nigerians.

    It noted that the persistent shortages of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise called petrol, had become a source of pain to the Nigerian people.

    It said this had led not just to long avoidable queues, but to adulteration of the product by unscrupulous elements, exploitation of the consumers and turning fuel stations to traffic menace.

    “All these have tragic consequences for the Nigerian people and debilitating effects on the health of the economy which itself is not in good state.

    “We are reliably informed that the shortage is deliberately fostered by players in the downstream sector in other to hike the price far above the government approved threshold.

    “It is an added problem, when non-state actors begin to arrogate to themselves the power to determine the price of a litre of fuel far above the rate pegged by government in the current subsidy regime,’’ it said.

    The labour leaders also said that the Nigerian people and the tax payers currently spend trillions of Naira annually to subsidise petrol.

    They added that the same people could not be exploited and made to pay over N240 per litre when the current ex-depot price was N148.19k per litre.

    Their statement noted that the opportunity cost of the subsidy payment was enormous and yet the benefit of the subsidy regime are gradually been eroded.

    According to them, no country develops when its people are subjected to perennials hardship and its industries are shackled by unnecessary chains of miseries.

    “It is more disturbing that the government is equally demonstrating high level of culpability in the unwholesome situation by its silence and unwillingness to frontally and publicly address the harrowing experiences in the current situation.

    “No concerned and responsive government will bury its head in the sands like the proverbial Ostrich while the citizens are being brutally exploited.

    “We are strongly worried that leaving our energy security and sovereignty in the hands of unscrupulous capitalists and their collaborators will further plunge this nation into the economic abyss we are working hard to avoid,’’ it said.

    The statement said that Organised Labour is ready and willing to engage the Federal Government and assist in all ways possible to overcome the country’s present challenges.

    It called on the regulatory and law enforcement agencies to do more to protect Nigerians from exploitation.

  • What politicians can teach labour leaders – By Owei Lakemfa

    What politicians can teach labour leaders – By Owei Lakemfa

    INTRIGUING. I mean the topic leaders of the Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association, FOBTOB asked me speak on. ‘Trade Union Leadership: Lessons to be learnt from or Taught to the Political Class.’ I know a lot of lessons politicians can teach labour leaders, but scratch my head what the latter can teach our tribe of political leaders.

    It is not really that they are two diametrically opposed societies. Parties and unions actually have similarities such as being mass-based organisations with members who are expected to pay dues. Also, both movements are expected to be democratic organisations whose existence are specifically guaranteed by Section 40 of the constitution.

    Trade unionism and partisan politics in the country belong to the same age grade. The first formal union, the Southern Nigeria Civil Service Union was registered on  August 19, 1912, that is two years before Nigeria formally came into existence. The first  labour centre, the Federated Trade Unions of Nigeria, FTUN, created  on November 23, 1942 came into existence two years before the first pan-Nigeria political party, the National Council of Nigeria and Cameroons, NCNC was born. Also, trade unions established their own political parties to contest elections. These include  the 1950 Labour Party led by Michael Imoudu, and the Socialist Workers and Farmers Party of Nigeria, SWFPN, founded in 1964 by the Nigeria Trade Union Congress, NTUC and the Nigeria Youth Congress.

    Towards the Second Republic, Wahab Omorilewa Goodluck, the 1975 President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, founded the Socialist Workers’ Peoples Party. With the return to civil rule, the NLC in 2002, founded the Party for Social Democracy, PSD, which was renamed the Labour Party. The trade union leaders do not consider partisan politics an alien territory which they had to avoid or procure a visa to enter.

    They were part and parcel of partisan politics. There were trade union leaders who contested and won parliamentary elections in the First Republic. These included Haroon Popoola Adebola the former President of the United  Labour Congress, ULC, and Samuel Udoh Bassey, General Secretary of the Nigeria Trade Union Congress, NTUC.

    Nduka Eze, General Secretary of both the Mercantile Workers Union and the NLC, was elected into the Lagos Municipal Council on the NCNC platform. In the Second Republic, he was Secretary General of the Great Nigeria Peoples Party, GNPP. Perhaps the most famous Nigerian trade unionist who went into partisan politics was Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo, founder of  the Nigeria Produce Traders Association and who was also Secretary of the Nigeria Motor Transport Union (precursor  of the current National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW). Awolowo was also an Executive Member of the TUC and Editor of the TUC Workers journal. He was elected Premier of the Western Region in 1954, a position he held until 1959 when he went to the Federal level as leader of opposition.

    Another famous unionist was Malam Aminu Kano, a teacher and leader of the Northern Nigeria Teachers Association. He was a minister and founder of the Second Republic’s  Peoples Redemption Party, PRP. In the Second Republic were Senators Joseph Ansa, Chairman of the Senate Labour Committee and Ayoola Adeleke, former scribe  of the Nigeria Nurses Association, and Assistant Secretary-General of the NLC. One of his sons, Senator Isiaka Adeleke later became  Governor of Osun State while a second son, Senator Ademola Adeleke is the Governor-Elect of the state. In the House was Hon Yunusa Kaltugo, former President of the ULC.

    In contemporary times, a number of trade union leaders also became political leaders in the country. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT in Niger State became a two-term governor. Ibrahim Shekarau, a leader of the NUT, who was also President of the All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools, ANCOPS was Kano State Governor and Education Minister. Adams Aliu Oshiomhole was President of the NLC for eight years, Governor of Edo State for eight years from 2008 and for two years, the National Chairman of the ruling All Peoples Congress, APC, until 2020.

    Despite this affinity, I think there are specific lessons politicians can teach trade union leaders including tenacity as symbolised by President Muhammadu Buhari. He was twice the presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, then, that of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, and finally, that of the All Peoples Congress, APC, in 2015 when he finally won, after a 12-year pursuit!

    Adaptability is another lesson. Alhaji Abubakar Atiku was in the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP  before decamping to the Action Congress, AC, on whose platform he contested the 2007 elections. He returned to the PDP, then decamped to the APC before returning  to the PDP for a third time and has been its  presidential candidate for  the 2019 and 2023 elections.

    Also, politicians are incredibly optimistic. President Goodluck Jonathan was defeated by President Buhari in 2015. He was demonised by the APC as the epitome of corruption and  cluelessness and the curse that allegedly brought the country to its knees. Seven years later, he aspired to be the presidential candidate, not of PDP, but APC! Politicians also have clarity. They make all sorts of compromises but keep their eyes on the ball. They stick to their strategic objectives with eyes on outcomes. Unlike labour leaders, politicians deploy all available assets and resources to attain their objectives. Politicians also  set goals including short, medium and long term.

    It is difficult to decipher the motives of politicians; their ultimate objective is to win or gain power while the trade union leader is contented with small, economistic gains like higher minimum wage. They tend to read situations and make tactical moves. This is how Mr. Peter Obi who was never in the Labour Movement, is today the presidential candidate of the Labour Party. He was not even a member of the party! Politicians are always building and rebuilding alliances. Trade unions can do likewise especially with groups outside the movement.

    They  are always conscious of their class. They understand their interests, and, work with those with similar interests. Politicians are ever holding  town hall meetings and rallies  to hear from their members and supporters and  mobilise them. Politicians build multiple streams of income while trade unions tend to rely primarily on check-off deductions. They in the main, assume they know it all.

    Many trade unions run education and enlightenment programmes for their members and leaders at various levels. In contrast, politicians are not comfortable with having an educated and enlightened followership. Trade union leaders have lessons to teach politicians, but how  do you teach a class that does not want lessons from anybody least of all from  trade union leaders? I rest my case.

  • ASUU: Pay members their withheld salaries, NLC tells FG

    ASUU: Pay members their withheld salaries, NLC tells FG

    The Nigeria Labour Congress on Tuesday asked the Federal Government to release the withheld salaries of the members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

    The union made this known in a communique made available at the National Executive Council meeting held in Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi State.

    The Federal Government had activated the no-work-no-pay policy against ASUU following the protracted strike.

    However, NLC in the communique
    said, “NEC noted the collapse of effective collective bargaining machinery in the tertiary education sub-sector.

    “This fact is buttressed by the recent protracted industrial dispute in public universities in the country which was consummated in industrial litigation, arm-twisting of conciliation efforts and extreme violations of human and trade union rights, withholding of the salaries of university workers and interference in trade union activities including balkanization of trade unions in the tertiary education sub-sector and overt threats to proscribe existing trade unions.

    “The NEC resolved as follows: Called on Government to honour all collective bargaining agreements with unions in the tertiary education sub-sector, especially with regards to wages and conditions of service and increase budgetary allocation to the education sector;

    “Called for the release of withheld salary owed university workers. Rejects the “no work – no pay” policy of government;

    “Called on the Minister of Labour and Employment to respect the provisions of Nigeria’s Constitution, Trade Unions Act (CAP T14 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria), Conventions 87 and 98 of the International Labour Organisation on respect for trade union independence, promotion of tripartism and social dialogue in the exercise of his mandate as a Minister.

    “NEC further resolved to defend trade union independence as guaranteed by the clear provisions of our labour laws”.

  • FG seeks NLC approval to allow registration of 2 new unions

    FG seeks NLC approval to allow registration of 2 new unions

    The Federal Government has appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to rescind its opposition to the registration of two new academic unions in the Nigerian public university system.

    Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, made the call in a statement signed by Mr Olajide Oshundun, Head, Press and Public Relations, in the ministry on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Newsmen reports that the new unions are the Congress for Nigerian University Academics (CONUA) and the Nigeria Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA).

    Newsmen reports that CONUA and NAMDA received letters of recognition recently by the ministry in Abuja.

    However, in a letter to Ngige, the President of NLC, Mr Ayuba Wabba, demanded the withdrawal of the letters issued to the unions, on the grounds that their registration contravened the laws guiding trade unionism.

    Ngige, in his reply, on Oct, 12, had appealed to NLC to allow the new unions to exist in the spirit of Freedom of Association.

    The minister insisted that the Trade Dispute Act 2004 gives him the sole power to register new trade unions, either by registering a new union or regrouping existing ones.

    He reiterated that the new unions were offshoots or by-products of regrouping and their applications were considered by two committees of his ministry.

    He said that this was with the Registrar of Trade Unions participating when the first recommendation for approval was given in 2019, and again in 2022.

    He also said that CONUA and NAMDA were regrouped from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), for efficiency and effectiveness in the system.

    The minister added  that ,more importantly, to protect these groups of university teachers whose worldview differs from the restive parent union.

    “Comrade President, do not unnecessarily oppose the registration of these new academic unions.

    “Because with ASUU, they are all like seeds on the academic soil of Nigeria and which will grow into big trees we don’t know, but the one which her trees are not bearing good fruits, we already know.

    “So, as an uncle of the unions, oppose none in the spirit of Freedom of Association, ’’he said.

    He said that it should be noted that Section 3 (2) of the Trade Dispute Act, CAP T14 gives the Minister of Labour and Employment, the sole power to register new trade unions, either by registering new trade union or regrouping existing ones.

    He added that the matter was a subject of litigation in the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in most recent case which the President of the NLC failed to mention in his narration of court cases,

    “The case of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) and the regrouped Federal Parastatals and Private Sector Pensioners Association of Nigeria (FEPPAN) from NUP where the Law on Regrouping of Trade Unions was extensively explored and ruled upon.

    “Unlike the cases cited by the President of the NLC to misinform the general public and unfortunately lead astray his affiliate Trade Union – ASUU,’’he said.

    Ngige recalled that the NICN in a Suit no. NICN/ABJ/219/2019, buttressed its earlier ruling on the matter and which had stated inter alia that the power to register trade unions resides with the Minister of Labour and Employment.

    He noted that the last segment of Section 3(2) does not refer to the regrouping of existing trade unions, hence, the differentiation within the section between registering a new trade union and regrouping existing ones.

    According him, we note your reference to Section 5 of the same Act, which deals with the “Procedure on receipt of application for registration” of a Trade Union.

    “Section 5(4) in Particular states that the Registrar shall not register a trade union if it appears to him that any existing trade union is sufficiently representative of the interests of the class of workers concerned-CONUA members were ostracised and de-unionised by ASUU.

    “Do we as the “Competent Authority” on Labour matters, including trade union services, pay homage to ASUU and acquiesce to leaving a large segment of lecturers and academia un-unionised, without protection, without a voice, and without a right at work.

    `Are these workers not covered by the same ILO Conventions nos. 87 & 97?”

    On NAMDA, Ngige said that they are medical doctors lecturing in the universities  were against the incessant prolonged and illegal strikes by ASUU.

    “They said the strike had disrupted medical training and caused consequential damages to the educational system and by implication, the quantity and quality of future medical doctors and dentists in Nigeria.

    “They have been teaching and some have graduated their students since the 8-month old strike by ASUU which commenced on Feb 14 2022. Universities of Maidugri, Bauchi and Sokoto medical teachers are indeed patriots.

    “Moreover, their peculiar needs are quite different from the rest of ASUU members and they are often left out on welfare and career progression in the universities – the core functions of a registered trade union,’’he said.

    Ngige therefore, said the NLC President to desist from using his position to deceive the general public by misguiding them with mal-citations of Labour Authorities.

    He added that, if ASUU feels aggrieved, they could approach the Courts for Judicial remedy as law abiding citizens just like the Federal Government through Federal Ministry of Labour & Employment.

    “That is  by virtue of the powers conferred by Section 17 of the TDA,  transmitted the FG/ASUU trade dispute to the NICN for adjudication, due to refusal of the union to comply with the provisions of Section 18 of the TDA, conciliation having failed,’’he said.

  • ASUU strike: NLC commends Gbajabiamila over intervention

    ASUU strike: NLC commends Gbajabiamila over intervention

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has commended the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, for his intervention in the protracted crisis between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government.

    Mr Ayuba Wabba, the NLC President, gave the commendation at the inauguration of the Guest House of the National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non Metallic Products Employers (NUCANMPE), on Tuesday at Ijoko, Sango-Ota in Ogun.

    The Speaker and the national leadership of ASUU met on Monday in Abuja over the crisis between university lecturers and the federal government.

    He said: “I must commend those that are very proactive in trying to make sure that the true process of social dialogue to resolve the challenges are put in place.

    “At the same time, those who cautioned people who think employment relationship is still old ways of master-servant relationship.

    “Globally, that perspective has changed, the relationship is now symbiosis, that requires mutual respect from both the employers and the employees.

    “I think this is what Gbajabiamila was playing out, I must commend him for his significant contributions and important roles, so that at the end it will be a win-win thing.

    “I know when they go back to their classrooms, they will be very happy teaching our kids because these are intellectuals and their state of hearts will also speak volume how they impact knowledge.

    “I commend the wisdom of the speaker,  there  is no use, using cohesion or force in solving the problem but through provision of dialogue that will comfort everybody,” he said.

    He expressed optimism that ASUU would make a pronouncement soon about its resumption.

    Wabba said he was very delighted in the inauguration of the NUCANMPE Guest House projects.

    He said that the development was one of the active ways labour union was working to diversify in this present economic challenges.

    The labour leader hailed NUCANMPE National President, Mr Babatunde Olatunji, for his efforts in executing the huge project.

    Earlier, Olatunji in his remarks thanked the NLC national president for gracing the inauguration, saying there was need to diversify to generate more income for the union.

    According to him, the beauty of the project is that the whole world will know that union leaders are  business oriented.

    “This project will let people know that we know what we are doing, the leadership of this union sees the need to diversify and not relying only on members’ dues for income.

    “That is why we decided to put up this 15 room guest house, as alternative source of income to the union,” he said.

    Olatunji said that there was also an ongoing multipurpose shopping complex of over 49 stores including office spaces at Ijoko, Sanyo-Ota.

  • NLC commends Lagos govt. on planned salary increase for Lagos workers

    NLC commends Lagos govt. on planned salary increase for Lagos workers

    The Nigeria Labour Congress has commended the Lagos Government for the planned salary increments for workers in the state’s public service.

    The NLC Chairman, Mrs Funmi Sessi, gave the commendation in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Lagos. ”The announcement came at the right time,” she said.

    Newsmen reports that Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu had on Oct. 4 announced the increase at a meeting with civil servants of the state public service, during his working visit to the state secretariat, Alausa.

    ”He said the planned increment is informed by the level of inflation in the country, which has been biting hard on the citizens.

    The governor, however, did not mention the percentage of the increment and when it would kick off, but that modalities were being worked out.

    Sessi said: ‘’If we have to look at the motive behind the increment, it is a well thought out planned increase.

    ‘’Though, in the agreement that we signed during the 2016 new minimum wage, it was stated that after three years, we will review the wage.

    ‘’However, because of the covid-19 pandemic, we could not do anything, yet, after covid-19, we could see the escalation of everything.

    ‘’The public sector workers are so appreciative; we welcome this magnanimous extension of goodies from the governor.

    ‘’Although, we do not know to what percentage the governor is going to increase the salary by, yet the workers are sure that he will do what will bring a standing ovation from the workers.’’

    She urged employers of labour to take a cue from the governor to ensure that their employees were well remunerated following the high cost of living in the present economy.

    ‘’Those in the private sector including schools, manufacturing, health, and other sectors, the employers should be able to add palliatives to what the workers are earning, because of the high cost of living.

    Sessi urged the workers to cooperate with the state governor and ensure that they worked harder to build a state that everyone desired.

    She said: ‘’To whom much is given, much is expected; if the governor is doing so much to ensure that our welfare is well taken care of, we should be ready to cooperate and do more.

    ‘’We already cooperate with the governor, but we are going to go the extra length to do more.’’

  • ASUU: Respect Trade Unions Act, NLC writes Ngige over registration of CONUA, NAMDA

    ASUU: Respect Trade Unions Act, NLC writes Ngige over registration of CONUA, NAMDA

     

    …says recognition of new unions violates Act

    The Nigeria Labour Congress has written to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, over the registration of two unions for tertiary institutions despite the existence of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

    In the letter, the NLC called on Ngige to respect the Trade Unions Act on registration of new ones where one already exists.

    It said: “We wish to posit that the granting of Certificates of Registration to Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA) and Nigeria Association of Medical and Dental Lecturers in Academics (NAMDA) by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, is in violation of our laws which have been tested and affirmed from the National Industrial Court of Nigeria to the Appeal Court and up to the Supreme Court. The foundation of these laws was set in international labour standards, particularly the International Labour Organization (ILO) fundamental Conventions 87 and 98 which were some of the First lLO standards ratified by Nigeria upon the attainment of Independence.

    “Having ratified ILO Conventions 87 and 98, Nigeria has domesticated the same in our Constitution especially Section 40 which guarantees freedom of association. The Constitution went on to regulate freedom of association in Section 41 (2). This is pursuant to public decorum and order since where one right ends another begins.

    “Nigeria’s labour laws in furtherance of the constitutional regulation on freedom of association provided certain conditions for the registration of trade unions upon which compliance Certificates of Registration can be given to trade unions by the Ministry of Labour.

    “Section 3 of the Trade Union Act stipulates the following conditions for the registration of trade unions: (1) An application for the registration of a trade union shall be made to the Registrar in the prescribed form and shall be signed (a) in the case of a trade union of workers, by at least fifty ’ members of the union; and (b) in the case of a trade union of employers, by at least two members of the union.

    “(2) No combination of workers or employers shall be registered as a trade union save with the approval of the Minister on his being satisfied that it is expedient to register the union either by regrouping existing trade unions, registering a new trade union or otherwise howsoever, but no trade union shall be registered to represent workers or employers in a place where there already exists a trade union.

    “Section 5 of Trade Union Act went on to stipulate the following additional conditions for the registration of a new trade union: “(1) Where an application for the registration of a trade union is received by the Registrar, the following provisions of this section shall app of a trade union is received by the Registrar Provided that if the application appears to the Registrar to be defective in any respect, he shall notify the applicant accordingly and shall take no further action in relation thereto until the application has been amended to his satisfaction or a fresh application is made in place thereof.

    “(2) The Registrar shall cause a notice of the application to be published in the Federal Gazette, stating that objections to the registration of the trade union in question may be submitted to him in writing during the period of three months beginning with the date of the Gazette in which the notice is published.

    “(3) Within three months after the end of the said period of three months the Registrar shall consider an objection submitted to him during that period and, if satisfied: (a) that no properer objection has been raised; (b) that none of the purposes of the trade union is unlawful; and (c) that the requirements of this Act and of the Regulations with respect to the registration of trade unions have been complied with, shall, subject to subsection (2) of this section, and to section 6 of this Act, register the trade union and its rules.

    “(4)The Registrar shall not register the trade union if it appears to him that an existing trade union is sufficiently representative of the interests of the class of persons whose interest the union is intended to represent.

    “Clearly, from the provisions of Section 3(2) and Sections 5(2), 5(3) and 5(4), there is no basis for the purported registration of the Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA) and the Nigeria Association of Medical and Dental Lecturers in Academics (NAMDA) as both entities failed woefully to satisfy the precedent conditions provided by the Trade Union Act for the registration of trade unions.

    “As earlier posited, the legitimacy of granting registration certificates to groups in a sector where unions already exist has been tested in our courts from the National Industrial Court to the Supreme Court. In the case of Erasmus Osawe Vs Registrar of the Trade Unions and also the case of Nigeria Nurses Association Vs Attorney General of the Federation Unreported Suit No. S.C. 69/ 1980 delivered on 6th November 1981, it is trite that anywhere there exists a union registered to cater for a category of the workforce it would be unpardonable proliferation and offence against the Constitution and Trade Unions Act for any other union to be registered for the same category of workers.

    “And this position was more recently restated by the Supreme Court in a judgement delivered on 11th January 2008 and cited as (2008) 1 S.C. (PT.III) Supreme Court Justices led by Hon. Justice Sylvester Onu and four others.

    “Honourable Minister, in view of the foregoing, we demand that you respect the doctrine of the Rule of law especially the clear provisions of our labour laws cited and withdraw the Certificate of Registration issued to the two new trade unions.”