Tag: NLC

Gbajabiamila offers NLC palliatives to avert strike

To avert the strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) billed to commence on Monday, the House of Representatives has offered organised labour some palliatives.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, at a negotiation meeting with labour on Sunday in Abuja said the palliatives would be included in the proposed 2021 budget.

Gbajabiamila said that the budget would soon be presented to the National Assembly, stressing that some palliatives were being considered to cushion the effects of increase in electricity tariff and fuel price hike.

The palliatives, according to the speaker, includes distribution of food items, reduction of taxes on minimum wage and payment of some special allowances.

Others are involvement in ownership of housing programmes through mortgage and distribution of special buses to public institutions which run on auto gas.

Gbajabiamila said that the palliatives would go a long way to assuage the suffering of Nigerians.

He said the lawmakers would also make provision in the budget to tackle the eight million deficit of meters to enable Nigerians to access them.

Gbajabiamila, who described estimated billing as a scam, said: “I have never heard it anywhere in the world, so if we may have to provide for the deficit, we will have to do that.”

He appealed to labour to suspend the planned strike, saying embarking on industrial action at this critical time would not augur well for the citizenry.

“You know, you cannot go on strike at this time, if you go on strike, the people you think you are protecting will be at the receiving end, we share your philosophy regarding workers’ rights.

“We know what Nigerians are going through, our position on electricity billing is obvious, the only thing now is to continue to talk, I am concerned about the people out there.

“Shutting down the markets, banks and other places of work is my worry, I am concerned about the people,” he said.

Gbajabiamila said that there was the need for every Nigerian to be properly metered in order to capture the true cost, adding that the lawmakers would consider metering in the 2021 budget.

The President of NLC, Ayuba Wabba, said that the increase in electricity tariff and hike in fuel price had eroded the purchasing power of Nigerian workers.

He said the initial plan was that there would not be increase in electricity tariff until meters were provided for Nigerians.

Wabba commended the speaker for the intervention, adding that he had consistently represented the interest of Nigerians.

The NLC president said there was a valid court judgment nullifying the electricity tariff, adding that the judgment of the National Industrial Court asking NLC to stop its planned strike could not be sustained.

Wabba insisted that the NLC would go ahead with the strike if its demands were not met by the Federal Government before the expiration of the ultimatum.

September 27, 2020
Mother of All Protests: We’ve not received any court order to stop – NLC

By Emman Ovuakporie

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, on Sunday said the umbrella body of labour in Nigeria has not received any court notice not to embark on a national protest tomorrow.

The NewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the scheduled nation wide protests by organised labour has denied receiving any notice restraining them from embarking on strike tagged ‘mother of all protests’, against hike in fuel price and electricity tarrif.

Speaking with journalists after a meeting with the House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, NLC President, Ayuba Wabba said:

“We have not received any court order restraining us from embarking on tomorrow’s strike and so we are giving the Federal Government till midnight to reverse pump price and electricity tarrif or face the scheduled strike.

He further explained that ” the Federal Government failed to obey a court injunction restraining them from increasing electricity tarrif.

Meanwhile, more than 16 unions across the Nigerian economy have given notice to their members to embark on strike on Monday (tomorrow).

September 27, 2020
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.

September 26, 2020
FG gets new order to stop planned NLC, TUC strike

The Federal Government has obtained a fresh order against the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) from going on planned strike slated for Monday.

Justice Ibrahim Galadima of the National Industrial Court issued the order in Abuja in an ex parte application by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

TheNewsGuru recalls that Galadima had issued the same restraining ex parte order for Peace and Unity Ambassadors Association on Thursday.

The NLC and TUC had declared a nationwide strike on Monday over reversal of the recent hike in electricity tariff and petrol pump price.

September 26, 2020
Fuel, tariff hike: 36 Governors hold emergency meeting today over NLC’s planned strike

Governors of the 36 States of the nation have fixed an emergency meeting for Thursday in a bid to stop planned strike by the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC.

The NLC had declared nationwide strike and protest beginning from Monday, September 28 after the Federal Government failed to revert the hike in fuel and electricity tariff in the country.

A statement issued by the Nigerian Governor’s Forum on Wednesday said the meeting would hold by 6.00pm on Thursday.

According to the statement issued by Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, Head, Media and Public Affairs of NGF, the agenda of the meeting was to mediate in the dispute between the Federal Government and the labour in a bid to avert the strike.

The meeting will be held virtually, as the governors would join the meeting from their homes or offices.

Recall that the Federal Government recently hiked the price of PMS to N160 per litre and increased electricity tariff by over 100 percent.

A meeting between the NLC and the Federal Government last week was deadlock as the government refused to shift position.

September 24, 2020
Fuel, electricity hike: NLC announces date for ‘mother of all protests’

The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, on Monday said all is now ready for a nationwide protest over the refusal of the Federal Government to reverse recent increase in prices fuel and electricity tariff.

The Federal Government had recently hike the prices of fuel to N160 per litre, signifying full deregulation of fuel price regime which will now be controlled by forces of supply and demand at the international market.

The government also hiked electricity tariff by over 100 percent.

A meeting between the Congress and government last Tuesday was deadlock as the government insisted that the hike in prices would remain.

But the NLC, on Tuesday after its National Executive Council meeting said the mother of all protest would kick-off on 28 September, 2020.

Ayuba Wabba, National President, NLC said there was no going back on the massive protest as the government had refused to accede to labour’s demand.

According to him, all Chairmen of NLC in the 36 states of the federation had agreed that the protest should go on to force the government to reverse the unwarranted hike.

September 22, 2020
FG shifts meeting with NLC, TUC

The Federal Government has rescheduled the meeting between the government team and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress to discuss the economy to Tuesday next week.

Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Charles Akpan confirmed the development in a text message on Saturday.

The government stated that the meeting would now hold at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige had announced on Friday that a government team would meet with NLC and TUC as well as other CSOs to discuss recent increase in electricity tariff and petrol price on Saturday.

Ngige had stated that the meeting, called on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, would provide the government team an opportunity to open its books to organised labour and explain why it took recent decisions.

But in the message by Akpan, the government noted that it became inevitable to reschedule the meeting since the leadership of organised labour and other civil society organisations were not likely to be available in one fold.

The message reads: “The meeting has been rescheduled to Tuesday, 15th Sept at 10am. Venue is Banquet Hall of Presdential Villa.

“This is to accommodate all participants.”

NLC President, Ayubba Wabba had said on Friday that the leadership of NLC would not attend the meeting earlier scheduled for today (Saturday) because it was too sudden.

Wabba had stated that the short notice given for the meeting by the government had made it impossible for labour leaders who are spread in different locations to attend.

Wabba had stated: “The information about the meeting was communicated by the minister of labour in the afternoon today.

“Due to the short notice it not possible for Labour leadership who are spread in different locations to attend.

“We have proposed a reschedule.”

September 12, 2020
NLC to come out with position on petrol, electricity hike soon – Wabba

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), says the organised labour will soon come out with a position on the recent increases in prices of various essential commodities, including fuel and electricity.

Mr Ayuba Wabba, NLC President spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Saturday in reaction to the increases in the prices of petrol and electricity.

NAN reports that the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) announced that the pump price of premium motor spirit (petrol) has been increased to N151, 60 per litre from N145 with effect from Sept 2.

Also, electricity tariff was increased effective Sept. 1, by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) from N30.23 per one kwh to N62.33.

Wabba, who spoke on the issues, said the organised labour would not protest until the Central Working Committee (CWC) met and agreed on appropriate action.

“Labour takes one battle at a time; it does not make announcement without backing its action,” the labour leader said.

He noted that NLC had remained consistent on neo-liberal policies, and would take appropriate action in respect of the increases in order to achieve desired result.

He also said that it was high time Nigeria started refining products locally to solve importation challenges.

On the suspended planned protest against the Rivers government, Wabba said that there was the need to mend fences between the state and labour to ensure harmonious relationship.

According to him, the will of the people should not always be taken for granted “as injury to one is injury to all”.

The NLC president called on other state governments to take appropriate steps toward addressing labour issues so as to avoid the wrath of the organised labour.

“We will take up any state that undermines the rights of workers. Workers should be conscious of their rights; there is synergy and we will confront recalcitrant employers to respect the law so that we don’t give room for sudden situations to rise,” Wabba said.

He further said that the Rivers government and labour have concluded negotiations on minimum wage, and the enabling circular would be released for a collective bargaining agreement to be signed.

September 12, 2020
Wike takes swipe at opposition parties over suspended NLC protest

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike says he has utilized the mandate given to him by Rivers people to provide basic infrastructure for them.

He also stated that he is proud to be contributing his quota to the development of the State.

Governor Wike stated this while speaking to journalists after inspecting the Rebisi, GRA, Rumuola and Rumuogba flyover bridges and ongoing road construction work in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas of the State.

He stated that through passion and commitment he has judiciously utilized scarce resources for the development of the State.

“It is not the amount of resources you get that determines the kind of projects you carry out for your people.

“It is your commitment, your passion for the development of your people. If you have very good resources and you don’t have the passion and commitment, resources cannot be utilized for the good of the people.

“If you have the passion and commitment as we do, even the little resources that we have, will be judiciously used for the development of our State,” he said.

Governor Wike expressed happiness with the speed at which the various flyover bridges are advancing, emphasizing that the Rebisi flyover would be completed by December this year while the Rumuogba and Okoro-Nu-Odo flyovers would be completed by February, 2021.

He described the Rebisi flyover as an engineering masterpiece and commended Julius Berger for delivering a quality project.

“I am indeed proud that I am able to contribute my own little quota to the development of our State.

“I have not abused the mandate given to me by Rivers people and I have also not disappointed them,” he stated.

On the outcome of the negotiation with Organised Labour, Governor Wike expressed satisfaction that all contending issues were amicably resolved during the meeting.

He said that the Opposition Parties and those who thought the State would be plunged into crisis were disappointed.

“All the issues were mere understandings and now that they have understood our position, they said they have to suspend the protest.

“So for me, I am happy that there was nothing like conflict At the end of the day, those of them who were thinking that Rivers State will be shut down were highly disappointed, ” he added.

Also speaking, the Project Manager, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Port Harcourt, Mr. Finn Drosdowsky thanked the State Government for entrusting the projects to them and assured that the various flyovers would be completed on schedule.

September 9, 2020
Fuel, Electricity hike: APC reacts as NLC suspends planned protest

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers has commended the organised labour in the state for suspending its planned strike for Tuesday.

It said in a statement issued by its spokesman in the state, Mr Ogbonna Nwuke, that the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and its associates had demonstrated uncommon maturity and discipline.

Nwuke noted that labour demonstrated this by allowing a last-minute discussion with the Rivers Government.

He said that the breakthrough recorded at the meeting was plainly as a result of the unique sacrifice made by labour in the overall interest of the state and nation.

“We have heard that the Rivers Government and labour have settled their differences.

“It took last-minute efforts that lasted late into the night to avert a crippling strike.

“While we welcome the resolutions reached at the end of that very crucial meeting, it is our expectation that the Rivers Government would fulfil its promise to workers.

“Government must have a human face and all of us have a responsibility to evolve for mankind, a kinder and responsive system that is understanding, just and fair,’’ he said.

Nwuke urged Gov. Nyesom Wike to learn lessons from the action of the labour.

“His administration had no reason whatsoever to threaten sons and daughters of Rivers who are part of the labour movement and who are rendering essential services to the people of the state.

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“We thank the labour leaders for doing the needful, they have proved that the interest of the working class was more paramount in the decision they took to call out workers,’’ he said.

Nwuke called on the governor to eschew his “gunboat politics’’.

“It has no place in an egalitarian society and no place in a society that hopes to embrace a system of social responsibility,’’ he said.

September 8, 2020