TheNewsGuru

Tag: NLC

  • Strike: Nasarawa NLC impeaches embattled chairman

    Strike: Nasarawa NLC impeaches embattled chairman

    The Executive Council of the Nasarawa State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has impeached its embattled Chairman, Abdullahi Adeka.

    A statement signed by Ahmed Naibi, the Secretary, said that Adeka was removed for announcing the suspension of the strike, immediately after his reinstatement.

    It said that the “surprising” action violated the resolutions reached at the NLC headquarters as a condition for his reinstatement.

    “In the meeting held at our national secretariat in Abuja on May 23, we all agreed that Adeka must sustain the strike. That was a condition for his reinstatement.

    “We also agreed that his mother union, the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, and all other affiliates of the NLC, must join the strike to maximise its effect.

    “But, instead of sustaining and widening the strike, Adeka announced its suspension, a day after he was reinstated,” the statement said.

    The statement declared that Adeka, by that action, had demonstrated that he was not a trustworthy leader.

    “We have resolved that he stands impeached; Bala Umaru, his deputy, is now the substantive Chairman of NLC in Nasarawa State,” the statement declared.

    It said that the strike action would continue and advised workers to await further directive from the new leadership.

    Some executive council members, who spoke with NAN, accused Adeka of “clearly taking sides with the government”, with many describing his action as “shocking”.

    Adeka had been suspended from office on May 21, when he suddenly declared an end to the strike without due consultation.

    He was reinstated on May 23, after the headquarters intervened, but went on air on May 24, to announce the end of the strike without consulting with other members of the executive council.

    The workers have been on strike since May 12, over the non payment of their salaries.

  • Charly Boy joins NLC, TUC for protest today

    Charly Boy joins NLC, TUC for protest today

    Self proclaimed Area Fada , Charly Boy took to his Twitter page to announce that he isn’t done yet with protests. He says there will be another mass protest and demonstration this morning .

    He would be collaborating with Nigerian Labour Congress(NLC) and Trade Union Congress(TUC). The march will begin at NLC headquarters in Lagos, Yaba.

  • Rumoured death: NLC denies asking Buhari to address Nigerians

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has denied calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to address the nation to calm Nigerians on his rumoured death.

    NLC President, Ayuba Wabba denied the call in a statement issued in on Friday in Abuja.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that a statement was credited to the leadership of the NLC urging the president to address the nation from wherever he is to calm tensed nerves in the country.

    The statement reads in part: “We would want to state emphatically and unequivocally that we did not at any time make such a statement. The reasons for this are quite obvious.

    “As an organisation, we do not work on rumours. Secondly, we are aware that Mr President is on leave and that before he proceeded on leave, he handed over to Mr Vice President.

    “We also recognise the fact presidential powers and immunity do not cover health. Thus, like any other human being, Mr President could take ill once in a while.

    “But most importantly, issues of life and death of any citizen, let alone that of the number one citizen are too sacred to be trivialised.

    “We therefore distance ourselves from the rumour mills on the health status of Mr President,’’ Wabba said.

    He said that the NLC wishes Mr President the very best in his holiday in the UK or wherever else he chooses to be.

    However, the NLC president advised the media to resist the temptation to misrepresent or sensationalise in order to sell.

    “As we look forward to welcoming him back to the country whenever he resumes, we also urge the citizenry not to allow themselves to be put on a panic mode by virtue of unsubstantiated stories in the media.

    “President Buhari met all the conditions precedent regarding his absence from office before proceeding on leave to which he is entitled,’’ he emphaised.

  • Buhari should address Nigerians to dispel death rumor – NLC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has dared President Muhammadu Buhari to address the nation from wherever he is to calm the tensed nerves concerning his health status in the country.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the news making the round for close to a week now is that the president is dead. However, the presidency and close aides of the president have since dispelled the rumour saying the president is hale and hearty.

    The NLC, was reacting to a statement credited to presidential adviser on media, Femi Adesina, that no one can force Buhari to speak, noted that public appearance by the country’s leader would put to rest rumors of his death.‎

    General Secretary of the NLC, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, told Punch that “In the social media, stories circulate without confirmation; I think that the easiest way is to talk publicly to the nation because the citizens are concerned about their leaders’ whereabouts.

    “If there are those who orchestrated rumours and they are not true, the easiest way is for him to reach out to Nigerians through a public appearance and a statement.

    “Nigerians have a right to be certain about the health situation of their President and the people who orchestrate rumours and unsubstantiated reports, one would wish for him to call their bluff by publicly addressing the citizens.”

    Meanwhile in another reaction, the Executive Secretary, Anti-corruption Network, Ebenezer Oyetakin, faulted the call for Buhari to address the nation.

    He said, “I do not subscribe to that. It smacks of mischief from such people. We are Africans. We have cultural discipline on some issues.

    “He has done the appropriate thing by handing over to the VP as Acting President. Let us be patient and maintain a sense of decorum and respect to the institution of governance.’’

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the president is expected back in the country by February 6.

  • Nigerians will reject any attempt to increase fuel price again – NLC tells FG

    Nigerians will reject any attempt to increase fuel price again – NLC tells FG

    The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC has any attempt by the Federal Government to increase fuel price will be rejected in totality by Nigerians.

    The Federal Government said it has started paying subsidy on fuel as a result of the increase in the landing cost and total cost of fuel from N122.03 and N140.40 per litre respectively to N145 and maybe forced to increase fuel price due to the present circumstances.

    Reacting to the development, General Secretary of the NLC, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, asked the government to rather review its policy on subsidy that led to the increase in the fuel pump price from N97 to N145 per litre last year.

    According to a report by The Punch, labour leader is quoted as saying: “I do not think that at this time, and given all that we have seen, that Nigerians can be subjected to another round of price increase now.

    “That is why government needs to revisit and rethink its policy. Nigerians cannot take another round of price increase.”

    He recalled that the NLC had said during the last fuel increase that the policy was bad and not ripe in an import-dependent regime as it was bound to further weaken the naira.

    He said, “The policy that is being pursued is not one that can grant you stability in price. When they raised the price to N145, we said so; that with time, given an import-dependent regime, for such a policy, the value of the Naira will be severely weakened.

    “We actually remember saying then that before the end of the year, the Naira will be close to N500 to a dollar and it has come to happen. If you translate the current value of the Naira through the template, you are going to find that the landing price would be higher.

    “The burden is on the government. That is where the issue of policy comes in. It is government policy that led to the price going to N145. Given the realities on the ground, now the government needs to revisit its own policy.”

    He explained that the actual landing cost would be determined by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, which, according him, was still working on the price template.

    Asked what NLC would do if the fuel price is increased again, he said, “That is not for me to say. It is not an individual who makes such pronouncements. Whatever develops, we may also engage it and decisions would be taken and communicated to Nigerians.”

    On his part, the President of Trade Union Congress, Mr. Bala Kaigama, said the labour unions were members of the board of the PPPRA and were not aware of the planned increase.

    “TUC, NLC and all the unions in the oil and gas industry are members of the governing board of the PPPRA. So, no increase can be done without our knowledge and we are not aware of such move,” he said.

     

  • Telecoms: NLC to partner with FG to halt out-sourcing of jobs

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it will collaborate with the Federal Government to stop out-sourcing of jobs in the telecom sector, among others.

    Mr. Ayuba Wabba, the NLC President, said this in a statement made available to (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

    “In this New Year, we shall work with the relevant arms and agencies of government to checkmate and halt the practices of multinational corporations especially in the Telecommunication, and Oil and Gas Sectors,

    “who are adding to the economic crisis in the country by their new habit of out-scouring of jobs Nigerians can do to new destinations in Asia, especially Dubai and India,’’ he said.

    He said there were reports that Ericsson Nigeria, local subsidiary of the Global Telecommunication Solution Provider, had disengaged all Nigerian staff in its Network Operating Centres and transferred its operation to India.

    Wabba noted that Ericsson Nigeria had in the last few years managed the MTN Network from among its Nigerian staff.

    “Now, in the name of off-shoring, Indian workers are being brought to understudy their Nigerian counterparts, and thereafter these jobs monitoring MTN and other Telecommunication Networks are then transferred to India.

    “These have huge implications for our national security, in addition to the fact that jobs that Nigerians are competent in are being moved out of the country.

    “As the unfolding cyber controversy between the USA and Russia is unfolding, with the network operating centers moved out of the country.

    “We can be easily shut out from the rest of the world without our being able to do anything about it,’’ Wabba said.

    However, the labour leader said the experience over Boko Haram and the SIM registration controversy with MTN clearly illustrates the inherent danger to Nigerian’s national security interest of the move by these multinationals.

    He said that HUAWEI, a telecommunication giant, was responsible for managing about 75 percent of network operating centers such as Etisalat, Airtel, part of GLO and part of MTN network operating centers in Nigeria.

    “They have also commenced the knowledge transfer from Nigerian engineers to their Indian counterparts preparatory to also moving their operations to India.

    “We will work with the relevant committees of the National Assembly, ministries and agencies to protect our national interest.

    “We will be leading national campaigns against these practices in the Telecom and Oil and Gas sectors in this New Year,’’ he assured.

    Wabba said that the affected multinationals must be made to understand that they would not be allowed uninhibited access to making millions of dollars off Nigeria as a nation without contributing to creating jobs.

    He said that there must be costs to every multinational decision to take the livelihood of Nigerian workers to other shores.

    “We need the understanding, support and cooperation of government and its agencies in this fight to keep these jobs in the country,’’ he said.