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Tag: Strike

  • Ogun workers’ strike persist as Labour reject Gov Abiodun’s proposal

    Ogun workers’ strike persist as Labour reject Gov Abiodun’s proposal

    The Organised Labour in Ogun has rejected Gov. Dapo Abiodun’s proposals to resolve the indefinite strike, which was triggered by the unrelated N82 billion contributory pension deductions and other issues.

    This was contained in a communique issued on Friday night by the organised labour with signatories of 25 affiliate unions, after a seven-hour emergency meeting held in Abeokuta.

    The union expressed its dissatisfaction with the government’s offers after discussion on several issues.

    Some of the issues include the Contributory Pension Scheme, new minimum wage, eight years’ arrears of leave allowance, consequential adjustment on pension, and staff promotions for 2023 and 2024.

    According to the statement, the council-in-session was displeased with the government’s resolve, particularly on the Contributory Pension Scheme.

    “The Council-in-session is displeased with the resolve of the state government, especially on the Contributory Pension Scheme.

    “In effect, the initial position of the Congress subsists, and the declared trade dispute stands,” the statement read in parts.

    Meanwhile, Gov. Abiodun, in a statement issued earlier by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Lekan Adeniran, said his administration would ensure immediate payment of workers retiring from July 2, 2025, through the contributory pension scheme.

    He proposed a 10-year payment plan, divided into two phases 2025 to 2030 and 2030 to 2035.

    Abiodun explained that the arrangement would cover the remaining two years of his tenure and eight years of his successors’ tenure.

    “We have decided that in phase one, we will pay outstanding contributions for retirees from July 2, 2025, to July 2030.

    “We will make that immediate payment next year; we will make the second payment, which will be phase two for those who will be retiring from July 2, 2030, to July 1, 2035,”he said

    The governor added that there would be no gratuity scheme from July 2, 2025, and that all consolidated salaries would revert to the Contributory Pension Scheme.

  • PCRC dismisses claims of police strike as fake, mischievous

    PCRC dismisses claims of police strike as fake, mischievous

    The Police Public Relations Committee (PCRC) on Thursday described as fake and mischievous claims of purported plans by personnel of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to embark on strike.

    PCRC National Chairman, Alhaji Mogaji Olaniyan said this on Thursday in Abuja at a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of PCRC.

    He said: ”The fake news is a handiwork of some disgruntled element in the society who had failed in their efforts to use the public against the Nigeria Police Force.

    “They now want to use personnel of the force against the Nigerian Police Force, and this is a failed attempt,” he said.

    Olaniyan urged the public to disregard the fake news, adding that, the current leadership of the Nigeria Police Force had demonstrated great commitment to improving the welfare of the force.

    “The current leadership of the Nigeria Police Force under the Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Kayode Egbetokun has been committed to improving the welfare of police personnel.

    “All what Egbetoku is doing is to give the Nigerian Police Force a facelift, and we are getting the feedback from the 36 states of the country and the FCT,” he said.

    He said the entire leadership of PCRC, across the 36 states of Nigeria and the FCT had passed votes of confidence on the I-G and his management team based on their performance.

    He said the Nigerian Police Force under Egbetokun was already winning war against crime and criminalities in the country, adding that, the current style of deployment by the fore was commendable.

    “If any state needs any assistance to face any criminal element, the I-G responds swiftly by sending teams from Abuja to offer necessary support.

    “It was based on this and other achievements of the force that the leadership of PCRC in Nigeria and Diaspora, move a motion to show our support and identify with the I-G,” he said.

    Olaniya called on the Federal Government to do more for both serving and retired members of the Nigeria Police Force in terms of welfare.

    He said the leadership of the PCRC had resolved to do more for the Nigeria Police Force because of their commitment to secure the country.

    “We have directed our members to move back to their communities, to work with villagers, to work with market women, especially our youth.

    “By a way of gingering our youths, we have directed our leaders at state levels to go back and inaugurate youths and women committees.

    “This is in recognition that, they are very important segment of the society and that, having them with the PCRC will make the work of policing easier in Nigeria,” he said.

  • NLC strike paralyses Govt. activities in Ogun

    NLC strike paralyses Govt. activities in Ogun

    In compliance with the strike declared by the organised labour in Ogun, most state government agencies are under lock and key, paralyzing activities in the state.

    A correspondent of NAN who monitored the strike on Wednesday in Abeokuta, observed that most entrance gates were under lock and key.

    The organised Labour comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) on Monday, directed all civil servants in the state to withdraw their services indefinitely.

    It gave the directive following unresolved issues over the government’s failure to remit pension deductions, implementation of the national minimum wage and non-payment of eight years leave allowances and promotion of workers.

    Total compliance was  observed at Asero High School, Egba High School, Lisabi Grammar School, and Baptist Boys High School, as classrooms remained shut and school premises deserted.

    A  Teacher, who pleaded anonymity at Asero High School, disclosed that the pupils were writing examination before the public holiday was declared on Tuesday by the Federal government.

    “Our students resume today after the public holiday to continue with their examinations, but we have to send them back home.

    “We are appealing to the state government to resolve the issue promptly, so it won’t affect the students, because it’s an indefinite strike” he said.

    A visit by our reporter to the State House Assembly and Magistrates and High Courts, saw the entrance gate locked with just the security guard around the premises.

    The strike followed a unified resolution reached during a series of congresses held at the Arcade ground in oke-mosan area of Abeokuta.

    The unions had resolved to meet directly with Gov. Dapo Abiodun to address lingering concerns surrounding the Contributory Pension Scheme.

    They insisted that no other official would be accepted as a representative in the ongoing negotiations.

  • Ogun workers begin indefinite strike

    Ogun workers begin indefinite strike

    Organised Labour in Ogun has declared an indefinite strike over the non-remittance of pension deductions and non-implementation of minimum wage by the state government, among others.

    This was contained in a statement by the NLC Chairman,  Mr Demola Hameed-Benco, on Monday in Abeokuta.

    It said the decision was reached  at the statewide congress held by state civil service workers and the organised labour.

    According to the statement, workers were forced to withdraw their services, particularly over the dysfunctional Ogun State Pension Law (OGSPRL) 2008 amended by 2013 Law, which established the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) .

    “Arising from the resolution reached at the general parliament of Ogun state civil and public service workers, all members are directed to withdraw their services till further notice.

    “The congress warns that any worker who disobeys the directive does so at their own risk, the union will not bear responsibility for such actions.

    “The NLC urge the Ogun government to, as soon as possible, call for dialogue to address the concerns of the teeming workers.

    “We shall continue to keep you updated on further development. A workers united can never be defeated. Solidarity forever,” the statement read in parts.

  • Mixed feelings as FCT pupils resume after 3-month strike

    Mixed feelings as FCT pupils resume after 3-month strike

    Some public primary school pupils in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed mixed feelings and uncertainty following the suspension of a three-month-long teachers’ strike.

    Speaking in an interview with NAN on Thursday in Abuja, the pupils said they were concerned about lost academic time and unsure how the missed term would be recovered.

    Primary school teachers in the FCT, under the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), embarked on an indefinite strike on March 24 over unpaid minimum wage and other welfare concerns.

    The NUT, in a communiqué on Tuesday, directed its members to return to the classroom on Wednesday, following interventions by the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike.

    Joshua Peter, a Primary Four pupil, said many pupils were excited to resume learning but remained unsure how they would catch up.

    “We have lost the second term already, while our counterparts in private schools are already writing their examinations and preparing for the holidays.

    “I don’t know how they intend to cover the scheme of work we missed, but one thing I’m sure of is that we will be in school while others are on break,” he said.

    Peter added that since resumption, teachers had not yet started lessons but had asked pupils to clean the school premises.

    “I am hopeful that full lessons will begin soon,” he said.

    Similarly, Mercy Gwoza, another pupil, said she was glad to be back in class but worried about the workload required to catch up.

    She noted that it was likely the teachers would rush through the curriculum to cover lost ground, and she hoped the process would not face further disruptions.

    Another pupil, Jamiu Mahmoud, said he was happy to reunite with his classmates after the long break but anxious about returning to academic work.

    He expressed concern that his performance might decline due to the disruption and prayed for God’s guidance and success during the recovery period.

    A parent, Mrs Manji Amos, said it was a relief to see the children back in school.

    However, she stressed that the affected pupils were now at a disadvantage in terms of syllabus coverage and academic progress.

    She urged school authorities and teachers to manage the situation proactively and avoid any further actions that could harm the children’s development.

    Meanwhile, a school proprietor and education consultant, Mr Tanimu Abdulmalik, recommended that teachers conducted quick assessments to determine the pupils’ current academic levels and the extent of learning loss.

    “They can start with short diagnostic tests or oral assessments in key subjects like English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies, and focus on topics essential for exams and progression,” he said.

    Abdulmalik also suggested implementing a Compressed Teaching Plan, condensing the syllabus and prioritising core topics.

    He recommended extending learning hours, adding extra classes before or after school, or even introducing weekend sessions to help recover lost time.

    A correspondent who visited some of the schools observed that while there was full compliance with the resumption directive in most schools, a few had pupils present without any teachers in their classrooms.

  • FCT teachers return to classrooms after 3-month strike

    FCT teachers return to classrooms after 3-month strike

    Primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called off their over three-month strike, following interventions by the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike.

    The FCT Wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), disclosed this in a communique made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday

    The communique was jointly signed the union’s Chairman, Abdullahi Shafas, Secretary, Mrs Margaret Jethro and Publicity Secretary, Ibukun Adekeye.

    In the communique, the union leadership directed the teachers to return to the classrooms and continue with their legitimate duties.

    They applauded the intervention of the minister in the impasse through a stakeholder meeting.

    Recall that primary school teachers in the FCT embarked on an indefinite strike on March 24 over unpaid minimum wage and other welfare concerns.

    The FCT minister, though not responsible for the payment of primary school teachers, intervened severally, including a meeting with the union leaders and other stakeholders on July 3.

    Some of the stakeholders included the Chairmen, House Committee on FCT, House Committee on FCT, Area Councils and Ancillary Matters, FCT Head of Service, FCT Permanent Secretary, Treasury, and executives of the NUT among others.

    “The payment of FCT primary school teachers, as explained by the Minister, is the responsibility of the Area Councils

    “The minister, however, emphasised the inadequacy of the councils’ allocation to cater for the payment and therefore offered the following:

    “The release of 10 per cent of the area councils’ six months accrued Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), amounting to N16 billion, to augment the payment of the minimum wage for June and 60 per cent of its nine months arrears.

    “The constitution of a Special Committee to, within two weeks, harmonise all the outstanding arrears detailing the sourcing of funds for the permanent settlement of all the backlog,” the communique read in part

    The union leaders said that, upon the minister’s intervention, SWEC held an emergency session on July 4 to deliberate on the offers and review the strike action.

    They added that, after exhaustive deliberation on the offers, including the positive disposition of the minister, SWEC resolved to suspend the strike, if the N16 billion is released and payment received by teachers.

    “Consequent upon the implementation of the minimum wage and payment of five months arrears into the teachers accounts on July 8, the SWEC, hereby, suspends the ongoing strike.

    “The council, appeal to all primary school teachers in FCT to, with effect from Wednesday, July 9, return to the classrooms and continue with their legitimate duties.

    “The union will intensify efforts to ensure the payment of the remaining entitlements,” they said.

  • ASUU told to shelve nationwide strike

    ASUU told to shelve nationwide strike

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to shelve its planned strike over delay in the payment of June salary to its members.

    NANS made the appeal in a statement signed by its National Vice President on Inter-Campus and Gender Affairs, Felicia Akinbodunse, and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Akinbodunse said that any industrial action by ASUU now would destabilise the stable academic calendar universities had enjoyed since the past two years.

    Recall that the leadership of ASUU on Monday confirmed that a directive had been issued for all branches of the union nationwide to withdraw their services over the delay in the payment of June 2025 salaries to its members.

    The union cited the enforcement of the “No Pay, No Work” resolution.

    ASUU chapters in two federal universities, the University of Jos and the University of Abuja, have already commenced strike action in compliance with the directive.

    President of ASUU, Prof. Chris Piwuna, who confirmed the development to the media in Abuja, said that the institutions were simply complying with the resolution from the National Executive Council (NEC) of the union.

    He explained that the resolution directed that any month members’ salaries were delayed beyond three days; they should withdraw their services until the salaries were paid.

    Akinbodunse, however, appealed to ASUU to to reconsider their stand and shelve the strike, noting that students were always at the receiving end any time the academic union embarks on a strike.

    She said that rather than withdrawing their services in universities across the country, the leadership of ASUU should engage the federal government in order to resolve the matter without any face off.

    She recalled that since the inception of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, strikes by ASUU had reduced drastically and students had continued to enjoy uninterrupted academic sessions.

    She expressed optimism that engaging with the federal government in dialogue on the issue of delayed salary payment, would resolve the matter without the need by ASUU to down tools.

    Akinbodunse added that students and their parents could not afford any disruption in the academic calendar, particularly in the face of the economic situation, appealing to the leadership of the academic union to be considerate.

    She also appealed to the federal government to address the issue of delay in the payment of salary of the university lecturers and to find a lasting solution to it.

  • Strike: NLC vows to shutdown FCT

    Strike: NLC vows to shutdown FCT

    The Federal Capital Territory Chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), says it is mobilising to shutdown the territory after President Bola Tinubu concludes his projects’ inauguration on July 3.

    The Chairman, Dr Stephen Knabayi, who disclosed this in an interview in Abuja on Thursday, explained that the move was to draw the attention of the FCT Administration to address the area council workers’ lingering strike.

    Primary healthcare centres were under lock and key, primary school teachers had been at home while the six area councils’ secretariat were abandoned by the workers for months.

    The primary school teachers and other area council workers had embarked on a series of strikes over non-payment of minimum wage and 40 per cent Peculiar Allowance.

    Other unresolved issues included the non-implementation of 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increases, and the N35,000 wage award, among other benefits.

    The NLC chair, who described the development as “very unfortunate”, told NAN in the interview that the area council chairmen left the union with no option but to shut down the FCT.

    He recalled that the union had on June 13, issued a seven-day ultimatum to the FCT Administration to address the demands of the teachers, health workers and other area council workers.

    He explained that the ultimatum followed the resolution of the executives of the joint unions of the NUT, the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees and the National Association of Health Workers Union.

    He noted that the ultimatum had expired on June 20 and the NLC was yet to take any action.

    Knabayi explained that the union backpedalled to allow President Bola Tinubu to complete the inauguration of projects executed by the FCT Administration, as part of activities to celebrate his second year in office.

    “We had to extend the ultimatum because of Tinubu’s movements to inaugurate the FCT executed project.

    “Members of the union will take over the streets of Abuja as soon as Tinubu concludes the inaugurations, hopefully on July 3.

    “We are waiting for it to end and we will come together to step up our planned action,” he told NAN.

    He added that the NLC had already informed the FCT Administration and security agencies of the planned protest to shut down the territory as the last resort to press home their demands.

    He said it was very unfortunate that up to this moment nothing has been done to address the lingering welfare cities in the area councils.

    He noted that although the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage began across the six area councils in May, it was stopped the following month with no explanation to the workers.

    “Like you know, strike or protest is always the last option, but we were left with no other opinion.

    “We are not happy and it is not going to be a small thing if they don’t do the needful,” he said.

    Knabayi alleged that the area council chairmen were spending huge resources in preparations for the 2016 February FCT Area Councils’ Election.

    According to him, the funds being expended will be enough to settle all the workers outstanding entitlements.

    He called on the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, to take a more decisive action to compel the area council chairmen to settle the council workers welfare concerns.

    Recall that Wike had made several efforts to resolve the crisis, including the recent release of N4.1 billion to the area councils to support the payment of minimum wage to the workers.

    The minister had explained several times that primary school teachers and primary health care workers were under the purview of the area councils and not FCT Administration.

    The NUT Chairman in FCT, Mr Abdullahi Shafa, during a protest on April 24, acknowledged Wike’s intervention to resolve the lingering strike, including the release of the N4.1 billion to the area councils to pay the striking teachers.

    On their part, the chairmen of the area councils had in a press conference on May 13, urged the primary school teachers and other council workers to call off their ongoing strike.

    Mr John Gabaya, Secretary of the FCT Chapter of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, who addressed the journalists, particularly appealed to the primary school teachers to return to the classrooms.

    Gabaya said that the appeal became necessary for the interest of the pupils while negotiation continues.

  • Ondo judiciary workers call off strike

    Ondo judiciary workers call off strike

    The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Ondo State Branch, on Wednesday announced the suspension of its indefinite strike.

    The union had on June 13 embarked on an indefinite strike over non-implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary by the state government.

    The suspension of the strike is contained in a statement issued by the state secretary of the union, Mr Kehinde Alade, in Akure.

    Alade said that the state government has demonstrated commitment to implementing the union’s demands.

    He said that the government also promised to constitute a committee to work within a reasonable timeframe to fast-track the implementation of the union’s demands by July.

    “It is also resolved that the judiciary will be allowed to henceforth manage its funds on a monthly basis starting from July.

    “In view of this development, JUSUN members are hereby directed to resume work with immediate effect.

    “We will continue to engage with the government until the implementation of our demands in July,” he said.

  • Strike: NUBA Polytechnic lecturers earn less than NYSC members – ASUP

    Strike: NUBA Polytechnic lecturers earn less than NYSC members – ASUP

    The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria Chapter, has raised alarm over alleged poor salaries earned by the polytechnic lecturers as the union continues its strike.

    The union alleged that the lecturers earned less than the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, which according to it, is sparking concerns over educators’ welfare.

    The Chairman of the union, Malam Usman-Shehu Suleiman, made this known in an interview with NAN in Zaria on Thursday.

    Recall the joint staff unions had embarked on a one-week warning strike on June 16, which has grounded academic activities at the two campuses of the institution.

    The strike was hinged on the non implementation of the National Polytechnic and Colleges of Education Salary Structure and implementation of the 65 years retirement age for non-teaching staff among others.

    Suleiman, who is also the Chairman, Joint Action Committee of the staff unions of the institutions, said a net pay of an assistant lecturer at the institution was N64, 400, which he said was far below the monthly allowance of NYSC members.

    “This, among other reasons made the institutions to experience drastic brain-drain and many lecturers are on the verge of leaving the institution.

    “We lose cohorts of lecturers to Federal University of Transportation Daura, Katsina State; Federal Polytechnic Gombe and Kaduna State University (KASU) among other institutions.

    “We have an instance where a lecturer was sponsored to acquire masters and Ph.D by the institution upon his return he found the situation unbearable and decided to leave,” he said.

    However, the chairman added that the lecturer had signed a bond with the institution, therefore, he had to repay NUBA Polytechnic over N21m.

    The chairman described the situation as ‘bad omen’ for the education sector.

    Similarly, Abubakar Aliyu-Shika, Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnic (SSANIP), NUBA Polytechnic branch, said the union had been agitating for the improvement of salary since 2009, “almost 16 years ago.

    “We had series of agreements with the state government on June 11, 2010, and June 19, 2014 over the matter and nothing was done besides just signing the agreement and complaints of paucity of funds.”

    He added that on Dec. 17 2024, Gov. Uba Sani assured the leadership of the joint unions that the Polytechnic and College of Education Salary Structure (2024) would be implemented by the first quarter of 2025.

    “Regrettably, we are in the end of second quarter of the year and no concrete steps have been taken to fulfill this promise,” he said.

    Aliyu-Shika noted that one of the excuses was paucity of fund in the state and the government would fully implement the new salary structure when the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) improved.

    He added that the total staff strength of the polytechnic was little above 900, saying, ”now, the government has recruited 500 new staff; it means the financial situation has improved, hence our demands.”