TheNewsGuru

Tag: Strike

  • BREAKING: Fuel scarcity looms as PENGASSAN declares nationwide strike

    BREAKING: Fuel scarcity looms as PENGASSAN declares nationwide strike

    President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Festus Osifo has declared the association is embarking on an immediate nationwide strike.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the declaration made by Osifo when he appeared on Sunrise Daily on Channels TV on Monday morning has sparked fears of fuel scarcity in the country.

    “Today, PENGASSAN has declared a strike,” he said in an interview on the Channels Television breakfast programme.

    He added, “Today our members are sitting at home and we will continually watch the situation and if we need to rev it up, we will definitely rev it up.”

    Osifo explained that the industrial action followed the inability of the Federal Government to address the issues raised by the oil and gas workers.

    He stated that the union had given the government a seven-day ultimatum in a statement issued on Monday last week to respond to the issues.

  • FG intentionally starving us to make our members compromise, resume – ASUU

    FG intentionally starving us to make our members compromise, resume – ASUU

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Friday urged the Federal Government to pity the children of ordinary Nigerians and quickly attend to their demands noting that they are tired of strike action.

    The Union disclosed that FG is rushing the Union to resume because the government is scared of youths’ protests after they saw their demonstration during #EndSARS agitations.

    The Akure Zone of the Union which comprised Chairman of the Federal University of Technology Akure, Dr Olayinka Awopetu, Ekiti State University, Dr Kayode Arogundade, Obafemi Awolowo University, Dr Adeola Egbedokun and Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Dr. Gabriel Omonijo in a press conference disclosed the position of the union.

    The statement which was read by the Union zonal coordinator, Prof. Olu Olufayo explained that the lingering industrial action of the union was to get the FG to fulfil the agreement of 2013 and 2019 and not primarily about Integrated Personnel and Payroll System (IPPIS).

    He said: “For the avoidance of doubt, our issues remain; funding for revitalization of public universities, payment of earned academic allowances, visitation panels to universities and renegotiation of 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement. Since 2009, we have conscientiously approached the government to be faithful to implement the agreement it freely entered into with the union. The current struggle derives from this history.”

    According to him, ” We are tired of the strike. Our children are attending the public institution and it is sad that those frustrating our agitations, their children are not attending schools in Nigeria. It is so unfortunate. FG is intentionally starving us for our members to compromise and resume.”

    Prof Olufayo averred that meetings with the federal government of late have not solved these issues as the government is bent on dishonouring the agreement.

    “Our students have stayed home for almost a year, we are not the cause, we started our strike before COVID-19 and those students are fed up and it was part of what contributed to #EndSARS and the FG realised that. They are now calling for negotiations that they turned down months back. The students during #EndSARS they also included End bad governance. I know that students in Kwara State University gave FG two weeks ultimatum to sort the issue with ASUU else they will hit streets with protest, that scared the government and they are rushing us to resume.”

    He, therefore, urged FG to pity the children of ordinary Nigerians and quickly attend to the lingering issues without delay saying “the public should not blame ASUU for further damage to university educational system but hold the federal government responsible.”

  • ASUU gives reasons why strike lingers

    ASUU gives reasons why strike lingers

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says it is seeking swift completion of its ongoing renegotiations with the Federal Government to suspend the lingering industrial action.

    Prof. Ade Adejumo, the Zonal Coordinator, Ibadan Zone of ASUU, stated this at a press conference in Ibadan on Wednesday.

    ASUU embarked on the industrial action seven months ago which is premised on the union’s refusal to adopt the Federal Government’s Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

    Adejumo, who was represented at the conference by Prof. Moyo Ajao, the Chairperson, ASUU, University of Ilorin Chapter, said the union was forced to go on strike in March 2020 when the COVID-19 lockdown began.

    He said this was done to give the government enough room to address lingering issues.

    “It was a patriotic act aimed at resolving the issues so that our students would be in school any time the lockdown was lifted.

    “Some people have been wondering why ASUU is on strike again. The simple answer is that ASUU is on strike because of the survival of the University system where many of us still have our children as students.

    “ASUU is on strike in order to restore the past glory of public universities and address infrastructural decay and deficit in our institutions.

    “ASUU is on strike for the legitimate dues of its members who are the least paid in the tertiary education sub-sector,” he said.

    According to him, ASUU is actually tired of having a circus show of talks but in the interest of the students and the Nigerians at large, we still continue to hold meetings upon meetings.

    “At this stage of the struggle, Nigerians are urged to compel the government to release withheld salaries of our members, remit check-off dues of the union to the rightful owner.

    “Government should also speed up the process of testing the integrity of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) so that it can be deployed for payment beginning from January 2021.

    “We are ready to suspend the strike as our children too are tired of staying at home but we cannot work on empty stomachs.”

    Adejumo said the interest of Nigeria and the future generations was more paramount to ASUU than the immediate gains of its members.

    “That is why ASUU has been consistent in challenging the rot in the system through sustained engagements with the powers that be since the time of the military.

    “The gains of ASUU struggles are in the changes that TETFund has been able to bring to the tertiary education sector in the country, and ASUU will not relent in pushing for a better university system in the country.

    The union said the government agreed to inject funds to revitalise the country’s universities in 2019, adding that however, it was still waiting for the fulfillment of the agreement.

  • Abia doctors threaten strike

    Abia doctors threaten strike

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Abia Chapter, has threatened to go on strike over harassment of its members by security operatives.

    Chairman and Secretary of the chapter, Dr Chimezie Okwuonu and Dr Robinson Ugwuanyi, respectively, made the warning in a statement issued in Umuahia on Friday.

    The duo stated that medical practitioners on duty were being harassed by security operatives even as they were exempted from the 24-hour curfew imposed by Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu

    They called on the state government and relevant agencies to address the development and protect members in the line of duty during the period.

    “We can no longer tolerate the insult from the security agents who have been persistently harassing our members on the line of duty.

    “If the government of Abia and her security personnel do not come up with practical and adequate measures to protect our members in the next 24 hours, we may be left with no choice than to ask our members to stay away from work till further notice.

    “We also call on heads of health institutions in the state to liaise with the state government and security agents to end the harassment,’’ they added.

    The chapter would set up an “Emergency Response Team’’ within the next 24 hours to assist in providing appropriate and timely medical interventions during this period, they stated.

    The chairman and secretary urged NMA members in the state to give prompt attention to wounded victims of the on-going protest and encouraged them to be vigilant and to keep safe as they discharge their duties.

    They declared that the association’s “2020 Physicians Week’’, which was billed to hold from Oct. 19 to Oct. 25 had been suspended.

  • ASUU insists strike continues after meeting with Senate President

    ASUU insists strike continues after meeting with Senate President

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, says its nationwide strike continues despite meeting with Senate President on Monday.

    The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan met with leadership of ASUU on Monday where he appealed to them to go back to the classroom.

    But ASUU, in a statement on its twitter handle said it would now meet with its members in an internal meeting, but that till then, the strike continued.

    According to ASUU, “The Senate President appealed to the FG and ASUU to be ready to sheath swords to end the ongoing strike to allow students resume.

    “The Senate President is confident ASUU is prepared halfway to meet the government to resolve the crisis for good. It’s also not beneficial when universities are shut.

    ”Senator Lawan warned that government must be careful and be truth to its words when agreements are signed and also be sure that they have the capacity to implement such agreements.

    “We’ll now meet with our members for an internal meeting, but for the moment, the strike is still on.Our good fight remains sacrosanct.”

  • Resumption hopes dashed as SSANU, NASU commence strike today

    Resumption hopes dashed as SSANU, NASU commence strike today

    The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) will on Monday (today) begin a 14-day warning strike.

    The unions announced this in a letter, dated September 28, 2020, and jointly signed by NASU General Secretary Peters Adeyemi and SSANU President Samson Ugwoke and addressed to branch chairmen of both unions.

    The letter reads: “Kindly recall earlier information on the above subject matter wherein it was conveyed that the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU would embark on a 14-day industrial action immediately universities resume, following the COVID-19 lockdown.

    “Following the recent directives from the National Universities Commission (NUC) to Vice Chancellors for the immediate resumption/safe reopening of universities, you are hereby directed to begin a 14-day warning strike effective from October 5 to 19, 2020.”

    The two unions said the warning strike could snowball into full-blown action, if their demands are not addressed by the Federal Government.

  • BREAKING: NUPENG, PENGASSAN direct members in Chevron to shut down operations

    BREAKING: NUPENG, PENGASSAN direct members in Chevron to shut down operations

    Labour unions in the oil and gas sector have directed their members in Chevron Nigeria Limited to commence a total shut down of the company’s operations following the sack of 600 Nigerian employees and other anti-Labour practices by the management of the company.

    The Unions, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) gave the directive in a joint statement on Sunday.

    NUPENG’S President, Mr Williams Akporeha, and the President, PENGASSAN, Mr Festus Osifo, said: “We have directed our members in Chevron to withdraw their services.

    “We also call on the Federal Government to call Chevron Management to order, otherwise we can no longer guarantee industrial peace in the oil and gas sector.

    “Here is our fatherland and we have a labour law that regulates the activities of organisations in Nigeria; this law cannot be breached; We must follow the process.”

    The duo alleged that Chevron management on Independence Day, notified about 2,000 of its employees that their services were no longer required.

    Both leaders also alleged that the Chevron management had asked those employees who were still interested in working with them to apply afresh.

    “This development runs contrary to Nigeria’s laws regulating the Oil and Gas industry as it does not protect our national interest.

    “This is an imperialist agenda that must not be allowed to stay; most especially as we have just finished celebrating our 60th independence as a sovereign country,” the duo said.

    Earlier in a statement, Chevron’s General Manager Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Esimaje Brikinn, said the welfare and safety of its workforce was one of its highest priorities.

    Brikinn said: “Making changes to the organisation is never easy for anyone that will be impacted, but it is to improve our ability to remain competitive in Nigeria.

    “Reducing the cost and improving the efficiency of our operations are critical to generating more revenues for the Federal Government of Nigeria,” he said.

  • Nigeria @60: ASUU gives condition to end strike‎

    Nigeria @60: ASUU gives condition to end strike‎

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called for the adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) in the country.

    Mahmud Lawan, Coordinator, Kano Zonal Coordinator of the association made the call in a statement issued at the end of its meeting held at the Federal University, Dutse.

    The Federal Government had directed university lecturers to enrol on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

    The union, however, rejected IPPIS insisting that it violated the university autonomy, and proposed UTAS as alternative to the IPPIS.‎‎‎

    ‎Lawan said that the union is dismayed over non payment of salaries to its members by the government.

    “We urge the Federal Government to immediately release the salaries of our members and stop playing politics with the ongoing six month old industrial action.‎

    “The misinformation regarding payment of salaries by government officials is disheartening and laden with mischief to discredit the noble course of ASUU and its members,”‎ Lawan said in the statement.

    ‎The statement urged the Federal Government to investigate the matter, noting that payment of salaries to its members were suspended in the past three months.

    It also called for the provision of revitalisation fund, completion of renegotiation exercise and adoption of UTAS to end the strike.

  • NNPC boss hails labour for suspending planned strike

    NNPC boss hails labour for suspending planned strike

    Mr Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has hailed the decision of labour leaders to suspend their planned protest scheduled to have commenced Monday.
    Kyari, in a tweet on his official Twitter handle on Monday praised the leadership of the unions for choosing the pursuit of common good.
    He said : ” Being a former union leader, I understand the difficulties of labour leadership when faced with choices between stark realities and legitimate follower expectations.
    “The leadership chose the pursuit of common good and posterity will vindicate us all for standing with our country. “
    Kyari said the the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had by their action demonstrated absolute faith in the country.
    “They showed understanding on inevitability of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) deregulation and jointly charted way forward to secure local refining sufficiency through greater stakeholder inclusiveness and transparency.
    “We will follow through diligently,” he added.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NLC and TUC had suspended the strike at the early hours of Monday following a meeting with the Federal Government.
    Labour had called for the strike in protest against the recent hike in electricity tariffs and pump price of PMS commonly referred to as petrol.
  • BREAKING: Labour suspends planned strike as FG reverses new electricity tariff

    BREAKING: Labour suspends planned strike as FG reverses new electricity tariff

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have suspended the nationwide strike scheduled to commence on Monday (today), September 28.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that labour’s decision to suspend the planned nationwide industrial action followed an agreement reached with the Federal Government at a meeting which started at 8.30pm on Sunday and ended at 2:50am on Monday (today) morning.

    Sen. Christ Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment said this while reading a joint communique on the resolution of the Trade Dispute between the Federal Government and the organised Labour on Monday in Abuja.

    Ngige said the resolution reached with the organised labour was an outcome of a fruitful deliberation.

    According to him, on the issue of electricity tariff reforms, the parties agreed to set up a Technical Committee comprising Ministries, Departments, Agencies, NLC and TUC, which will work for a duration of two weeks effective from Monday, Sept. 28.

    “The committee is to examine the justifications for the new policy in view of the need for the validation of the basis for the new cost reflective tariff.

    “The technical committee membership included Mr Festus Keyamo, Minister of State Labour and Employment, as chairman, Mr Godwin Jedy-Agba, Minister of State Power, Mr James Momoh, Chairman National Electricity Regulatory Commission,

    “Others were Mr Ahmad Rufai Zakari, SA to Mr President on Infrastructure, Dr Onoho’Omhen Ebhohimhen, Member, NLC, Mr Joe Ajaero NLC, Mr Chris Okonkwo, TUC and a representative of DISCOS.”

    The minister said the committee should also look at the different Electricity Distribution Company (DISCOs) and their different electricity tariff ‘vis-à-vis NERC’s order and mandate.

    Ngige, on the issue of the downstream sector deregulation, said all parties agreed on the need to expand the local refining capacity of the nation to reduce the over dependency on importation of petroleum products

    He said NNPC was directed to expedite the rehabilitation of the nation’s four refineries located in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna and to achieve 50 per cent completion for Port Harcourt by December 2021, while timelines and delivery for Warri and Kaduna will be established by the inclusive Steering Committee.

    According to him, the national leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) will be integrated into the Steering Committee already established by the Corporation.

    “The Federal Government and its agencies are to ensure delivery of one million CNG/LPG AutoGas conversion kits, storage skids and dispensing units under the Nigeria Gas Expansion Programme by December 2021 to enable delivery of cheaper transportation and power fuel.

    “A Governance Structure that will include representatives of organised Labour shall be established for timely delivery,” he said.

    Ngige also said on the issue of general intervention that the government will facilitate the removal of tax on minimum wage as a way of cushioning the impacts of the policy on the lowest vulnerable.

    He said the Federal Government would give the labour unions 133 CNG/LPG driven mass transit buses immediately and ‘provide to the major cities across the Country on a scale up basis, thereafter to all States and Local Governments before December 2021.’

    He said 10 per cent of the ongoing Ministry of Housing and Finance housing initiative would be allocated to Nigerian workers under the NLC and TUC.

    According to him, a specific amount is to be unveiled by the Federal Government in two weeks’ time, which will be isolated from the Economic Sustainability Programme Intervention Fund that can be accessed by Nigerian Workers with subsequent provision for 240,000 under the auspices of NLC and TUC.

    “This is for participation in agricultural ventures through the CBN and the Ministry of Agriculture. The timeline will be fixed at the next meeting,” he said.

    In his remark, Mr Ayuba Wabba, NLC President said that both the government and organised labour have looked into the issue of fuel price hike and what was needed to be put in place in order to address the issue of the increase.

    “We have discussed the state of our refineries and how to achieve sustainable refineries.

    “We have also looked at the issue of the tariff hike and other challenges.

    “We agreed to suspend the strike, and we agreed to also put a committee in place to work out lasting solution in addressing these challenges, including the issue of metering and importantly also is to bring about the issue of efficiency.

    “We also reviewed the process of privatisation and other issues such as clear palliatives that were needed to be extended to our members and Nigerians to cushion the effect of these policies,” he said.

    Wabba, therefore, called for social dialogue as a way of addressing issues of industrial relations, socio-economic issues and also issues of development.

    According to him, the labour hopes that the communique will be implemented, and therefore, the decision of the organised labour as represented here is to suspend the action.

    “We are going to convey our Central Working Committee meeting to present the communique to them,” he said.

    Also, Mr Quadiri Olaleye, TUC president noted that based on the agreement signed between the government and the labour, the planned industrial action would be suspended for two weeks.

    He added that the planned industrial action was called to draw the attention of the government to certain issues.