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Tag: Strike

  • New Minimum Wage: FG, labour resume negotiations to avert strike

    New Minimum Wage: FG, labour resume negotiations to avert strike

    The Federal Government and labour unions began talks on Monday to avert a nationwide strike by workers slated for Oct. 17.

    Labour has resorted to the strike option, after negotiation collapsed in finding a way out of the minimum wage logjam.

    The two parties have engaged in endless and often fruitless meetings, raising anxiety and frustrations among public sector workers, who have waited patiently over the months for the new wage.

    Speaking in Abuja on Monday at the continuation of a conciliatory meeting, Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, said the meeting was an opportunity for information sharing and an avenue to soften ground for a final meeting, slated for Oct. 15.

    He told the labour leaders to be open-minded in their dialogue so that both parties could get a way out of the minimum wage logjam.

    Ngige said he believed that the meeting would bring an end to issues in contention, if both parties agreed and understood each other’s positions.

    “If we don’t soften the ground bullets will fly and at the end of the day we will come back to the negotiating table. That is why we are doing this as a proactive measure.

    “Part of my work is to ensure that there is a quiet industrial milieu. The workforce brings out their full productivity and employers, businesses will not be disrupted. That is why we called you again.

    “Tomorrow, we are going to do the mixed-grill meeting. That mixed-grill meeting tomorrow can be one hour meeting, it can be two hours or it can be 12 hours, depending on what we are able to achieve today.

    “I appeal to everybody to show some understanding.

    “We are going to discuss dispassionately. Nothing will be hidden from anybody. The books of government, I talked about it before– when I mean books they are budgets– 2019/2020, we will make it bare.

    “I have warned them and I have advised them that if they come they should be prepared to present their case, meaningfully and successfully.

    “I will stay in the middle as an arbiter because that is what I am going to do in this instance.”

    The Deputy President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Mr Amaechi Asugwuni, who spoke on behalf of organised labour, said that the meeting was called by the minister to share information with labour leaders.

    He said that labour had made considerable shift on its demands from the earlier position on the consequential adjustment of the N30, 000 minimum wage.

    “We all know the consequences of delay is never fruitful and as such organised labour has come here with open mind in ensuring that facts are facts, also the situations are already known to us.

    “The economy is biting and as a matter of fact, we must assist the process at this time in ensuring that we close it earlier than needed so that we can avert the unforeseen.

    “It is only when you don’t know where you are going that you will waste a lot of time doing nothing.

    “The position of labour is very clear. It gives us the signpost of what we have asked for and where we are going. So every delay, every action taken is toward that position and we know that you will do your best to get there.

    “We believe that the Federal Government will do the needful because ours is a straight forward proposal.

    “We have made our proposal to the FG before now and government is to respond. We believe that by
    tomorrow, we will get the FG’s feedback and know the next thing to do.

    “Labour will not tolerate anything short of reasonable adjustment in the ongoing negotiation.

    “The consequential adjustment is a matter of percentage which requires give and take principle. You state what you want but it depends on government to see sense in your demand.

    “Labour has shifted beyond expectation. What government needs to do is to reciprocate by doing what is needful to appreciate the workers.

    “We are talking about compensation, salary and legitimate compensation for work done. Inasmuch as we believe in the consequential adjustment, it has to be reasonable, otherwise, people will feel neglected.

    “Tuesday’s meeting is the benchmark for labour’s action but mobilisation continues. The meeting will tell us the way forward because anything can happen.”

    On the mobilisation for strike, Asugwuni said that the meeting on Oct. 15 would determine everything, noting that mobilisation was on top gear “for an industrial action from 17th October, 2019”.

    NAN recalls that labour leaders are demanding 29 per cent salary increase for workers on salary grade level 07 to 14 and 24 per cent adjustment for officers on salary grade level 15 to 17.

    But the Federal Government had presented a proposal of 11 per cent salary increase for officers on grade level 07 to14 and 6.5 per cent adjustment for workers on grade level 15 to 17.

    On May 14, the Federal Government inaugurated the relativity and consequential adjustment committee, which in turn set up a technical sub-committee to work out a template for the adjustment of salaries of public service employees.

    But government and labour have failed to reach an agreement over relativity and consequential adjustments for the implementation of the new wage more than six months after it was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    In a communiqué issued on Oct. 7, labour warned that economic activities would be shut down from Oct. 16, if the Federal Government failed to reconvene a meeting of the committee on consequential adjustments.

     

  • Polytechnic lecturers give FG 21 days strike notice

    The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has threatened to withdraw their services after 21 days if the Federal Government fails to address some issues bedeviling the polytechnic education system in Nigeria.

    ASUP issued the ultimatum during its National Executive Council meeting at the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra on Thursday.

    The resolution was entitled “Renewed Threats to the Survival of Polytechnic Education in Nigeria: The Position of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics”.

    The National President of the union, Mr Usmam Dutse, said the polytechnic system which had the mandate to provide training and research services for the nation’s ailing economy should not be allowed to die.

    Dutse said some of their grouse included attempts to forcefully entitle ASUP members into the Integrated Personnel Payroll System, non-implementation of the Federal Polytechnic Act 2019 amendment and confined victimisation of union officers.

    The national president told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that 49 chapters of the union attended the NEC meeting out of the 52 chapters in the country.

    He said others were ASUP/FGN 2010 agreement, renewed efforts at objectionable insertions in the review process of the scheme of services for polytechnics and violations in the implementation of the 2017 MoU signed with the government.

    “Our union has reviewed the above situation as well as the refusal of government to respond to several correspondences on the issues captured above, we resolve to rise up to the occasion once again in defensc of the sector.

    “The unions NEC is hereby issuing a 21-day ultimatum to the government to address the issues listed satisfactorily or risk the indefinite withdrawal of services by our members nationwide.

    “As a follow up to this, all organs and chapters of our union are to begin mobilisation for engagement as we pursue this onerous task of rescuing the sector from imminent collapse,” he said.

  • New Minimum Wage: NLC, TUC issue fresh nationwide strike notice

    Nigeria’s labour unions on Wednesday threatened to embark on a nationwide strike from Oct. 16, if the Federal Government fails to reconvene the meeting of the committee negotiating the consequential adjustment on the new minimum wage.

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) at a meeting with the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC)-Trade Union Side) in Abuja, warned that labour would not guarantee industrial peace in the country if their demands were not met by government.

    Public sector workers in Nigeria have been contending with frustrations from day to day, following the inability of the Federal Government and organised labour to reach a deal over a new wage that came into effect more than six months ago.

    In a statement jointly signed by NLC the President, Ayuba Wabba, his TUC counterpart, Quadri Olaleye and Simon Anchaver, Acting Chairman of JNPSNC (Trade Union Side), the unionists said that labour had all along demonstrated restraint and patience with government.

    They noted that labour had to moderate its initial position of having 66.6 per cent upward salary adjustment for workers on salary grade level 07 to grade level 17 by accepting downward adjustment of 29 per cent for officers on salary levels 07-14 and 24 per cent adjustment for officers on salary grade levels 15-17.

    “Despite this patriotic gesture, government has kept insisting that it can only pay 11 per cent for officers on grade levels 07-14 and 6.5 per cent consequential wage increase to public workers for officers on levels 15-17.”

    According to them, the naira has suffered devaluation from N150 to $1 in 2011 to N360 to $1 in 2019, a depreciation of 140 per cent.

    The unionists said that since the last national minimum wage of N18,000 was put in place, workers had been forced to suffer huge inflation and astronomical hike in the prices of essential goods and services.

    They pointed out that petroleum price had been hiked from N87 per litre to N145 per litre which translated to 60 per cent price increase and that electricity tariff increased by about 60 per cent.

    “Of recent, the Value Added Tax (VAT) has been reviewed from 5 per cent to 7.2 per cent.

    “The non-challant attitude of the government negotiating side has dragged negotiations for consequential wages adjustment unduly.

    “The offer by government for salary adjustment of 11 per cent for public workers on salary grade levels 07 – 14 and 6.5 per cent consequential increase for public workers on grade levels 15 – 17 is not acceptable to Nigerian workers.

    “We view the position of government as a show of insensitivity to the general plight of workers and an attempt to collect with the left hand what government has offered with the right hand.

    “We demand the reconvening of the meeting of the committee negotiating the consequential adjustment with a view to concluding the process that started on May 28 within one week.

    “Entering into an agreement with labour to the effect that salary of officers on grade 07-14 should be reviewed upward by 29 per cent while that of officers on grade level 15-17 should be reviewed upwards by 24 per cent.

    “We demand immediate implementation of the signed agreement on consequential adjustment of public workers’ salaries with effect from April 18 when the new national minimum wage of N30, 000 per month was signed into law,” they said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the new minimum wage bill was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on April 18.

    However, deliberations has continued as the issue of relativity and consequential adjustment of salaries still persist.

    On May 14, the Federal Government inaugurated the relativity/consequential adjustment committee, which in turn set up a technical sub-committee, to work out a template for the adjustment of salaries of public service employees.

    However, government and labour have failed to reach an agreement over relativity and consequential adjustment for the implementation of the new minimum wage more than six months since Buhari signed the Minimum Wage Bill into law

  • Consider your patients before embarking on strike, Obasanjo tells doctors

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called on medical practitioners in the country to take into consideration their patients’ plight before embarking on strike.

    Obasanjo made the appeal at the opening ceremony of the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMD) National Executive Council meeting in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

    A statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media to the former president, Kehinde Akinyemi, on Friday, said Obasanjo, who was the Father of the Day at the occasion, urged the practitioners to take patients’ condition more paramount in their quest for better welfare.

    “A major issue that I always want to talk about whenever I am in your midst, which I told you when you came visiting is the issue of going on strike anytime you want to show your displeasure particularly, government doctors.

    “My position is that since the care for your patient is a major ethical issue of your profession, abandoning them to go on strike is even more unethical.

    “You should rather fashion another way to show your displeasure and not doing so at the expense of your patients,” Obasanjo said.

    The former president also called for the resuscitation of the old central medical store system in order to boost availability of drugs in the country.

    “We used to have something like that in the past during the Western region. I don’t know whether we still have it.

    ” If we don’t, maybe this is time to return to it or have something near it, which will bring efficiency and affordability to our drug chain system,”he said.

    The Secretary to the Ogun Government, Mr Tokunbo Talabi, who represented Gov. Dapo Abiodun, corroborated Obasanjo as he called for caution on industrial actions.

    “I want you to look into what Baba Obasanjo has said on this issue of strike. You can get alternative for taxi drivers if they decide to go on strike, yes, we have Okada drivers, but, this is not so for you.

    “God made you so special to save lives and you should live up to the expectation. We can’t devise other ways to save these lives, it is very important,” Talabi said.

    The Ogun Chairman of NAGGMD, Dr Olufemi Odusote, in his address of welcome, said the theme for the 2019 NEC meeting, “The Importance of Supply Chain Management in Health Care System Straightening,” was very important in the face of health challenges.

    These challenges, according to him , included manpower, brain drain and general welfare of members and security challenges had made doctors vulnerable.

    He, however, expressed optimism that with all hands on deck, the nation would definitely get solutions to the challenges confronting the body.

  • Minimum wage: Workers threaten strike as negotiation talk with FG suffers fresh setback

    Minimum wage: Workers threaten strike as negotiation talk with FG suffers fresh setback

    Workers, under the aegis of the Joint Public Sector Negotiating Council (JPSNC), are threatening to go on strike as a meeting of the Federal Government and the unions ended yesterday in a deadlock.

    The negotiations on the consequential adjustment, which was earlier adjourned till September 4 to allow the government’s team brief President Muhammadu Buhari, was rescheduled for September 16.

    But it suffered another setback as both parties failed to reach an agreement, despite minor adjustments in their separate positions.

    At yesterday’s meeting, which was chaired by the Head of Service of the Federation (HOSF), Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, both government and the union leaders only made minor adjustments to their earlier positions.

    The government moved from its earlier position of 9.5 per cent to 11 per cent for Grade Levels Seven to 14 and 6.5 per cent from 5.5 per cent for Levels 15 to 17.

    The workers insisted that the government adjust salaries of workers on Grade Levels Seven to 14 by 30 per cent and those on Levels 15 to 17 by 25 per cent.

    Chairman of Labour’s team and National Auditor of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Simon Anchaver said workers stepped down to 29 per cent, from 30 per cent, for Grade Levels Seven to 14 and down to 24 from 25 per cent for Levels 15 to 17

    According to him, the negotiating council resolved to write to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on their advice about a possible industrial action.

    Also, Secretary of the negotiating council, Slade Lawal said organised labour would decide on the next line of action on the minimum wage.

    The labour leader said in due time, Nigerians would be informed.

    Lawal said: “The meeting is deadlocked. We found out that the Federal Government officials are not serious about it at all. We are suspecting foul play or a hidden agenda somewhere. So, we have decided to report the development to our principals, including the labour unions. Nigerians will be adequately briefed about our next line of action very shortly.”

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, recently told reporters that President Muhammadu Buhari had directed that the process of negotiations be concluded as soon as possible to enable workers begin to enjoy the new wages.

  • Reps resolve to halt impending NASU strike

    Reps resolve to halt impending NASU strike

    From Jonas Ike, Abuja.

    The House of Representatives on Thursday resolve to intervene with a view to halting the impending industrial action threatened by the members of Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU).
    This was sequel to the adoption of a motion by Hon. Aisha Jubril Dukku (Gombe, APC) on the matter on the floor of the House.
    Dukku while debating the motion noted that NASU had recently mobilized its members to embark on strike on Monday July 22, 2019 against the Federal Government’s non challant attitude to the workers.
    She further noted that there is discrimination against the non-academic staff of educational institutions in the country by their other colleagues.
    The lawmaker added that the way and manner monies are being shared in the universities in Nigeria is against international best practices.
    She added that one year after agreement was reached with the Federal Government on the issue of payment of the workers, money is yet to be released to them in the universities.
    She also pointed out that as of a right, government should not deny these university workers what is their own right.
    Also speaking in support,Hon.T.J Yusuff (Kogi, PDP) stated that whatever should be done to bring the workers to a negotiating table ought to be done quickly by the authorities concerned.
    He added that the failure to act on the part of those concerned is causing the nation more harm than good.
    Other lawmakers notably Hon. Bulus Maren (Plateau, PDP) and Hon. Sada Soli (Katsina, APC) also spoke in support of the motion saying that it is imperative for the government to address the issue.
    Consequently, the Speaker Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila put the matter to a voice vote and it was overwhelmingly voted for by the lawmakers.
    The Speaker further said that NASU should suspend the strike pending the outcome of the intervention by the House on it.
  • Labour unions tell workers to prepare for nationwide strike

    Labour unions tell workers to prepare for nationwide strike

    The organised Labour has directed its members in all the 36 states and Abuja to get ready for a total showdown with government should the negotiation on the adjustment from the new national minimum wage break down.
    The Trade Union side of the Joint National Public Service Negotiation Council (JNPSNC) after her meeting also reviewed downward her demands from 66.66 percent to 30 percent for officers on grade levels 07-14 and 25 percent for officers on grade levels 15-17.
    On its part, the government side is insisting on 9.5 percent salary adjustment for officers on grade levels 07-14 and 5 percent for those on grade levels 15-17.
    The workers expressed concern that rather than presenting the two positions to technical subcommittee as agreed, but “Surprisingly, when the Technical Sub-Committee reconvened, the Government Side introduced a strange clause to the discussion insisting that the Term of Reference of the Committee was to work out the consequential adjustment of salaries of Public Servants based on the subhead provided for salaries in the 2019 Budget.”
    “All efforts by the Trade Union Side to persuade the Government Side to return to the right track of negotiation and agree on a realistic percentage increase proved abortive.”
    “Thus, the Government Side deliberately created a stalemate and thereafter adjoined the meeting of the Technical Committee sine die.”
    According to a communiqué, a copy of which was issued to newsmen, the workers said the downward review by labour was due to a promise by government to undertake a general salary review in no distance time.
    The communiqué was jointly signed by the acting chairman and Secretary, Comrades Anchaver Simon and Alade Bashir Lawal. The communiqué reads in part, “The Trade Union Side of JNPSNC has now resolved that the Federal Government should reconvene the meeting of the Technical Committee on Consequential Adjustment immediately so that it can conclude its deliberations and ensure that all Public Service Employees benefit adequately from the N30,000 new monthly National Minimum Wage signed into Law by Mr. President since April, 2019.”

  • Minimum wage: NLC denies issuing fresh strike notice to FG

    President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba has said that the Congress has not issued any strike notice over the implementation of the new national minimum wage by the government.
    Wabba disclosed in Abuja that the implementation of the minimum wage and the consequential adjustment was going on smoothly, pointing out that when the time comes for a strike ultimatum, Nigerians will be informed accordingly.
    The NLC President also commended President Muhamadu Buhari for signing the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement, saying organised Labour were initially against Nigeria signing the agreement because there was no consultation.
    He disclosed that only Nigeria and South Africa carried out extensive consultation on the agreement, adding that the observations of organised labour have been reflected in the agreement, part of which is that goods to benefit from the trade agreement must be produced in Africa.
    He said “our own case is going on well. We met with our unions yesterday. The difference right now is about the consequential increase and we hope that through a normal process of dialogue, we will be able to sought that out.
    On the strike alert already issued, he said ” no, we don’t work with that, please. NLC, as an organised body, I am not sure we have given any notice to that effect. If we reach a point of issuing threats, we will do that without hesitation.
    “But I have seen much information on social media. We are a credible organisation and we should be able to speak for ourselves.
    ” If we get to that point, we will be able to inform you. But for now, the process is going on and we have been able to expand the scope of dialogue to include NLC/TUC and only limited to the unions in the public sector”.
    Speaking on the benefit of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement recently signed by President Muhammadu Buhari, Wabba said organised labour was initially against Nigeria signing the agreement because there was no dialogue among the social partners in how it will benefit the country especially workers.
    He said “We were against it because there was no consultation and nobody even knew the content. I can say with nostalgia that it is only Nigeria and South Africa that did the type of consultation we did. Through our engagement process, there was dialogue, there was consultation with key stakeholders in the economy and we were able to identify way to improve and key into the Africa Continental free Trade Agreement and to have a comparative advantage.
    “Part of what we agreed on is that those goods must be made in Africa. They must be goods we produce in Africa that will be used for the trade among ourselves. In the course of the dialogue, we found out that trade among African countries is less than 16 per cent. Therefore, it will be an advantage for African countries to trade among themselves than trading with other countries.
    “How do we also protect our local market? With the agreement, there will be a common tariff, some of the tariff will drop, the income accruing to government in terms of revenue will also drop. How we key into it is to produce. Then, how do we create an enabling environment for our industries to produce and be able to compete with other countries because some of them will be targeting our population.

  • Fresh crisis looms in varsities as non-academic staff unions plan nationwide strike Monday

    Another round of strike is looming in the nation’s universities as the leadership of the non-teaching staff of the universities have begun mobilisation of their members nationwide to begin a nationwide strike on Monday, July 15, 2019 over alleged breach of agreements by the government.
    The leadership of the non teaching staff told newsmen on Friday in Abuja that top on the list of grievances was the exclusion of its members from the workings of the National University Pension Company (NUPENCO) solely operated by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and the allocation of 80 percent of the money released by the federal government as earned allowances to ASUU while the three non academic staff unions got the remaining 20 percent.
    The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) operating under the Joint Action Committee said they were rejecting the 20 percent earned allowance allocated to it and called on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency, release N30 billion to the non teaching staff as earned allowance for the period of 2009 to 2016
    SSANU President, Comrade Samson Ugwoke who spoke on behalf of the unions said the Federal Government should be prepared to meet its demands and called on its members to ensure full compliance with the directive in order to show its relevance to the university system.
    He said: “The recent sharing of money where the money collected from the ministry of education signed by the director of tertiary education, allocating 80 per cent of the money to ASUU and only 20 per cent to the three non-teaching staff unions is not acceptable to us.
    “We reject in total the 20 per cent allocated to our members, rather we demand from the federal government the sum of N30 billion as part of the earned allowance of non teaching staff from 2009 to 2016 l, and we call on government to hasten the audit of university earned allowances so that we will know how much is paid to who and how much remains.
    “The way and manner the money is being shared is contrary to any known accounting procedure or any known international best practice. It should be condemned by all, this house calls it a fraud and calls for investigation.
    “We call and demand that the government should release as a matter of urgency, N30 billion for non-teaching staff.
    “JAC has approved protests from the branches, protests at the zonal levels of our unions and mother of all protests in Abuja for three days before a deadline is given to the government for the mother of all strikes that will follow. The protest will commence on Monday 15th July 2019”.

  • Minimum Wage: Shelve proposed nationwide strike in public interest, Lawan begs NLC

    Minimum Wage: Shelve proposed nationwide strike in public interest, Lawan begs NLC

    The President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan on Wednesday appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC)to shelve its proposed industrial action over alleged delay in implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage.
    Lawan made the appeal when the executives of the NLC and the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, (PASAN) led by Mr Ayuba Waba and Sunday Sabiyi paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.
    Lawan called for further understanding and patriotism, adding that some states had started paying the agreed minimum wage.
    “We should not encourage personal issue to overshadow our collective responsibility to nation building.
    “We will journey with you to ensure absolute implementation of the minimum wage by the Federal government.” Lawan pleaded.
    He also assured PASAN to collaborate with the management and leadership of the National Assembly, urging it to present issue-based arguments, instead on engaging strike action to press home its demands.
    He also said the ninth assembly would not be detracted, but remained focused in pursing growth in every sector of the country.
    The NLC President later presented a congratulatory card to Lawan on his emergence as the Chairman of the National Assembly.
    He also pledged the commitment and collaboration of the labour unions to the legislators.
    Earlier, the Chairman, PASAN, Sunday Sabiyi congratulated Lawan on what he described an impressive emergence as the President of the Senate.
    He urged him to put into use , his wealth of experience as a ranking senator to the service and protection of the interests of Nigerians.
    Sabiyi used the occasion to present the demands of the parliamentary staff in National Assembly.
    He listed the demands to include implementation of 2018 arrears of 28 per cent and balance of 50 per cent consolidated Legislative salary, implementation of condition of service, recently approved by the eight National Assembly, training of staff, health insurance and life insurance premium.