TheNewsGuru

Tag: Strike

  • Strike: You might stay longer at home if…ASUU tells Nigerian students

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned that the ongoing strike by its members may be prolonged as no concrete resolution has been reached in the negotiation with the Federal Government.

    The union called on parents and students to show understanding over the development so as to save Nigeria’s university system from collapse.

    ASUU National President, Biodun Ogunyemi, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday.

    NAN reports that university lecturers had on November 5 embarked on a strike, demanding the implementation of the 2009 agreement it entered into with the Federal Government.

    The lecturers are also calling for full implementation of the Memorandum of Action (MoA) agreement with the government in 2017; improved working conditions and welfare package; and upgrade of facilities in universities across the country.

    According to Mr Ogunyemi, the strike is not to short-change the students, parents and other key stakeholders but to save the country’s university system from collapse.

    “We want to call on our students and parents to show understanding with our struggle as we are in this together.

    “The whole essence of this struggle is to ensure that our students get worthy and deserving certificates that they will be proud of anywhere they may find themselves in the world.

    “The struggle is to ensure too that we save Nigerian universities from going the way our public primary and secondary schools have gone.

    “Today, most parents are sending their children and wards to private primary and secondary schools around the country because of the perceived or alleged falling standards.

    “We do not want our universities to go the same way because a lot of our parents may not be able to afford the private university fees,’’ he said.

    The ASUU boss added that there was an urgent need for both the federal and state governments to reconsider their approach toward the development of universities to avoid an outright collapse in the near future.

    “The sad thing now is that the World Bank is giving funds to some private universities to thrive over public universities.

    “Unless Nigerians rise to the occasion and join ASUU in putting pressure on both the Federal and state governments to pay adequate attention to our universities, secondary and primary schools, we may be facing a total collapse of our educational sector, ‘’ Mr Ogunyemi said.

    He noted that university students might be staying longer at home as no concrete resolution had been reached with the Federal Government so far.

    Mr Ogunyemi said that representatives of the union met with the Federal Government on November 26 but that the meeting ended in a deadlock.

    “We met on Monday in order to reach an agreement on the key issues we are agitating for but nothing tangible came out of the meeting.

    “Rather than come out with firm commitment on what to do about these demands, they were appealing to us to go back to the classrooms while they tackle the issues; and to us they have missed the point.

    “We were told that the negotiation will continue on Friday, November 30 but up till now, as we speak, I have not received any notice of meeting to that effect,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that the ASUU first met with the federal government on November 15 to deliberate on the issues.

     

  • Strike: ASUU demands not outrageous — Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday said in Ibadan, Oyo State that the agitation by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for improved welfare, infrastructure, funding and other contentious issues affecting the nation’s universities were long over due.

    Buhari, who was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the 70th Foundation Day ceremony and award of certificates to the PhD graduands and honorary doctoral degree awards to some notable Nigerians by the University of Ibadan, however, said the government could not do it alone. He called for alternative sources of funding education.

    The celebration peaked with the conferment of honorary doctoral awards on six Nigerian: Chief Bode Akindele; Prof.(Mrs.) Bolanle Awe; Prof. Grace Alele-Williams, Mrs Olufunmilayo Olopade, Prof. Akinlawon Mabogunje, and Prof. Omoniyi Adewoye.

    Buhari agreed that the nation’s education was underfunded but regretted that the Federal Government could not meet all the demands of the lecturers.

    He, therefore, called on the authorities of various institutions to explore other sources of fund to meet their demands.

    The President, who said basic issues such as population growth, climate change and education called for insightful thinking, singled out education as a major source of concern to the Federal Government.

    The President pointed out that the best efforts of the government could not provide what was needed for education in the country, stressing that government alone could not provide everything needed for the nation’s education, saying ASUU’s agitation was valid.

    While emphasising that the country could not achieve accelerated development without substantial investment in education, he canvassed the idea of raising money from the capital market to fund education.

    In his remarks, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State called on all the stakeholders to come together to develop the nation’s education sector.

    A former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd.) called on members of the university community to continue to hold on to the tenets of academic excellence, integrity and patriotic zeal in the country.

  • Mortuary union embarks on strike, warns people ‘not to die for now’

    Mortuary Staff Union in Ghana, on Thursday, advised members of the public to wait until their strike is over on November 20th, before dying.

    Richard Kofi Jordan, General Secretary of the union gave the advice while indicating that the union’s planned strike action would go on as planned unless the government listens to their concerns, reports Ghanaweb.

    He said, “Those who intend to die during that period should wait. When mortuary men are back to work they die. Simple.

    Mortuary workers in Ghana’s public health facilities are protesting their poor working conditions and are therefore demanding improved terms of service.

    According to the aggrieved morticians, they are exposed to several diseases given their close contact with corpses and chemicals used in preserving them but each time they raise concerns, the government turns a deaf ear.

    “The chemicals we use give us five different kinds of cancers, the government is aware of this situation. We are also at risk of blindness but nobody is addressing our challenges.’’ He bemoaned.

  • Saraki appeals to FG, labour over proposed strike

    Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has appealed to both the Federal Government and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)/Trade Union Congress (TUC) to work together in order to avert the proposed workers’ strike in the interest of Nigeria.

    Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, urged the two sides to demonstrate sensitivity and concern for the plight of ordinary Nigerians who are already battling with the harsh economic conditions in the country.

    He expressed appreciation for the patience displayed by the labour leaders as he noted that the issue of the new minimum wage could have been resolved long before now.

    “My Appeal is for the two sides to immediately move fast, shift from their extreme positions and create a new middle ground in the negotiations for the new minimum wage. The shift in positions can be done even before the period of the commencement of the proposed strike action so that we do not further create tension within the economy.

    “At this point, the interest of the people should be paramount in our minds. Any labour strike will cause inconvenience and discomfort to our people. While the government and labour are representing the interest of the people, it is important to also ensure we avoid any action that will not show sensitivity and sensibility to the plight of the people”, Saraki stated

  • Minimum Wage: NUT directs teachers to join nationwide strike

    Minimum Wage: NUT directs teachers to join nationwide strike

    The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Niger State chapter, has instructed all teachers in the state to join in the nationwide strike for increment of wages by organised labour.

    Addressing newsmen on Monday at the end of the State Wing Executive Council meeting at the NUT Teachers House in Minna, the state chairman, Ibrahim Umar, called for an approval for the increase in the retirement age of teachers to 65 years.

    Umar said, “We received a directive from the national body that by 12 midnight of Monday, if nothing happens in the affirmative, we should join in the national strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress.”

    The state chairman, while disclosing that the number of teachers in the state has reduced from 30,000 to less than 27,000 said, “We want Governor Abubakar Bello to send an executive bill to the Minimum Wage: NUT directs teachers to join nationwide strikestate House of Assembly for the express approval to increase the retirement age of teachers from 60 to 65 years and 35 to 40 years of service.

    The Union also urged the Niger State Government to regularise the release and implementation of members’ promotion at both primary and post primary school levels between 2015 and 2017.

  • Minimum wage: Buhari begs NLC to shelve proposed strike

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday appealed to the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress to consider the rot his administration inherited.

    Buhari made the appeal when he received members of the Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria led by Ambassador Oladapo Fafowora at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The appeal came barely 24 hours to the commencement of the indefinite industrial action called by labour unions to press for a new national minimum wage.

    Buhari said the workers needed to show more understanding especially with the more infrastructure his administration was putting in place with fewer resources.

    “President Buhari also appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress to consider what this government inherited and the more it is doing with fewer resources in putting the economy right,” a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, read.

    Buhari reassured Nigerians that his administration will sustain massive investments to upgrade and develop the country’s transport and power infrastructure.

    The President told the retired Ambassadors that Nigerians will never forget the ‘‘lost opportunity between 1999 and 2015,’’ when the nation had huge resources at its disposal.

    He said, ”There is no part of the country I haven’t been to, having attempted to be President four times.

    ”I know the condition of our roads. The rails were literally killed, there was no power despite the admittance of some previous leadership that they spent $16bn on the sector.

    ”Today, we are getting our priorities right and we believe that of the three fundamental issues we campaigned on – security, the economy and fighting corruption-, we have remained very relevant and Nigerians believe we have achieved something.”

    Buhari also appreciated the People’s Republic of China for financing some of the rail and power projects in the country through concessionary loans.

    ”I will do my best to see that where there are possibilities of making a quick improvement on infrastructure, we will do it,” he said.

    The President took note of some concerns raised by the retired Ambassadors including an appeal for the adjustment of their pension entitlements, retention of diplomatic passport for retired career ambassadors, allocation of land for ARCAN headquarters in Abuja and adequate funding of the Foreign Affairs ministry, among others.

     

  • Strike: Asaba residents storm banks, markets

    Strike: Asaba residents storm banks, markets

    Residents of Asaba and Okpanam in Delta on Monday besieged banks and the markets to collect money and store food ahead of Tuesday proposed nationwide strike by workers.

    Following the deadlock between labour leaders and the Federal Government over minimum wage, the unions insisted on the indefinite strike.

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and United Labour Congress (ULC) had on Wednesday sensitised the workers to the conflict between them and government and the need for indefinite strike from Tuesday.

    NAN survey in Asaba revealed that most banks’ ATMs were emptied before noon as residents rushed to make quick withdrawals in order not to be caught unawares.

    It was also noticed that the popular Ogbeogonogo Market along Nnebisi Road, experienced surge as the traders, particularly in the food stuff segments, faced difficulties attending to the teeming customers.

    The dual carriage way leading to the market experienced a traffic gridlock from the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) end of the Nnebisi Road, a distance of more than two kilometres.

    Some residents who spoke to NAN said that they did not want to be taken by surprise.

    They recalled that they suffered during the recent warning strike by the workers, when they could not access money even through the ATM because banks were shut.

    They, however, called on the Federal Government to pay workers the minimum wage, adding that N30, 000 being asked for by the workers was not too much.

    Others, however, said that new wage being demanded by the workers may trigger price increase if government failed to take proactive measures to match the wage with production.

    Mr Stephen Onyisi, a civil servant, said the minimum wage was overdue for review and that what labour was asking for was not too much.

    “I believe any government can pay the N30, 000 minimum wage without challenge.

    “We labour and retire after 35 years or 60 years of age and at the end of the day, nothing to show for it.

    “Imagine a government appointee and a politician – with a politician, just within four years, he will build many and befitting houses for himself, family and acquired so much money.

    “But, anytime you talk about increasing workers’ salaries, they kick against it. This is terrible because they do not mean well for us,” he said.

    Mr Hillary Ndubisi, a resident, lamented the ordeal people were currently passing through and called on the Federal and State Governments to, as a matter of urgency, implement the proposed minimum wage.

    He advised government to make it possible for everybody, workers and politicians, to earn the same salary for a balance and to end the wage increase agitation since everyone is exposed to the same market.

    “Just imagine the stress we are passing through now – traffic jam, the ATMs not responding.

    “You have to move from one location to another before making withdrawals, all in the name of somebody not doing what he is supposed to do,” he said.

    Mrs Theresa Nkemdi, a trader, told NAN that the rush to buy items, especially food, was high.

    “I was told that the workers are going on strike because government refused to pay them their money.

    “I am not happy because when they go on strike our children will not go to school and nobody will take care of them at home.

    “We sell more anytime the workers receive their salary at the end of the month, so I support, let government pay them because when they get the money we also will sell our food items,” she said.

    On the preparedness for the strike, the NLC Secretary in the state, Mr Innocent Ofuonyeadi, said workers in the state were ready and waiting to carry out directives by the national body.

     

  • Strike: Marketers reluctant to sell petroleum products

    Some petroleum products marketers in Kano State have closed their filling stations in anticipation of the impending strike scheduled to begin on Tuesday by the organised labour.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that long queues of vehicles resurfaced in some petrol stations in some parts of the state on Monday.

    Most product marketers in Gwarzo, headquarters of Gwarzo Local Government Area of the state closed their filling stations.

    There were queues of vehicles at the few filling stations that were selling the product as some of the marketers were reluctant to sell the product.

    The situation was the same on Zaria road, Kwanar Dangora town, Bebeji Local Government Area.

    A commercial vehicle driver, Malam Aminu Bello, said he had to be on the queue at one of the filling stations before he could refill the vehicle tank.

    According to him, he spent about an hour at the filling station before he could buy the commodity.

    Some people who spoke to NAN on the issue, urged the marketers to have the fear of God and sell the products as the products were available in most filling stations.

    “Most of the filling stations have the product in stock but the marketers are trying to cause artificial scarcity in order to maximise profit,” a resident, Malam Adamu Sale said.

    Another resident, Adamu Isiyaka, called on the Federal Government and labour to ensure amicable resolution of the dispute over minimum wage.

    However, in Kano metropolis most of the filling stations were opened and selling the product as some motorists engaged in panic buying.

    When contacted, the state Chairman of the Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Alhaji Bashir Dan-Malam, attributed the development to recent rumour that made the rounds.

    According him it was rumoured that the federal government planned to reduce the official fuel pump price from the N145 per litre to N95 per litre.

    “Following the rumour which we however dispelled, some marketers suspended buying the product from the depots across the country.

    “But we have already asked our members to ignore the rumour because it is not true and that is why they resumed business,” he said.

    He expressed optimism that the situation would normalise as from Tuesday as the NNPC depot had taken delivery of over 300 trucks of the commodity and would soon distribute it to filling stations across the state.

     

  • New Minimum Wage: Court stops NLC, TUC’s Nov 6 planned strike

    The National Industrial Court of Nigeria has ordered the organised labour, comprising the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress not to embark on its indefinite strike scheduled to commence on November 6.

    Justice Sanusi Kado, on Friday, gave the order in a ruling on an ex parte application moved on behalf of the Federal Government by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Dayo Apata.

    Agreeing with Apata, Justice Kado ruled that if the strike is allowed it would lead to huge economic loss to both public and private institutions and could jeopardise the health of many Nigerians who would not be able to access health facilities during the period.

    The organised labour had threatened to commence an indefinite strike action to press for the increase in the national minimum wage from the current N18,000.

    The last meeting of the tripartite negotiation committee on the minimum wage had ended in deadlock after the Federal Government insisted that it could only afford to pay N25,000, while the governors under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum had held on to N22,500 and the labour N30,000.

    Apart from the NLC and the TUC, the NGF is also joined as a defendant in the suit.

    Justice Kado adjourned the matter till November 8 for the hearing of the motion on notice seeking the interlocutory injunction to stop the strike.

    The judge ordered that the court order and other papers be filed on all the defendants.

    Details later…

     

  • FEC approves implementation of no work, no pay principle during strike

    FEC approves implementation of no work, no pay principle during strike

    The Federal Executive Council has approved the implementation of the no work, no pay principle when workers go on strike in the federal public service.
    Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, disclosed this on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, while briefing State House Correspondents after FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.
    He said the approval was sequel to the adoption of the Draft White Paper on the Report of the Technical Committee on Industrial Relations Matters in the Federal Public Service.
    Ngige said that the public service in Nigeria was bedeviled by problems and conflict areas; hence governments, over time, set up various committees and brought out circulars in a bid to stem industrial disputes.
    The minister said that the technical committee, which was inaugurated on April 27, 2016, did their work and submitted it to the FEC in October 2017.
    “FEC in turn impaneled a committee of 10, which I chaired to do a government Draft White Paper on those contentious areas that the technical committee had looked at.
    “These contentious areas are enforcement of section 43 of the Trade Dispute Act Law of the Federation 2004; this is the section that deals with lockout of workers by their employers without declaring redundancy appropriately.
    “Because in some establishments, especially in the private sector, workers are locked out by their employers; so the law there says that if you lock your workers without passing through the normal channel-due process.
    “For the period of the lock out, the worker is assumed to be at work and will receive all the remunerations and allowances, benefits accruing to him for the period and that period will also be counted for him as a pensionable period in the computation of his pension.
    “But when workers go on strike, the principle of no-work-no-pay will also apply because that principle is enshrined in the same section 43 of the Labour Act.’’
    According to Ngige, the section says that for the period a worker withdraws his services, government or his employers are not entitled to pay.
    The minister said that under the section, the period for which the worker was absent would not count as part of his pensionable period in the public service.
    He said that FEC accepted it as a white paper recommendation that should be gazetted because even the National Industrial Court had made pronouncement on that law and said that it was clear.
    Ngige said that another area was the issue of public servants remaining permanently in the executive bodies on trade unions.
    “Government realises that some persons in the public service go into trade union executive positions; hold offices; and they do that for life; for as long as they are in the service.
    “In doing so, they will refuse postings and deployments under the guise that are doing trade union activities; government says no.
    “You have to be a public servant first before you become a trade unionist; therefore, if you are there; the public service rules will also apply to you.
    “And in doing so, government says establishments will look at the issues and give it a human face in order not to disrupt trade unionism.
    “And in furtherance to this, government has also said that there must tenure stipulations because people stay there without tenure; many organisations give people union positions without tenure; government says there is no office that does not have tenure.’’
    Ngige said that trade unions, henceforth, should present constitutions that must have tenures; at least, maximum of two tenures for any elective position.
    He said that another aspect of the report discussed by the council was the issue of residence training for medical doctors.
    According to him, the residence training for medical doctors has been contentious one as some medical doctors come into this training and become professional unionists and stay there as permanent job.
    He said that the Federal Government had fixed tenure for residence training of medical doctors, which was seven years within the trainee was to pass all his exams or quit.
    Ngige said that FEC also looked at the Ayere report on inter-professional rivalry in the health sector and directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to present it FEC for deliberation.
    On the minimum wage, the minister restated that the Federal Government’s stance was N24,000 per month.
    He said that once minimum wage was fixed, any organisation or state that had the capacity to pay more could do that.
    Ngige cited that Edo, Delta and Lagos states paid their workers more than the current N18,000 national minimum wage.