TheNewsGuru

Tag: Strike

  • Strike: Doctors’ demands unrealistic – Obaseki

    Following plans by the Edo State Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), to embark on strike, Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that the state government is making arrangement for private health care providers to offer essential services to patients in state government hospitals, as the demands by the NMA are unrealistic.

    Obaseki said this when he received the newly inaugurated members of the Governing Board of the University Of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) at the Government House, in Benin City on Monday.

    He said the state government will write to the national body of NMA as the Edo State chapter of the association “has threatened to shut down the health system in the state following their unrealistic demands.”

    Obaseki said: “We believe that the doctors’ demands are unrealistic, having been part of the steps taken so far to improve the conditions of service of medical doctors in the state. They see what we are doing and yet have threatened to go on strike because I cannot afford to fulfil 100 per cent of their demands.”

    He noted that the doctors are not fair to the state as “we agree with their demands but cannot afford all the demands now, rather we will spread them across four years of this administration, but the Edo NMA rejected the offer and insists on embarking on strike.

    “We are looking at various ways to execute our health reforms but will not allow anyone to blackmail us. We have been open, honest and have carried NMA along in all our activities till date. We will be talking to private health practitioners to help us and I have told them that I cannot afford all their requests at once. We are already making backup plans to take care of our people, if we are constrained to.”

     

  • BREAKING: NASU, SSANU suspend nationwide strike

    After three months, The Non-Teaching Staff of Nigerian universities on Wednesday announced the suspension of their strike action.

    The staff, members of three unions, made of the Non Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (NASU), Senior Staff Academic of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) National Association of Academic Technologists, (NAAT), announced the suspension of the three month and 10 days old strike.

    Samson Ugwoke, the National Chairman of the Joint Action Committee of the three unions announced suspension on Wednesday at a press briefing.

    He said members of the three unions have been directed to resume on March 15, 2018.

    “We shall not hesitate to resume the strike if government reneges on the agreements reached or delays in any aspects,” he said.

    The workers commenced the strike on December 4, 2017.

    Recall TheNewsGuru had yesterday reported that the federal government says it will source for N8 billion within five weeks to pay the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities.

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, said this at a resolution reached after a reconciliation meeting with the Non-Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities in Abuja.

    The resolution was jointly signed by Mr. Ngige, NAAT President, Sani Suleiman, NASU General Secretary, Peters Adeyemi, SSANU President Samson Ugwoke and Anthony Anwukah, Minister of State for Education.

    Ngige, also said part of the eight billion would also be used to pay members of the Academic Staff Universities (ASUU), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and the University of llorin (UNILORIN), who were not paid at the last disbursement.

    He also said that the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission was to rework the December 15 Call Circular on University Staff Schools.

  • We’ll end varsity workers’ strike soon – FG

    The Federal Ministry of Education on Wednesday said it was committed to end the on-going strike by the non-teaching labour unions in Nigeria universities.

    The Director, Press and Public Relations of the ministry, Mrs Priscilla Ihuoma, gave the assurance in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.

    Recall that the unions, comprising of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAATs) had on Dec. 4, 2017, embarked on an indefinite strike.

    The unions, under the aegis of the Joint Actions Committee (JAC), are protesting the none implementation of an agreement they entered into with the Federal Government in 2009.

    They are also agitating the sharing formula of the N23 billion released by the federal government as part of the earned allowance of workers of federal universities across the country, among other issues.

    “Right now, the government is giving priority attention to the strike issue.

    “There is a process in place to bring an end to the lingering strike.

    “The National Assembly too has stepped into the matter.

    “With this development, we are sure that very soon, the entire issue will be resolved and normalcy restored,’’ Ihuoma said.

     

  • Strike: UniAbuja SSANU seeks NASS’ intervention

    The University of Abuja (UniAbuja), chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), has called on the National Assembly to intervene in the ongoing industrial dispute between it and the Federal Government.

    Members of Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising Non-academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), SSANU and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) have been on strike over Federal Government’s failure to pay their earned allowances.

    The strike commenced on Dec. 4, 2017.

    A statement by SSANU’s National President and Chairman JAC, Mr Samson Ugwoke, on Wednesday in Abuja, said that the leader of UniAbuja chapter of SSANU, Malam Hassan Shallangwa, had presented a letter requesting the intervention of lawmakers.

    He said that the letter was presented to Mr Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of House of Representatives, through his Special Assistant Media and Publicity, Mr Turaki Hassan.

    “The Federal Government, through its relevant Ministers, have refused to dialogue with the unions and are pretending that all is well in our campuses, but we believe that it is only the National Assembly that can call them to order in the interest of Nigerian Education

    ‘’The strike we embarked upon since Dec. 4, 2017 has been crippling almost all activities on our campuses, yet the government remained passive about it, ’’the statement quoted Shallangwa as saying.

    Ugwoke expressed JAC’s dismay that the N23 billion paid by the Federal Government was cornered to pay the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) ‘’for their Earned Academic Allowances.”

    He said that the three non-teaching staff unions were left with N4.6 billion (11 per cent), as earned allowances.

     

  • Lopsided appointments: Health workers give 21-day strike notice to FG

    Indications emerged on Sunday that health workers under the aegis of Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) might again embark on an indefinite strike if the federal government does not meet its (the health workers) demand in three weeks.

    According to the National Chairman, JOHESU, Comrade Biobelemoye Joy Josiah and National Secretary, JOHESU, Comrade Ekpebor Florence the decision was taken after their Three-Day consultative meeting in Abuja where it was resolved that the federal government should urgently revisit the constitution of the membership of the boards of all the Federal Health Institutions (FHIs) as the list of members published in December 2017 seriously violates the Teaching Hospital Act which provides that a representative of health providers must be appointed on all the boards.

    The JOHESU/AHPA noted that the government did not appoint members of JOHESU/AHPA on the boards despite the fact that a formal list was sent on request, thereby, breaching one of the terms of its September 30, 2017 Terms of Settlement to redress the perennial lopsided composition of the boards of the FHIs.

    The JOHESU/AHPA lamented the delay tactics and alleged deliberate foot-dragging of the Federal Government in approving the adjustment of CONHESS scale as was done for CONMESS since January 2014 and also replicated with yet another approval for the same CONMESS in September, 2017 for the Medical Doctors.

    They resolved to reconvene after 21 days of its communication to the Federal Government if there is no positive response and declared that after 21 days with effect from Thursday last week, it might no longer be in a position to guarantee industrial harmony in the health sector.

    JOHESU/AHPA appealed to its restive members for calm while the leadership appraises and monitor the resolve of the Federal Government to fully comply with the Terms of Settlement with JOHESU on September 30, 2017.

     

  • Baru appeals to NUPENG to shelve planned strike

    The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Maikanti Baru, on Friday, appealed to the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to reconsider a 15-day ultimatum it issued the Federal Government.

    A statement issued in Abuja by the NNPC Spokesman, Mr Ndu Ughamadu, said Baru expressed concern over the possible effects the ultimatum would have on products supply and distribution chain in the country.

    The GMD stated that the NUPENG’s threat could compound the current hiccups in the supply chain over which concerted efforts are being made to bring it under control.

    He, therefore, appealed to the union to exercise patience to enable government address issues over which it had raised concern.

    NUPENG had, in a release dated Jan. 31, given a 15-day ultimatum to the government over six labour issues between some of its members and their respective companies.

    Baru urged NUPENG to maintain the harmonious industrial relations that have brought stability in the industry.

    Meanwhile, Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of NUPENG has assured the NNPC that it had no plan to embark on any strike action.

    According to the statement, PTD Chairman, Oladiti Salman, dismissed online claims that it issued an ultimatum to the government over the state of some roads in the country as a ruse.

    He disowned the statement which had been trending on the social media, saying ”the misinformation is a calculated attempt by mischief makers to cause panic in the country”.

  • Kaduna teachers dare E-Rufai, commence indefinite strike

    In an apparent disregard to the earlier warnings of Governor Nasir El-Rufai for teachers on the payroll of the state government not to join the proposed strike by the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), teachers in public secondary and primary schools in Kaduna State on Monday began an indefinite strike, protesting job security and welfare.

    The strike was called by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).

    The government, on Sunday, threatened to sack any teacher that joined the strike.

    In some schools in Kaduna, only security guards were about.

    At the LGEA Primary School in Mahuta and Unguwan Boro, security guards were on the premises; the classrooms were locked.

    A security guard said no teacher had resumed and pupils returned home after hanging about with no teacher to attend to them.

    At LGEA Primary School, Unguwan Mu’azu, some teachers were about but no pupil was sighted.

    A teacher, who begged for anonymity, said pupils were told to return home, adding that the teachers were hanging about should there be a directive from NUT.

    At Rimi College in Unguwan Rimi, management workers were at their duty posts.

    However, at Government Girls Secondary School, Unguwan Mu’azu and Government Girls Secondary School, Independence Way, teachers and management workers, who resumed, said they did not see the NUT circular on the strike.

    Reports from Zaria, Sabongari, Makarfi, Soba, Giwa and Ikara local government areas, showed compliance with the strike as teachers and pupils remained at home.

    The NUT Chairman in Zaria council, Yahaya Abbas, said the strike was inevitable as the government ignored efforts to meet their demands.

    He contended that the sack of about 22,000 teachers, a reason for the strike, was done in disregard to civil service rules and regulations.

    Your strike can’t save sacked teachers – El-Rufai tells NUT

    Governor Nasir El-Rufai has told the union that its strike can’t return the 21,780 sacked teachers to work.

    A statement by his media aide, Samuel Aruwan, stressed that the government will not allow the “selfishness” of a tiny minority ruin the future of two million children.

    The statement reads: “The Kaduna State government hails the teachers who reported dutifully to their posts. Though NUT officials tried to unlawfully prevent teachers from working, many defied this intimidation.

    “The government is collating reports from its Education Administrators and all teachers who absented themselves from work will face the severest penalties applicable in the public service rules.

    “Across the state, the illegality of the NUT’s strike action is being compounded by physical attempts to frustrate those teachers who wish to work. No law permits any worker to tamper with another’s right to work.

    “The government is resolute in its determination to protect the future of the children of the poor. Ordinary citizens are entitled to expect public primary schools to deliver a decent standard of education. At least, two million pupils are enrolled in public primary schools and their interests come first.

    “The government is delighted to inform the public that marking of scripts of the 43,000 applicants for teaching positions is now concluded. The recruitment process to inject 25,000 qualified teachers into our public schools will now move to the next phase.

    “The Kaduna State government will not allow the selfishness of a tiny minority ruin the future of two million children.”

  • MAPOLY lecturers suspend three-month strike

    MAPOLY lecturers suspend three-month strike

    Members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) Abeokuta Chapter, on Wednesday suspended their strike, which is now over three months old.

    The suspension was announced by the chapter’s Chairman, Mr Kola Abiola, after a congress held at the institution’s campus to resolve the crisis between the Ogun State Government and the union.

    Abiola stated that the congress decided to call off the strike following the pressure put on it by many concerned prominent personalities in the state.

    He, however, said the union was hopeful that its demands would be met by the government to prompt it to conduct the suspended semester examination.

    “Today, we had an emergency congress and after several appeals by eminent stakeholders within and outside the state, the congress therefore decided to suspend the strike.

    “The government is aware of all our key issues, all the issues which resulted in the strike are all known to the government.

    “When the crisis started we actually went to prominent personalities to intervene and now that they have intervened we think it is high time we give government the room for discussion while academic activities go on.

    “We have suspended the strike, and it is now left for the management to announce when academic activities will commence,” the chapter chairman said.

    Abiola explained that the union had never blackmailed anybody during the crisis, saying that on no occasion did MAPOLY ASUP insulted the state government.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the union and the state government had been at loggerheads over the institution’s upgrading to Moshood Abiola University of Science and Technology.

    The union also had issues with the government over the planned transfer of some of the institution’s lecturers to the newly-established Ogun State Polytechnic at Ipokia.

     

    NAN

  • Osun workers call-off 3-day old strike

    The Joint Labour Unions in Osun on Saturday called off their three-day-old strike embarked upon on Wednesday after meeting with the State Government officials.

    TheNewsGuru reports that the labour unions, led by the state Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Jacob Adekomi, agreed to call off the strike after the state government acceded to some of their demands and a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed.

    Addressing newsmen after signing the MoU, Adekomi said the state government has agreed to pay workers full salary for the month of December from the N6.3 billion Paris Club Refund received from the federal government.

    He also said Gov. Rauf Aregbesola has approved the release of N1 billion to cover bond certificate of civil servants that retired on contributory pension scheme, while pensioners would now be paid full pension henceforth.

    He said the government has equally lifted embargo on promotion, confirmation of appointments, advancement and inter-cadre conversions and yearly increment with immediate effect.

    Adekomi however said the payment of full salaries and pension would commence by the second quarter of 2018.

    He said that modalities for subsequent payment of salaries and pensions between January 2018 and second quarter of the year would be addressed by the standing committee on apportionment, payment of salaries and critical expenses.

    While appreciating the governor for acceding to all their demands, the chairman promised that civil servants in the state would continue to discharge their duties effectively.

    Adekomi therefore called on workers to resume work after the New Year celebration.

    Speaking on behalf of the government, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, lauded the workers for their sacrifice, understanding and perseverance, saying that the workers have been supportive.

    Oyetola said the state government was also not happy with paying modulated salary to the workers, stressing that the governor was very committed to the welfare of workers.

    TheNewsGuru recalls that the Joint Labour Unions in Osun called for an indefinite strike on Dec. 22, to press home their demands from the state government.

    The industrial action which commenced on Wednesday paralysed all government operations in the state.

     

  • JUST IN: Osun workers commence strike over half salary payment

    Workers in Osun State on Wednesday commenced an indefinite strike over the payment of half salaries by the Rauf Aregbesola led government.

    Labour leaders led by the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Osun State, Mr. Jacob Adekomi, on led other unions’ leaders to the State Secretariat at Abere to shut down the place as workers commenced the indefinite strike action.

    Labour leaders had on Friday announced that they would begin an indefinite strike immediately after the Christmas break over modulated salary, lack of promotion and the non-remittance of their contributory pension deductions to workers’ pension accounts.

    The NLC chairman, the chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers, Mr. Amudah Wakeel and other Labour leaders stormed the secretariat gate as early as 7am on Wednesday to ensure compliance with the directive from the labour leaders.

    The NUT chairman, who spoke to our correspondent said workers from grade level 01 to 07 who were collecting full salary joined the strike because the strike was not based on the issue of half salary alone.

    He expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance to the strike directive which he described as a total one.

    He said, “We are on strike in Osun. We are here at the State Government Secretariat, Abere to ensure a total compliance to the strike directive.

    “As you can see, no worker came to resume work today because they are our members and the labour directed that they should stay at home.

    “The labour is indivisible, that is why those who are collecting full salaries also complied. The strike is not even about half salary alone. The issue of promotion is there, pension is there and are you saying those from level 1 to 7 will not retire in the future?

    “The compliance is total and we are happy about it. Nobody can divide us. The labour is one indivisible family whether you are on level one, 13 or any level.”

    The workers had during their last meeting with Governor Rauf Aregbesola insisted that the state had the financial ability to pay them full salaries. They said most of them had been collecting half salaries since September 2015 and the governor still didn’t want to change this even after collecting N6.3 billion third tranche of the Paris Club refund.

    But the governor had said while addressing workers during the Civil Service Week that 72 per cent of the state workforce were collecting full salaries while just 28 per cent were being paid modulated salaries.

    He lauded them for their perseverance and promised that the season of famine would end by March 2018.