TheNewsGuru

Tag: Strike

  • Panic in public hospitals as resident doctors commence strike September 4

    The National Association of Resident Doctors, NARDs, has issued a nationwide strike notice effective September 4.

    Olusegun Olaopa, the President of NARDs, University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, announced this on Wednesday in a statement made available to newsmen in Ibadan.

    Mr. Olaopa said that the resident doctors would commence an indefinite industrial action on Monday to press home their demands.

    According to him, the action is sequel a statement signed by John Onyebueze and Aneke Emmanuel, National President and Secretary of NARDs, respectively.

    The statement said that it was resolved at the NEC meeting of NARDs held in Abuja on August 26 to embark on the strike.

    “Neither the federal nor state governments has shown commitment to the resolution of issues at stake nor honoured previous agreements.

    “Consequent upon this, the association resolved to proceed on a total indefinite industrial action from Monday, September 4, 2017, until all these issues are permanently resolved.

    “Nationwide pre-strike protests against this injustice are to hold in all our branches and states of the federation on August 30, 2017.

    “All heads of tertiary health institutions who have received funding for payments to our members should be directed to pay same immediately,” it said.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the members of NARDs are demanding for the resolution of persistent shortfalls and unpaid arrears of salaries earned in both federal and state tertiary health institutions.

    Other issues are the enrolment of resident doctors into the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) since 2003, and non-implementation of adjusted House Officers’ Entry grade level equivalent since 2014.

    The resident doctors are also asking for the resolution of issues around their stagnation of promotion and non-promotion of members who have met requisite criteria despite all collective bargaining agreements and circulars.

  • ASUU presents six new conditions to end strike

    …as FEC discusses union’s terms today

    University lecturers under the aegis of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, on Tuesday released six new conditions for calling off their two-week old strike which has grounded academic activities in nearly all the tertiary institutions across the country.

    The conditions will however be discussed in today’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that a team of government delegation and representatives of ASUU have earlier meant with no concrete agreement on when the institutions will be reopened.

    However, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige on Tuesday pleaded with the srtiking lecturers to embrace peace for the sake of innocent students.

    Stating the six conditions, after yesterday’s failed reconciliation meeting with the lecturers, a senior official at the Labour Ministry who profers to speak on condition of anonymity said: “ASUU has brought proposals different from the agreement they reached in the Senate with the Federal Ministry of Education.

    “They are asking the government to take over the shortfall in the salaries of universities when there were glaring cases of abuse of recruitment process and non-compliance with Integrated Personnel Payment Information System (IPPIS).

    “They want the government to accept liability for the shortfall in spite of the fact that universities acted arbitrarily in increasing their wage bill.

    “The lecturers have also asked the government to manage their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) henceforth instead of remitting such to the Treasury Single Account (TSA) in line with their demand for autonomy for universities.”

    But, according to the source, the government does not want to waive the TSA policy for universities. It, however, expressed readiness to exempt Endowment Funds and Joint Ventures Funds from TSA.

    “In their new demands, the lecturers asked for the issuance of a fiat to the Pension Commission to register the Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company.

    “PENCOM has expressed its readiness to register Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company, if ASUU and other stakeholders can quickly address the lapses already highlighted in the registration process. PENCOM is insisting that the guidelines in the 2005 Pension Reforms Act must be fully complied with,” the source said.

    The the government is said to be shocked by ASUU’s fresh request that the Federal Government should pay University Salary Scale to primary school teachers in varsity staff schools.

    It said: “They are saying that the staff school should be allowed to continue to collect tuition fees.”

    “The government has a different approach to the staff school. Apart from retaining its policy that primary education is free under the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Scheme, the government is of the opinion that teachers in varsity schools be either paid by the Universal Basic Education Commission(UBEC) or be placed under the salary scale of the Federal Ministry of Education or Federal Salary Scale,” the senior government official said.

    “Another demand from ASUU is the release of the guidelines for the retirement of professors in line with 2009 Agreement.”

    Responding to a question, the source said: “We believe that ASUU is trying to be difficult with the new conditions after the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, had conceded N23billion to pay earned allowances of the lecturers.

    “The ASUU strike will be tabled before the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday (today). The FEC will weigh options and chart the way forward.”

    Contacted last night, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige said: “They have brought some proposals different from the demands we are already addressing. I want ASUU to toe the path of peace for the sake of the innocent students in our universities.

    “I am asking ASUU to know that this dispute is already apprehended by this ministry. And when we apprehend a dispute, it is necessary for parties to come for talks and consideration of issues.

    “Going by Section 3 of the Labour Dispute law, any further discussion on ASUU demands should be done with the Federal Ministry of Labour.”

  • Strike: ASUU boycotts meeting with FG

    Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Tuesday, were absent at a meeting called at the instance of the Federal Government over the lingering industrial action in universities.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, had called for a meeting in Abuja with ASUU leaders, Minister of Education, among others as part of efforts to resolving the lingering strike embarked by the union.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that members of ASUU embarked on an indefinite strike on Aug. 13, following government’s failure to implement the agreement reached in Nov. 2016.

    ASUU, on Aug. 17, had met with the officials of the Ministry of Education and Labour and Employment where it was agreed that the union should consult and revert back to government within a week.

    ASUU demands include the disputed registration of the Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company, fractionalisation of salaries in Federal Universities, gross under-funding and non-funding of State Universities.

    Others are arrears and implementation of Earned Academic Allowances, release of fund for revitalisation of public universities as spit out in the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding, among others.

    According to Ngige, “today we are supposed to have a formal meeting with the Minister of Education and other stakeholders in the government side and ASUU.

    “But we had some new development, which made it mandatory, that we roll over this meeting to the next day.

    “Because the government as you know on Aug. 18 gave ASUU an offer, through the Ministry of Education and yesterday when ASUU got back to us, which was late, the meeting has already been scheduled.

    “ ASUU had gotten back to government to say that they needed us to deliberate on their counter offer before we can have a formailised meeting,‘’ he said.

    The minister said that with the new development, government acceded to it by calling for a meeting with stakeholders in the government side on their offer.

    He noted that it was only after the meeting that government and the union would then have a reconciliatory meeting to further discuss the areas of disagreements or the union’s new demand.

    “That is the position we are now and as I speak, we are having a government side meeting that is being held in my office while the Minister of Education is at another point having a meeting.

    “We will reconcile into a full government meeting by 3 p:m today and then formalised our position and look at the ASUU request.

    “Then, tomorrow is FEC meeting and we also need council approval for some of the things we are doing.

    “This is on what government has decided, thereafter we would speak with ASUU either tomorrow or Thursday whichever is convenient to both parties, ‘’he said.

    Also, Mr Biodun Ogunyemi, ASUU president in a signed statement said the union had collated the views of its members submitted to government on Aug. 28.

    “As we await the Federal Government’s action on our letter, we hope that it would not be long before we receive a positive response which will bring an end to the dispute.’’

    Ogunyemi called on government on the need to speedily address the issues in the best interest of the Nigerian University System and for the overall development of the country.

    He commended Nigerians, especially the students and parents for their understanding.

     

    NAN

  • ‘Strike not over, we’re still consulting,’ says ASUU

    The national leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, yesterday, denied that the union has called off it the indefinite strike declared last week had been called off.

    Recall there were reports at the weekend, that the strike had been suspended after the Federal Government representatives led by Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, and Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, met with the leadership of the union in Abuja, Wednesday.

    However, National President of ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, told journalists yesterday, that there was no truth in the alleged suspension of the strike.

    Instead, he said the union was still consulting with the relevant stakeholders on the outcome of the meeting it had with government representatives.

    Asked when the union would meet again with government and when the National Executive Council, NEC, of ASUU would meet to take final decision, Ogunyemi said, for now, he was not aware of when to meet with government representatives and that it was after consultation that the NEC would meet.

    A source within the union said it was not possible for the national executive to call off strike without consulting the zonal and branch executives which will meet to get mandate from members before taking any decision.

    ASUU declared indefinite strike on Monday last week over contentious issues with the Federal Government which included the non-implementation of the 2009 agreement the union and the government entered

  • ASUU crisis: FG set to release N23bn to university lecturers to end strike

    As part of efforts to resolve the ongoing strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Federal Government has assured the release of N23 billion to the lecturers.

    This was revealed by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu.

    Speaking before the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND, led by Senator Jibrin Barau, the Minister disclosed that the executive arm of government had commenced plans to ensure that it honoured the agreement with ASUU.

    The Minister disclosed that the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, had already approved a total N53bn for the union so far, adding that the balance of N23bn would be released on Monday when the striking lecturers would receive the cheque.

    He said: “ASUU asked for N23billion to be paid, but we said the condition for getting the N23billion was for them to account for the N30billion they had taken and they were not able to account for it.

    “The Minister of Finance undertook to do the audit from the ministry and we agreed that the result will be known six months. During those six months, the government undertook to be paying ASUU N1.5billion each month during the time they were waiting for this.

    ‘’However, their grouse was that the forensic audit promised by the Minister of Finance had not been done and the money promised not paid.

    “So, at our meeting two days ago, the agreement was to pay them all and do forensic audit on the entire N53billion.

    “That was what I tried to do yesterday (Wednesday). I wrote to the Minister of Finance and she has already approved and this money will be paid. Probably, by Monday, they will be able to receive the cheque.

    “We didn’t agree with ASUU on their request that TSA should be taken out. I told them that it is not possible because it is a new policy and government is not going to change it for anyone.

    “Concerning their salary short fall, we said the reason springs from universities employing people without proper authority.

    “For instance, a university can just decide to go and recruit 50 people without notifying IPPIS. So, what they are going to get is the money they got last month, which will not be sufficient for them. We have told them that institutions should, henceforth, stop doing that and they accepted.

    “There is the issue of registration of their pension commission. I think they have one or two issues to iron out with PENCOM and I believe they will also be able to solve the problem within a week.

    “The issue of renegotiation is already ongoing, which will not affect what we have said. I have already written a letter formalizing the meeting and all the agreements we had with ASUU and gave them the letter yesterday.

    “From the way they received it, I think it is possible that the strike will be called off within a week maximum.”

    Chairman of the Committee, Senator Jibrin Barau, commended the Minister for his efforts towards ensuring that the situation was resolved and the strike called off.

     

  • We’ll resolve ASUU strike in two days – FG

    The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that it will wade into the strike embarked on by the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) on Monday.

    The assurance was given on Wednesday by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the National President of the union, Dr. Biodun Ogunyemi, announced the commencement of the strike on Monday during a meeting of the National Executive Council of ASUU in Abuja.

    Ogunyemi said during the strike, there shall be no teaching, no examination and no attendance of statutory meetings of any kind in any of the union’s branches across the country.

    However, in an interview with The Guardian, the Minister stated that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has a policy of engaging unions, including ASUU.

    “I hope and believe that this would be a one or two days strike. We have a policy of engaging the unions, including ASUU and I think now we are very serious.

    “This is the first time in two years that ASUU is declaring a strike,” Adamu said.

    Adamu also held a closed-door meeting with the leader of the Federal Government Renegotiation Team, Dr. B. O Babalakin (SAN).

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Babalakin had in January, inaugurated the 16-member team to renegotiate the 2009 agreement.

     

  • JUST IN: ASUU begins nationwide strike

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has commenced an indefinite nationwide industrial action.

    The National President of the union, Dr. Biodun Ogunyemi, announced this on Monday during a meeting of the National Executive Council of ASUU in Abuja.

    He said during the strike, there shall be no teaching, no examination and no attendance of statutory meetings of any kind in any of the union’s branches across the country.

    According to Channels TV, Dr. Ogunyemi declared a total, comprehensive and indefinite nationwide strike after a nationwide consultation with members at an emergency NEC meeting held on Saturday, August 12, 2017.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the union had on Friday held a meeting in Abuja where it was decided that a ‘total and indefinite strike’ action be embarked on over the controversial 2009 agreement they reached with the Federal Government among other issues.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that all chapters of the union nationwide have been directed by the national body to adhere strictly to the guidelines of the strike.

    Details later…

     

  • ASUU set for ‘total, indefinite strike’ over FG’s refusal to implement 2009 deal

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has said it is embarking on a ‘total and indefinite strike’ action over the controversial 2009 agreement they reached with the Federal Government among other issues.

    A meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of ASUU will hold today in Abuja ahead of the action.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that all chapters of the union nationwide held a congress on Thursday as directed by its national body to decide whether or not to go ahead with the planned strike.

    The options given to them are: Whether it should be total and indefinite strike, one month strike, one week notice, and no strike at all.

    This followed the directive sent to branches by ASUU National President Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi as he was mandated by the NEC meeting held at the Nasarawa State University (NSU).

    Chairman ASUU-Lagos State University (LASU) Dr Isaac Akinloye Oyewunmi said yesterday that the chapter resolved in favour of “total and indefinite strike”.

    In August last year, the union threatened strike over the government’s failure to implement the 2009 agreement.

    Coordinator of ASUU (Lagos Zone) Prof Olusoji Sowande, said the union was tired because efforts to get the agreement honoured were fruitless.

    The union listed some of the unresolved issues as: Breach of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the 2009 FG/ASUU Agreement on financing of state universities; breach of the conditions of service; refusal to honour the Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) and re -negotiation of the agreement.

    In January, ASUU staged a one-week warning strike.

    Union officials said the Federal Government is owing universities over N880 billion in intervention fund.

    Other issues according to ASUU oficials are: The Federal Government’s foot-dragging over ‘funds for the revitilisation of public universities, non-release of NUPEMCO operational licence, non-payment of earned academic allowances, payment of fractions/non-payment of salaries, retired professors and their salaries and university staff schools’.

    The official said ASUU explored all channels to make the Federal Government see reasons but said: “It seems the Federal Government is more concerned with buying exotic vehicles for the National Assembly while public education and lecturers continue to suffer owing to dilapidated infrastructure.”

    He said the union was angry at the failure of the Federal Government to release the operational licence for the union’s pension managers after collecting N1 billion since two years ago.

    “Till date the government is owing the intervention funds to the tune of N880 billion. When we approached them for licensing of Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company (NUPEMCO), they asked us to go and bring registration fee, which is supposed to be N150million. Till date, we have paid government N1 billion and our money has been with them for two years and they are not saying anything.

    None of this pension administrators can fulfill the University Miscellaneous Act which says university professors must retire with their full money. The money must have been invested and yielding interest for somebody. We are demanding our licence and funding of public universities.”

     

  • CAC staff suspend strike, resume official duties

    The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on Thursday resumed official business activities as its staff union called off the weeklong strike over nonpayment of entitlements by the management.

    The offices of the commission at its corporate headquarters, Abuja, officially opened for customers and staff to carry out daily business transactions.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that aside official duties, commercial and private businesses by food vendors and hawkers adjacent to the building, also resumed fully.

    A cross section of the vendors said they were excited that the union and management had reached an agreement, adding that their businesses could now flourish.

    Mrs Roseline Okoye, said ” I used to make more than N10,000 a day but since the strike started, I didn’t even sell up to N400 because there were no customers to patronise our services”.

    Mr John Martins, commercial photocopy operator, said that the strike had caused him a lot of losses.

    ” You can imagine since the strike started I sometimes cannot make my transport fee back home because there were no customers.

    Mr Samuel Ebenezer, a photographer, expressed gladness over the resumption of work.

    ” You can see customers are here to take passport photographs.

    ” This shows that I will go back home smiling. It has not been easy since the strike started.

    Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi, a member of CAC staff, said “staying at home doing nothing was not easy for me”.

    Mrs Ruth Balogun said ” I pray for positive changes as the union and management work together”.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) CAC Chapter, embarked on a warning strike over alleged non-payment of salary arrears on July 17.

    During the dispute, the union blocked the premises of the commission, preventing its top management staff from accessing their offices.

    The strike was called off on the order of the National Industrial Arbitration Court, Abuja, on July 26.

    The court ordered AUCPTRE to unblock the premises, to allow staff and business activities to resume.

    The strike, which started on July 17, lasted for eight working days.

    The Chairman, Staff Union CAC, Mr Ibrahim Kirfi, confirmed that the strike had been called off.

    The commission’s spokesperson, Mr Godfrey Ike, said the strike had been called off and staff were now in their offices working.

    ” We want to take the past behind us and move forward,” Ike said.

  • Pay dispute: British Airways cabin embark on two-week strike

    Pay dispute: British Airways cabin embark on two-week strike

    British Airways cabin crew launched a two-week strike on Saturday as part of a long-running pay dispute with the airline.

    The “Mixed Fleet’’ crew, who worked on long- and short-haul flights and are based at London’s Heathrow airport, are set to stay off the job until July 16.

    The strike came after a recent breakdown in pay talks between the company and union representatives.

    The Unite union said that employees in the “Mixed Fleet’’ category, which was created by British Airways in 2010, received lower pay and less generous terms than other crew members.

    British Airways said that the pay is in line with its competitors.

    While Britain’s busiest airport, London’s Heathrow, would be hit by the walk-off, other airports in the capital would not be affected.

    The airline said it expected the strike to have minimal impact, claiming that “99.5 per cent’’ of its scheduled routes would take place and that alliance partner Qatar Airways was stepping in to operate some short-haul flights.