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Tag: Strike

  • ‘Resume work or risk sack,’ Gov Ayade warns striking workers

    Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has ordered that the striking workers in the state should immediately resume work or he will sack them.

    Organised labour in the state have been on an indefinite strike since Monday this week over nonpayment of salaries to several civil servants, pension, and gratuities as well as the lack of promotion. The leadership of labour in the state said on no account must workers return to work without all issues being addressed.

    The labour union called for the sacking of secretary to the state government and for the governor to account for N31.1 Billion federal bail out funds he has so far collected for payments of pension, gratuities, and salaries.

    However in a statement by Ms Tina Banku Agbor, secretary to state government, the governor said, ” Workers are hereby advised in their own interests to resume work immediately or risk consequences. ”

    The statement expressed total disappointment with labour which they said forced workers who have enjoyed regular payment of upfront salaries, to stay at home.

    It described the action of labour as unpatriotic and unnecessary especially as it has come at a time when they know that the dwindling federal allocations to the state has not improved.

    Government disagreed with labour and insisted that since assumption of Ayade, he has cleared the six years promotion arrears, insisting that he has paid salaries promptly unlike in many states.

  • Petroleum marketers in Ekiti suspend strike

    Petroleum marketers in Ekiti suspend strike

    The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Ekiti on Sunday suspended its strike.

    TheNewsGuru reports that IPMAN embarked on the action on May 25, over demolition of some petrol stations and the revocation of some Certificate of Occupancy by the Gov. Ayo Fayose.

    The suspension of the strike is contained in a communiqué issued in Osogbo at the end of a peace meeting called by Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun.

    The communiqué, which was signed by Aregbesola, Fayose and the representatives of the marketers, was made available to newsmen at Osun Government House where the peace meeting was held.

    According to the communiqué, an ad hoc committee would be constituted to fashion out in clear terms the conditions and guidelines for the establishment and operations of filling stations in Ekiti state.

    It stated that the committee, to comprise of representatives of Ekiti state government and oil and gas stakeholders, shall begin work on June 7.

    “In the spirit of reconciliation, the Ekiti government has agreed to pleas for reversal of the revocation of some Certificates of Occupancy of landed properties on which filling stations are built, except the ones on waterways and canals,” the communique said.

    It also stated that the Ekiti government had agreed to stop further demolitions pending the outcome of the committee’s report.

    “The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), IPMAN and other related oil and gas unions, hereby, suspend the industrial action embarked upon by their members, with immediate effect,” it said.

    Fayose, while speaking with journalists after the meeting, commended the black marketers, who had taken over the streets of Ado Ekiti and other towns.

    He said their services cushioned the effect of the scarcity caused by the strike.

    Fayose, however, said that with the fuel marketers resuming operations, black marketers were sure to fizzle out.

    On his part, Aregbesola said the resolution of the crisis was a confirmation that the people had the capacity to resolve their differences.

    He commended the maturity of his Ekiti state counterpart and the fuel marketers for allowing the crisis to be successfully resolved.

     

  • Strike: Nasarawa NLC impeaches embattled chairman

    Strike: Nasarawa NLC impeaches embattled chairman

    The Executive Council of the Nasarawa State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has impeached its embattled Chairman, Abdullahi Adeka.

    A statement signed by Ahmed Naibi, the Secretary, said that Adeka was removed for announcing the suspension of the strike, immediately after his reinstatement.

    It said that the “surprising” action violated the resolutions reached at the NLC headquarters as a condition for his reinstatement.

    “In the meeting held at our national secretariat in Abuja on May 23, we all agreed that Adeka must sustain the strike. That was a condition for his reinstatement.

    “We also agreed that his mother union, the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, and all other affiliates of the NLC, must join the strike to maximise its effect.

    “But, instead of sustaining and widening the strike, Adeka announced its suspension, a day after he was reinstated,” the statement said.

    The statement declared that Adeka, by that action, had demonstrated that he was not a trustworthy leader.

    “We have resolved that he stands impeached; Bala Umaru, his deputy, is now the substantive Chairman of NLC in Nasarawa State,” the statement declared.

    It said that the strike action would continue and advised workers to await further directive from the new leadership.

    Some executive council members, who spoke with NAN, accused Adeka of “clearly taking sides with the government”, with many describing his action as “shocking”.

    Adeka had been suspended from office on May 21, when he suddenly declared an end to the strike without due consultation.

    He was reinstated on May 23, after the headquarters intervened, but went on air on May 24, to announce the end of the strike without consulting with other members of the executive council.

    The workers have been on strike since May 12, over the non payment of their salaries.

  • OGBC workers begin strike over unpaid salaries

    OGBC workers begin strike over unpaid salaries

    Workers in Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation (OGBC) in Abeokuta on Wednesday started an indefinite strike over unpaid four months’ salaries.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the workers arrived at the station around 5..00 a.m and locked the studio and offices to prevent the 
general manager and top management staff from having access to their offices.

    The workers, who were led by Mr Abiodun Ogundipe, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Mr Ayo Aina, Chairman, Radio, Television and Theatre Arts Workers (RATTAWU), had issued a three-day warning to the management to pay the salaries.

    Ogundipe told NAN that there was no going back on the strike until their demands were met.

    He said that the state Head of Service, Mr Abayomi Sobande, had visited the workers and appealed to them, promising that something would be done.

    “Sobande said we should allow for skeletal services pending the time they would get back to us before the close of work.

    “We are not going back on the strike. The strike has not been suspended, we will continue until our demands are met, “he said.

    NAN reports that the workers, had during a press conference on Friday, threatened an indefinite strike from Wednesday over non-payment of outstanding salaries.

    The workers said that inspite of issuing three different notices to the management, nothing was done to pay the outstanding salaries.

    Apart from the arrears of salaries, the workers are also claiming that some pension deductions from 2012 till date totalling about N50 million had not been remitted.

    The workers said deductions to the National Housing Fund of over N2 million were not remitted.

    The workers, however, commended Gov. Ibikunle Amosun for increasing the monthly subvention to the station from N3.5 million to N10 million.

    Some armed police officers were seen at the entrance of the station.

     

     

     

    NAN

  • Federal civil servants threaten indefinite strike over N200bn unpaid salaries

    Federal civil servants threaten indefinite strike over N200bn unpaid salaries

    The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria has threatened to embark on an indefinite strike over non-payment of N200bn promotion and salaries and death benefits.

    The decision of the NEC of the ASCSN was read to journalists by the Federal Capital Territory Secretary of the association, Mr. Ojemhenka Isaac.

    President of the ASCSN, Bala Kaigama told journalists after the meeting that the ASCSN would collaborate with the NLC to carry out the planned industrial action.

    He said, “Yes, the picketing would be done and I will lead it because this thing has taken so long. The idea of the payment of arrears of promotions, death benefits, first 28 days, started as soon as the President was sworn in.”

    He said the arrears, owed the workers, were not paid even when the President directed the Head of Service to work out the details with unions and to commence payment.

    Kaigama said, “We wrote to Mr. President; he responded positively and then directed the Office of the Head of Service to sit with us and work out the details. The details were worked out through the MDAs and our representatives at the MDA level and submissions were made to the Office of the Head of Service.

    “That was done, then the National Assembly approved a virement but a chunk of the money was earmarked for the settlement of part of these arrears. But today, the explanation they are giving us is that the virement approved by the National Assembly has lapsed; that it is only capital projects that it (virement) can accommodate, it cannot accommodate overhead.

    “In fact, except if the National Assembly intervenes now, there is a tendency that even this year’s budget may not capture these issues. And that is why we have decided that enough is enough. We are going to picket where we know the problems are.

    “Mr President has directed; the delay we have now is between Finance and Budget. So, if we picket these offices, somebody must come out to tell us the truth so that the whole world will know where the problem is; and on this we stand.”

    When asked if the NLC was involved in the planned action, he said, “Of course, in fact I am even meeting with him (NLC’s President) this afternoon to brief him on that and it is going to be a joint action with the NLC, be rest assured that the NLC would cooperate with us in this struggle.’’

  • Respite as tanker drivers suspend strike following NNPC’s intervention

    Respite as tanker drivers suspend strike following NNPC’s intervention

    …approves bridging costs from N6.20 to N7.20

    The Petroleum Tankers Drivers, PTD under the aegis of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has suspended its nationwide strike which began on Monday.

    The suspension followed the intervention of the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation( NNPC), Dr Maikanti Baru.

    In a statement by Mr Ndu Ughamadu, NNPC group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division on Monday in Abuja, Baru said his intervention was in the national interest.

    Baru further approved the increase in bridging costs from N6.20 to N7.20.

    Bridging is money paid tanker drivers per kilometer for trucking petroleum products from depots to final destinations.

    ‘Mediating between the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, and the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), Baru said ”we understand the difficulty of NARTO to go into negotiations which has to do with the level of bridging allowance.

    ”I am happy to announce that the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, has given his approval to increase the bridging allowance from N6.20 to N7.20”, Baru said in the statement.

    He said the review should give NARTO the breathing space to engage with PTD to immediately discuss and resolve as many of the issues as possible, adding that the gesture was expected to normalise relations between the unions.

    Baru explained that NNPC intervened in the face-off between the unions to ensure the energy security of the nation, adding that ordinarily the dispute was only between PTD and its employer, NARTO.

    Announcing the suspension of the strike, the NUPENG National President, Mr Igwe Achese, said with the intervention of Kachikwu and Baru, NNPC ”has done so much to ensure efficient supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country, hence, the strike is hereby suspended”.

    Responding, the National President of PTD, Mr Salimon Oladiti, applauded the NNPC for the ”timely intervention and urged them to address the unruly behavior of security agencies towards the members”.

    Also, the National President of NARTO, Alhaji Kassim Bataiya, assured Baru that ”with his intervention, the condition of service document would be reviewed to improve the drivers’ welfare”.

    Joseph Akinlaja, Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Downstream, who represented Speaker Yakubu Dogara, commended Baru for his intervention, saying it had saved the country a lot.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the drivers embarked on the strike due to unresolved issues concerning their welfare, poor remuneration, insecurity and bad roads.

    They also complained of harassment by some members of the security forces on the highways.

     

  • Fuel scarcity imminent as Tanker drivers’ strike paralyses loading activities in Lagos

    Fuel scarcity imminent as Tanker drivers’ strike paralyses loading activities in Lagos

    Loading activities at both private depots and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depots in Lagos were on Monday paralysed as Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) commenced a nationwide strike to press home their demands for enhanced welfare.

    Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who monitored the strike in Lagos observed that all tank farms in Apapa were empty, without the usual loading of products associated with depots.

    The Apapa depots visited included Total Oil and Gas, Capital Oil and Gas, NIPCO Oil and Gas, Aiteo Oil and Gas, Sahara Oil and Gas, Conoil, as well as Mobil Oil and Gas.

    The drivers were seen in groups discussing, while others were leaving the depots for unknown destinations.

    Alhaji Taofeek Lawal, the Head, Corporate Communications of NIPCO, Apapa told NAN that all depots in Apapa were empty as a result of the strike.

    According to him, there are no loading activities at present because the tanker drivers are on strike.

    He appealed to the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), PTD, NNPC representatives and other stakeholders to step in and find a lasting solution to the strike.

    Meanwhile, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, the South-West Chairman of NUPENG had told NAN that the Federal Government’s representatives were meeting with NARTO and NUPENG representatives, to resolve the matter.

    Korodo said that the outcome of the meeting would decide if the strike would continue or not.

    He, however, said that there was no distribution or loading of products in any part of the country.

    One of the depot officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, however, told NAN that the strike was uncalled for.

    He said that the tanker drivers should have resolved the problem with the truck owners, instead of resorting to go on strike.

    The depot official noted that the country had lost over N20 billion to the ongoing strike.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the drivers under the aegis of Petroleum Tankers Drivers (PTD) an arm of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) had said it will commence a nationwide strike on Monday (today) following the FG’s refusal to honour agreements entered into with the union.

  • Health workers reach consensus with FG, suspend one month old strike

    Health workers reach consensus with FG, suspend one month old strike

    The Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), has announced the suspension of its indefinite nation-wide strike, embarked upon by members.

    Mr Ayinde Obisesan, the National General- Secretary of the Association made this known in a statement to newsmen in Ibadan on Sunday.

    Obisesan disclosed that after series of meetings held with the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), the NEC observed that there were some degrees of progress over some demands, especially the ones within the ministry.

    He said other issues which agreement/consensus was not reached had been referred to the relevant agencies for further negotiations and discussions.

    “This include: Revamping the infrastructure in the tertiary Health Institutions, and Professional autonomy, where the FMOH agreed to implement all court judgment without delay.

    “Others are: Enhanced entry point for Medical Laboratory Scientists and Radiographers, the FMOH agreed to verify this and correct it for deserving officers without extortion.

    “On the issue of backlog of promotion arrears and CONHESS 10 skipping, the meeting encouraged hospitals affected to implement payment within the 2017 budget timeline.

    “Residency training and sabbatical leave for other health professionals, as contained in the Public Service Rule (PSR) were also approved,” he said.

    The secretary said that the NEC was not happy that no official circular was issued concerning the myriad of demands of the union other than the signed MoU.

    He said that the NEC decided to give the minister for health the benefit of doubt regarding the ongoing processes aimed at resolving the crisis, which include high powered committee meetings at the office of the secretary to the government of the federation.

    “Conclusively, the NEC decided to suspend the strike for four weeks to allow the FMOH to invite the union and initiate discussions on issues that were not concluded

    “If nothing tangible is done within four weeks, the union shall resume the suspended strike without further notice

    “It is our sincere hope that the FMOH will be sincere to her words and implement immediately, areas of consensus within her purview to prevent further disruption of service.

    “However, members are to resume work after their congress and remain calm for further instructions, as no stone will be left unturned to actualize our demands.

    “We use this opportunity to appreciate all our members nationwide for remaining resolute and focused during the strike action, despite all odds,” he said.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that union directed its members nationwide to commence an indefinite strike action on Monday, March 6 due to the inability of government to address their demands.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that NUAHP is an amalgamation of health workers including, physiotherapists, pharmacists, dietitians, medical laboratory scientists, optometrists and radiographers.

    Others include dental therapists, medical physicists, health information officers, clinical psychologists and medical social workers.

     

  • Tankers drivers’ strike will hold as scheduled on Monday – NUPENG

    Tankers drivers’ strike will hold as scheduled on Monday – NUPENG

    The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has said its Petroleum Tanker Drivers had been mobilised to ensure no movement of petroleum tankers as their nationwide strike begins on Monday.

    Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, the South-West Chairman of NUPENG Lagos Council, made the assertion on Sunday in an interview with the newsmen in Lagos.

    According to Korodo, all the tanker drivers have abandoned their trucks in respect of the indefinite strike which will begin on Monday unless the Federal Government intervenes.


    The chairman said the drivers were forced to down tools due to unresolved issues concerning their welfare, poor remuneration, insecurity and bad roads.

    “The tanker drivers for the past three years have been appealing to the Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) to increase their salary but they refused on the ground that spare parts had increased.

    “NARTO said that government has not increased their fares, so they will not increase their salary.

    “Apart from this, most of the roads they ply are bad and this has resulted in accidents or damaging their trucks.

    “The activities of the official of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on the roads is not helping the matter,’’ Korodo told NAN.

    “The tanker drivers are forced to break the seal of their product on the pretext that they were carrying adulterated product.

    “Most of these drivers are harassed by these officers, at times the tanker and the driver will be detained for close to a month,’’ he said.

    Korodo also said that more than 2,000 staff of Capital Oil and Gas Ltd., were on the line due to their closure by the Federal Government due to some issues between the company and NNPC.

    He said that the union wanted the government to resolve the matter so that the company would be opened and the staff and tanker drivers would resume duty.

    The chairman, however, said that the strike would not affect activities in filling stations, depots or refineries across the nation.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the PTD branch of the NUPENG had on Friday (March 31) said they would begin a nationwide strike on Monday (April 3).

    NUPENG’s President, Mr Igwe Achese, announced this in a communique in Lagos at the end of its Central Working Committee meeting held at the union’s secretariat in Yaba.

    The communique said the strike would draw the attention of the Federal Government and other stakeholders to some unresolved issues bordering on the welfare of workers, bad roads, poor remuneration, insecurity and the alleged excesses of some security agencies.

     

  • Fuel scarcity looms as Petroleum Tanker drivers threaten nationwide strike on Monday

    Fuel scarcity looms as Petroleum Tanker drivers threaten nationwide strike on Monday

    The Petroleum Tankers Drivers (PTD) arm of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) says it will commence a nationwide strike on Monday.

    NUPENG’s President, Mr Igwe Achese, announced this in a signed communique on Friday in Lagos, at the end of its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting held at the union’s secretariat in Yaba.

    The communique said the strike would draw the attention of the Federal Government and other stakeholders to some unresolved issues bordering on the welfare of workers, such as bad roads, poor remuneration, insecurity and the alleged excesses of some security agencies.

    “The CWC-in-Session considers inhumane, the refusal of the National Association of Transport Owners (NARTO) to commence negotiation with the union for the renewal of the expired Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) on the working conditions of our Tanker Driver members in the PTD branch, after several appeals and even an ultimatum.
    “The CWC-in-Session, therefore, resolves to give full backing to any industrial action the members in this sector might decide to take with effect from Monday, April 3, 2017.

    “To avert the pains and discomfort the action might cause, the CWC-in-Session calls on the Federal Government to urgently intervene and apprehend the unfortunate situation, to enable NARTO meet its obligations to tanker drivers,’’ the communique said.

    The communique also called on the National Assembly to urgently pass the Petroleum Industry Bill, in order to tackle all the issues of corruption plaguing the oil sector.

    It also called for the commercialisation of the operations of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), as well as the turn-around-maintenance for the refineries, to increase local production and reduce the importation of petroleum products.

    The communique commended the efforts of the federal government to encourage operators of illegal refineries to be integrated into the establishment of modular refineries.

    The union also vowed to resist any attempt to increase the pump price of petrol.

    It also commended efforts of the government to shore up the Naira against the Dollar and the decline in the inflationary rate to 17.5 per cent.

    The communique, however, called on government to address the challenges of poverty, unemployment, hunger and the rising cost of goods and services.

    It also appealed to government to adopt measures to restructure the economy, as well as address challenges confronting the power sector.

    The association commended the federal government’s determined efforts at eliminating the Boko Haram sect from the Sambisa forest, but called for increased military intelligence gathering to stem the spate of suicide bombings in Maiduguri, Borno.

    While commending the efforts of the Police in combating crime, the union also called for increased surveillance to tackle rising cases of kidnappings, rape and other crimes.