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  • Minimum wage: Labour unions praise Buhari, task him on quick implementation

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) asked employers of labour, especially states and federal government to immediately commence the implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage following the signing into law of the minimum wage bill by the President.

    The unions in separate statements commended the President for signing the bill into law.

    The NLC described the bill signing as only the first step and called for the immediate implementation of the law, given the fact that this process has dragged on for nearly two years.

    It advised employers, particularly federal and state governments, to commence immediate negotiations with the appropriate unions on the impact of the new law on the wage structure with a view to timely and judicious implementation.

    On its part, the TUC said the new wage would in no small measure give workers a sense of belonging.

    The TUC said while organised labour appreciates the approval of the new wage, it is also instructive to note that its gains have been eroded by inflation, adding that prices of commodities have gone up even when employers have not commenced payment.

    It said: “the N30,000 monthly National Minimum Wage that we are even asking for a family of six actually amounts to less than N50 per meal per person. It is exclusive of utility bills, school fees, etc.

    “Given our extended family system as Africans we are also expected to once in a while extend hands of fellowship to parents, in-laws, relations, friends who have lost their jobs, brothers and people of the same faith.

    “We recall that some lawmakers promised to give the wage bill supersonic attention whenever it was brought before them and they have kept to their word. To us it means we still have men and women with milk of kindness left in them.”

    The TUC asked the President, the National Assembly and well meaning Nigerians to prevail on governors to pay workers their salaries and pension to pensioners as and when due to avoid crisis in the industrial sector.

  • Hamonise minimum wage for quick assent – TUC tells NASS

    Mr Bobboi Kaigama, the President of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), on Monday called for quick hamonisation of the N30,000 national minimum wage bill to enable President Muhammadu Buhari assent to it.

    Kaigama spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on the implementation of the new minimum wage.

    NAN reports that the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress had urged the President to sign and implement the new wage before the end of the 8th National Assembly.

    The TUC president said that the House of Representatives and the Senate needed to harmonise the agreed sum and pass it to the President for his assent.

    ”The N30,000 figure is one, but the aspect of law might not be the same. There is the need to come together and harmonise, produce a clean copy and forward to Buhari to sign.

    ”If that is not done as soon as possible, it will be difficult for the President to sign and implement the agreed national minimum wage.

    ”The day Buhari signs the new minimum wage bill, it becomes a law effective from that day,” he said.

    The labour chief said that implementation would be seamless since the Federal Government had said that it included its provision in the budget, but might take a while in some states that had not included it in their budget.

    He urged the private sector not to delay its implementation as soon as the bill is enacted into law.

    The TUC president advised the government to look into the issues of punishment for minimum wage defaulters and frequent review of the process.

    He also said that Value Added Tax should not be tied to the implementation of the new wage, particularly in the public sector.

    ”VAT is paid by consumers; it is paid by the lower class, while the business conglomerates and corporate organisations don’t pay appropriate tax.

    ”It is unfair to tell workers who pays appropriate tax that you will tie VAT to minimum wage. The organised labour disagrees with the government,” he said.

    Kaigama said that labour would resist any plan to fund the new minimum wage through increase in VAT.

  • 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.

     

  • New Minimum Wage: We’ll resume talks with NLC, TUC on Sunday – Ngige

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, says conciliation on the national minimum wage will continue on Sunday despite the court injunction restraining organised labour from embarking on strike.

    The National Industrial Court had on Friday ordered the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) labour not to go ahead with the nationwide strike scheduled for November 6.

    Justice Sanusi Kado 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, Dayo Apata.

    The unions had threatened to commence an indefinite strike on November 6 to press for a new minimum wage of N30, 000 for workers.

    The minister in the statement, however, insists that the conciliation meeting involving organised Labour, the organised private sector and government scheduled for Sunday remain unchanged.

    “The conciliation meeting involving the Organised Labour, the Organised Private Sector and Government scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 4 at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation by 6 p.m. is still on course and will hold,’’ he said.

    Mr Ngige said this would be followed by another meeting of the National Tripartite Minimum Wage Committee meeting on Monday, November 5 at the same venue.

    The minister appealed to all tripartite members to attend the meetings in the interest of the nation and finding a solution to the minimum wage impasse.

  • 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…

     

  • Minimum Wage: Organised Labour threatens nationwide strike Nov. 6

    The Organised Labour says it will embark on nationwide strike on November 6, if the Federal Government fails to meet its demand on the new National Minimum Wage of N30,000 agreed upon.
    Mr Ayuba Wabba, President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) made this known in a statement signed with its counterparts, Mr Bobbio Kaigama, President, Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Mr Joe Ajaero, President, United Labour Congress (ULC) on Sunday.
    Recall that the Organised Labour had said that the Tripartite Committee on the New National Minimum Wage had concluded its negotiations and agreed on N30, 000 following an appeal made by Organisation Private Sector (OPS) as what they could afford.
    Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige at the end the Federal Executive meeting, while briefing newsmen, had said that the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage was yet to conclude its negotiations.
    Also recall that the Governors had made a proposal of N20,000 while the Federal Government had offer of N24,000, and that the Federal Government had also initiated a clause “No work, No pay” during strike.
    According to Wabba, we the organised labour in Nigeria having not seen any sign that this government is willing to demonstrate honour and integrity in relating with Nigerian workers and masses.
    “So, we have resolved to organise a one-day of National outrage and mourning, which would be used to sensitise Nigerians on our plight and on the issues at stake.
    “This shall take place in all states of the federation including Abuja on Tuesday, the 30th day of October, 2018 and a meeting of various organs of the Unions will hold as appropriate.
    “On Friday, Nov. 2, a Joint Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting of all the Labour Centres in Nigeria shall hold to receive reports and make final preparations for our ultimate engagement with the Federal Government on this matter.
    “This is the first time in the history of this nation in recent times that such meeting will take place and this goes a long way to show the seriousness with which Nigerian workers and its leadership hold this matter.
    “If nothing is responsibly done by the Federal Government to meet our demands, on Monday, Nov.6 we shall embark on a nationwide strike,’’ he said.
    He added that this would compel government to show more sensitivity to the plight of Nigerians and the suffering that is decimating our people on daily basis.
    Wabba also called on Nigerians and workers not to be discouraged in the struggle for the new National Minimum Wage.
    He explained that it was not true that organised labour had proposed N30,000 as the new national minimum wage.
    “It is also not true that the committee did not agree on a figure during its last sitting. We accepted N30,000 as a compromise to demonstrate the willingness of Nigerian workers to make sacrifices towards nation building.
    “Anything to the contrary no matter the quantum and character of the din or how well couched it may appear cannot be true.
    “Resorting to Goebbelsianism at this time of national emergency, which requires men and women of integrity is rather unfortunate and cannot suddenly make the brazen falsehoods truths.
    “We believe that it has become necessary for the Organised Private Sector (OPS) as represented in the Tripartite Committee to speak up on this matter.
    “Keeping silent in the face of this apparent mischief does our nation no good. It can only help mischief, dishonesty and impunity to grow,” Wabba said.
    The NLC president, however, said it was time for the OPS to rise to the occasion by telling Nigerians what transpired in that meeting.
    Wabba added that they should tell Nigerians whether there was a motion that was seconded on a final figure.
    “If there was a document signaling this agreement that had already been signed by some parties? If also the N30,000 figure was ours or a compromise figure based on proposed scenarios,” he said.
     

  • Ekiti salary crisis: NLC, TUC impose 10-year ban on two Labour leaders

    …Unions remain dissolved,’ says banned officials

    Crisis rocking the Labour movement in Ekiti State deepened on Monday as the state councils of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress (TUC) imposed a ten-year ban on immediate past chairmen, Mr. Ayodeji Aluko and Mr. Kolawole Olaiya, from trade unionism.

    The ten-year ban was imposed on the duo for leading a protest and shutdown of the State Secretariat last Thursday in protest against the arrears of salaries owed workers by the state government.

    Acting on the auspices of Ekiti Workers Rescue Team, Aluko, Olaiya and other labour leaders declared an indefinite strike and passed a resolution dissolving NLC and TUC executives led by Mr. Ade Adesanmi and Mr. Odunayo Adesoye respectively.

    Rising from an emergency congress held at Labour House, Ado-Ekiti on Monday and attended by affiliate unions, the union leaders insisted that Aluko and Olaiya lacked powers to declare strike and dissolve excos of the unions having finished their terms.

    Addressing reporters at the end of the congress, NLC Chairman, Adesanmi, urged security agencies to call Aluko and Olaiya to order accusing the duo of working as agents of destabilization.

    Adesanmi said: “The illegal activities of the aforementioned ex-labour leaders acting under the guise of Ekiti Workers Rescue Team came to a climax on Thursday, August 23 when they gathered thugs and molested workers who were carrying out their legitimate and lawful duties.

    “There is need to ask them whose interest were they protecting, because they didn’t act when workers were owed over eight month salaries. They have never engaged the government to pay pensioners but they only woke up after the July 14 governorship election.

    “Sometimes ago, an administrative panel was set up by the outgoing government of Governor Ayodele Fayose against Comrade Aluko and found him guilty of participating in electioneering in 2015, which was against public service rule. It was the same unions that intervened and ensured that he was pardoned.

    “It is no more news that Comrade Aluko was promoted to the position of Director of Administration at the local government ahead of his seniors and the government looked at this and reverted him to the rightful position. It was clear that this ex-labour leader is aggrieved. But must he hide under non-payment of salary to get at the government?

    “How could labour leaders gathered thugs and pronounced the entire labour structure dissolved. Were they State Executive Council of the labour unions? The two of them are not members of SEC, where now did they derive such powers.

    “With their actions of recent, it is clear that they were only clearing coast for political appointments from the incoming government and not fighting the interest of workers.

    “Following these, they are declared persona non grata in labour circle and they are banned from labour activities for a period of ten years”, he said.

    Reacting to the ban, Aluko maintained that Adesanmi and Adesoye have been proscribed from acting in their positions by workers, having failed to fight for the rights of those that voted them into their respective offices.

    Aluko said Adesoye’s tenure as TUC chairman had lapsed in July, saying he lacked the locus standi to preside over a meeting where any member will be suspended or barred.

    He said: “Can any labour leaders who has been described a persona non grata by the entire workforce preside over a meeting and suspend any member?

    “Two, is the fact that the two labour leaders (Adesanmi and Adesoye) have lost their values. They are enjoying the support of the government, so they can decide to take illegal actions pending the time another government will ascend the throne.

    “But let me say this, workers will send them out of the secretariats by the time this government leaves. TUC Chairman had served out his term, while that of NLC will end in February.

    “I want to assure Adesanmi that he will be the first NLC chairman that won’t complete his term in Ekiti. What he is doing is anti-labour and he shall pay dearly for it.”

  • Workers to know new minimum wage in August – TUC

    The President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Mr Bobboi Kaigama, announced on Wednesday that a new amount agreed on by the Federal Government and labour to serve as Nigeria’s new minimum wage would be announced next month.

    Bobboi, who made the disclosure in an interview with the labour newsmen in Lagos, said that the committee working on the minimum wage had almost concluded negotiations on the matter.

    The Federal Government had set a September date to roll out a new minimum wage for workers, although the Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige, was recently reported as “double-speaking’’ on the issue.

    Civil servants in Nigeria are eagerly awaiting a wage increase after years of enduring a wage structure, described by analysts as one of the lowest in the world.

    But public office holders in Africa’s most populous nation, including members of the bi-cameral parliament enjoy some of the biggest wages in the world, according to analysts.

    Kaigama said that a tripartite committee meeting was holding on Wednesday in Abuja but refused to elaborate on issues being discussed at the meeting.

    “The tripartite meeting is holding today but I do not want to pre-empt the outcome or the level we have reached in our discussions, otherwise there will be unnecessary anxiety.

    ”But by the end of August, I am assuring you that workers will know what the agreed new minimum wage will be, ” he said.

    On Nov. 22, 2017, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the appointment of a 30-member committee to work out a new minimum wage. He inaugurated the committee on Nov. 27.

    Buhari was, subsequently, hailed by workers for listening to their cries for a review of the current N18, 000 minimum wage put in place by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011.

    The labour movement, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the TUC had previously demanded N56, 000 as new minimum wage.

    However, the President of the NLC, Mr Ayuba Wabba later submitted a memorandum to the wage committee, demanding N66, 500 “living wage’’.

    Wabba said the living wage was necessary to restore confidence for workers, whom he said, had been devastated by years of exploitation and enduring slave wage.

    The committee negotiating the new wage is made up of representatives of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, the TUC/NLC and the government, represented by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

  • Strike: Cross River threatens no work no pay

    Strike: Cross River threatens no work no pay

    Cross Rivers state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Joe Abang, has said the State will invoke the no work no pay policy of the federal government over a planned strike by Ministry of Justice workers.

    TheNewsGuru reports workers in the state ministry of justice under the aegis of Law Officers Association of Nigeria (LOAN) planned on shutting down the ministry of justice on Monday the 2nd of July 2018.

    The workers are claiming the Government of CRS has approved but not implemented the harmonization of their salaries with that of Judicial Officers in the Magistrate cadre.

    The Justice Commissioner in a statement on Sunday said, “This issue is in the 2018 Budget and presently being handled by the HOS Barr Ekpenyong Henshaw and the Accountant General of CRS”.

    He further stated that “The SA Labour to the Governor has said this group is not part of NLC and TUC and therefore cannot declare a strike against a Governor who has performed creditably well!”

    “We, therefore, urge the general public and the service to ignore anybody claiming to or purporting to be in support of this group. Our Digital Governor remains open to negotiations in this respect.

    “But the Attorney General and commissioner for justice CRS will not hesitate to implement the “No work No pay policy” of the Federal government should the need arise,” he added.

     

  • Rivers Govt. gives N3.6 billion to SMEs, civil servants

    Rivers Govt. gives N3.6 billion to SMEs, civil servants

    The Rivers state government has approved an annual interest-free loan disbursement to the tune of N3,600,000,000.00 (three billion, six hundred thousand naira) for small businesses and civil servants in the State.

    The State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, made this known in an address during the 2018 Workers Day celebrations in Port Harcourt, where he also charged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to occupy Nigeria.

    “We have approved an interest-free revolving loan scheme for civil servants. The annual sum earmarked for this programme is N1,200,000,000.00 (one billion two hundred naira) only, with a monthly disbursement of N100,000,000.00 (one hundred million naira only).

    “We have also approved another interest-free loan for owners of small businesses to access to enhance their businesses, create jobs and grow the economy. An annual sum of N2, 400,000,000.00 (two billion four hundred million) only, has been set-aside for this purpose with a monthly disbursement of N200, 000,000.00 (two hundred million naira) only,” the Governor said.

    He said the State is investing in building a strong economy that will enable workers earn decent wages, empower entrepreneurs to create jobs and provide improved livelihood opportunities for Rivers people.

    The governor said that his administration is already working to fix some of the subsisting challenges, including the contributory pension scheme, the contributory health insurance scheme and the payment of gratuities to retired civil servants.

    At the Workers Day celebration, the Governor also announced a donation of N100 million to the NLC and the TUC and said the State Government will construct State Secretariats for the different labour unions.

    In her address, the Rivers State Chairman of the NLC, Mrs Beatrice Otubo commended Governor Wike for his regular payment of salaries and pensions.

    ALSO READ | Gov. Wike urges NLC, TUC to ‘Occupy Nigeria’

    She urged the governor to take steps to resolve the challenges surrounding the contributory pension scheme and gratuity to retired civil servants. The labour leader also commended the Governor for his outstanding developmental strides.

    Chairman of the TUC in Rivers State, Mr Austin Jonah lauded the Rivers State Governor for his numerous infrastructural and development projects across the state.

    The Workers Day was marked by parade by all the affiliate trade unions in the state, with Governor Wike taking the official salute.