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Tag: TUC

  • Strike: What we want – NLC, TUC

    Strike: What we want – NLC, TUC

    Organised labour on Thursday issued a 14-day ultimatum to the federal government to implement a 16-point agreement.

    The ultimatum begins on Feb. 9, according to a statement jointly signed by NLC president, Mr Joe Ajaero, and Mr Festus Osifo, President, Trade Union Congress (TUC).

    Organised labour and the Federal Government reached a 16-point agreement on Oct. 2, 2023 to address hardships occasioned by fuel subsidy removal and other issues.

    In their statement on Thursday, the NLC and the TUC expressed concern over the non-implementation of the October 2023 agreement.

    “In spite of the passage of time, majority of these agreements remain unmet or negligibly addressed, indicating a disregard for the principles of good faith, welfare and rights of Nigerian workers and Nigerians.

    “Government’s failure to uphold its end of the bargain is deeply regrettable and unacceptable to the working people and the citizenry.

    “Recognising the imperative of ensuring and protecting the rights and dignity of Nigerians, the NLC and TUC hereby issue an ultimatum to the Federal Government to honour its part of the agreement within 14 days.

    “The ultimatum begins to count from Feb. 9,’’ the labour leaders stated.

    They noted that the agreement focused on addressing the general harsh socioeconomic consequences of the hike in the price of petrol and the devaluation of the naira.

    They noted also that the dual policies had dire economic consequences for the masses and for Nigerian workers.

    “Widespread hunger is now ravishing millions of Nigerians, with workers’ purchasing power significantly eroded, while insecurity has assumed an increasing dimension.

    “Nigerians are left wondering where their next meals will come from and what tomorrow might bring.

    “The level of panic and anxiety amongst the populace has become nightmarish,’’ they stressed.

    The labour leaders demanded that everything must be done within the two weeks to avoid a situation where further proper appropriate steps would be taken to protect Nigerian workers and the masses.

    “We call on the Federal Government to honour its commitments without delay. The time for empty promises and excuses has passed.

    “The time for action is now. Our patience has worn thin and the situation has become unbearable for workers and masses all over the federation.

    “Further silence amounts to committing mass suicide and this remains the only feasible course of action left for us and Nigerians to compel remedial action by government,’’ they also stated.

  • BREAKING: NLC, TUC issue FG strike notice

    BREAKING: NLC, TUC issue FG strike notice

    The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have issued a strike notice to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports both NLC and TUC gave the federal government a notice of a nationwide strike, effective in 14 days.

    The strike notice stemmed from the failure of the government to carry out the 16-point agreement reached with organized labour on October 2, 2023.

    The leaders of the NLC and TUC have expressed concern that, despite the diligent efforts of organized labor to promote harmony in the workplace, the government appears unaffected by the widespread suffering and hardship.

    NLC and TUC, in a statement, lamented that “it is regrettable that we are compelled to resort to such measures, but the persistent neglect of the welfare of citizens and Nigerian workers and the massive hardship leave us with no choice.”

    “Constrained by this development and recognising the urgency of the situation and the imperative of ensuring the protection and defence of the rights and dignity of Nigerian workers and citizens, the NLC and TUC hereby issue a stern ultimatum to the Federal Government to honour their part of the understanding within 14 days from tomorrow, the 9th day of February 2024.”

  • TUC sends strong warning to Tinubu

    TUC sends strong warning to Tinubu

    The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has urged the Federal Government to implement all agreements reached with the organised labour in 2023.

    The TUC president, Festus Osifo, gave the charge in a 2024 new year message titled “Our hope not renewed yet” which was jointly signed by Nuhu Toro, secretary-general of the union on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Osifo said the TUC had in 2023 strived to ensure that social dialogue with the federal government prevailed, but they have failed to implement simple basic agreements with Labour.

    He said that labour had insisted that the Oct. 2, 2023 agreements between them and the administration be notarised by the court.

    “However, government has serially violated the agreements. For instance, Item two states clearly that: ‘A minimum wage committee shall be inaugurated within one month from the date of this agreement.

    “Today, three months after, no such committee has been set up and this is our experience with this government in at least two previous agreements reached from June.

    “TUC has resolved to demand of the Tinubu administration that in 2024, all agreements between labour and government should be implemented.

    “This include the payment of the monthly N35,000 Wage Award to Public Servants in the Local Government, State and Federal services.

    “These must be implemented until a new National Minimum Wage is implemented.

    Osifo said that a new National Minimum Wage must be negotiated, implemented, and if further delayed in the year, arrears must be paid.

    He noted that Inflation, which was running at 28.20 per cent, must be drastically reduced to the Sub-Saharan African regional average of 9.4 per cent.

    The TUC president urged the governments at state and federal levels to stop the unnecessary, economically-unwise and unpatriotic tradition of taking loans.

    “This is especially when these loans only end up being used to purchase thousands of expensive jeeps for legislators, pampered members of the Executive and their spouses,among others,” he said.

    He urged government to stop its ill-advised devaluation of the national currency, that is precipitating the collapse of local industries which need foreign exchange to import raw materials.

     

     

  • Minimum Wage: TUC urges FG to implement agreements reached with Labour in 2023

    Minimum Wage: TUC urges FG to implement agreements reached with Labour in 2023

    The Trade Union Congress(TUC) has urged the Federal Government to implement all agreements reached with  the organised labour in 2023, especially the National Minimum Wage.

    Mr Festus Osifo, TUC President, said this in a 2024 new year message jointly signed by Mr Nuhu Toro, Secretary General of the union on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The message is titled,”Our hope not renewed yet’

    Osifo said the TUC had in 2023 strived to ensure that social dialogue with the federal government prevailed, but they have failed to implement simple basic agreements with Labour.

    He said that labour had insisted that the Oct. 2, 2023 agreements between them and the administration be notarised by the court.

    “However, government has serially violated the agreements. For instance, Item two states clearly that: “A minimum wage committee shall be inaugurated within one month from the date of this agreement.”

    “Today, three months after, no such committee has been set up and this is our experience with this government in at least two previous agreements reached from June.

    “TUC has resolved to demand of the Tinubu administration that in 2024, all agreements between labour and government should be implemented.

    “This include the payment of the monthly N35,000 Wage Award to Public Servants in the Local Government, State and Federal services.

    “These must be implemented until a new National Minimum Wage is implemented,”he said.

    Osifo  said that a new National Minimum Wage must be negotiated, implemented, and if further delayed in the year, arrears must be paid.

    He noted that Inflation, which was running at 28.20 per cent, must be drastically reduced to the Sub-Saharan African regional average of 9.4 per cent.

    The TUC president urged the governments at state and federal levels to stop the unnecessary, economically-unwise and unpatriotic tradition of taking loans.

    “This is especially when these loans only end up being used to purchase thousands of expensive jeeps for legislators, pampered members of the Executive and their spouses,among others,”he said.

    He urged government to stop its ill-advised devaluation of the national currency, that is precipitating the collapse of local industries which need foreign exchange to import raw materials.

    Osifo added that this have led to mega inflation in the import-dependent economy.

    The TUC president also called for the stoppage of the sale of the Naira in the streets due to the Central Bank-induced scarcity.

    Osifo added that this was possible, provided government ensures adequate supply of Naira notes in the banking system.

    He also called for drastic reduction in the price of PMS to repair the damage done to the economy and by ensuring local production of refine products.

    Osifo said   that the security of Nigerians should be the yard stick with which to determine whether military, security chiefs and others should remain in office or be replaced.

    He urged Tinubu  to sanction officials for serious security breaches such as the December, 2023 massacres in Plateau.

    He  said Community Policing should be prioritised alongside the mobilisation of the citizenry to defend themselves against bandits, among others.

    “The Year 2024 holds a lot of promise for us all provided Nigerians as a people would unite and assert our authority over all powers.

    “These include the Nigerian ruling class manning all branches, levels, institutions and organs of government,”he said.

  • Reps to intervene in labour strike

    Reps to intervene in labour strike

    The House of Representatives has resolved to interface with the Senate, toward finding lasting solution to the ongoing strike by the organised labour.

    The resolution was reached during plenary in Abuja on Wednesday following the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance, by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Rep. Benjamin Kalu.

    Moving the motion, Kalu made reference to the content of the recently launched legislative agenda of the 10th House, urging the house to engage with the Senate and the organised labour to find lasting solution to the problem.

    He also urged the NLC to have faith in the parliament and agree to a dialogue.

    “I pray that the National Labour Congress, NLC and all the unions in Nigeria that they should trust us once again. That we will use diplomacy where necessary to engage as usual.

    “They should trust us again to come together to find lasting solution for their pain.

    “We can dialogue, I pray for the House leadership and that of the Senate sit with this aggrieved NLC, as soon as possible to enable us find lasting solution to their need,” he said.

    Lawmakers took turn to contribute to the debate, saying that the strike had resulted in untold hardship on Nigerians and appealed to the labour to call it off.

    In his ruling, the Speaker, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen who presided over said that the leadership of the House would meet with the senate on the issue.
    Tajudeen said the action was to ensure that urgent steps were taken to end the strike.

  • Nationwide strike affecting electricity supply to South-East – EEDC

    Nationwide strike affecting electricity supply to South-East – EEDC

    The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), says the loss of electricity supply currently experienced in some parts of the South-East is as a result of the ongoing nationwide strike by organised labour.

    On Wednesday, the taskforce team of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) visited the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) stations, forced workers out, including its interface Distribution Substation Officers (DSO) and shutdown the stations.

    The Head, Corporate Communications of EEDC, Mr Emeka Ezeh, said in a statement on Wednesday, that the action resulted in loss of supply from the New Haven, Abakaliki, Ugwuaji, Oji River, Agu Awka, Nibo, Ohiya, and Awada TCN stations.

    Ezeh said that consequently, the entire Enugu, Ebonyi, and Anambra States and Umuahia District in Abia State are without electricity supply.

    According to him, currently, Nru TCN Station, Nsukka, fed from Otukpo axis is the only station still with electricity supply in our entire network.

    “It will be recalled that our customers in Imo State have been without electricity supply since Nov. 1, 2023, following a faceoff between Organised Labour and the Imo State government which led to the shutdown of Egbu TCN Station, our source of supply.

    “We are aware of the inconveniences this development has caused our customers and plead for their understanding, as the situation is beyond us.

    “We are hopeful that the issue will be resolved soon so we can restore supply to our esteemed customers,” he said.

  • There’s no Court order against ongoing strike, says TUC

    There’s no Court order against ongoing strike, says TUC

    The Organised Labour has explained that it did not receive any court order stopping the ongoing nationwide strike that began on Tuesday.

    It also accused the government of repeatedly flouting court orders, all the while, demanding strict adherence to judicial rulings from other institutions.

    “Yes, we don’t have a service on the court order but we have a government today who perpetually does not obey court orders. When DSS was holding Emefiele, how many court orders were passed for Emefiele to be released? Countless number of them,” TUC President Festus Osifo, who spoke on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme, said on Wednesday.

    The labour leader has announced that once the unions receive a court order regarding the ongoing strike, they will consult with their legal team and make a decision accordingly.

    “We have a state that refuses to obey court orders. You now expect others to obey court orders but once we see it, we are responsible institutions, we will not say because the Federal Government continuously violate court institution, we will examine it and if it is the right thing for us to do, yes, we will,” he said.

    The Nigeria Labour Congress and the TUC on Monday ordered their affiliates to withdraw their services nationwide from midnight on November 14, 2023.

    The Press reports that the Federal Government, the Attorney General of the Federation, and the Minister of Justice filed an ex-parte application praying the court to stop the unions from embarking on the planned strike.

    In his ruling, the President of the Court, Justice Benedict Kanyip, cited Sections 17 and 19 of the National Industrial Court Act and ordered the unions to stop their nationwide strike.

    Unions across the country initiated a nationwide strike on Tuesday, in a bid to demand justice following an assault on Joe Ajaero, the President of the NLC, which took place in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, on November 1, 2023.

    Workers in several states joined the strike, shutting down activities at several government-owned facilities.

    Partial compliance was observed in certain states as the industrial action unfolded, with a number of workers choosing to carry on with their regular duties.

  • Strike: Oshiomhole schools labour unions

    Strike: Oshiomhole schools labour unions

    Former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Senator Adams Oshiomhole has cautioned labour unions in the country not to mix political opinion with their primary responsibilities.

    Oshiomhole, who is the Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, stated this while fielding questions from State House Correspondents shortly after he paid a solidarity visit to the Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The Trade Union Congress(TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had on November 13, directed all affiliates to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike.

    The strike was called to press home their demands, especially the “non comment by the Federal Government over the brutalising of the NLC President, Joe Ajaero by security agents and hoodlums in Imo”.

    Reacting to the strike, Oshiomhole said ”unfortunately, this strike is not about those issues affecting the Nigerian workers.

    “And I think we have to be careful not to mix our political opinion with our responsibilities, because the issues confronting workers are so many that they should become the priority.

    ”Labour cannot be apolitical because politics is about the people. And I have argued when I was in NLC that nobody has a right to be partisan, much more than those who turn the will of our industrial progress.

    ”But in saying that, we must recognise that however how hard you try, when it comes to politics, people are going to have different reasons for supporting different candidates”.

    The lawmaker also cautioned labour unions to be careful and avoid doing the bidding of a particular candidate or a political party.

    ”As a worker in the Senate, I don’t pretend over the fact that my first constituency, my permanent constituency, is labour.

    ”I can be removed as Chairman of APC as I was removed. But I couldn’t have been removed as a labourer. I remain labour in heart and labour in views, and labour in my aspirations.

    ”I will expect that even as we speak now that the issues that will appeal to me will be the fact that as we speak, we have states that are not paying N30,000. And those states are not being mobilised to go on strike.

    ”The Federal Government had granted N35,000 increase and those discussions were supposed to be for and on behalf of not only the federal government, but on behalf of all workers in Nigeria.

    ”Including those employed by the Local and State governments. And the additional revenue accruing from the withdrawal of subsidy trickles down to the state and to the local government.

    ”Now, I would have wished that the NLC recognise that the hunger in the stomach of federal employees is not any worse than the hunger in the stomach of those state employees, nor local government employees.

    ”If these are the issues on the table, even as a Senator I will publicly support an action against any government that thinks that we should lament away our hunger and while the people do what they do,” Oshiomhole said.

    He, however, declared that he doesn’t support the brutalisation of any Nigerian, including a journalist, the unemployed and a labour leader.

    ”But I’m saying in terms of what you might call the hierarchy of needs and challenges that we face, I think that NLC should robustly engage all the state governors or the state governments, who are not implementing the agreement that was midwived courtesy of a national strike, not a federal government’s employees strike.

    ”So if you mobilise private sector workers, state employees workers, local government workers, and now there is an agreement on N35,000 across the board. I want to see NLC saying there will be no sleep in any state where this is not being implemented. That is all I can say,” Oshiomhole said.

  • BREAKING: Labour declares total nationwide strike after attack on NLC President

    BREAKING: Labour declares total nationwide strike after attack on NLC President

    Following the attack on the President President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, organised labour in the country has declared total nationwide shut down.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the leadership of the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) declared a total nationwide strike effective next Tuesday, November 14, 2023.

    The leadership of the two unions reached the resolution after an extraordinary National Executive Council meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The two major labour unions said nationwide mobilisation of members and allies had begun immediately.

  • Labour party supports NLC, TUC over calls for immediate removal of Imo CP

    Labour party supports NLC, TUC over calls for immediate removal of Imo CP

    The Labour Party has backed the calls by the Nigeria Labour Congress to redeploy the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Stephen Olarewaju.

    The National Publicity Secretary of Labour party, Obiora Ifoh, made this known via  a statement signed and released by him on behalf of the party on Saturday.

    Recall that  the president of NLC, Ajaero was in Owerri on Wednesday to mobilize workers for a protest over unpaid salaries in Imo State, he was allegedly kidnapped and brutalized by the police.

    The leadership of the NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC had on Friday, issued a 5-day ultimatum to the federal government to remove the police boss over his alleged involvement in the attack.

    The Labour Party, while reacting to the attack on Ajaero, said the police structure in Imo State must be rejigged.

    The statement reads partly, “On that note, the Labour Party is aligning with the leadership of NLC and TUC to demand the immediate removal of the Commissioner of Police, Imo State, the Area Commander, and other officials who are believed to be involved in the mistreatment and degradation of Comrade Ajaero and fellow workers.

    “The Labour Party had a few months ago petitioned the Chairman Police Service Commission on the continued stay in office and discharge of duties of the present Commissioner of Police in Imo state who once held sway of the Adamawa State Police Command. Even against the directive of the Commission that the CP be redeployed immediately, he has blatantly disregarded the order.

    “We are using this medium to call on the Police hierarchy to immediately rejig the entire police structure in Imo state. Their role in the attack on Labour Union leaders was done in bad faith and unmistakable evidence that someone is clearly blowing the trumpet they are dancing”.