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Tag: TUC

  • Minimum wage: Nigeria workers living in denial – Gov. Soludo

    Minimum wage: Nigeria workers living in denial – Gov. Soludo

    Anambra Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, said that the N30,000 national minimum wage for Nigerian workers is grossly insufficient to sustain the average worker and his family.

    Soludo stated this while addressing the state workers during the 2023 May Day celebration held at Dr Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, on Monday.

    According to him, “paying N30,000 national minimum wage to Nigerian workers is subjecting them to living in denial.

    “I say this because the amount cannot afford a bag of 50kg rice, let alone other domestic problems staring families on the face on daily basis,” he said.

    The governor who was responding to the litany of challenges reeled out by the chairmen of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, said he recently raised the salaries of workers by 10 per cent to cushion the effects of inflation on workers.

    He said that as an expert in economics, he was aware of inflation in our economy which had made workers to be in serious pains given what they earn as salaries.

    Soludo used the medium to direct the state workers to end the Monday sit-at-home which he noted was becoming a cheating on government.

    “In more than a year now, workers in Anambra and other states in the South-East no longer work on Mondays and this has made it for them to work for 70/80 per cent monthly, while they receive their monies 100 per cent.

    “This can no longer continue because it is like it has become a convenient excuse and we must get our state back on track,” he said.

    Soludo said, under his watch, any worker who retires must get his or her retirement benefits.

    He also assured that he would continue to pay monthly salaries in addition to other projects.

    He told the labour leaders that the option available for him to implement the enhanced wages being clamoured for was for the government to reduce the workforce by half.

    Soludo who commended the state workers for their commitment appealed to them to do more as he will ensure that they get better welfare once the state revenue increased.

    Earlier, Humphrey Nwafor and Chris Ogbonna, both NLC and TUC state chairmen, respectively, had in their separate addresses listed challenges facing workers in the state.

    They maintained that wages received by Anambra workers cannot feed them and their families, while appealing that those due for promotions should be promoted.

  • May Day: TUC protests as FCDA denies union use of Eagle Square

    May Day: TUC protests as FCDA denies union use of Eagle Square

    The Trade Union Congress (TUC), has protested the last minute order denying organised labour the use of Eagle Square as venue for the May 1, Workers Day rally.

    Mr Festus Osifoh, TUC President, made the union’s position known while addressing newsmen at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC), meeting which held on Friday night in Abuja.

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), had also earlier, kicked against the order by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), denying labour unions the use of the venue for the May Day rally.

    Osifoh recalled that a letter was received from the Abuja Investment Company, a subsidiary of the FCDA, informing organised labour of the withdrawal of the permit granted it for holding the May Day rally in Abuja, on Monday.

    According to the TUC helmsman, the union rejects the last minute change of venue for the Workers’ Day rally.

    “One of the agencies under the FCTA communicated to us that the Eagles Square will not be available for our May Day parade on Monday.

    “But suffice to note that this is not the first time that we will be holding May Day parade at the Eagle Square, and swearing in would follow on May 29.

    “This has been taking place since 1999, and we have always had a way of carrying out our parade before they go ahead with their preparations for hand-over.

    “May 1, is four weeks away from the handing over date, but our government is telling us that political considerations are much more important than the issues of workers,” he said.

    Osifoh expressed disappointment with the Federal Government, for putting political considerations above workers’ interests and welfare, insisting that the congress believed that workers’ issues should be prioritised.

    According to him, the organised Labour rejects offers of other alternatives, saying; “they have asked us to go to the Old Parade Ground, and we are not going”.

    “If they are not giving us the place that we have been using for this event, then we will wait and at the appropriate time, we will answer them.

    Osifoh also said the congress condemned the alleged last minute move by the Federal Government to privatise institutions, including federal medical centres, NIPOST and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

    He stressed that Nigerian workers would resist any plan to sell the assets of public-owned establishments, especially at the twilight of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

    “TUC is opposed to plans by the Federal Government to privatise NIPOST and to strip the entity of its assets, handing them over to private concerns.

    “We say no to this, and it is fundamentally not correct because NIPOST is a national asset.

    He alleged that the Federal Ministry of Finance had released N8 billion for the proposed privatisation plan, and which large part would be given to private companies that would manage the assets.

    “We call on the government not to disburse that money, but to keep it and let the incoming administration have proper deliberations on the right course of action,” he said.

    On the operations of the transport sector, specifically in Lagos state, the TUC urged the state government to immediately return the parks to Road Transport Owners Association of Nigeria (RETAN), as ordered by the court.

  • Labour reacts to suspension of fuel subsidy removal

    Labour reacts to suspension of fuel subsidy removal

    The Organised Labour have described the Federal Government’s decision to suspend the removal of fuel subsidy as the “best option”.

    Mr Benson Upah, Head of Information, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said this to newsmen while reacting to the recent suspension of the subsidy removal by the Federal Government on Thursday in Abuja.

    It would be recalled that earlier, the National Economic Council (NEC) had planned for the removal of subsidy on petroleum product.

    According to Upah, we are glad that they have begun to see the light and decided to do the right thing.

    “Because the path they wanted to toe on the detriment of the ordinary Nigerians would have set the country on fire.

    “There would have been instantaneous reaction. Of course, we would have been glad to coordinate those reactions.

    “But happily, they have beginning to see the light. Our advice would be that they should take a lesson from the document we gave them on the so-called fuel subsidy removal.

    The answer cannot be far from domestic production,’’ he said.

    He said the decision would enable all the corruption building into the system to be minimised.

    Upah, therefore, called on the Federal Government to fix the existing refineries or build new ones, instead of importing refined petroleum products.

    Also, Mr Nuhu Toro, Secretary General, Trade Union Congress (TUC) on his part said that the Federal Government’s decision to suspend fuel subsidy removal was a good move.

    “Though it’s coming late but the Federal government’s decision to suspend the move to remove fuel subsidy has alluded to the fact that such harsh economic policy ought to have been a product of social dialogue which was not done.

    “We told Nigerians earlier on that the policy is ill-timed and is not acceptable. So it is good that the government has done a U-turn because the policy cannot be forced down our throat, ‘’he said.

    Toro said that it was good that the government had to rethink its decision on the removal of fuel subsidy.

    He also added that refurbishing the existing refineries and production of petroleum products in our country is in the best interest of the country because of the huge advantages.

    “First, it would create jobs, make the petroleum products available for consumption and probably reduce the price of the products. It will also guarantee foreign direct investment and make Nigeria a better of place.

    “We are confused that our refineries are not working and we have asked over time, why are the refineries not working.

    “So there is a strong need for a deliberate effort by the incoming government to ensure that our refineries work.

    “All the monies they claim goes to the process of deregulation can actually be utilised to make our refineries functiona,’’he said.

    He added that the decision to revise that policy had further vindicated Nigerians as this was the right thing.

    He however, charged the incoming government that the instrumentality of social dialogue should be leveraged upon on issues that affect the general project of Nigeria, adding that the voice and interest of Nigerians could be accommodated.

    “Policies should not just be drafted overnight and pushed through people’s throat. Nigeria belongs to all of us.

    “We are all critical stakeholders and must be part decision making and implementation body to ensuring that our country move forward,’’ he said.

  • What politicians can teach labour leaders – By Owei Lakemfa

    What politicians can teach labour leaders – By Owei Lakemfa

    INTRIGUING. I mean the topic leaders of the Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association, FOBTOB asked me speak on. ‘Trade Union Leadership: Lessons to be learnt from or Taught to the Political Class.’ I know a lot of lessons politicians can teach labour leaders, but scratch my head what the latter can teach our tribe of political leaders.

    It is not really that they are two diametrically opposed societies. Parties and unions actually have similarities such as being mass-based organisations with members who are expected to pay dues. Also, both movements are expected to be democratic organisations whose existence are specifically guaranteed by Section 40 of the constitution.

    Trade unionism and partisan politics in the country belong to the same age grade. The first formal union, the Southern Nigeria Civil Service Union was registered on  August 19, 1912, that is two years before Nigeria formally came into existence. The first  labour centre, the Federated Trade Unions of Nigeria, FTUN, created  on November 23, 1942 came into existence two years before the first pan-Nigeria political party, the National Council of Nigeria and Cameroons, NCNC was born. Also, trade unions established their own political parties to contest elections. These include  the 1950 Labour Party led by Michael Imoudu, and the Socialist Workers and Farmers Party of Nigeria, SWFPN, founded in 1964 by the Nigeria Trade Union Congress, NTUC and the Nigeria Youth Congress.

    Towards the Second Republic, Wahab Omorilewa Goodluck, the 1975 President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, founded the Socialist Workers’ Peoples Party. With the return to civil rule, the NLC in 2002, founded the Party for Social Democracy, PSD, which was renamed the Labour Party. The trade union leaders do not consider partisan politics an alien territory which they had to avoid or procure a visa to enter.

    They were part and parcel of partisan politics. There were trade union leaders who contested and won parliamentary elections in the First Republic. These included Haroon Popoola Adebola the former President of the United  Labour Congress, ULC, and Samuel Udoh Bassey, General Secretary of the Nigeria Trade Union Congress, NTUC.

    Nduka Eze, General Secretary of both the Mercantile Workers Union and the NLC, was elected into the Lagos Municipal Council on the NCNC platform. In the Second Republic, he was Secretary General of the Great Nigeria Peoples Party, GNPP. Perhaps the most famous Nigerian trade unionist who went into partisan politics was Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo, founder of  the Nigeria Produce Traders Association and who was also Secretary of the Nigeria Motor Transport Union (precursor  of the current National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW). Awolowo was also an Executive Member of the TUC and Editor of the TUC Workers journal. He was elected Premier of the Western Region in 1954, a position he held until 1959 when he went to the Federal level as leader of opposition.

    Another famous unionist was Malam Aminu Kano, a teacher and leader of the Northern Nigeria Teachers Association. He was a minister and founder of the Second Republic’s  Peoples Redemption Party, PRP. In the Second Republic were Senators Joseph Ansa, Chairman of the Senate Labour Committee and Ayoola Adeleke, former scribe  of the Nigeria Nurses Association, and Assistant Secretary-General of the NLC. One of his sons, Senator Isiaka Adeleke later became  Governor of Osun State while a second son, Senator Ademola Adeleke is the Governor-Elect of the state. In the House was Hon Yunusa Kaltugo, former President of the ULC.

    In contemporary times, a number of trade union leaders also became political leaders in the country. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT in Niger State became a two-term governor. Ibrahim Shekarau, a leader of the NUT, who was also President of the All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools, ANCOPS was Kano State Governor and Education Minister. Adams Aliu Oshiomhole was President of the NLC for eight years, Governor of Edo State for eight years from 2008 and for two years, the National Chairman of the ruling All Peoples Congress, APC, until 2020.

    Despite this affinity, I think there are specific lessons politicians can teach trade union leaders including tenacity as symbolised by President Muhammadu Buhari. He was twice the presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, then, that of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, and finally, that of the All Peoples Congress, APC, in 2015 when he finally won, after a 12-year pursuit!

    Adaptability is another lesson. Alhaji Abubakar Atiku was in the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP  before decamping to the Action Congress, AC, on whose platform he contested the 2007 elections. He returned to the PDP, then decamped to the APC before returning  to the PDP for a third time and has been its  presidential candidate for  the 2019 and 2023 elections.

    Also, politicians are incredibly optimistic. President Goodluck Jonathan was defeated by President Buhari in 2015. He was demonised by the APC as the epitome of corruption and  cluelessness and the curse that allegedly brought the country to its knees. Seven years later, he aspired to be the presidential candidate, not of PDP, but APC! Politicians also have clarity. They make all sorts of compromises but keep their eyes on the ball. They stick to their strategic objectives with eyes on outcomes. Unlike labour leaders, politicians deploy all available assets and resources to attain their objectives. Politicians also  set goals including short, medium and long term.

    It is difficult to decipher the motives of politicians; their ultimate objective is to win or gain power while the trade union leader is contented with small, economistic gains like higher minimum wage. They tend to read situations and make tactical moves. This is how Mr. Peter Obi who was never in the Labour Movement, is today the presidential candidate of the Labour Party. He was not even a member of the party! Politicians are always building and rebuilding alliances. Trade unions can do likewise especially with groups outside the movement.

    They  are always conscious of their class. They understand their interests, and, work with those with similar interests. Politicians are ever holding  town hall meetings and rallies  to hear from their members and supporters and  mobilise them. Politicians build multiple streams of income while trade unions tend to rely primarily on check-off deductions. They in the main, assume they know it all.

    Many trade unions run education and enlightenment programmes for their members and leaders at various levels. In contrast, politicians are not comfortable with having an educated and enlightened followership. Trade union leaders have lessons to teach politicians, but how  do you teach a class that does not want lessons from anybody least of all from  trade union leaders? I rest my case.

  • Vote credible personalities come 2023 general elections, TUC urges Nigerians (photos)

    Vote credible personalities come 2023 general elections, TUC urges Nigerians (photos)

     

    …as CRS council elects new EXCO

     

    Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Cross River State, has advised civil societies and Nigerians not to sit on the fence but participate and vote for credible personalities in the coming 2023 general elections.

    The state Chairman, Mr. Monday Ogbodum who was declared unopposed made the call on Wednesday during the 6thTriennial Delegates Conference in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State.

    According to him, those crops of leaders in the country have failed Nigerians as he called on citizens to brace up and make effective change with their PVC in the coming general elections.

    Lamenting on the harsh economic situation in the country, the state TUC Chairman said there is an urgent need to enthroned transformative governance through democratic emergence of competent and visionary leaders at all a level.

    The crops of leaders in the country have failed Nigerians. May I at this junction call on workers, civil societies and indeed Nigerians to breeze up, hold the bull by the horns, to effect and change the narratives by voting personality, Nigerian with vision come 2023.

    “We can’t continue this way, you and I and all of us must be challenge, don’t sit on the fence, come out and participate and exercise your civil responsibility come 2023.” He charged.

    On his achievement in the past years, he said his administration had been able to fast track the implementations of Civil Servants who were promoted in 2016 without implementation and approval and release of N200,000 million for payment of gratuities that was left unattended to since 2014.

    He however commended the state government for lifting the embargo on employment of civil servants by granting approval for fresh employment into the civil service.

    In his remark, the National President, TUC, Mr. Festus Osifo who was represented by Mr. Tony Mokwenye called on the Cross River State government to implement the new minimum wage to ease the sufferings of civil servants especially as the country is facing harsh economy.

    Speaking also, the state Governor, Senator Ben Ayade who was represented by the Head of Service (HoS) Mr. Timothy Akwaji, congratulated the union for a successful end of leadership term and a peaceful election of leaders into office.

    He however stated that the governor has always placed a premium on the welfare of workers by paying salaries regularly.

    He added, “Yes, there are challenges, as we sit down here, there are states in Nigeria owing salaries up to one year but in Cross River State, our story is not as bad as that and we will continue to do the needful. Giving the challenges that we have concerning payment of gratuities that is being address.” he assured.

    Similarly, the 6th Triennial Congress also ushered in a fresh executive that will pilot the affairs of the Union for the next three years.

    The Chairman, Com. Monday Ogbodum returned unopposed and Com. Gabriel Effiong as Vice Chairman while Com. Ken Bassey as Secretary.

    Others include Com. ( Dr ) Joseph Ewa as assistant Secretary, Moses Ekpo , treasurer , Itoro Anselem, Com.(Dr) Bassey Icha as PRO , Com Celestine Ogbu Auditor , Com. Clarkson Otu ex-officio, Com Mustapha Okon Auditor II.

    While Com. ( Mrs ) Josephine Abobi is Chairperson women Commission and Com. ( Mrs) Regina Odunsi is Secretary women Commission.

    In his acceptance speech, the newly sworn in Chairman, Com Monday Ogbodum said he was committed to the welfare of workers in the state while urging them to always verify information before sharing.

    Ogbodum however assured the union of a more robust council as he seeks for total support of members,

    He also promised to ensure that all their entitlement as civil servants would be given to them.

    “I can’t do it on my own, I need the support of every worker in Cross River state, I want to also beg you to desist from sharing unverified information to avoid unnecessary panic in the system,” he said.

    #

  • What FG should do to remove fuel subsidy – TUC president

    What FG should do to remove fuel subsidy – TUC president

    Mr Festus Osifo, president, Trade Union Congress (TUC), says Nigerians are not averse to the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) but waiting for the government to win their trust over the issue.

    Osifo spoke during a panel session at the Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria (NAEC) Strategic International Conference on Thursday in Lagos.

    The topic of the session was “Energy Transition, PIA, Petroleum Pricing and the Way Forward for the Downstream Sector.”

    He noted that majority of Nigerians were not really interested in energy transition but were only concerned about affordable and reliable energy.

    Osifo, who is also the president of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), noted that the downstream sector had not achieved its potential due to the thorny issue of PMS subsidy.

    He said apart from communicating with the people to create an attitudinal change, the government must lead by example by cutting out wastage and making sacrifices that would help Nigeria overcome its economic challenges.

    “The Presidency should come out and say that they are reducing their budget. The National Assembly also needs to do so. That is leading by example.

    “Nigerians are not really averse to the subsidy removal but the government must be ready to demonstrate not just by talking but by doing and by acting.

    “The government must demonstrate that if subsidy must go, this must reflect in our education, it must reflect in our healthcare and also our level of infrastructure.

    “So, the trust deficit that Nigerians have must be addressed before we can make any progress,” Osifo said.

    However, Mr Olumide Adeosun, Chairman, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), called for a phased removal of PMS subsidy to mitigate its impact on ordinary Nigerians.

    Adeosun, who was represented by Mr Clement Isong, Executive Secretary, MOMAN, said the N5 trillion subsidy payment by the government was unsustainable and putting a huge strain on the nation’s forex reserves.

    He said the best option was to fully deregulate the sector and allow market forces to determine the price while also investing the subsidy gains in other critical areas such as mass transportation, healthcare and education.

    Similarly, Dr Gabriel Ogbechie, Group Managing Director, Rainoil Ltd., said the global average price currently for PMS was N516 per litre, which was way higher than the N175 per litre it was being sold in Nigeria.

    Ogbechie said the government should not only deregulate but also initiate a petrol tax to fund maintenance and construction of critical infrastructure across the country.

  • Leave FG alone, mind your business – Former TUC President scolds governors

    Leave FG alone, mind your business – Former TUC President scolds governors

    Former Trade Union Congress President (TUC), Peter Esele on Sunday said that corruption was endemic at the state level and governors were getting away with it because Nigerians put so much attention on the president.

    Esele said this in an interview with newsmen while reacting to a suggestion by state governors that the Federal Government should offer federal civil servants who are above 50 years a one-off retirement package to exit the service.

    He noted that the biggest problem in the country was governors dictating to the president or The Presidency whereas they (governors) were the major problems in the country.

    According to him, it is uncalled for state governors to suggest or advise the Federal Government to retire civil servants above 50 years.

    “They should face their states and allow the Federal Government to come up with such decision on its own.

    “After all what have they the governors done in the areas of primary and secondary education which falls under their purview, even in the area of primary health care delivery,“ he asked.

    Esele, a former president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), noted that all the governors had done was to borrow so much and try to avoid repayment.

    “The governors are not telling us what they did with the money.

    “I don’t know how many states in Nigeria you can put side-by-side with the amount they have borrowed from the Federal Government and also from the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

    “Our attention has been on the president and that is why the governors are getting away with corruption because if we dig deep, corruption at the state level is unprecedented”,  he said.

    The veteran unionist, while noting that there was no money going to the local councils anymore, said that this was at variance with the country’s constitution.

    According to him, the governors do whatever they like, including wanting to decide who becomes the country’s president and what happens in the country, stressing that such should never be allowed.

    “In the country today, you can have a disagreement between the Federal Government and the National Assembly, but there is no single state in Nigeria where you have a disagreement between the state legislators and state executive.

    “Whenever the legislators and executive are in bed, know that the citizens are suffering or will suffer for it later.

    “That is what has been happening across the 36 states of the federation,” he said.

    Esele noted that members of the state assemblies who were expected to carry out checks on the executive were not doing so.

    He noted that even in terms of budget screening, state assemblies were complacent as the budget brought in were hastily passed in two days.

    “In all, the governors are our major problems in the country and cannot proffer solution to what they are the root cause or what they have not been able to tackle in their states,” he said.

  • TUC rejects proposed privatisation of Federal Hospitals

    TUC rejects proposed privatisation of Federal Hospitals

    The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has opposed the planned privatisation of public healthcare facilities in the country.

    The TUC President, Mr Festus Osifo, spoke while addressing newsmen at the end of union’s National Administrative Council (NAC), Central Working Committee (CWC), and National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the union on Friday in Abuja.

    He said that the NEC in session strongly opposed the move by the Federal Government to privatise the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and Federal hospitals.

    He said that Nigerians had never benefitted from privatisations done in the past and as such, TUC strongly frowned at it.

    “As TUC, we take a complete exception to this. The NEC of TUC, frowns at this, because the privatisation that was done in the past, where has it led us to.

    “Nothing meaningful has ever come out from the previous privatisation processes, especially the power sector,” he said.

    The TUC president while speaking on the lingering strike in the university system, called on the Federal Government to place value on education in country.

    “TUC as a body is here to protect our national interest. We will do everything possible to ensure that we engage government, and also engage ASUU as well to find an amicable solution.

    “You will agree with me that where there is will, there is always a way, ‘’ he said.

    He condemned the N1.4 billion spent on the purchase of vehicles for the Government of Niger Republic.

    “The value that is placed on our university system is the reason why we are here today, ’’he said.

    The TUC president also said that there was no need for government to continue paying for fuel subsidy as the impact was clearly not felt by Nigerians.

    The TUC President suggested that the money meant for fuel subsidy could be used to meet the demands of university-based unions.

    He further called on governments to as a matter of urgency take steps to address the security challenges in the country.

  • Festus Osifo elected new TUC President

    Festus Osifo elected new TUC President

    Mr. Festus Osifo has been elected as the new President General of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria TUC.

    Osifo was elected as the preferred candidate at the 12th Triennial National Delegates’ Conference of the Congress on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The theme of the 2022 Conference: “The Working Class Amidst the Challenges of National Security, Unemployment and Democratic Development’’.

    Osifo is expected to pilot the affairs of the labour trade centre for the next three years.

    He is also the National President of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

    Mr Shehu Mohammed, the returning officer while announcing the results said that a total of 728 delegates participated in the election.

    Mohammed said that Osifo pulled 688 votes to defeat his opponent, Mrs Oyikan Olasanoye who polled 18 votes, while 22 votes were declared invalid.

    According to reports, due to internal disputes Wednesday’s election was held for only the office of the President General.

    It would be also recalled that Osifo assumed office as President of PENGASSAN in August 28, 2020 and had also served amongst others, as PENGASSAN Producers Forum Chairman, between 2016 and 2018.

    The new TUC President is a member of the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria (COREN) and Society for Petroleum Engineers (SPE).

    In his acceptance speech, Osifo vowed to fight for the welfare of the masses as well as the protection of the interest of every Nigerian worker.

    He commanded the past leaders of the Congress for laying “a solid foundation on which the body thrives and vowed to sustain the vision.

    Osifo also promised to carry everyone along in his quest for a greater TUC while also pledging to “initiate a platform to placate all aggrieved comrades.

    Earlier, Mr Quadri Olaleye, former TUC President in a goodbye note commended all members for their support, while calling on the incumbent to ensure peace for the union to move forward.

    According to him, I want to seize this opportunity to remind that election in the trade union movement is not a-do-or-die.

    “There is never a loser, always remember that we are comrades, and that an injury to one is injury to all,” he said.

    Also speaking, Dr Peace Obiajulu, the Pioneer President of the TUC called on members of the Labour centre to ensure that election does not divide the unity of workers.

    She said that organised labour must come together to use their numerical strength to redirect the cause of the working class in Nigeria in particular and by extension the down trodden in the country.

    Some aggrieved affiliates of TUC had earlier written to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), to stop the scheduled TUC Delegate Conference from holding.

    The affiliates also further obtained a court order to stop the conference from holding over failure to implement the agreement entered into in the last conference on which affiliate will produce the next president of the labour center.

    The affiliates include the Petroleum and Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASAN), Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI), among others.

  • Strike: TUC sends notice to Gov. Fayemi over unpaid workers’ benefits

    The Trade Union Congress (TUC), Ekiti chapter, has advised Gov Kayode Fayemi to pay workers backlog of arrears as promised during his electioneering campaign in 2018 before the expiration of his tenure on Oct. 15, 2022.

    The labour union said redeeming such a pledge would further reinforce workers’ trust in the APC-led administration in Ekiti and smoothen the relationship with the incoming Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji.

    The union congratulated Oyebanji on his victory in the recently concluded Governorship poll, urging him to be magnanimous in victory by being inclusive in governance and forming a robust alliance with opposition, to build Ekiti of his dream.

    Newsmen reports that this was contained in a statement in Ado Ekiti after the union’s State Executive Council’s meeting and signed by its State Chairman, Mr Sola Adigun.

    The council condemned in strong terms, the rate of kidnapping of citizens in the state, urging Fayemi to devise means to curtail the nefarious act, threatening peaceful coexistence and investment drives.

    Sequel to the government’s inability to meet some pending workers’ demands, TUC issued a 21-day ultimatum to the government to pay all arrears of salaries, deductions and promotion, failing which industrial harmony could no longer be guaranteed.

    “The TUC commends the government’s prompt payment of salary since the inception of this outgoing administration in October 2018 till date.

    However, the TUC reminds Governor Fayemi of his initial promise to offset all arrears payments before the expiration of the tenure.

    “But we noted with dismay, the refusal of the government to remit the already deducted dues such as co-operative deductions, contributory pension, bank loans repayment, NHF fund, to the appropriate quarters.
    He said this had made life becoming unbearable for workers.

    “We equally frown seriously at the refusal of the Accountant-General of the State to continue with cooperative savings update of Ekiti workers, due to the alleged presence of some syndicate operating in her office.

    “Most members of TUC have not benefited from the new minimum wage after almost two years of implementation in the state.

    ” We call on the government to implement the minimum wage across the board for all workers without further delay.

    “We note that the financial backing given the 2018 – 2019 promotion exercise was selectively implemented.
    “Hence, we call on the government to ensure that others exempted should be immediately captured for financial remuneration.

    “The TUC also demands that the facilities in the health institution, especially the teaching hospital, be upgraded to meet up with the expected standard of best practice.

    “Finally, the meeting demands that the government should set machinery in motion within the next 21 days to meet up with the demands, failing which industrial harmony will no longer be guaranteed”.