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Tag: workers

  • 95% of Kogi workers have received salary, says Bello

    The Kogi government said it has completed payment of salary to 95 per cent of of its workers that were cleared in the just concluded staff screening and verification.

    The state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, made the assertion on Monday in Lokoja in a statement issued to mark this year’s democracy day celebration.

    “ I can confirm that people are still getting payment alerts as we do our best to meet the May 31 timeline which we set for ourselves to complete all payments,” the governor said.

    Bello said that government was deploying integrated staff and payroll automation solutions to consolidate the gains from the screening in line with the ongoing civil service and pension reforms.

    With the conclusion of the exercise, he assured workers and pensioners of prompt payment of salary and pensions.

    According to Bello, the government has been able to tame the widespread insecurity of lives and property which it inherited.

    ”Today, the incidence of kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes has dropped to almost zero,” the governor said in the statement personally signed by him.

    He said that the state internally generated revenue had increased from between N350m and N400m per month to over N1 billion per month .

    The governor said that more than 1000 appointments had been made in the Ministries of Environment, Justice and the Revenue Board in the past 15 months while advert had been placed for massive recruitment into the health sector.

    Bello said plans were nearing completion for the construction of 239 blocks of two Classrooms, one in each of the 239 wards in the state under the GYB Model Primary School Initiative.

    He also announced that students in tertiary institutions will henceforth receive N10,000 as bursary as against former N3,500.

    He thanked the people for their support for his administration since assumption of office 15 months ago, saying that government will continue to cater for their welfare through provision of more democracy dividends.

    Bello also advised those in opposition to embrace peace and join hands with him to work for the progress and development of the state.

  • May Day: Don’t expect any increase in salaries, Obiano tells workers

    Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has told workers in the state not to expect any increase in salaries for now.

    This was contained in his May Day address to workers in the state.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the governor spoke barely 24 hours after the leadership of the organised labour in the state had endorsed the governor for a second term for his commitment in workers’ welfare.

    The workers also conferred on him “The Most Labour-friendly Governor” in the state since 1999.

    The governor had in his address told the workers, “I won’t promise you what I cannot do.”

    He reminded them that his administration had increased their salaries by 15 per cent in 2015.

    His address read in part, “I wish to restate my earlier promise that I will increase your salaries once I see a significant growth in my Internally Generated Revenue; once we are able to push it to N2.3bn per month. Now we have an average IGR of about N1.4bn.

    “So, all hands must be on deck to achieve this target and create new economic elbow room for ourselves and our families.

    “I must commend you for coping with the harsh challenges caused by the current recession. I salute your resilience in the midst of a contracting economy.”

  • May Day: Stop paying early salaries, it lead to debts – Workers beg Ayade

    May Day: Stop paying early salaries, it lead to debts – Workers beg Ayade

    Workers in Cross River State have beg Governor Ben Ayade to stop paying them early salaries as it make them indebted before the end of the month.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the workers got their May salary on April 30, on the eve of May Day, few days after April salary was paid, even while others in some states are being owed many months’ salaries.

    Speaking on May Day celebration on Monday, State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), John Ushie, said: “We have advised the governor not to be paying salaries like this but he insisted.

    “May be it is his own way of showing that he cares for the people. He feels he should make the life of the people better and he has expressed this by paying a month salary in advance

    “We believe that salaries should be paid for work done but since he has gone ahead to pay, we can only advise workers to be prudent.

    “He did the same thing last year, but we did not expect he will do the same thing again because he just finished paying April salaries. That is the situation on ground.”

    Nigeria Union of Teachers Chairman, Eyo-Nsa Itam, said: “I think it is a tradition. We did not expect it yesterday. We expected it today. But you know because of the economic strain, there may be suffering, if people are not careful.

    “It means people would work for two months without receiving salaries, because the governor just paid salaries last week. Within one week, he has paid two months salaries. So, it is a good development, but the impact would be hectic.

    “To me, the salary should have been paid religiously as it had been paid on or before 25th of every month so that people can plan. The more money you see, the more your expenditure would be.

    “Assuming you are earning N100,000 and you are paid for two months, which is N200,000 within one week, you find out that you will finish spending that money and the next month, you will be living on debt.

    “This issue of paying two salaries, within one week is what we are talking about because it would definitely affect people.”

     

  • MTN sacks 280 workers

    MTN sacks 280 workers

    …Says we disengaged them to delve into full Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and digital operation

    Telecommunications giant, MTN has disengaged 280 of its employees in Nigeria​.

    ​Staff​ affected include some 200 permanent employees and about 80 contract staff across various cadres, ranging from new graduates to senior managers‎​.

    ​It was gathered that workers were given a​ ​severance of 75% of their gross monthly income multiplied by the number of years with the company.

    “Given that the company is about 16 years old in Nigeria, the severance package brought pain and discontent among the affected staff,” ​a source told newsmen in Lagos.

    “With the payoff structure, senior managers with 15 years of service were left with about N15 million. Most of the staff got less than N5 million.”

     

    However, responding to why it took the decision, the company said it disengaged the 280 workers because it wanted to delve into full Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and digital operations.

    An official who pleaded anonymity told newsmen in Lagos on Monday, said that the company would inject another group of new employees, capable of delivering on it new goals.

    The source said that the disengagement was necessary because of the changing dynamics of the telecommunications industry in recent time.

    The source said that MTN had in March informed its staff that it would disengage some of them.

    The source said that the service provider introduced the Voluntary Severance Scheme (VSS), urging staff to apply for voluntary disengagement.

    According to the source, only 200 workers applied for the VSS, while 80 were given compulsory disengagement.

    The source added that those affected were those who had worked for five years and above in the company.

    The source said that the affected workers were given a severance pay of 75 per cent of their gross monthly income, multiplied by the number of years they had worked with the company.

    “Those who decided to leave under the VSS were paid the equivalent of their three weeks gross salary for every year they worked with MTN.

    “What it means is that if one worked in MTN for five years, one would be paid three weeks of the person’s gross salary times five,” the source said.

    According to the source, all 280 staff were paid their benefits.

     

     

  • May Day: Workers disrupt celebrations over non implementation of new minimum wage

    May Day: Workers disrupt celebrations over non implementation of new minimum wage

    Sequel to their constant demand for a new minimum wage and the subsequent refusal of the Federal Government to yield to their demands, aggrieved Nigerian workers on Monday in their thousands disrupted the 2017 May Day celebrations at the Eagles Square, Abuja over the non-implementation.

    The workers insisted that the Federal Government had a responsibility to give them a definite position on the lingering issue of a new minimum wage in the country.

    The workers were also angry that neither the President nor the Vice President was at the event to address them on the stand of the Federal Government on the implementation of the new minimum wage.

    The enraged workers rejected all entreaties by their leaders to calm them down as they chanted ‘No! We need a new minimum wage.’

    They insisted that the N18,000 minimum wage has become inadequate to feed their families and indeed to survive in the face of the biting effects of the economic recession in the country.

    The workers were also angry that neither the President nor the Vice President was at the event to address them on the grave issues of survival affecting them.

    The incensed workers rejected all entreaties by their leaders to calm them down as they chanted ‘No! We need a new minimum wage.’

    According to a report by The Punch, trouble started when the workers who had gathered in front of the podium to listen to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, were told that the Acting Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs. Abiola Bawa, was to address them on his behalf.

    This seemed to have angered the workers who insisted that the minister should address them on the issue of minimum wage while they would wait to see the representative of the President.

    They rejected the explanation by the President of the NLC, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, that the minister could not read his own address as he was meant to read the President’s address as his representative.

    The angry workers brought out their posters and chanted “we need a new minimum wage now” and insisted that the event would not continue until the issue was addressed.

    However, when Ngige mounted the podium, they again insisted that they needed a new minimum wage and that he had nothing to offer them.

    They insisted that they were tired of being deceived on the issue of the minimum wage amidst growing economic hardship in the country.

    Labour leaders of the NLC and the TUC made frantic efforts to douse the tension for Ngige to address the workers without success.

    Even when the former governor of Edo State and president of the NLC, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, stood to address them, the workers refused to listen to him.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the highest political office holders who attended the event were the President of Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara.

    Some of workers were heard telling the President of the Trade Union Congress, Mr. Bala Kaigama, that food items, building materials, and indeed everything in the market had increased in price while the naira had continued to lose value.

    “There is no salary, there is nothing, the naira is coming down and everything in the market is going up; you cannot buy school items, you cannot buy building materials, you cannot buy food items. Everything is just going up…”

    When asked to react to what happened and what the workers told him, Kaigama said that the NLC and TUC would address the press on the issue.

  • May Day: Workers are ‘angry,’ attend to their demands now, Saraki tells FG

    Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has called on the Federal Government to immediately constitute a panel to work on demands of Nigerian workers for increased wages, arrears of pension, promotion and allowances.

    Saraki said this while addressing workers at the Eagles Square, Abuja, venue of the 2017 May Day Celebration.

    He stated further that government needs to quickly address all issues affecting Nigerian workers because they are “angry.”

    Saraki expressed the readiness of the National Assembly to play its part in ensuring that workers get their dues.

    A statement by his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, quoted Saraki as saying, “Government must set up a high-powered committee representing all stakeholders who have the ability to engender confidence across board. They must be given clear terms of reference and realistic time to conclude their work and make recommendations.

    “We in the National Assembly are ready to play our part to ensure the appropriation of necessary funds and enactment of appropriate laws to back up the resultant policies.”

    Saraki applauded the patience, understanding and co-operation that the workers had extended to the Administration since its inception, “particularly at this period of economic challenge, stating that their positive attitude will not be taken for granted.”

    He disclosed that the National Assembly members had on their own increased the proposed provision in the 2017 budget being worked on to take care of pension of retired workers.

    He also said the legislature could easily at the last stage of the budget process include provisions to take care of the financial implication of redressing arrears of promotion and allowances.

  • May Day: We’ll clear 4months salary arrears, Ajimobi assures Oyo workers

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has promised to spare no effort in ensuring that the state clears the four months outstanding salaries of workers in the state.

    He made the disclosure in a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Communication and Strategy, Mr Yomi Layinka on Sunday, ahead of the commemoration of 2017 Workers’ Day celebration.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the state owes the workers four months salaries, having cleared the backlog till December 2016.

    Ajimobi urged the workers to continue to put in their best and key into the state government’s reform agenda aimed at enhancing productivity.

    “I congratulate the entire workforce in the state, including those in the private and informal sectors.

    “This year’s workers day has provided another opportunity for you all to take stock and assess your performance.

    “I can say without any equivocation that workers in the state are among the very best you can find anywhere in the country.

    “But, for the few yet to embrace the new order of hard work, accountability, dedication and commitment, I urge you join the trend,” he said.

    He said that the government was exploring many opportunities to enhance the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state, promising that no effort would be spared to clear the four months salary arrears.

    “No doubt, times are hard because of the pervading poor state of the economy.

    “I feel your pains and I’m optimistic that we shall soon sing a new song of prosperity and abundance. May none of you be missing by that time,.” he said.

    Ajimobi prayed for a hazard-free 2017 for workers in the state as the year enters the second quarter, and that God would give them good health to celebrate more workers’ days to come.

     

     

     

     

  • May Day: Nigerian workers are priceless – Saraki

    May Day: Nigerian workers are priceless – Saraki

    Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki has described the contribution of Nigerian workers to the growth and sustainability of the economy and nation as large as priceless.


    Saraki made this known in a message signed by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja at the weekend to mark this year’s 2017 Workers’ Day celebration.


    The statement reads in part: “From the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that contribute over 47 per cent to our Gross Domestic Product (GDP), to the civil servants who are the driving force behind our government, all the way to the unregistered business owners who work to make a living for themselves and their families, every Nigerian worker in both the formal and informal sectors makes a priceless contribution to the sustainability of our nation.


    “As we mark this year’s Workers’ Day, all Nigerian workers should be proud that their significant contributions keep this nation moving forward as they are the lifeblood of our country, an integral part of the fabric that makes up our society,” he said.

     

    Saraki stressed the need for government across all levels and participants in the private sector to work toward ensuring that workers received their salaries and pensions as and when due.


    “As a result of globalization, the Nigerian workforce is no longer competing with itself. We are now competing with our counterparts from both developing and developed nations.


    “With this in mind, it is necessary that all employers, those in the public and private sectors, work to continuously invest in the development of their employees,’’ he said.


    Saraki said the upper chamber would continue to partner with Nigerian workers to enact legislation that would guarantee that they got their dues at the appropriate time.


    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Workers’ Day is observed May 1 each year to celebrate the achievements of workers

  • Bello collected over N31bn from FG, yet refused to pay workers – Melaye

    Bello collected over N31bn from FG, yet refused to pay workers – Melaye

    Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District (All Progressives Congress, APC) in the Senate, Dino Melaye has accused Governor Yahaya Bello of collecting over N31 billion from the Federal Government without settling both workers and pensioners in the state.

    Melaye said his stance on voicing and standing by the people is reponsible for the recent attempt on his life. He however vowed not to be intimidated.

    Melaye stated this while addressing women of his senatorial district, who embarked on a peaceful protest at Aiyetoro-Gbede on Saturday.

    The Senator said workers and pensioners in Kogi were suffering and dying, following the non-payment of 15-month salaries and pensions by Governor Bello.

    “Yahaya Bello collected N20bn from the Federal Government as bailout fund. Still, he refused to settle workers. He also collected N11bn from the Paris Club fund. Still, he refused to pay workers and pensioners.

    “Children can no longer go to school. Tenants can no longer pay their house rent. Enough is enough, the people of Kogi State are tired of this government.

    “The advent of Yahaya Bello as governor and Taofiq Isa as local government administrator in the political history of Kogi State has brought this unfortunate socio-political paradigm shift,” Melaye said.

  • 156 media workers killed in 2016- report

    Geneva-based Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) said on Thursday that 156 media workers were killed in 2016 in 33 countries.

    According to the PEC, the figure is the highest in 10 years and an increase of 15 per cent compared to 2015.

    The figure included the nine Russian journalists killed in a plane crash in the Black Sea on Dec. 25 on their way to Syria to report on the conflict.

    According to the PEC, the war in Syria has already claimed the lives of over 110 journalists since 2012.

    “This figure does not cover the journalists who disappeared or those who are still in detention like the American journalist Austin Tice.

    “The year 2016 was a very difficult year for the journalists’ safety.

    “The price for covering news was very high with three journalists killed every week on average,’’ PEC Secretary-General Blaise Lempen, said.

    Lempen added that two thirds of the fallen journalists were killed in war-torn countries.

    The PEC records showed that 135 journalists were killed in 2015; 138 in 2014; 129 in 2013; 141 in 2012; 107 in 2011; 110 in 2010; 122 in 2009; 91 in 2008; 115 in 2007, and 96 in 2006.

    The PEC is a non-governmental organisation with special consultative UN status, was founded in June 2004 by a group of journalists from several countries.

    Its aim is to strengthen the legal protection and safety of journalists in zones of conflict and civil unrest or on dangerous missions.