Politics

Port Harcourt refineries will start production in December- President Bola Tinubu promises NLC, TUC

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STATE HOUSE PRESS STATEMENT

LABOUR UNIONS TO SUSPEND FURTHER PROTEST AFTER FRUITFUL MEETING WITH PRESIDENT TINUBU

The leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) led by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, and that of Trade Union Congress, Comrade Festus Usifo, held a meeting with President @officialABAT Wednesday evening at the State House, Abuja.

Consequent upon the fruitful and frank discussion with President Tinubu and their confidence in his ability to encourage open and honest consideration of all the issues put forward by the Labour Movement, the Labour Leaders resolved to stop further protest.

They opted for further constructive engagement with the government to resolve all outstanding issues as they affect the working people and Nigerians in general.

President Tinubu gave his commitment to the Labour leaders that the Port Harcourt refineries will start production by December 2023 after the completion of the ongoing rehabilitation contract between NNPCL and Italian firm, Maire Tecnimont SpA.

President Tinubu assured the Labour leaders that he would continue to work for the best interest of Nigeria while pleading with the Labour leaders to join hands with him to birth a better and economically buoyant country.

Dele Alake

Special Adviser to the President(Special Duties, Communications & Strategy)

August 3, 2023

Lifestyle

NLC explains why it didn’t embark on a strike over subsidy removal

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The Nigeria Labour Congress has said that it decided to call off its strike over the removal of fuel subsidy partly in obedience to an order of the National Industrial Court (NICN).

In a communique issued after an emergency National Executive Council meeting on Tuesday, June 6, the NLC faulted the court order, saying it amounted to an abuse of ex-parte injunction.

The group directed all affiliates and state councils to suspend mobilisation until the outcome of the negotiations.

The statement read;

“An emergency National Executive Council (NEC) of the Congress which was called to discuss the outcome of the Dialogue between the NLC and the Federal Government on the petroleum products price hike after extensive deliberation observed that:

“The previous NEC-in-session had ordered a nationwide withdrawal of services and mass protest over the petroleum price hike by the federal government.

“Whereas the Federal Government was in breach of the 2023 Appropriation Act, the NLC will not encourage lawlessness on its part.

“Taking into account that the Federal Government has procured a court injunction restraining Congress from proceeding with the proposed nationwide strike as the NEC-in-session had ordered to begin, Wednesday, the 7th of June, 2023.

“Recognizing the willingness of government for continuous engagement through dialogue and to offer reasonable palliatives in due course to cushion the effect of its policies and some levels of understanding reached.

“Considering the mood of the socio-polity last elections and the need to pursue national stability.

“Consequently, the NEC-in-session resolved as follows: to commend and applaud the diligence of the Congress’ leadership in carrying out the assignment given to it by NEC.

“To demonstrate to the Federal Government the need to comply with the laws of the land especially as it concerns obedience to the rulings of the courts and their brazen disregard to the 2023 Appropriation Act.

“To, therefore, support and accept the decision of the leadership of Congress to suspend the proposed strike action in compliance with the flawed rulings of the NIC and also allow negotiations to flow freely and enable final agreement during or after the 19th June 2023 negotiation round with the federal government.

“To, however, register in strongest terms its disgust and disapproval with the ruling of the National Industrial Court (NIC) for its continuous weaponisation of the instrument of ex-parte injunction in favour of government against the interests of Nigerian workers in defiance of the position of the Supreme Court on the use of this instrument.

“All Affiliates and State Councils of Congress are hereby directed to suspend further action and mobilisation until the outcome of the final negotiations.

“To commend all affiliates and state councils on their robust mobilisation towards a successful nationwide strike action and to also remain vigilant in case there is a need to continue.”

Lifestyle, Politics

Don’t go on strike – Sanwo-Olu begs NLC

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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state has begged members of the Nigerian Labour Congress not to embark on a strike over removal of fuel subsidy as announced by President Bola Tinubu during his inaugural speech.

Recall that the NLC on Friday, June 2, issued a five-day ultimatum to the federal government to revert to the old price of petrol or face a nationwide protest.

Sanwo-Olu who addressed reporters on Sunday, June 4, after a post-inauguration church thanksgiving service, appealed to the labour leaders to join hands with the present administration in its commitment to turn the economy of the country around.

He said;

“We are thankful that Mr President is a product of Lagos. We will pray for him and everything that he stands for. We believe he will replicate all the good things he has done in Lagos in our country, Nigeria.

“I want to wish and plead with our citizens even as NLC has said to us that they want to go on strike. It is not the time for a strike. During the campaign trail, everyone of our presidential candidates did say that the first thing they are going to do is to remove the subsidy.

“So, what has changed? What has the current president said or what has he done that is different from what any of the other aspirants said they would do?

“We need to be very patient. He (President Tinubu) has not even done a week. So let us talk to ourselves and say that we shouldn’t turn it political. Let us wait and support this man. He has not done a week on the job. Let him go and reflect and at the sub-national level, we are willing to support him.

“The point is no industrial strike will solve anything at this point, it will certainly not bring an end to the issue. The point will be how are we going to ensure that there is a turnaround in our economy.

“He has mentioned something about a better wage. We have started that in Lagos. We started it in January; so other parts of the country can also do the same. We don’t need to wait for the national government. We just need to reflect on what the challenges are in our country and let us solve the problem.

“I want to plead with the Nigeria Labour Congress. It shouldn’t turn into a political thing because we have begun to see that. The leadership should know that they are leading a pack of people and they need to restrain themselves. Let us be patient. Let us work around it. NNPC has said that there is more than enough petrol.”

Business, Lifestyle

NLC calls for probe into fuel subsidy as it holds emergency executive meeting following fuel price hike

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for a probe into the fuel subsidy program in Nigeria.

The President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, made the call to journalists on Friday, June 2 shortly before the commencement of an emergency meeting of NLC National Executive Council (NEC) in Abuja.

Ajaero criticised the ‘unilateral decision’ reached by President Bola Tinubu on the removal of fuel subsidy without consulting the Nigerian people.

He reiterated that the decision is not in the favour of the people while calling for a probe into the subsidy regime alleging huge corruption in the program.

After President Tinubu had announced the end of subsidy upon his assumption of office in May 29, in less than 24 hours petroleum marketers shut down their filling stations and adjusted their pump price.

The Nigeria National Petroleum Company limited, also announced a new template of pricing that saw the pump price of Petroleum Motor Spirit, PMS, jumped up to N557.

Ajaero on Friday, said the NEC meeting was called to interrogate the ‘illegal announcement’ of over N500 pump price by the NNPCL and that the NEC will give directive on the next action after the meeting.

He said that the organized labour has asked the government to withdraw the figure, contending that about 50 per cent of the states have not been paying the N30,000 minimum wage.

“At the meeting with the Federal Government, they were not only provocative, we saw the contempt they hold Nigerians, they said they will give N5,000 to 50 million poor Nigerians.”

World News

NLC tasks Buhari on safety of Nigerians in Sudan

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the federal government to guarantee the safety of lives of Nigerians in the ongoing war in Sudan.

Joe Ajaero, NLC President, said this on Saturday in Abuja in a statement titled, “Nigerians in Sudan Should Not Die’’.

According to Mr Ajaero, “we have watched with increasing alarm and despair the unfolding tragedy in Sudan as a result of the ongoing war in that country.

“That is between two major factions of the Military; the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, and the Sudanese Army, commanded by Gen. Abdul Fattah al-Burhan, which has led to untold human carnage and destruction of properties of citizens of that nation.

“At this point, we are not specially concerned about the history and immediate causes of the war but are worried because many Nigerians have become unwitting victims of the war and are stranded in that country and unable to get out.

“They have cried out for help to escape the horrors which the war has continued to mete out to persons still trapped in Sudan,’’ he said.

He said that the NLC was worried that since the war broke out towards the end of last week, reports have said that the number of human casualties was horrendous and frightening.

He added this leaves every patriot anxious about the safety of our nationals in that country, especially that of our students.

According to Mr Ajaero, “we believe that it remains the responsibility of any government to ensure the safety of their nationals.”

He said this includes making sure that in the event of a war in foreign countries, their citizens are protected in whatever way possible.

He noted that this was one of the central reasons of governance: the safety of lives and properties.

Mr Ajaero added, “we are at a loss as to why the federal government of Nigeria finds it difficult to guarantee the safety of the lives of our citizens in that country.”

He said that this was beyond the tokenism effort at protection through an advisory to all Nigerians in that country to either seek refuge in Nigeria’s embassy in Khartoum or stay indoors which they believed was safer.

The NLC president also said the excuse that attempting to evacuate Nigerians through the Airport was risky begs the question and is unacceptable.

“We do not understand whether other possible options at evacuating our citizens have been explored before relapsing to this seeming helplessness and apparent abandonment of our citizens who are obviously in great distress and are afraid for their lives on a daily basis.

“It is trite diplomacy that in such a situation, serious governments will reach an understanding with the warring parties for the removal of their nationals from the theatre of war which drastically reduces the risk of loss of lives and that of the equipment used in such operations.

“If the airports are not safe as suggested by the government, can we not work out a safe-corridor to neighbouring countries to allow our citizens safe passage and evacuated through the various land borders,’’ he asked.

He also suggested that the government should work out an arrangement with the international community to create a safe haven for all foreign nationals in that country.

“Our concern is that while our government resorts to the usual lethargy and excuses, the lives of our nationals in Sudan already exposed to serious danger may begin to experience losses or injuries.

“We urge the federal government through the concerned agencies and ministries to take urgent steps to avoid death and injuries to our citizens in that country.

“Nigerians must not be allowed to die in Sudan because of negligence. No effort should be spared in ensuring their safety and ultimately evacuation to Nigeria if the war persists and escalates into a full-blown war.

“It remains the duty of the government and we urge the federal government to make this happen.

“As we await a quick and positive action towards evacuating our citizens, we would want measures to be put in place to make their lives comfortable on arrival, especially for those who own businesses in Sudan and have suffered loss of businesses as a result,’’ he said.

Mr Ajaero, however, commiserated with the people of Sudan, while calling for an immediate ceasefire to allow for a peaceful resolution of the issues in dispute that led to the war.

Politics

Labour Party belongs to us, not politicians- NLC

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The Nigeria Labour Congress says the Labour Party belongs to it and plans to meet elected party candidates to discuss its programmes.

The NLC said it would continue to be involved in politics to bring matters surrounding the welfare of workers to the front burner of programmes and policies of government.

NLC president Joe Ajaero said this during courtesy visits to some unions in Lagos on Thursday.

The unions included National Union of Electricity Employees, National Union of Banks, Insurance, and Financial Institutions, and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers.

Mr Ajaero said the labour movement owned the Labour Party.

According to him, the party has the ideology of the working class movement with its charter of workers’ demands.

“We have an era that we are entering: era of politics, and we will not shy away. The Nigeria Labour Congress will be involved in politics. We are already involved in politics. NLC has a political party: the Labour Party, and LP participated in the recent elections,” said Mr Ajaero.

He added;

“Nigeria must exist before we practise our unionism. Anybody, who emerges as the president of Nigeria will work with us, and the rights and privileges of the workers must be guaranteed. The current wage system, casualisation policy, and outsourcing are anti-worker; with such policies, we can’t be our brothers’ keepers.”

The labour leader encouraged union members to show interest in politics, saying,

“We have not been managing it by ourselves. We have been allowing people from outside to now answer LP.”

He urged members to continue enlightening workers in the country about the Labour Party.

“That is what we are going to impose on them. Even the ones that have emerged as senators or House of Representatives members, they must, as a necessity, meet with us and we will give them our programmes.

That is the whole essence of thinking of LP in the first place; so that their actions, inaction, and utterances will reflect the affairs of the labour movement, and there should be no pretences about it,” the NLC chief explained.

However, he pointed out that “we are not saying that people cannot belong to any party of their choice, but we have a party where whatever we discuss here, we take it there as workers.”

Mr Ajaero said, “Where, if we want new minimum wage, we take it to the people that represent us there; all these issues concern the workers, and we should no longer shy away from it.”

Politics

NLC declares announced results illegitimate, warns INEC against plunging Nigeria into chaos

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The NLC once again warns that any election result that does not reflect the wishes of the people will not only spell doom for democracy but will also render the benefiting government of such heist illegitimate. Sustainable governments are built on sovereign will.

The reason is that such government is akin to a coup though not a military one but organised by civilian INEC against the fundamental rights and choices of the people as expressed through the ballot last Saturday. Every government needs legitimacy to govern freely.

However this can only be conferred by the will of the people freely given in an election.When that will is circumvented by whatsoever means, the government loses the very foundation that it needs to be anchored to find acceptance thus govern.

These very basic elements are clearly lacking in what INEC seems to be in a rush to plunge Nigeria into.

As it stands now, the current Presidential result collation lacks legitimacy as it has been questioned critically by major stakeholders with INEC unable to give satisfactory explanations to the issues raised.

Since INEC has compromised the sources of the results from the Polling units by the mere action of the clear sabotage of the BVAS an instrument that had hitherto given Nigerians hope for a more free, fair, credible and acceptable election in 2023, there is nothing that will restore this hope and build belief than to go back to the results as captured by the BVAS.

If this is no longer possible, we call for a pause in further announcement of the Presidential results and carry out a backward review before deciding on the way forward.

INEC’s actions have sabotaged the integrity of the election and undermine the credibility of its outcomes.

It is the process that confers legitimacy on the outcome and anything that contaminates it renders the outcomes inchoate.

This is not what this country needs right now especially when we are confronted with military insurgencies, banditry, Kidnappings and other very criminal acts around the nation.

We need outcomes that builds national cohesion and solidarity and not one that divides.

Nigerian workers find it difficult to believe that at this day and age, INEC could not collate results from its own Servers when far less funded organisations both locally and internationally have done so seamlessly?

Many Organisations and nations have performed this very basic tasks without this storm. It is neither the lack of capacity nor the paucity of resources at INEC’s disposal that has led to this farce but the greed factor that has led to the intentional scuttling of a simple process for the benefit of a few individuals and to the detriment of the whole nation.

A product is always subject to the processes that gives birth to it and if that process becomes contaminated, the product becomes defiled.

We do not understand the driving force behind INEC’s pursuit of announcing a Presidential election result with processes that are clearly fraught with serious irregularities.

We do not understand why INEC has suddenly become deaf to sound reason but continues to pursue a path that may put the whole nation in crisis. It will be the height of irresponsibility to rush our nation into a cul-de-sac.

A government that is built on subverting the sovereign will cannot be seen to be legitimate. Such illegitimacy will dog the footsteps of the administration and will surely make it incapable of providing acceptable governance to the people.

If INEC announces a result that is dogged by this confusion and questions, how can a government built on it survive?

How can such a government hope to mobilise the people?

How will such a government build trust and confidence in the people for whatever policies and programmes that may become the anchor for its governance projections?

How can such government gather the support of the citizen it hopes to lead?

How can it wield authority?

The NLC is seriously worried knowing that a government that lacks legitimacy is like a fish out of water and can only survive by the sheer strength of brutal force thus a recipe for national disaster.

INEC should therefore not give Nigerians an “Abiku or Ogbanje” that is billed to give us so much trouble and eventually die in infancy. This nation must be saved from this avoidable disaster.

INEC must allow reason to prevail and remove its legs from the pedal that is clearly headed for the rocks. No good will come from where it is taking Nigerians to.

We are sure that a government that is unacceptable to the people will suffer severely and may be prone to social instability. This illegitimate result must not be announced. A stitch in time they say, saves nine.

Let us consider this nation first before our selfish designs. We will not accept a government built on fraud and we are sure that other critical national stakeholders will also not accept such contraption.

Lifestyle

NLC kicks against registration of new academic unions, tells Ngige that it would destroy cordial industrial relations

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has kicked against the registration of two new academic unions by the federal government.

Recall that Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, presented letters of recognition to two new unions; Congress for Nigerian University Academics (CONUA) and the Nigeria Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA), amid the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

NLC President, Ayuba Wabba who has now reacted to this, called for the withdrawal of the recognition on the grounds that the registration of the unions contravened the laws guiding trade unions.

Wabba also said that the recognition is designed to “destroy” cordial relations. The NLC President further averred that asides Ngige previously revealing that the new unions applied for registration in 2018, which according to him is a clear contradiction of the minister’s claim of regrouping as justification for awarding certificates to them, article 3(2) of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) convention 87 on freedom of association and protection of the right to organise also makes it clear that public authorities should not interfere in the activities of trade unions.

The statement read;

“The question on the mind of every rational Nigerian is what is your motive for registering CONUA and MAMDA? Is it re-grouping of trade unions or is it a response to the application made by CONUA and MAMDA since 2018 to be registered unions?

“Unfortunately, you have accused us of interference when the opposite is the reality.

“Your biased attempt to ‘re-group’ an existing trade union or actually individuals (something our labour laws never contemplated) in utter disregard to tripartism which is a core pillar of ILO is an attempt to interfere with, infiltrate and balkanize an existing trade union — at best to score on vendetta and at worst to destroy cordial industrial relations in Nigeria.

“We are also concerned that your ’patriotic‘ intervention to rescue the so-called expelled and insufficiently represented academic staff in our universities came after you publicly admitted your utmost frustration with your inability to resolve the ASUU strike.

“Overall, Honourable Minister, we still want to believe that you were not properly advised on this matter.

“As the Chief Labour Law Officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we believe that you will take advantage of our presentation of the true position of the law to redress this grave injustice done to our labour jurisprudence by the ‘awarding’ of trade union certificates to CONUA and NAMDA.”

Politics

NLC suggests establishment of panel to address ASUU strike

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the Federal Government to establish a panel to address industrial unrest in Nigeria’s university system as soon as possible.

Mr. Ayuba Wabba, the NLC President, stated this in a communique signed by him and the NLC General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The communique was released after a joint meeting with the NLC and affiliate unions in the Education section, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASUEAI), and others (NASU).

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists are two more organizations (NAAT) in the affiliation.

The meeting’s main goal, according to Wabba, was to gather information on the ongoing industrial conflict in Nigeria’s university system.

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists are two more organizations (NAAT) in the affiliation.

The meeting’s main goal, according to Wabba, was to gather information on the ongoing industrial conflict in Nigeria’s university system.

Our concerns include the intermittent and protracted strikes and other industrial actions in Nigeria’s public tertiary education system.

“Non-Implementation of Collective Bargaining Agreements signed with unions in Nigeria’s tertiary education system which touch on university funding, earned allowances, and other welfare issues facing universities staff are also of concern to us,’’ he said.

He did say, however, that in view of the aforementioned issues, the meeting decided to call on the federal government to form up a High-Powered Panel right away.

The panel, according to the NLC President, shall be made up of members with the necessary mandates to resolve the aforementioned challenges harming industrial peace in Nigeria’s university system within 21 days.

“In pursuant of the foregoing resolution, the Nigeria Labour Congress would be convening a Special Meeting of the Central Working Committee (CWC) of all the Affiliate Unions of the Congress to decide on the next line of action,’’ he said.

On February 14, the ASUU embarked on an initial one-month warning strike to press home its demands but it was extended indefinitely after a breakdown in negotiations with the Federal Government.

Politics

NLC charges Cross River govt to meet striking workers’ demands

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday urged the Cross Rivers State Governor, Ben Ayade, to meet the demands of the striking workers in the state.

The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, made the call in a letter dated October 7, 2021, and addressed to Ayade.

Workers in Cross River embarked on an indefinite strike on October 7 to protest the non-implementation of promotions to workers at both state and local government levels, non-payment of gratuities to both state and local government workers, and non-remittance of deductions from workers’ salaries, among others.

The statement read: “The Cross River State Council of Nigeria Labour Congress drew our attention to a Notice of Industrial Action against the Cross River State Government conveyed through a letter dated October 7, and addressed to Your Excellency.

We understand that the strike action had commenced on October 7. The decision to embark on industrial action as communicated in the strike notice was taken at a congress of all Cross River State workers.

“At the congress, Cross River workers decried the refusal of your government to address their pertinent concerns which include: non-implementation of promotions to workers at both State and Local Government levels.

“Non-payment of Gratuities to both State and Local Government workers; non-remittance of deductions from workers’ salaries; failure to fully implement the National Minimum Wage to both State and Local Government workers.”

Lifestyle

NLC begins strike in Kaduna, shut banks, schools, airport

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has commenced a five-day warning strike in Kaduna State as government schools and offices, banks, airport, train station have been totally shut down.

It was learnt that electricity supply in the state has also been shutdown.

Workers across the state and leadership of all the affiliate unions of NLC have converged at the state capital, Kaduna, to ensure the success of the strike, Tribune reports.

As early as 8 am, workers gathered at the state office of NLC, by the state secretariat carrying placards with various inscriptions against the state governments, to commence a protest.

The NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, who led the workers in the protest declared that there “is no retreat and no surrender,” until the state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai reverses the sacking of workers and pay those who have been sacked about four years ago.

Politics

NLC suspends planned industrial action in Kano

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The Organised Labour has suspended the three-day warning strike earlier scheduled to begin today (Thursday) in Kano State, over deductions from workers salary for March by the state government.

The Deputy National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Najeem Yasin, disclosed this on Wednesday night, at a joint news conference with other labour movements and affiliates in Kano, after a meeting with delegates from the State government, led by the state’s Head of Civil Service, Hajia Binta Lawan Ahmed.

It would be recalled that the NLC, last week, gave a seven-day ultimatum to the state government to refund the “illegal deduction” from civil servant salaries, or face industrial action.

Similarly, the labour leaders said if the government failed to stop the “unexplained” deductions before the end of its ultimatum, which was on Tuesday, April 6, workers would embark on a three-day warning strike from midnight of Wednesday 7, April.

However, the leadership of labour groups attended a closed-door meeting with the team from the state government and reached a resolution.

Meanwhile, rumours making the round say that the state government planned to revert to the N18,000 minimum wage it was previously implementing.

However, updating newsmen on the resolutions reached, Yasin said the state government denied the rumour and affirmed its determination to respect the agreement of N30,600 signed between the state government and organised labour in December 2019.

Also, March 2021 workers’ salaries deduction at State and Local government Councils should be refunded to workers along with April or May salaries depending on the increase of FAAC allocation for the period,’’ he said.

He noted that the state government also agreed that all machinery for the implementation of the new national minimum wage of N30,600.00 would be put in place by the Office of the Head of Civil Service for Kano University of Science and Technology Wudil and Yusuf Maitama Sule Universities immediately.

A committee was set up between Government and organised labour to look into all contentious issues as presented by labour.

“Also, the payment of monthly pension and all entitlements of retirees should be vested under the resolutions and approval of the Board of Trustees of the Kano State Pension Fund Trust as provided by 2006 pension law,” he added.

He declared that the planned 3-day industrial action planned to commence on Thursday, 8th April 2021 and peaceful protests on Monday, 12 April 2021, have been suspended by the organised labour.

Politics

NLC vows to resist imminent increment of fuel pump price to N234 per litre

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Sunday, March 28, warned the Federal Government that the Nigerian people and workers would resist any attempt to increase the fuel pump price to N234 per litre, in the face of severe hardship being faced by the masses.

The President of NLC, Ayuba Wabba, who gave the position of Labour while speaking to journalists at the weekend said organized Labour would not allow inefficiency of the system that past and present governments have not been able to address be transferred to ordinary Nigerians.

Nonetheless, the NLC pledged to support the move by the Federal Government to fix the refineries, but said a due diligence and transparency should be deployed in committing resources to make sure the refineries are working.

Wabba said: “As we have said clearly, Nigerians and NLC will continue to resist this imposition on us. In fact, Nigerians are at the brink, we have been pushed to the wall and many cannot even afford a meal per day. Therefore, increasing the price of this important commodity will exacerbate the current bad situation.

“We have said it very clearly that we would continue to resist this anti-people and neoliberal policies that were imposed on Nigeria by Bretton Woods Institutions. There is no way we would allow inefficiency of our system that past and present governments have not been able to address be transferred to ordinary Nigerians.”

Rather than imposing another hardship on the masses, Wabba said the Nigerian citizens at this time requires palliatives and not additional hardship.

He emphasized that the Nigerian people should be seen to enjoy the proceed as a oil producing country whenever the price of crude oil goes up in the international market, but regretted that what should bring an advantage to the masses was rather being translated to hardship by Nigerian Government.

Politics

Labour to embark on nationwide strike over NASS’ mandate on minimum wage

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The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) will commence a nationwide strike on Wednesday, March 10 (today) over the decision by the National Assembly to remove the national minimum wage from the exclusive to the concurrent legislative list.

According to the NLC during a media parley with journalists on Tuesday, the protest would hold at the 36 states’ Houses of Assembly and at the National Assembly in Abuja.

It added that the protest would start from the Unity Fountain, Abuja, at 7.30 am to the National Assembly complex.

Ripples Nigeria had reported that a bill seeking to remove the negotiation on minimum wage from the exclusive list to the concurrent list passed the second reading in the House of Representatives on February 23.

According to the sponsor, Garba Mohammed (APC Kano), the bill is to allow both the federal and state governments to freely negotiate minimum wage “with their workers in line with our federalism.”

However, the NLC registered its opposition to the plan, describing the bill as an attempt to undermine Nigeria’s working class.

The invitation read, “The Nigeria Labour Congress and its allies will tomorrow (Wednesday) embark on a nationwide protest against attempts by some elements at the National Assembly to remove the minimum wage from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent legislative list. In Abuja, it will mobilise from the Unity Fountain at 7.30 am to the National Assembly.”

In a communiqué issued at the end of the emergency meeting of its National Executive Council penultimate Tuesday, the NLC said it had empowered the National Administrative Council to declare and enforce a national strike action, “especially if the legislators continue on the ruinous path of moving the national minimum wage from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent legislative list.”

Politics

NLC announces imminent strike over NASS’ decision to re-classify national minimum wage

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The Nigeria Labour Congress has pronounced its scheduled strike action for March 10, 2021, over an imminent mandate by the Senate to remove the national minimum wage from the exclusive to the concurrent legislative list.

According to the NLC, the protest would be held in the 36 states Houses of Assembly in reaction to the plans by the House of Representatives to alter the present wage structure.

This decision granted the Federal Government the autonomy to negotiate minimum wage for workers in the country.

In his remarks after an emergency National Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, March 2, the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, vowed that the NLC would resist “any attempt to exterminate Nigeria’s working class.’’

Ripples Nigeria gathered last week that the Reps debated a bill to remove the powers to negotiate wage matters from the exclusive to the concurrent list.

According to the lawmakers, this is due to the inability of state governors to pay the N30,000 minimum wage for the move.

However, Wabba stated that the workers would not watch “hard-fought rights which are global standards bastardised by opportunistic and narrow-thinking politicians.”

The communique jointly signed by Wabba and the acting General Secretary of the NLC, Ismail Bello, further noted that this is an attempt to undermine Nigeria’s working class.

He said, “The NEC decided that there will be a national protest action commencing from March 10, 2021, in the Federal Capital Territory and especially to the National Assembly.

The NEC decided that should the need arise, it has empowered the National Administrative Council of the NLC to declare and enforce a national strike action, especially if the legislators continue on the ruinous path of moving the national minimum wage from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent legislative list.”

Politics

NLC set for strike in states that refuse to pay N30,000 minimum wage

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The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), has resolved to embark on strikes in states that have refused to pay its workers the N30,000 minimum wage earlier agreed upon.

In a communique signed by the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and and the General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Thursday in Abuja, the labour union described the failure of some state governments to implement the new national minimum wage as an act of criminality and betrayal of office.

The NLC added that some state governments were also yet to conclude negotiations on consequential salary adjustment owing to the new national minimum wage.

The communique reads:

“The NEC warned that it would take very drastic action against state governments that have refused to pay the new national minimum wage and minimum pension which benefit had already been eroded by the escalating inflation in the country.

“The NEC also resolved to view the refusal to pay the new national minimum wage by state governments as demanded by the law as an act of criminality, betrayal of the oath of office sworn by state chief executives and a dangerous adventure in anarchy.

“The NEC-in-Session directed all states where the national minimum wage of N30,000 is yet to be paid to immediately proceed on industrial action.”

Politics

NLC moves to pursue insurance cover for health workers lost to COVID-19

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The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has revealed that efforts are underway to follow up on the insurance cover for frontline health workers that died of the deadly COVID-19 virus across the country.

This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the President of NLC, Mr Ayuba Wabba, who said that the NLC was working with the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) to follow up on the insurance cover for the lost health workers.

Wabba who made the disclosure at a Five-day 7th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of NANNM, in Abuja, noted that health workers globally are entitled to hazard and inducement allowances to encourage them to work, with some countries fixing such at 50 per cent.

According to Wabba, the NLC is aware that the federal government has not paid allowances to many health workers especially with the outbreak of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said; “We will work with you to know the number of those that have died to follow up on what they promised as insurance cover for COVID-19.

“We were told 800 health workers were infected with COVID-19.

“Health workers globally are entitled to hazard and inducement allowances to encourage them to work, some countries make such 50 per cent.

“I am aware that in the second wave, there are so many allowances that have not been paid; I urge the government to respect the understanding that we have actually reached,’’ Wabba added.

The NLC boss however frowned at the privatisation of healthcare services, saying; “policies are meant to service the entire people. “We have seen deficiency in privatisation of health care systems around the world, health is not supposed to be for profit.

“Health is a fundamental right of a citizen. Some private hospitals in the country are taking advantage of COVID-19 to exploit people. “We need to defend the larger population against exploitation,’’ he said.

Politics

NLC orders FG to release all covid-19 welfare materials

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has ordered the Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately release all welfare materials provided to cushion the effect of Covid-19 in the country.

The NLC made the demand in a statement signed and issued on Monday by its President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba in Abuja, who said that the directive also applies to state governments which it accused of being chief culprits in hoarding of the palliatives.

Wabba also added that government officials cannot afford to create a scenario that precipitates mass unrests within this delicate and fragile milieu in global history.

The statement by the NLC reads thus in full; “The Nigeria Labour Congress has followed with keen concern the unfolding incidents across the country of mass storming and looting of relief welfare materials and provisions stored away in different warehouses.

“These relief palliatives and provisions are believed to have been procured by government to relieve citizens of the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown and the associated hardship.

“It is obvious that the palliative provisions that were procured by government for immediate distribution to the mass of our people at their critical time of need and to assuage the hardship occasioned by the lockdown were hoarded and held back by some government officials.

“The reasons for this have not been made known to the public. We also understand that many of the palliative provisions are already getting rotten in the warehouses where they were stored.

“While we condemn the ensuing mass looting of both the Covid-19 palliatives and non-Covid-19 palliative materials, we equally deplore the conduct of some government officials who stored away relief materials that should have been distributed to the masses of our people at their very trying times of need.

“We call on the Federal Government to investigate the conduct of those who hoarded the palliative provisions.

“In order to forestall riotous plundering of the remaining relief palliatives, the Nigeria Labour Congress demands that the Federal Government should order the immediate release of all the welfare provisions and materials to citizens.

“As we had demanded in the past, the distribution of the palliative provisions should be transparent, and inclusive with active participation of mass-based citizen groups.

“This directive should apply to state governments many of which are chiefly culprit in this regard. Government officials cannot afford to create a scenario that precipitates mass unrests at this very delicate and fragile milieu in global history. A stitch in time would save nine!” it concluded.

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