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Tag: Joe Ajaero

  • NLC Counters Governors’ “Hypocritical” Stance on Minimum Wage

    NLC Counters Governors’ “Hypocritical” Stance on Minimum Wage

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has responded firmly to state governors advocating for the decentralization of salaries, labeling their proposal as hypocritical and contradictory to the centralized nature of their own salaries.

    NLC President, Joe Ajaero, made this assertion during the 112th International Labour Conference in Geneva. He argued that if governors desire decentralized salaries for workers, they should first accept decentralized salaries for themselves from the Federal Government.

    The governors’ proposal, aimed at allowing states to determine salaries based on their financial capabilities and economic realities, has been met with strong opposition from the NLC. The labor union fears that such a move could result in disparities in worker wages across the country and undermine national standards for worker welfare.

    Ajaero emphasized, “Is it the source of payment? Is it coming from their purse? What are they saying, because minimum wage is like having a uniform law in the country? Are they now saying give us the right to run a kind of confederate system of government or permission to run a unitary system of government so that whatever we generate we spend it? Let them tell us, we will tell them how and where they can get money from their states. It’s not about waiting on the Federal Government to collect money.”

    The Acting Director of Media Affairs and Public Relations of the Governor’s Forum, Halima Ahmed, had previously stated in a release that governors could not afford to pay a minimum wage of ₦60,000. She argued that implementing such a wage increase would exhaust many states’ monthly allocations from the Federation Account solely on paying workers’ salaries.

  • Labour Party (LP) Fires Back at Joe Ajaero Over Chairmanship Ambitions

    Labour Party (LP) Fires Back at Joe Ajaero Over Chairmanship Ambitions

    By Daniel Edu

    The Labour Party (LP) has leveled accusations against Joe Ajaero, the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), alleging his desperate bid to replace Julius Abure as the party’s National Chairman.

    In a statement released by the party’s spokesman, Obiorha Ifoh, on Saturday, LP responded to a letter from the Nigeria Labour Congress Political Commission (NLCPC), which called for Abure’s resignation and the organization of a caretaker transition committee.

    The NLCPC, in its letter signed by Titus Amba and Chris Uyot, accused Abure and the National Working Committee (NWC) of planning a ‘secret’ national convention in Umuahia, Abia State’s capital, on March 27, purportedly to re-elect Abure as a ‘sole administrator.’

    LP’s response dismissed these claims as orchestrated by Ajaero, alleging his aspirations to assume leadership within the party. Ifoh emphasized that LP’s leadership would not be dictated by unionists who are not members of the party.

    The LP spokesman affirmed that the planned national convention in Umuahia on March 27 would proceed as scheduled, despite the opposition.

    Ifoh highlighted previous friction between NLC and LP, citing a history of confrontations and attempts at sabotage. He criticized Ajaero’s leadership, blaming it for undermining the harmony achieved between NLC, Trade Union Congress, and LP under Abure’s leadership.

    LP stressed its commitment to democratic processes, stating that the decision to hold a national convention aligned with Article 14:4b of the party’s Constitution.

    Regarding Ajaero and his supporters, LP urged them to formally join the race for the chairmanship if they disagreed with the party’s internal procedures. Furthermore, LP encouraged unionists to engage in grassroots politics by becoming party members at the ward level before aspiring to higher positions.

  • NLC Solicits Labour, Govt Synergy To Enhance Productivity

    NLC Solicits Labour, Govt Synergy To Enhance Productivity

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero has solicited for a synergy between the Organised Labour and the three tiers of Governments across the country to enhance productivity.

    The NLC Boss made the call while commissioning the newly built Kogi NLC Secretariat under the leadership of Onu Johnson Edoka in Lokoja.

    The NLC President who was represented by the General Secretary of the union, Emmanuel Ogwaja, noted that peaceful co-existence among labour and government would no doubt enhance productivity of the nation’s workforce.

    Ajaero said that no meaningful development can take place in an atmosphere of rancour and misunderstanding between labour and government.

    He commended the unity amongst the various unions in the state stressing that when workers unit, their struggles would yield fruitful results in the society.

    In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC) in Kogi State, Comrade Onuh Edoka disclosed that the project was soley executed through the union’s initiative and funding and no Government in power can seal it’s secretariat for whatever reasons.

    According to him, numerous challenges were encountered during the building project, as the union got little support from stakeholders in the State.

    “No government can come out and close this Secretariat if workers embark on strike. This Secretariat belongs to us. The Government offered little support in building of our Secretariat. We know what is happening in other states where NLC secretariat was built by the State Government, so we are careful that is why we went all out to source for fund to build NLC secretariat by ourselves with little support from Government”

    Edoka, who will be handing over to a new Executive of NLC this week appreciated Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello for his support towards ensuring that NLC in Kogi State has their own Secretariat for over 30 years of their existence.

    Edoka who, however, commend the Auditor General of Local Government, Alhaji Usman Ododo for his support in the completion of the Secretariat appealed to Kogi Workers to always support NLC towards achieving their goal in the State.