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  • Workers Day: End Percentage Salaries For LG Staff, Teachers In Kogi – NLC Tasks Bello

    Workers Day: End Percentage Salaries For LG Staff, Teachers In Kogi – NLC Tasks Bello

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The Chairman of Kogi state Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Amari Gabriel on Monday called on Governor Yahaya Bello to end the ugly development
    of the scourge of percentage salaries for the local government staff and basic education teachers in the state.

    The NLC Boss who made the call in a speech to mark this year’s Workers Day Celebration in Lokoja on Monday, said that the demand has become imperative inview of the untold hardship faced by concerned workers as a result of the poor salary package.

    Gabriel noted that the percentage payment has crippled the third tier of government and rendered Basic Education in Kogi state ineffective.

    “Your Excellency, as your tenure draws to the end, we urge you to compel the authorities in charge of local government to restore payment of full salaries to workers to bring them a par with their state counterparts”

    The NLC Chairman, however, commended Governor Yahaya Bello for regular payment of workers salaries and pensions for pensioners on the pay roll of Kogi state government.

    “Also we wish to thank Governor Yahaya Bello for supporting the building of a magnificent Labour House in Lokoja after 32 years of the state creation

    “Organised Labour commends the giant strides of this administration in the provision of infrastructure in the state. These legacy projects includes: General Muhammadu Buhari Civic Centre, Ganaja Flyover, the Graphic Building, Model Science Secondary Schools and Reference Hospital, Okene among others”

    “We plead with government to live up to its responsibility in tackling insecurity, unemployment, conduct of credible elections and payment of gratuity of pensioners, to mention but just a few”

    He charged workers to remain committed to quality service delivery in their various spheres of duties to justify government’s huge investment on them.

    Governor Yahaya Bello who was represented by the Secretary to Kogi Government, Dr. Mrs Folashade Ayoade Arike at the event, appreciated sacrifices made by workers for the development of the state since his assumption of office.

    The Governor assured workers that their sacrifices would be rewarded accordingly as his administration will continue to accord priority to their welfare.

    “We as government will not relent in complementing the efforts of the organised labour in advancing for the betterment of the living condition of their members. We will therefore, remain committed to the sustainace of the prevailing regular payment of workers salaries and pensions for retirees of the state government”

  • NLC, TUC Demands Review Of Retirement Age For Politicians

    NLC, TUC Demands Review Of Retirement Age For Politicians

    The Organised Labour on Monday demanded the review of retirement age for all public servants from 60 to 65 years and from 35 years to 40 years of service.

    The Organised Labour made the demand during this year’s Workers’ Day Celebration with the theme, ‘Workers’ Rights and Socioeconomic Justice’.

    Past and present leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) as well as those of other affiliate unions converged on the Eagle Square Abuja in commemoration of the 2023 May Day Celebration.

    This year’s May Day celebration will be the last to be held under President Muhammadu Buhari led administration.

    The Organised Labour also demanded that an independent panel be set up to investigate the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu and his team over their conduct in the 2023 general elections.

    The body demanded an investigation into the sending of N12bn by the Ministry of Aviation to buy ten fire trucks.

    The President of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero said equity, fairness and justice underpins the survival of societies and creates resilience for nations in the midst of upheavals and turbulence, noting that Nigeria needs the presence of this mass to jump start the process of development.

    He said poor wages, abuse of workplace rights and privileges as well as unpaid salaries strip workers of their rights.

    On his part, the President of the TUC, Comrade Festus Osifo decried the state of the economy, which according to him is on auto pilot, struggling to survive while those engaged to manage it have kept throwing filth and injecting toxins into it.

    He described as unfortunate, a situation which the country is led by men and women who delight in enacting policies that are detrimental to the progress of the nation, including the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) currency redesigning policy.

    Attending the event are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello; and the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen.

    The candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi was also in attendance.

  • NLC Officials Storm LP Secretariat In Solidarity With Abure

    NLC Officials Storm LP Secretariat In Solidarity With Abure

    Officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have stormed the National Secretariat of the Labour Party (LP) in Abuja as they showed solidarity for the party’s embattled National Chairman Julius Abure.

    The NLC officials were led by its president Joe Ajaero to the Monday outing in the Utako District of Abuja.

    It came amid the leadership crisis rocking LP after a court had restrained Abure and others from parading themselves as officials of the party. Following the development, the LP vice chairman(South) Lamidi Apapa declared himself as the party’s acting chairman.

    But Ajaero said the labour movement will resist any plot to throw the Labour Party into chaos.

    “Today, we say enough is enough. Never again will any human being enter here under any guise, under any order. Even if we lose our leadership, we have to meet as trustees of this party to decide the next line of action,” he said.

    “For anybody to illegally declare himself either as chairman, secretary or anything, we urge all workers anywhere in the country, where you see such people, arrest them and bring them to us.

    “The hour has come. The Bible says, ‘From the days of John the Baptist the kingdom of God suffereth violence. And violence taketh by force. Now we have come to take our party, we have come to establish our party. As the fastest-growing party, you can see that envy and jealousy are crippling in. The people that are pioneering this to sabotage us let’s announce here that we know your fathers.

    “If you continue this way, we will go after your fathers. We leave it here until we finish our private discussion. Let it be known to the whole world that the NLC fathered LP and we will not abandon our child”.

    He explained that the NLC visited the LP headquarters to fish out those who want to usurp the party’s leadership.

    “For some time now, we have not been visiting our house we decided to visit our house this afternoon after getting some information that there are some rodents trying to move into our house and we have come with some insecticide to fumigate the house from any rodents that are illegally trying to enter our property,” he added.

    “So that is why we are here, incidentally, we didn’t see any rodents but we will comb around and see whether there are any. The LP is a child of circumstances. It began when we lost almost all confidence in the existing political parties. And we felt that the LP will be the ideal political party that will represent our ideological persuasions.

    “On the other hand, that was why the LP was formed. For anybody or group that thinks that they can sabotage or derail our ideological move, we will resist them with the last drop of our blood.

    “This was formed by the NLC and TUC. This is our party. Nobody can come from the blues and declare himself as the chairman or secretary of our party without our consent.

    “It is not done. Such people, if they attempt to come here next time, all their property, all their houses, their residential houses we will occupy it where ever it is located. Then they will know that all that they have was given to them by Labour.”

  • NLC, TUC Extend Strike Ultimatum by Two Weeks

    NLC, TUC Extend Strike Ultimatum by Two Weeks

    The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have extended their strike ultimatum it earlier issued the federal government for two more weeks, following consultations with their affiliate unions over the cash crunch policy.

    The decision was announced on Tuesday, after a meeting with the National Executive Council members.

    Recall that the NLC had issued an ultimatum to go on strike beginning from Wednesday, nationwide, part of which was a plan to picket the various branches of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

    It is, however, not clear whether a meeting summoned by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige between the leadership of the NLC and CBN prompted the decision to extend the ultimatum for an additional two weeks.

    President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero had admitted that the cash crunch situation had improved considerably but that they need to monitor the compliance of cash disbursement through the commercial banks for two more weeks.

    President of the TUC, Festus Osifo also corroborated Ajaero’s position, saying there was need to benchmark the government, not just concerning scarcity of cash but the challenges associated with fuel products and unending queues, including electricity tarriff.

    Osifo said CBN had erred in eroding the confidence of the people regarding their monetary policy, hence they need to restore the confidence within the two weeks grace period.

  • Labour: Kogi NLC Inaugurates New Exco, Amari Emerges As Chairman

    Labour: Kogi NLC Inaugurates New Exco, Amari Emerges As Chairman

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    NIGERIA Labour Congress (NLC), Kogi chapter has elected new Executive Council members with Comrade Gabriel Amari emerging new Chairman to pilot the affairs of the organised labour in the next four years.

    Amari who was of Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Kogi chapter was elected un-opposed along with other members of his eight-member Executive Committee at the 8th Quadrennial State Delegates Conference.

    Other Executive members elected were Comrades Ebenezer Adeyemi and Opaluwa Eleojo as Vice Chairmen; Salifu Joel As Treasurer; Omuya Momoh and Awodi Ochala as Adutors; and Bolanle Inubiwon & Oyiza Sanni as Ex-Officios.

    Comrade Joe Ajaero, National President of the NLC who was represented by Comrade Roseline Uba, NLC National Returning Officer, supervised the exercise later inaugurated the new Executive members.

    Ajaero urged the new Exco to surpass the achievements of the immediate past Exco, and ensure harmonious relationship with the State Government for the benefit of workers in the state.

    Earlier, the Chairman Accreditation Committee of NLC Delegates Election, Comrade Saliu Oganza, said eight candidates applied for eight available elective positions and were returned un-opposed as there were no other contestants.

    In his acceptance speech, the new Kogi NLC chairman, Amari commended the immediate past Chairman, Comrade Onuh Edoka and his Exco for laying a solid foundation and promised to consolidate on their numerous achievements in office.

    ”With your support and cooperation, we will move Kogi workers to the next level. I assure you that we shall not disappoint you and the confidence you have reposed in us”, Amari said.

    Comrade Amari however, appealed to the State Government to hold quarterly meetings with the organised labour so as to be at abreast with workers welfare.

    Governor, Yahaya Bello, who was represented by the state Head of Service, Mrs Hannah Odiyo, congratulated the new Exco, and commended the leadership of the Organised Labour for their show of patriotism and maturity in ensuring industrial harmony.

    He assured that Government would continue to make workers welfare its priority, stressing that the welfare of workers was at the heart of the government as he solicited further cooperation of Organised Labour.

    Earlier, in his valedictory speech, Comrade Onuh thanked the entire workers in the state for their unprecedented support and cooperation, and urged them to extend same to the new Exco.

  • 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.

  • Gbajabiamila congratulates Ajaero on emergence as NLC president

    Gbajabiamila congratulates Ajaero on emergence as NLC president

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has congratulated Mr. Joe Ajaero on his emergence as the new president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

    Speaker Gbajabiamila also congratulated other members of the national executive committee of the NLC.

    In a press statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, the Speaker said he believed Mr. Ajaero would bring his experience to bear in his new position as the president of the NLC.

    Gbajabiamila wished Ajaero a successful tenure, urging the new NLC president to be innovative in his leadership.

  • ASUU: FG Appeal to NLC to Register CONUA, NAMDA

    ASUU: FG Appeal to NLC to Register CONUA, NAMDA

    The Federal Government, Tuesday, appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress to rescind its opposition to the registration of two new academic unions in the Nigerian public university system.

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige made the call on Tuesday in a statement by Olajide Oshundun, Head of Public Relations in the ministry.

    The unions – Congress for Nigerian University Academics (CONUA) and Nigeria Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) earlier received letters of recognition from the government.

    In response, NLC President, Ayuba Wabba demanded withdrawal of the letters issued on the grounds that their registration contravened the laws guiding trade unionism.

    But Ngige, in his reply, appealed to the NLC to allow the new bodies to exist in the spirit of Freedom of Association.

    The minister said the Trade Dispute Act 2004 gives him the sole power to register new trade unions, either by registering a new union or regrouping existing ones.

    Ngige explained that the new unions were offshoots or by-products of regrouping and their applications were considered by two committees of his ministry.

    The official told the NLC that CONUA and NAMDA were regrouped from ASUU for efficiency and effectiveness in the system.

    “Comrade President, do not unnecessarily oppose the registration of these new academic unions. As an uncle of the unions, oppose none in the spirit of Freedom of Association”, he noted.

    Pointing out his power to register unions under Section 3 (2) of the Trade Dispute Act, CAP T14, Ngige cited a litigation in the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN).

    The case involved the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) and the Federal Parastatals and Private Sector Pensioners Association of Nigeria (FEPPAN) regrouped from the NUP.

    Ngige recalled that the NICN, in suit NICN/ABJ/219/2019, affirmed its initial ruling that the power to register trade unions resides with the Minister of Labour and Employment.

  • NLC Recommends 50% Salary Increase Across Board to FG

    NLC Recommends 50% Salary Increase Across Board to FG

    Nigeria Labour Congress has asked the federal government to consider a 50 percent salary review “across the board given the realities on ground.”

    The letter dated August 8, is reportedly a response to the economic prescriptions offered by State Governors.

    Recall that Governors had pushed for the elimination of petrol subsidy, the retirement of civil servants from the age of 50, and the reduction of National Assembly constituency projects among other prescriptions.

    The NLC which slammed Governors for seeking early retirement of workers, stressed that anyone promoting this idea “should be treated as enemies of your government.”

    Instead of early retirement, the union asked the Buhari-led administration to consider a further increase of worker salaries.

    The letter signed by NLC President Ayuba Wabba partly read;

    “While we commend you for your thoughtfulness for a wage increase, truth of the matter is that given the misfortune that has befallen the Nigerian populace, especially workers with fixed incomes, there is an urgent need for a massive intervention much deeper than the 22 percent.

    “We would recommend a 50 percent salary review across the board given the realities on ground.”

  • NLC President Leads Day 2 Protest Over University Unions Strike

    NLC President Leads Day 2 Protest Over University Unions Strike

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday continued its protest in Abuja over the prolonged strike by university workers across the country.

    This comes a day after a similar demonstration held in various states of the Federation, except in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The protest began at about 9:30am after members of the NLC leadership and leaders of various affiliated unions, as well as members converged on the Unity Fountain in the nation’s capital.

    Among those physically present were the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba; ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke; and the immediate past President of the academic union, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, among others.

    Channels Television also observed a heavy security presence at the venue of the protest mostly made up of personnel of the Nigeria Police.

    The protesters plan to march to the National Assembly where the NLC president will deliver a message from the labour unions to the lawmakers.

    University workers, including members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), had gone on strike for various reasons.

    Lecturers in government-owned universities – affiliated with ASUU – embarked on a nationwide strike on February 14 over the adoption of the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) of the government as the payment system in the university sector, as well as poor funding of universities, and non-payment of salaries and allowances of some of their colleagues, among other issues.

    Since the industrial action began, several negotiations between the union and the government have ended in deadlock.

    While the government is still struggling to resolve the issues raised by the striking lecturers, the crisis in the public universities may not end soon as other university unions have also voiced their concerns.

    The NLC, in its reaction, faulted the Federal Government over its handling of the industrial actions that have crippled activities in public institutions.

    It also called on the government to pay the salaries of the striking workers, which it said had since “been frozen on the premise of the so-called ‘no work-no pay’ policy”.

    Disturbed by the situation in the university sector, the labour body declared a two-day nationwide strike across all states.

    But Wabba, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, warned the Federal Government to brace for a three-day nationwide strike if the crisis is left unresolved.

    “The protest first is to show our concern and to also call for urgent action to resolve the issues. We took two levels of decision,” he said while highlighting the importance of the protest.

    “First is the national protest to call for attention and for the issues to be resolved promptly, and the next level is three days national warning strike if nothing has happened after the protest to show our grievances.”