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Tag: Strike

  • Resident Doctors Declares “Indefinite Strike” Nationwide

    The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared a “total and indefinite strike action”.

    The association revealed this in a terse statement made available to Channels Television on Tuesday evening.

    The resident doctors listed their demands to include the immediate payment of the 2023 MRTF, the immediate release of the circular on one-for-one replacement, and the payment of skipping arrears.

    The list also noted the upward review of CONMESS in line with full salary restoration to the 2014 value of CONMESS, the payment of the arrears of consequential adjustment of minimum to the omitted doctors, and the reversal of the downgrading of the membership certificate by MDCN,

    Other demands are the payment of MRTF, new hazard allowance, skipping and implementation of corrected CONMESS in State Tertiary Health Institutions, and the payment of omitted hazard allowance arrears.

    The strike comes after the association on July 5 issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government for the implementation of all its demands.

    In an attempt to avert the strike, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Monday, held deliberations with the leadership of NARD behind closed doors.

    Following the private talks, Abbas promised to meet with President Bola Tinubu to avert the industrial action of the resident doctors and announced the setup of an ad hoc committee to meet with all the stakeholders and address the matter.

    The Speaker also appealed to NARD to give the house leadership a two-week period to find solutions to the issues raised.

  • FG Kicks As Resident Doctors Declare Warning Strike

    FG Kicks As Resident Doctors Declare Warning Strike

    Worried by the alleged failure of the Federal Government to meet its demand, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on Monday declared a five-day warning strike.

    Reliable reports have it that the industrial action will commence on Wednesday, May 17, and end on Monday, May 22.

    The decision to down tool was taken after the doctors’ extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held virtually on Monday.

    President of NARD, Dr Emeka Orji, confirmed the incident to Channels Television via a WhatsApp message.

    He, however, promised to make a press conference on Tuesday, May 16, saying a press statement will be made available to journalists also.

    The resident doctors have been at loggerheads with the Federal Government over poor remuneration, and better welfare for their members among other concerns.

    They are demanding an immediate increment in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure to the tune of 200 per cent of the current gross salary of doctors and the new allowances included in the letter written by the association to the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, on July 7, 2022, on the review of CONMESS.

    On April 29, the association issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to implement the agreements or face industrial action.

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    But reacting to the planned industrial action by the aggrieved resident doctors, the Federal Government described the move as unnecessary.

    Briefing journalists in Abuja after a special Federal Executive Council meeting, the Labour Minister, Dr Chris Ngige said the parent body of the association – the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) – is already engaging with relevant government agencies on the issue.

    “On the demand for 200 per cent salary increase, the NMA is the father of all doctors in Nigeria and they have about four or five affiliates of which the resident doctors is an association affiliating there,” he stated.

    “You have the Medical and Dental Consultants Association (MEDIAN), they are the consultants who are training these medical doctors to become specialists. You also have a general medical practitioners association and you also have doctors working in the private sector.

    “So, NMA is the father of all including me. So, NMA is discussing with the Federal Ministry of Health, salaries income and wages commission, and the Ministry of Labour and we know that NMA has accepted a salary increase between 25 and 30 per cent across the board for their members.

    “So, I don’t know the logic by which people who are members of NMA are now coming up to say pay us 200 per cent increase. I don’t understand it.

    “I have called the NMA President to contact them because, on the issue of remuneration negotiation, it’s NMA that the government deals with. So, I have told the President of NMA to contact them, and we will engage them. They should not go on any strike, it’s not necessary.”

  • Court Restrains NLC, TUC From Embarking On Strike In Imo

    Court Restrains NLC, TUC From Embarking On Strike In Imo

    A National industrial court sitting in Owerri has issued an interim order restraining the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) or any of its agents or affiliates from embarking or continuing to embark on any strike action in Imo State pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction filed in the suit.

    In the interim injunction signed by Justice Nelson Ogbuanya, the court also restrained the NLC and TUC or any of its affiliates from stopping, hindering, disrupting, or interfering in any manner whatsoever with the provision of services and other work by their members in the civil and public service in Imo pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction filed in the suit.

    Justice Ogbuanya ordered the applicant which is the Imo State Government to serve the originating summons, motions on notice, and other processes in the suit on the defendants which are NLC and the TUC along with the interim order granted by publication in any national newspaper circulating in Nigeria in the event that prompt service of court processes and the interim order cannot be effected on the trade unions as prescribed under order 7 rule 1 (1)(h)(ii) of the rules of court before the return date of further proceedings.

    The judge however set the return date for the court proceedings and hearing of the matter till May 11, 2023.

  • Aviation Workers suspend Strike Action

    Aviation Workers suspend Strike Action

    The strike action embarked upon by Aviation workers under the aegis of the National Union of Air Transport Employees and Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria and Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria has been suspended.

    International flights were disrupted in Lagos and Abuja airports today January 23, as the workers began their strike over an increase in salaries.

    Many passengers were left stranded at the airport as all international flights were canceled.

    In a new development, the leadership of the Aviation workers said the strike has been suspended and that negotiations are ongoing to address their demands for salary increase.

  • ASUU Rules Out Another Strike Action

    ASUU Rules Out Another Strike Action

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has ended its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting with a resolution not to embark on another strike action.

    The union, however, condemned attempt by the federal government to turn the academics into casual workers through the so-called ‘pro-rata’ payment for 18 days.

    In a press statement on Tuesday after the end of the NEC meeting, the ASUU national president, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, noted that the University teachers are intellectuals and not casual workers.

    He said the Union suspended its eight-month strike on October 14, 2022 in obedience to the order of the National Industrial Court and in further consideration of intervention efforts of well-meaning Nigerians, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.

    Osodeke noted that the action of the Union was a display of manifest trust in the judiciary and other institutions and organs of government to always put national interest above all other considerations.

    The ASUU president, however, lamented the response of government through the so-called ‘pro-rata’ payment for 18-day as the October 2022 salaries of the academics.

    He said, “This we believe, as a union of thinkers, intellectuals, and patriots, will not only aid the process of amicable resolution of the crisis, but will also set the tone for smooth industrial relations between Government and Nigerian workers at large.

    “Unfortunately, the response of government towards ASUU’s demonstration of trust was the so-called ‘pro-rata’ payment for eighteen days as the October 2022 salaries of academics thereby portraying them as daily paid workers!

    “This is not only an aberration, but a contravention of all known rules of engagement in any contract of employment for academics the world over.

    “At an emergency meeting of the ASUU’s National Executive Committee (NEC), held on Monday, 7th November, 2022, the Union deliberated on developments since the suspension of the strike.

    “NEC noted with dismay that paying academics on “pro-rata” basis, like casual workers, is unprecedented in the history of university oriented labour relations and therefore condemned this attempt to reduce Nigerian scholars to casual workers in its entirety.

    “NEC commends the membership of ASUU for their perseverance in the face of untold hardship and unwarranted provocation by some notorious agents of the ruling class.”

    The ASUU NEC, therefore, appealed for the understanding of Nigerian students, parents and other genuinely concerned individuals and groups while the Union continues to pursue positive resolution of this avoidable crisis within the ambit of legality without compromising the interests and welfare of Nigerian intellectuals.

  • Strike: ASUU NEC To Meet on Monday Over Half Salaries

    Strike: ASUU NEC To Meet on Monday Over Half Salaries

    Members of the National Executive Council of the Academic Staff Union of Universities will on Monday hold a crucial meeting to decide on whether to go on a fresh strike or not.

    The decision to convene the emergency NEC meeting, which is to be held at the ASUU National Secretariat on the University of Abuja campus, is coming on the heels of October salary cut received by members of the union.

    A NEC member, who does not want his name in print, told our correspondent that members of the union across all the branches were disappointed about the action of Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige.

    The official said their members had it on good authority that it was the minister who wrote to the necessary quarters, directing them not to fully pay October salary to lecturers.

    “I can confirm that, ASUU NEC will meet on Monday, November 7, to take a decision on strike action or not. This is an aftermath of half-salary paid by the Nigerian govt.

    “Branches say they are disappointed in the FG. The union should have a decision on the same day,” he told Daily Trust on the phone.

    President of the union, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke could not be reached for comments as at when filing this report.

    ASUU had called off an eight-month strike on October 14, following court rulings and the intervention of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila.

    Another NEC member said the most “worrisome” part of the whole thing was the payment of salary backlogs to medical lecturers in the universities while other teachers in other discipline were neglected.

    In reaction via a statement issued on Saturday, Ngige dismissed ASUU members’ allegations on selective treatment.

    He described the allegation as grossly “inaccurate, misleading and barefaced distortion of facts”, pointing out that members of ASUU were paid their October salary pro-rata, and not half salary.

    He said the pro-rata was done because they cannot be paid for work not done.

    The minister maintained that he never directed the Accountant-General of the Federation to pay the university lecturers half salary.

  • Strike: Gbajabiamila moves to Consolidate ASUU, FG Agreement on Payment Platform

    Strike: Gbajabiamila moves to Consolidate ASUU, FG Agreement on Payment Platform

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has reiterated the determination of the House to ensure the implementation of the latest agreement between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government to eliminate the possibility of another industrial action by the union. 

    This emerged on Monday during a reconciliation meeting convened by Speaker Gbajabiamila between the leadership of ASUU and the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) where the Speaker emphasized that everything must be done to prevent lecturers from resuming the suspended strike action. 

    While thanking the ASUU leadership and the striking lecturers for returning to class based on trust from the intervention of the House, Gbajabiamila said the purpose of the days meeting was to strike an understanding between ASUU and the AGF on the implementation of the agreement to accommodate the peculiarities of lecturers into the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), being a critical aspect of the agreement that led to the call-off of the 8-month strike by ASUU.

    He said: “I thank you (ASUU) for the shifting base, as we asked you to, I thank you for the compromises that you made. We are here as an institution to make sure that whatever we had agreed is implemented as best as possible, if not to the letter. 

    “The main issue for discussion today, which was one of the major areas of conflict, was the issue of the payment platform. Whether or not, or how to deal with the issue of UTAS as opposed to IPPIS. 

    “If you recollect on that issue, we did agree that we will marry both, whilst IPPIS will remain the platform, that the government will bring in the aspects and the areas under UTAS that are specific to the universities and assimilate those areas into IPPIS, I believe that was what was agreed by both sides when we had our last two meetings.”

    “We want to make sure that the box is ticked, and that it is not just an agreement on paper or that we said it for the purposes of moving towards the cancellation of the strike.”

    Responding to queries from the Speaker, the AGF, Okolieaboh Sylva disclosed that his office was ready to work with the delegation from ASUU to implement the agreement. 

    He also revealed that it would likely take three months to clear the critical payment issues regarding the accommodation of the UTAS peculiarities into IPPIS. 

    On his part, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke said ASUU is ready to be part of the payment system accommodation process while aligning with the set timeline for its completion.

    The Speaker urged the ASUU leadership to have faith in the intervention and inclusion of the leadership of the House in the implementation of the new agreement with the government. 

    Gbajabiamila assured that the Chairman of the House Committee on Tertiary Education would be involved in the process leading to the implementation of the agreement.

  • ASUU To Hold Emergency All-Night Meeting Over Final Decision on Strike

    ASUU To Hold Emergency All-Night Meeting Over Final Decision on Strike

    Striking Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, will convene emergency National Executive Council, NEC meeting on Thursday, to review recent developments, especially the positive response from the federal government to its demands.

    The meeting which is a meeting of the leadership of the union was convened to allow the leadership of the union take the final decision on the protracted strike.

    Speaking with our correspondent in Abuja, a top source said, “We will have a meeting today and it will last overnight so that we will be given enough time to deliberate and make a conclusion.”

    The outcome of the meeting would result in suspension of the strike on late Thursday or Friday morning.

    Details later…

  • We’re Hopeful Strike Will End In Few Days – ASUU

    We’re Hopeful Strike Will End In Few Days – ASUU

    Emmanuel Osodeke, president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), says the union is optimistic of an end to its strike soon.

    He said this on Monday at a meeting with the leadership of the house of representatives.

    ASUU has been on strike since February over issues revolving around “revitalising” public universities, review of lecturers’ salaries and allowances, among other matters.

    Also present at the meeting on Monday was Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives.

    Speaking at the meeting, Osodeke said there should be more commitment from concerned stakeholders towards ensuring that strike periods are not allowed to stretch for so long.

    “Please, let all of us work together to put a beautiful end to this end to this thing we have started, so that every Nigerian will be proud that we have universities we can be proud of,” Osodeke said.

    “Once again, I want to thank you. I also extend our appreciation to the president for intervening, I want to appeal that in the future, we should not allow strike to linger. Strike should not go beyond two days.

    “If the way the national assembly has intervened, if we had done that long ago, or those in charge of labour and education had done exactly this, we would not be where we are today; we would not have stayed more than two or three weeks on this strike. There is strike all over the world — UK, US, all over — but they don’t allow it to last.

    “So, once again, thank you very much and we hope that working together, in the next few days, we can put an end to this particular imbroglio in the Nigerian educational system.”

  • Strike: House leadership to dialogue with Buhari over ASUU demands next week, says Gbajabiamila

    Strike: House leadership to dialogue with Buhari over ASUU demands next week, says Gbajabiamila

    The leadership of the House of Representatives will seek an audience with President Muhammadu Buhari on the resolution of the ongoing face-off between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) with the outcome of its interactions with stakeholders in the dispute, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila said on Thursday.

    This is as the office of the Accountant General of the Federation (AOGF) revealed its readiness to accommodate issues of concern to ASUU over the payment platforms, Integrated Payroll Personnel Information System (IPPIS) and the University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS) that constituted a major part of the issues that led to the strike.

    According to the Speaker, the leadership, in the next couple of days, will put up a report of its interactions with key stakeholders in the dispute and come up with recommendations that will enable the President to view the issues at stake from an informed second option.

    Speaking at the last meeting of the House leadership with stakeholders, Gbajabiamila said the information gathered from the extensive interactions would assist the leadership in arriving at fact-based recommendations for the resolution of the crisis.  

    Those in attendance included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha; the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Sen Chris Ngige; Head of the Civil  Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan;  the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Sylva Okolieaboh; the Director General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Ben Akabueze; the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, represented; as well as the Chairman, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Ekpo Nta among others. Also present was the delegation from ASUU led by its president, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke. 

    Saying that the interest of the children that had been at the receiving end of the trade dispute should be paramount, Gbajabiamila appealed to both sides to give in and make concessions from their initial demands.

    He said: “We will put together our recommendations and our thoughts and take it to Mr. President, that’s why we are here to interface and look for solutions.

    “Again let me repeat, we are running a government, nobody, no individual, no group, whether you are legislative, judiciary or whatever can be above the government, can be above the law.

    “We can’t be against and I’m speaking specifically to ASUU, we did not say because the court has given judgment, that’s the end of our conversation. In spite of the court judgment, we are still looking for solutions, we didn’t even address it here, I don’t want to address it.

    “Otherwise, we could’ve said, if government has given judgment, I don’t know if there’s a stay of execution, I don’t know.

    “We are appealing to you, the Judiciary has spoken, the Executive has spoken, the Legislature is about to speak together with the Executive; everybody cannot be wrong and only one person is right. For me I’m happy with the solution on UTAS, no victor, no vanquished, everybody is being carried along.

    “for the sake of emphasis, the House is pleading with you, let’s put all interest aside and look at the interest of our children.

    “The white paper we told you we’ll get, the letter is here, it’s now waiting for the President’s final approval.

    “On revitalization, I asked the DG budget here if provision has been made in the budget. We made a promise to you, and we are staying by that promise.

    “Regarding the issue of UTAS, you said you haven’t seen the report; we have it here, so we’ve been working for you”.

    During the interactions, following questions from the Speaker, the AGF, Okolieaboh revealed that his office was ready to accommodate issues of concern to ASUU over salary payment if that would bring the crisis to an end.

    While the Director General of the NITDA, also disclosed the readiness of the agency to continue the integrity test on the payment platforms.

    Following complaints of the federal government’s attempt to strip the Universities Governing Council of its administrative power through the deployment of the IPPIS, the Head of Service, Yemi-Esan allayed the fears of the striking lecturers that the government would not take away the responsibilities of the Governing Council of Universities in the administration of the schools.

    Speaker Gbajabiamila assured the striking lectures that the House leadership would invite the ASUU leadership following the outcome of the meeting with the President as soon as it was held.

    “When we make our recommendations, we are going to meet with Mr. President and interface on your behalf”, he assured them.