My Blog

Category: Labour

  • Pensioners Block Finance Ministry Over Delayed Payments  

    Pensioners Block Finance Ministry Over Delayed Payments  

    A scene described as embarrassing and unbecoming of a government unraveled today in Abuja as pensioners barricaded streets, especially the entrance of the Federal Ministry of Finance, to express their frustration over delayed pension payments.  

    The protest, spearheaded by the National Union of Contributory Pensioners, focused on unpaid accrued rights—benefits earned under the old pension scheme before the 2004 transition to the Contributory Pension Scheme.  

    These entitlements are meant to be transferred to Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) to allow retirees access upon retirement. 

    However, some pensioners who retired as far back as 2003 claim they have yet to receive their due, leaving them unable to secure funds through the Pension Administration System.  

    The pensioners are calling on the federal government to resolve the backlog swiftly.

  • FG Introduces New Curriculum Mandating Skill Acquisition for Students

    FG Introduces New Curriculum Mandating Skill Acquisition for Students

    The federal government is introducing a new curriculum for Basic and Senior Secondary Education in Nigeria, aiming to ensure that every student graduates with at least two practical skills. 

    This update, announced during the 68th National Council on Education (NEC) meeting in Abuja, aligns with the government’s plan to integrate skills, knowledge, and values into the education system. 

    The focus is on equipping students with skills that align with the country’s economic needs, enabling them to lead productive lives post-graduation. 

    This curriculum reform is part of the Education Transformation Agenda, aimed at revamping the education sector to promote quality learning, accessibility, and equity.

    The government has also committed to upholding international agreements and protocols to safeguard educational facilities and learners from attacks.

     Furthermore, it emphasized the need for incorporating digital technology and entrepreneurship in education to foster national development. 

    Officials highlighted that the current global trends demand an education system that adapts to technological changes, ensuring relevance to societal needs and growth.

  • NLC to conduct medical checks on Ajaero after DSS detention

    NLC to conduct medical checks on Ajaero after DSS detention

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced plans to conduct comprehensive medical checks on its President, Joe Ajaero, following his release from detention by the Department of State Services (DSS).
    Ajaero was arrested and detained at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while en-route to the United Kingdom to attend a conference on workers’ rights and social justice.
    In a statement, NLC Deputy President Prince Adewale Adeyanju expressed gratitude to Nigerians, civil society organizations, affiliates, and the international community for their support during Ajaero’s “illegal arrest and detention.” The statement emphasized the importance of collective action in defense of justice and workers’ rights.
    Ajaero’s release came after intense pressure from the NLC and compliance with the demands of the National Administrative Council (NAC). The NLC remains vigilant and will conduct medical checks to ensure Ajaero’s health has not been compromised.
    The NLC condemned the arrest and detention as a “reckless abuse of power” and reaffirmed its commitment to standing against oppression, intimidation, and lawlessness. The organization views the attack on its leadership as an assault on the fundamental rights of all Nigerian workers and citizens.
    The NLC demands the release of citizens detained for participating in the #EndBadGovernance protest, an end to the clampdown on popular voices, and the reversal of hikes in petrol and electricity tariffs. The organization also calls for the immediate implementation of the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act.
    The NLC has suspended its National Executive Council meeting to assess the situation and determine next steps in its collective struggle. The organization urges Nigerians, affiliates, and the international community to remain steadfast and vigilant in the struggle for justice and workers’ rights.
  • Police summons Ajaero again

    Police summons Ajaero again

    A little over 24 hours after his return from an earlier invite, the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero has again been summoned by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for questioning.

    This time he is to report in company of Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja the General Secretary of NLC.

    Both leaders of the Congress are scheduled to turn up at Force Headquarters on September 5, 2024.

    Recall that on August 29, the NLC President complied with a previous summons to appear before the police on allegations of criminal conspiracy, financing of terrorism, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.

    In the latest summons, the police is demanding that the NLC President and the General Secretary answer to questions on allegations bordering on criminal intimidation, conducts likely to cause a breach of the public peace and malicious damage to properties.

     

     

  • We Will Not Be Intimidated – NLC To FG

    We Will Not Be Intimidated – NLC To FG

    “NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the invasion of its headquarters, the letter of threat from the Registrar of Trade unions and the Arrest of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), executive, Opalua Eleojo, were acts by the federal government to intimidate the organized labour.”
    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said the labour union will not be intimidated by the federal government.
    NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the invasion of its headquarters, the letter of threat from the Registrar of Trade unions and the Arrest of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), executive, Opalua Eleojo, were acts by the federal government to intimidate the organized labour.
    Ajaero also accused the federal government of insincerity in its activities and promises to Nigerians. The organized labour regretted that the government fooled citizens into believing they would buy a 50kg bag of rice at ₦40,000.
    NLC President said this on Thursday, in a press conference in Abuja. “For instance, in the days preceding the End-Hunger protests, the Registrar of Trade Unions acting on orders from above wrote a letter of threat on our relationship with Labour Party, citing Section 15 (ss) 2, 3, 4 of the Trade Unions Act.
    “In their bid to suppress our voice, they forgot the provisions of Sections 39 – to 40 of the 1999 constitution (as amended), the Supreme Court decision on the right of public servants to hold political views.
    “The government is also frantically working to reduce to two the number of years trade unionists could hold office. This constitutes a gross interference in the internal running of the trade unions in violation of the corpus of Labour Law and ILO Conventions,” he said.
    The organized labour explained that the statement by Nigeria Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuwiya Adejobi that the raid of NLC’s headquarters had nothing to do with the labour union was false.
    NLC said no intentional terrorist hid in the union’s headquarters. “If the police truly had credible intelligence and if Congress was not their target, what was wrong in taking the leadership of Congress into confidence. And if they felt that would jeopardise the operation, couldn’t they have confided in the leadership at H-hour?
    “The police and government should stop playing on our intellect. They should also stop diverting attention from the real issues that still stare us in the face, economic policies that continue to unleash hardship on the people.
    “The insincerity of government is so manifest. They claimed they were selling bags of rice at 40k and had to stop when the rice was being resold at ₦80,000. Up till this moment no one has been able to tell us where rice was sold at ₦40,000.
    “We advise the government to stop further acts of intimidation against the Nigeria Labour Congress and indeed against the generality of Nigerians,” he added.