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Tag: TUC

  • Ajaero summon: Labour prepares for a showdown with the NPF

    Ajaero summon: Labour prepares for a showdown with the NPF

    The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has directed all national officers and 54 affiliate unions to accompany President Joe Ajaero to the Force Headquarters tomorrow, Thursday in response to the police invitation.
    It should be recalled that the Labour leader is facing allegations of involvement in terrorism financing.
    The police invitation, which was extended to Ajaero through the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Intelligence Response Team (IRT), alleges “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.”
    In response, Ajaero’s lawyers, Femi Falana’s chambers, requested an extension of the invitation till Thursday, August 29.
    Meanwhile, in a fresh circular signed by NLC General Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, the union called on members to mobilize and assemble at the National Headquarters in Abuja or their respective state secretariats.
    From there, they will embark on a peaceful procession to the State Police Headquarters, where they will hold a prayer session until Ajaero’s interaction with the police is concluded.
    The circular added, “This peaceful march is a united stand against the unjust actions aimed at intimidating our leadership and stifling the voice of Nigerian workers. We urge all members to remain peaceful and orderly throughout the procession and prayer session.
    “If for any reason, the President is detained, all workers nationwide shall proceed on indefinite strike. Your unwavering support and solidarity at this critical time are crucial to defending Civic rights and the integrity and rights of the labour movement.”
    “Together, we shall overcome these challenges and continue to uphold justice, fairness, and democracy in our dear nation.”
  • Ondo moves to ratify minimum wage payment

    Ondo moves to ratify minimum wage payment

    Currently at the cusp of a critical governorship election, the Ondo State government is escalating efforts fix a date to commence  payment of the N70,000 minimum wage.

    Towards this end, the State Government and organised labour have commenced further engagement with the aim to find a middle ground.
    Last month, a meeting of the Ondo Joint Negotiation Council presided by Comrade Olapade Ademola Adeniji, constituted a nine-man Technical Committee on Minimum Wage.
    A statement by JNC Secretary, Comrade Esther Foluke Akinleye, said: “The primary mandate of this committee is to work on the pressing issues of New Minimum Wage. Their task will be to carefully review, analyze, and come up with different salary tables after comparison with other States.
    “This committee which comprises representatives from various sectors, is to ensure that every worker’s perspective is taken into consideration.”
    It named Comrade Esther Foluke Akinleye as Chairman while Comrade Adewale Sanusi served as Secretary.
    Ondo Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Wale Akinlosotu said talks between labour and the state government were still on.
    Akinlosotu said Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has agreed to pay the N70,000 minimum wage.
    He stated that payment would commence have an agreement has been reached with labour.
  • 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.
  • NLC accepts N70,000 as new national minimum wage

    NLC accepts N70,000 as new national minimum wage

    By Doris Isreal Ijeoma

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has accepted the offer of N70,000 as the new National Minimum Wage, as proposed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during a meeting at the Presidential Villa on July 18, 2024. 

    This was disclosed in a statement via NLC’s X handle on Friday, July 19.

    This decision was made during an emergency treatment National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on July 19, 2024.

    The statement reads:”The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) convened today in an emergency meeting in response to the outcomes of the Meeting with the federal government which held yesterday, the 18th of July, 2024 at the Presidential Villa with the new National Minimum Wage in focus.

    “The President of the Federation, His Excellency Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, presided over the meeting.

    “The NEC-in-session after extensive deliberations, unanimously:
    1. Commended and applauded the doggedness of the leadership of the Congress on the courage and forthrightness with which they handled the National Minimum Wage fixing exercise
    2. Accepted the President’s offer of N70,000 (Seventy thousand Naira) as the new National Minimum Wage and the 3-yearly tenure for its review.
    3. Demanded full and strict compliance by all to the dictates of the National
    Minimum Wage 2024 when it becomes an Act.”

    “NEC-in-session concluded that this decision, though challenging and far from our initial demand, was made in the spirit of solidarity and sacrifice for Nigerian masses to avert a threatened further hike in the price of Petrol which would inflict more hardship on the already suffering masses.

    “Once again, NEC-in-session restates the commitment of the NLC to continue to stand resolutely in its mission to defend and advance the rights of Nigerian workers and Nigerian people at all times. It therefore calls on all Nigerians to unite in this cause and to hold our leaders accountable to the same standards of sacrifice and service.”

  • Each State Should Be Allowed To Negotiate Their Minimum Wage – Southern Governors (Full Text)

    Each State Should Be Allowed To Negotiate Their Minimum Wage – Southern Governors (Full Text)

    Governors of the states in the southern region of the country have demanded that each state should be allowed to negotiate its minimum wage with organized labour and other stakeholders.

    This position was made known in a 16-point communique issued by Governors at the end of their meeting held on Monday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, under the auspices of the Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF).

    According to them, the new minimum wage should be reflective of the cost of living and the ability to pay for each state, adding that such a move would be a true reflection of federalism.

    The communique also called for the establishment of state police and stressed the resolve of the governors to adopt Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

    The Governors commended President Bola Tinubu for the coastal road project and called for the repair of Trunk A roads and the transfer of roads to state governors who have indicated interest in repairing them.

    The members of the forum further commended the President on the food palliative support to States, and the Governors were also commended for complementing the President in their various States through numerous initiatives ranging from food palliatives to transport allowances.

    The Forum concluded that quarterly meetings will be held and rotated among member states

    Below is the full text of the communique issued after the meeting of the Governors.

    “At the conclusion of the Southern Governors Forum meeting held on Monday, June 24, 2024, and having paid respects to our immediate past Chairman, HE, the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu; with condolences extended to his family, and appreciating the past Chairman for the solid foundation he laid by putting the forum in good stead; we the Governors resolved as follows:

    1. Thanked and appreciated all member Governors for their support and commitment to the “Asaba declaration” of 2021, which was a resolve to ensure that Southern Nigeria produced the 2023 Presidential Candidate; we also thanked the Northern Governors’ Forum for their unwavering support for the resolution.

    2. The Forum commended the laudable economic recovery reforms and policies of HE President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR and the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda; and unanimously committed to supporting him in his unwavering resolve to reposition the country and build a greater future for us all.

    3. The Southern Governors applauded the President for conceptualizing and commencing the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, which cuts across eight (8) states. We noted that this will create employment in the construction industry, boost productivity by drastically reducing travel time, promote tourism, and open up and integrate all the Southern States to increased trade and investment opportunities whilst enhancing the ease of doing business.

    4. The Southern Governors advocated that the Federal Government should rehabilitate, repair and reconstruct Trunk A roads and transfer roads to States that have expressed interest in taking them over.

    5. The Forum will commission a regional multimodal transport master plan that will prioritise connectivity of rail, road, air and water transportation, to facilitate interstate, intra-regional movement of persons, goods and services and thereby enhancing the ease of doing business .

    6. Being the economic and industrial region of the country, the Forum highlighted the need to address the inadequate power supply in the region. Member states were encouraged to take advantage of the recent constitutional amendment that now allows States to regulate, generate, transmit and distribute electricity whilst also considering optional sources like renewables.

    7. The Forum resolved further to aggressively embark on energy transition plan from fossil fuels (petrol and diesel) to cleaner energy and specifically CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) and ultimately EV’s (Electric Vehicles) to help reduce the cost of transportation, which will lowe

  • NLC, TUC, Shutdown Discos Offices Nationwide

    NLC, TUC, Shutdown Discos Offices Nationwide

    In protest against the electricity tariff hike amid hardship in Nigeria,
    the Nigeria Labour Council (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Monday, shut down electricity distribution company offices (DISCO) nationwide.

    The organized labour prevented workers from having access to their office to work early Monday morning as they thronged various offices of electricity distribution companies to protest the Band A tariff hike.

    The duo had, last night, distributed reminder notices to all its branch offices and affiliates across the nation in respect of a proposed nationwide protest to commence today, Monday.

    It is protesting the electricity tariff hike and removal of subsidies from the power sector by the federal government.

    With the picketing of all the offices of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) organized labour is also expected to shutdown of the Abuja headquarters of the agency, the Ministry of Power and state offices of power distribution companies.

    Members of the NLC and TUC staged protests at the corporate headquarters of the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company in Lagos and the office of the Ibadan ElectricCompany in Oyo.

    Their demonstrations disrupted normal operations, preventing workers from resuming their duties for the day.

    They were heard chanting slogans and advocating for fairer electricity pricing and demand for the reversal of the Band A tariff increase.

    Similarly, in Jos, members of the NLC and the TUC in Plateau State took action by blocking the entrance of the Jos Electricity Distribution Company headquarters, as well as picketing the offices of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in the Gold and Base axis of Jos, leaving workers stranded.

    Eugene Manji, the Plateau state chairman of NLC, said while addressing journalists,

    “We have been directed from our national headquarters of NLC to ensure that we comply with the directives that all the distribution offices across the nation are locked. So that’s why we’re here to picket that of the Plateau State.

    “All offices, not just this one, you are seeing, we have send our members to other places. Some have gone to Vom to ensure that there is compliance, and this is applicable in all the other offices. So we are here to ensure total compliance that’s why we locked the offices”.

    Manji added that the protest was for the whole day while the state chapter of NLC will report back to the headquarters.

    The surge in electricity tariffs, implemented by the federal government, has triggered a wave of dissent among consumers and industry players alike, citing concerns over affordability and equitable access to essential services.

    The protest at the JED office in Jos by NLC epitomises the mounting pressure faced by utility companies grappling with the repercussions of tariff hikes, as they navigate the delicate balance between public welfare and operational sustainability.

  • Just In: NLC, TUC Suspend Nationwide Strike

    Just In: NLC, TUC Suspend Nationwide Strike

    The National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress on Wednesday night suspended the ongoing strike.

    The unions said the suspension followed the intervention of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

    Our correspondent gathered that the meeting which commenced at a few minutes past 7 pm lasted for close to one hour during which various affiliates and state chapters reviewed the outcome of the meeting held between the leaders of the organised labour and Ribadu.

    The National Deputy Vice-President of the TUC, Tommy Etim, made this known in an interview in Abuja.

    “The NEC of the NLC and the TUC have suspended the strike. We did this based on our trust for the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, who gave us his words,” he said.

    The labour leaders met with Ribadu alongside the Minister of Labour, Simon Lalong, at the Office of the NSA on Wednesday afternoon.

    The NSA had announced that the individuals responsible for the brutalisation of Ajaero had been arrested.

    The organised labour is protesting against the alleged brutalisation of its National President, Joe Ajaero, and the failure of the government to implement some of the agreements reached on October 2, 2023 effectively.

  • NLC, TUC Strike Not In National Interest – Presidency

    NLC, TUC Strike Not In National Interest – Presidency

    *Says It’s An Attempt To Blackmail FG

    The Presidency, in response to the ongoing Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) nationwide strike, has denounced it as “unjustified,” alleging it as a move to pressure the government.

    Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, conveyed astonishment at the strike’s continuation despite a restraining order from the National Industrial Court.

    In a statement released on Tuesday and made available to NIGERIAN ANCHOR, Onanuga criticized the decision, stating, “This move by the NLC and TUC, apart from being self-serving, is unwarranted. It appears to be an effort to coerce the government by the NLC leadership.”

    He further added, “We’re puzzled as to why the NLC and TUC chose to penalize an entire nation of over 200 million people over a personal issue involving NLC President, Mr. Joe Ajaero. His mis-judgment resulted in an attack on him in Owerri while attempting to incite Imo State workers into an unnecessary strike.”

    The presidency said further that the strike action is illegal, immoral, unjustifiable and irresponsible, and will bring untold hardship upon Nigerians.

    See the full statement below:

    STATE HOUSE PRESS STATEMENT

    NLC/TUC STRIKE ACTION NOT IN NATIONAL INTEREST

    We notice with dismay the decision by the Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress to call out workers to commence a strike action from midnight, despite a restraining order issued last week by Justice Benedict Backwash Kanyip of the National Industrial Court.

    This decision by the NLC and TUC other than being an ego-tripping move is clearly unwarranted. It is an attempt to blackmail the government by the leadership of the NLC.

    We are still at a loss as to why the NLC and TUC decided to punish a whole country of over 200million people over a personal matter involving the NLC President, Mr. Joe Ajaero, whose error of judgment led to assault on him in Owerri while he was planning to incite the workers in Imo State into a needless strike.

    While the Federal government does not condone any form of violence and assault on any citizen of Nigeria regardless of his or her social and economic status, it is on record that the Inspector General of Police has ordered investigation into what happened to Mr. Ajaero while the Commissioner of Police in Imo State under whose watch the incident happened has been transferred out of the state.

    Calling out workers on a national strike over a personal issue of a labour leader despite a clear court order against any industrial action amounts to an abuse of privilege. Power at any level should never be used to settle personal scores. Rather, it should be used to promote collective progress and advance national interest.

    Our national economy and social activities should not suffer because of the personal interest of any labour leader.

    This flagrant disobedience to court order and lack of respect for the judiciary should not be what the organised Labour would champion.

    The labour movement has always been a champion of rule of law and respect for the judiciary. It is a sad irony that the current labour leaders have shown disdain and utter disregard for court order.

    We reiterate that this strike action is illegal, immoral, unjustifiable and irresponsible. What the strike notice issued Monday night after official hours suggests is it’s designed for a sinister and hidden agenda to cause undue hardship and cause civil disturbance in our country. This is unacceptable.

    Bayo Onanuga
    Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy

    November 13, 2023

  • Multiple Unions, Including Banks, Medical Staff, ASUP Join NLC Nationwide Strike

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have initiated a nationwide strike following a directive issued last week.

    The strike has seen several affiliate unions, including the National Union of Banks, Insurance, and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE), the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, and the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP), participate in the industrial action.

    The announcement of compliance was shared by the NLC in a Tuesday morning Facebook post, revealing circulars issued by various unions.

    Notable among these unions were the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), the National Union of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employees, the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), and the National Union of Electricity Employees.

    The strike was prompted by the physical assault on NLC National President Joe Ajaero in Imo State two weeks ago.

    Ajaero, along with other NLC members, was demonstrating against prolonged salary non-payment for 44 months and violation of labour rights. The protest raised suspicion in some quarters, viewed as an attempt to derail Governor Hope Uzodimma’s re-election bid in the recent governorship election.

    Despite the National Industrial Court (NIC) restraining the unions from commencing the strike amidst an impasse with the Imo State Government, the unions issued a statement on Monday, directing workers nationwide to withdraw their services starting midnight.

    They cited the decision from the Joint National Executive Council (NEC) of NLC and TUC, urging compliance with the directive through circulars disseminated by affiliates and state councils.

    In light of the assault on Ajaero, the NLC and TUC had previously threatened a nationwide strike on November 14, demanding, among other things, the resignation of police officials if the government failed to meet their demands. The unions expressed concern over the criminalization of peaceful protests by workers in Nigeria.

    To emphasize their demands, the unions staged a picket at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja last week, causing travel disruptions. Recent strikes in Nigeria have had varying outcomes. Notably, last month, unions called off a planned strike protesting rising living costs after the federal government proposed a series of measures to mitigate the impact of its economic reforms occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy.

  • Just In: Court Stops NLC, TUC From Embarking On Nationwide Strike

    Just In: Court Stops NLC, TUC From Embarking On Nationwide Strike

    The National Industrial Court, on Friday, restrained the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress, TUC, as well as their affiliates from embarking on any form of strike or industrial action.

    The two labour unions were ordered to stop their planned nationwide strike scheduled to commence on November 14.

    President of the Court, Justice Benedict Bakwaph Kanyip issued the restraining order following an ex-parte application to that effect brought before the Court by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice.

    Justice Kanyip invoked sections 17 and 19 of the National Industrial Court Act to issue the restraining order against the organised labour.

    The Federal Government and the AGF through their lawyer, Tijani Gazali had in the ex-parte application prayed the court to stop the planned strike.

    They said this was to avert untold hardships that would be inflicted on innocent law abiding citizens and their businesses.

    Gazali, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Director of Civil Appeals in the Federal Ministry of Justice, while arguing the ex-parte application, drew the attention of Justice Kanyip to series of hardships suffered by Nigerians on Thursday alone when the labour unions blocked entrances to the main Airports in the country.

    He pleaded that unless the planned strike is stopped, there may be a likelihood of breach of peace in the country.

    The Judge, who was persuaded by the government’s arguments, said that it is within the power of the court to intervene by way of a restraining order to ensure peace and tranquility.

    He proceeded to grant all the requests of the federal government as contained on the motion paper.

    Besides, Justice Kanyip directed that the restraining order be pasted on the wall of the building at the last known address of the two defendants to draw their attention to the Court’s position.

    The Judge also directed that the order along with the originating and other processes be served by publication in two major national dailies.

    Meanwhile, the case file has been transferred to Justice Olufunke Anuwe who is said to be handling similar labour dispute related matters.