Nigeria Labour Congress

The Federal workers forum has expressed reservations over the delay in the payment of the September salaries of public and civil servants in Nigeria.

The forum in a press statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze, also stated that the Federal Government ought to be very sensitive to the difficulties and hardships Nigerians are passing through.

''Workers in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies are yet to receive their September salaries i the middle of difficulties, hardships and tales of woes. The Federal Government is supposed to be sensitive to the plight of Nigerians and wear a human face.', the statement concluded.

Workers in construction sites across Nigeria have been advised to shun illicit substances to avoid unpleasant circumstances.
This advice was given on Wednesday by Mrs Omobolanle Adedeji at a one day sensitization on GENDER BASED VIOLNECE, HIV/AIDS AND CODE OF CONDUCT, organized by the Women  Safe House Sustenance Initiative for the workforce of the Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project(IURMP) in Ibadan, Nigeria.
''If you break the law, the government  will prosecute you. All workers in construction sites are prohibited from taking alcohol or illicit substances. If you are in possession  of illegal drug and someone  reports you, and your employer comes in and discovers it in you , it is an offence and the NDLEA will step in. And if the evidence is heavier than your story, you will go to jail,'' Mrs Adedeji stated.
She also  harped on the dangers of violent behaviour, stressing, ''fighting is not allowed in offices and construction sites.
''Do not physically harrass your co-worker. Stealing is prohibited. Also, the possession of harmful and illegal drugs is prohibited, Mrs. Adedeji concluded.
In her remarks, an official of IURFMP, Mrs. Bola Dada maintained that all employees signed the same code of conduct, adding, '' we have had several issues. The company has the responsibility that we conduct ourselves well. If you don't comply with the code of conduct you will not go free.''

The Federal Government has been charged with motivating its workforce as a step towards ensuring high productivity. This charge was given on Monday by the Chairman of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Education and Associated Institutions(NASU),University College Hospital(UCH)branch, Ibadan, Comrade Kehinde Abiona.

''The Federal Government should do the needful when it comes to the motivation of its workforce. The government should also make the work environment conducive. But sadly, gardeners still make provisions for provisions, cutlasses them, they buy it themselves. Medical laboratory staff make do with outdated equipment, the same goes for those in accounts, who still apply old methods,,'' Comrade Abiona stated.

He advised members of the union to be contented with their present situation, saying, '' take things easy, don't expect too much, accept what life brings to you and make do with what nature allows you to achieve in life''.

Comrade Abiona appealed to the Federal Government to wake up to its responsibilities, adding,'' we were assured that we would receive the new hazard allowance in January 2022. That is September. We have yet to receive it, we have continued to borrow to sustain our families.''

Similarly, members of NASU at the University of Ibadan have condemned the decision of the Federal Government not to pay them for the period that they were on strike.

They made this position known through their chairman, Comrade Malachy Etim. ''Despite the fact that we fulfilled all the processes before proceeding on strike and despite the fact that we have called off the strike and have since resumed work, the Federal Government is still insisting that it would implement the No Work No Pay rule. This is condemnable. The government is still holding on to our salaries. This is inhuman and insensitive.''

In the same vein, a former Vice President of the Senior Staff Association of Universities(SSANU), Western zone, Comrade Alfred Jimoh advised the government to desist from inducing strike actions, saying, ''human beings are not made for law, law is made for human beings. The Federal Government should apply the law with a human face. Even though we have called off the strike, the government is still holding on to our salaries. How does the government want us to continue working when there is no money?''

In a related development, members of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria(ASCSN) have again called on law enforcement agencies to put an end to the cases of corruption going on in the union.

The concerned members lamented,''we bring to your notice some of the challenges confronting us. Deductions have been made from our salaries by our union and there is nothing to show for it. The rising high cost of living and inflation that we are experiencing in Nigeria HAS NOT HELPED MATTERS. It has been extremely very difficult for us to make ends meet and, as such, workers have gone borrowing. Kindly look into the account of ASCSN.''

The Oyo state Council of the Nigeria Labor Congress(NLC) has called on Nigerians to support concerned citizens to actualize an end to the discouraging attitude of the Federal Government towards the resolution of the lingering industrial action embarked upon by lecturers under the aegies of the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU).

This call was made on Monday by the Secretary of the Union, Comrade Aribatise Adebayo  at state secretariat of the union in Ibadan, Nigeria.

'' Following the directive of our national leadership on 30th June, 2022, Nigerians ought to join in the solidarity protests with the lecturers. It is a fight for all and sundry,'' Comrade Adebayo stated

Concerned members of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria(ASCSN)(Federal) Oyo state chapter have resolved to collectively work for the emergence of a charismatic leader that is driven by passion.

Read-Helplessness in the Face of Dirt                                                       -Legalizing Crime and Criminality
This resolution was reached at a congress held on Monday at the Federal Secretariat, Ikolaba, Ibadan, Nigeria.
The concerned members expressed disappointment over the stagnant state of affairs of the union in the state, blaming it on the docile and self-centered personalities who constitute the executive.

-Landlords and Tenants Associations, Crime and Criminality                       

  -Law Enforcement: The Reactionary Approach
''We have resolved to work for the election of charismatic and visonray executives who are driven by passion. In the space of just four years, the union is dead in Oyo state. This is sad. The executives are docile. We are ready to join hands together to reverse this ugly trend. The outgoing executives have betrayed our common cause. Nothing has happened that has made workers proud of the union in the last four years. We shall look elsewhere for people who can champion our cause,'' the members concluded.
Those at the congress included Comrades Andrew Emelieze, Femi Ogunbayo, Adeolu Adedeji, Olanrewaju Osinubi, Paul Balogun, Olaniyi Ajibosho among several others.

-Government Workers-A Subject of Debate

The silence of labor leaders in Nigeria during the six-day blockade mounted against trucks conveying livestock and foodstuff at Jebba from the North to the South has been described as a manifestation of the docility of the leaders in the face of the myriad of challenges confronting Nigerians.
This view was expressed by a former Chairman of the Trade Union Congress(TUC) Oyo state council and presently an ex-officio of the TUC in the state, Comrade Andrew Emelieze in a chat with Poverty Line.

''The labor leaders have gone to sleep on the plight of Nigerians. What they attempt to achieve is a lost battle because they are all docile. The police are still extorting money from transporters, this is an indication that the corruption fight in Nigeria is a hoax. The blockade was justified, it gives credence to the issues of insecurity we have been discussing in Nigeria. The labor leaders are self-centered and self-serving, they do not have the interest  of Nigerians in their minds anymore'', Comrade Emelieze concluded.

The All Workers Convergence(AWC) has declared that the increase in the price of cement poses a great threat to homeless Nigerians.
The AWC made this declaration through its National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze.
''It is quite unfortunate to note that 2020 has been a year of endless torture for workers and Nigerians generally. There is definitely no reason for a bag of cement to be sold for about 4,00 Naira. The high cost of a bag of cement constitutes a great threat to the millions of Nigerians who are yet to have their own homes.''

The  Federal and State Governments have been warned not to introduce policies that shall further impoverish workers in Nigeria in the face of dwindling revenue and economic recession.
This warning was handed down by the All Workers Convergence(AWC) through its National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze.
''The Federal and State Governments should not contemplate introducing policies that would further impoverish workers in these times of dwindling revenue and economic recession. Presently, the salaries of Nigerian workers cannot take them home considering the continuous devaluation of the Naira'', Comrade Emelieze lamented.

Labor unions in Nigeria have been called upon to resist any attempt by the Federal and State Governments to slash the salaries of workers and retrench.

This call was made by the All Workers Convergence(AWC) through tis National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze.

‘’The AWC is calling on labor to immediately wear another toga and resist any attempt to slash workers salaries or reduce the workforce. The AWC suggests that rather than been creative and finding out ways through which the poor can survive the coronavirus crisis, our government is there planning and trying to use clandestine means to sack workers and reduce their salaries that have never been a living wage’’, Comrade Emelieze concluded.

The precarious and worrisome situation of workers in Nigeria has been attributed to the insatiable appetite of labor leaders for Government patronage.

The All Workers Convergence(AWC) made this position known throhg its National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze.

‘’ What is painful is the very ridiculous response from the labor centers, the Nigeria Labor Congress(NLC) and the Trade Union Congress(TUC), that have shown weak response to the plight of workers in Nigeria, rather than take up genuine struggle for workers, the response labor leaders have shown that labor leaders are interested in seeking patronage from Government at all levels instead of embarking on the protection of the rights of workers. It is very worrisome that labor leaders across the federation go to the extent of presenting awards to government in the face of massive hunger, poverty and public health crisis.’’

Comrade Emelieze lamented that workers had no cause to celebrate on May 29, saying, ‘’ you don’t need a soothsayer to tel you that the Nigerian workers have nothing to celebrate as regards the Democracy day. Democracy has been pirated and the voice of the workers no longer count, workers are underrated and they are treated as appendages, only to be used when needed.’’

The 30, 000 Naira new national minimum wage is not a living wage for workers in Nigeria.

This assertion was made recently by the Chair person of the Socialist Workers and Youth League(SWL), Comrade Kemi Afolayan at a symposium titled ‘’LIVING WAGE-MATTERS ARISING’’, organized by the SWL in Ibadan, Nigeria.

‘’There is a clear difference between the new national minimum wage and a living wage. If you look at it critically workers are worse off. 90 per cent of Nigerians are living below the poverty level. After retirement, workers go into depression. A living wage is achievable, but government cannot give workers a living wage on a platter of gold.’’, Comrade Afolayan noted.

In his remarks, Comrade Olaoye Sanda lamented the insincerity of labor leaders in Nigeria, saying, ‘’we have labor leaders who are colluding with Government’’.

For Comrade Andrew Emelieze, the new national minimum wage of 30,000 N aria is unacceptable.

‘’30, 000 Naira is a slave wage. It has brought pains and misery to workers in Nigeria. There should be an immediate review of the national minimum wage. 30,000 Naira is laughable and embarrassing’’, Comrade Emelieze stated.

The All Workers Convergence has berated the Federal Government for commencing the payment of the new national minimum wage to workers on Grades levels 01 to 06 while negotiations for other grade levels are still ongoing.

According to the National Coordinator of the AWC, Comrade Andrew Emelieze, ‘’the labor movement in Nigeria has been challenged and so they must wake up from their slumber, the recent payment of junior officers in the core civil service, is a wake up call to the Nigeria labor movement.’’

‘’Apart from the fact that what is paid is more of an award, reason been that labor does not have any agreement with government on the final template, therefore the payment is just like an award to the Nigerian workers. It suggests a government that is trying to rubbish the labor movement in Nigeria and divide the rank and file of the Nigerian workers, therefore labor must wake up and face reality and equally stop all forms of romance with government’’, Comrade Emelieze concluded.

The All Workers Convergence(AWC)has took a swipe at the Federal Government in Nigeria for allowing the release of the 2018 Directorate level Promotion examination results when the major issue of the new national minimum wage was yet to be resolved.

The AWC's position was made known by its National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze.

 ''Government has released the July 2018  promotion examination results for senior civil servants and at the same time refused to implement the new national minimum wage. Therefore,government will end up cheating the Nigerian workers, if the new national minimum wage is not implemented as the promotion is also implemented''.

''More so, the results were greeted  with mixed feelings as most f the workers are not happy that they were not promoted  and so they have laid their complaints with their various unions in protest against the results that seem to favor a few to the detriment of most civil servants. The AWC is calling on the different industrial unions to intervene in the  recent promotion examination results just released by the Federal Civil Service Commission.''

''''It is also important to note that as far as the new national minimum wage is  concerned, Nigerians workers are no longer expectant, workers have surrendered their fate and they have lost hope for a just wage from this government vis-a-vis their thinking that governance has been abandoned for frivolities. Workers are only waiting for the worst to come, especially in the case of a labour movement  that has compromised'', Comrade Emelieze lamented.

 The 2018 Directorate level promotion exercise results indicated  that 2,932 senior civil servants were promoted.

Of this number, 327 were from  the office of the Head  Civil Service f the Federation, while 70 were promoted from  Senior Grade levels 16 to 17.

In all those promoted were from SGL 14 to 15, 15 to 16 and 16 to 17.

The All Workers Convergence(AWC) has condemned the attempt by the Federal Government to unilaterally impose consequential adjustment of salaries on Nigerian workers.

The AWC made its position known through its National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze.

‘’The negotiations are not yet completed and it must involve all parties, therefore it is foolhardy of government to unilaterally impose specific payments for specific set of workers without the Joint agreement of the all the parties involved. This is primitive, counterproductive and it also goes against the principles of the international labor organizations as regards the doctrine of collective bargaining.

‘’The AWC is not in any way comfortable with the position of government to divide the rank and file of workers through the nascent questionable inconsequential adjustment of salaries of Grade levels 01 to 06, thereby leaving the rest to go on with negotiations. It is an attempt to divide the Nigerian workers, though government is been deceitful, knowing fully well that between Grade levels 01 to 06 have been concession ed out and only a very few in those levels will benefit from the so called N30,000 new national minimum wage.’’

‘’The AWC supports the move for a national strike by the National Joint Public Negotiating Council as announced by its National Secretary, Comrade Bashir Lawal. Government is trying to hypnotize the Nigerian workers and put them in a state of perpetual disillusionment as regards the new national minimum wage, as it is one story today another story tomorrow, more of a cycle of endless confusion’’, Comrade Emelieze noted.

The Federal Government has proposed a 9.5 per cent increase in salaries for Grade levels 01 to 14, while five per cent increase will be effected for those from Grade levels 15 and above .

However, the labor unions are agitating for a 35 per cent increase across board.

Interestingly, the National Incomes, Salaries and Wages Commission has fixed the salaries of those workers who presently earn below N30,000 and such workers shall begin to receive payments at the end of July.

Recently, elected members of the Federal House of Representatives received N25 million each as entitlements due to them on resumption, while their counterparts in the Senate received N30 million each.

The All Workers Convergence(AWC) has warned that any proposal by the Federal Government on the new national minimum wage that does not meet the expectations of Nigerin workers would be rejected.

The AWC gave this warning through its National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze.

''It must be noted that any proposal by the FederalGovernment on the new  national minimum wage that does not meet the expectations of  Nigerian workers would be rejected and visited with protests and strikes. The AWC therefeore calls on government to retrace its steps and fine tune the table to reflect public servcie  rules and regulations. The AWC also calls  on workers at the state level and their labour unions to resist and protest against any state government that attempts  to pay below the legally accepted new national minimum wage . Labour is called upon to give a final notice of June ending for the implementation of the new national minimum wage or else the labour unions should declare a nationwide strike action from 1st of July, 2019'', Comrade Emelieze concluded.

The absence of budgetary provision for training and retraining programmes for workers in Nigeria in the last four years has been fingered as one of the impediments to good governance.

This is the position of the All Workers Convergence(AWC) who made this known through its National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze.

''Generally, workers are complaining in all aspects  that affects productivity, including training, retraining and manpower development which ahs been at its lowest ebb in the last four years.This is so because in the last four years we have been having budget failures and the budget has not been fully implemented. Therefore funds for the training and retraining of workers might not be readily available based on budget non-performance, which of course has affected productivity and the psychology of workers, coupled with the gravity of low pay. Workers are generally ill motivated'', Comrade Emelieze opined.

The All Workers Convergence(AWC) has called on workers in Nigeria to be ready to confront any state Government that would refuse to pay the new national minimum wage.

The AWC made this call through its National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze.

‘’As regards the implementation of the new national minimum wage, workers must not rest on their oars because some states might want to prove difficult. All necessary mechanisms must be put in place to ensure that any state government that refuses to pay must be confronted’’.

‘’Every state in Nigeria has the capacity to pay. And if there is any Governor that refuses to pay, the AWC is calling on such a Governor to resign. It is equally very important for labor to give conditions which include, government and employers of labor must not retrench workers, government must not increase the pump price pf petrol, under any guise and government must not also increase or introduce any form of taxation or devalue the national currency by any means’’, Comrade Emelieze stated

Non Academic Staff in Nigerian universities have blamed the Federal Government for their poor renumeration and conditions of service.

The position of the workers was made known by the Chairman of the Non Academic Staff Union(NASU) University of Ibadan branch, Comrade Oulwasegun Arojo in a chat with Poverty Line.

''We are contending with so many cahlleneges, in the last few years we have lost so many of our colleagues, as a result of poor renumeration and poor conditions of service. This is due to lack of sufficient funds. The Federal Government is  to blame, not the managements of the universities''.

''We are hoping that once we come on board again, we shall step up efforts in the struggle to liberate our members from the challenges, presently confronting them'', Conmrade Arojo concluded.