NLC, TUC, ULC THREATEN TO COMMENCE STRIKE ON NOV 6

The Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress and the United Labour Congress have threatened to go on strike on November 6 if the Federal Government fails to take the plight of Nigerian workers more seriously.

Specifically, the labour unions said if the upward review of the national minimum wage was not acceded to by the governors and the Federal Government, they would have no other option but to go on strike.

In a statement jointly signed by the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba; the TUC President, Bobboi Kaigama; and ULC President Joe Ajaero, the unions lambasted the Federal Government for its decision to implement a ‘no work, no pay’ policy.

The statement read in part, “If nothing is responsibly done by the Federal Government to meet our demands, on Monday, November 6, we shall embark on a nationwide strike to compel this government to show more sensitivity to the plight of Nigerians and the suffering that is decimating our people on daily basis.”

The organised labour said that the Federal Government should rather implement a ‘no pay, no work’ policy as well as a policy that would criminalise the non-payment of salaries.

The statement added, “A nation where the governments owes its workforce several months in arrears of unpaid salaries has not sought ways to eliminate it but is rather seeking ways to gag same workers from protesting this crime against them and their families.

“It is akin to beating a child and denying him the right to cry. Has the government considered ‘No Pay, No Work’?’ Has it considered criminalizing non-payment of workers; salaries? Has it considered paying arrears of salaries with interests?

“Of course, it has not! They are only interested in ‘no work, no pay’ seeking ways to constantly gag and put workers in a strait jacket has always been their pastime.”

The unions said it was unfortunate that governors could kick against the N30, 000 minimum wage but still solicit votes from workers.

They asked workers to vote out those who had failed to protect their interests.

The statement added, “Nigerians are no longer surprised why governance in the nation seems to have become a huge joke if this is how they tackle other serious national issues. Imagine governors’ forum that has six representatives in the tripartite committee jumping in to make excuses after its representatives had made their submissions in the committee!

“We shall consider any governor saying that he is unable to pay as unpatriotic and, an enemy of Nigerian workers and masses. We shall vote them out in 2019.”

The organised labour said since the government was not willing to demonstrate honour and integrity in relating with Nigerian workers and masses, a national day of outrage and mourning would hold on October 30, 2018.

NIGERIANS IN DIASPORA TO HOST PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES IN VIENNA

APC presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari ; His PDP Counterpart, Atiku Abubakar .

The Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation, Europe, has announced plans to host all the political parties’ presidential candidates in Vienna, Austria.

The chairman of NIDOE, Mr. Kenneth Gbandi, in a statement on Sunday in Abuja said letters of invitation had been sent to the various candidates through their political parties.

He explained that the invitation was part of activities lined up for the Annual General Meeting of NIDOE, expected to hold between November 8 and 10.

Gbandi said the idea was to create a platform for interaction with the candidates to ensure active participation of NIDOE and its members in the political process in Nigeria.

“A session will be devoted to the 2019 election at the AGM in Vienna and will provide an opportunity for the candidates to engage with the Diaspora audience on their plans for Nigeria.

“The session will enable members of NIDOE to hear first-hand information on what the different candidates are offering Nigerians if voted into power.

“It will also be avenue to know how they intend to collaborate with the Diaspora for the advancement of our nation,” the statement quoted Gbandi as saying.

The NIDOE chairman therefore congratulated all the presidential candidates for their victory at the primary elections of their respective political parties.

He however called for urgent steps to restore peace across the country ahead of the 2019 general election to ensure security of lives and property before, during and after the election.

“We will like to remind the political class that there is an urgent need to refrain from any act that will throw Nigeria into turmoil ahead of the 2019 general election.

“The interests of Nigerians should be paramount in all the activities and utterances of the political actors,” he added.

(NAN)

NNAMDI KANU DENIES PLANS TO WORK WITH PDP TO OUST BUHARI IN 2019

Nnamdi Kanu and Femi Fani-Kayode 

There is this trending news on social media that the Deputy leader of IPoB, Uche Mefor, has frowned at the statement credited to the former minister of aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode.

FFK in a Tweet yesterday said he spoke with the secessionist group leader who resurfaced in Israel last week Friday and they have both agreed to work together to vote out President Buhari. ”I just received a call from my brother Nnamdi Kanu.

I am delighted that he is alive and well. I commend his strength and courage even as I marvel at the loyalty, resilience and commitment of his lawyer Ifeanyi Ejiofor and IPOB. We have agreed to work together to VOTE Buhari out” FFK tweeted.

However, in a swift reaction, Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor and his deputy, Alphonsus Uche Okafor-Mefor, debunked FFK’s claim. He explained that the leader of the (proscribed) Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has denied plans to work with the PDP to kick President Buhari out of office in 2019.

In a statement released to The Sun, Ejimakor said although Kanu had spoken with Fani-Kayode yesterday, he never discussed issues concerning 2019 general elections.

“As Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s Special Counsel, he has been frequently speaking with me from his location in Israel in the past few days. I want to make it abundantly clear to all that Nnamdi Kanu’s brief chat with Chief Fani-Kayode earlier today (yesterday) did not include anything close to agreeing to ‘work together with Fani-Kayode to vote out Buhari”, Ejimakor said.

In another statement, IPOB’s deputy leader, Okafor-Mefor said, “Our attention has been drawn to some deceptive and crude tactics employed by some politicians to drag the name of our leader, Nnamdi Kanu to the mud by suggesting that he held talks with such politicians to oust Muhammadu Buhari.

We want to use this medium to state unequivocally that at no time did Nnamdi Kanu reached any agreement with any politician to participate in Nigerian politics.

Consequently, any publication not authorised by our leader, his deputy or by the Head Directorate of State regarding IPOB and/or our leader is pedestrian and null and void.

Nnamdi Kanu is on a divine mission to restore Biafra and the resolve behind this restoration project remains irrevocable, sacrosanct and irreversible.” 

TENSION IN WARRI AS POLICE YAHOO BOYS FRACAS LEAVES POLICEMAN DEAD, OTHERS CRITICALLY INJURED.

Information reaching our newsdesk is that some policemen attached to the Ugborikoko Division of Nigeria Police  reportedly engaged in a stop and search duty that resulted in an accident which already claimed the life of an officer and others critically injured.

According  to News report, the incident occurred around 9pm  Thursday evening when the policemen flagged down a suspected "yahoo boy" at their checkpoint.

The situation got worse when the police started struggling steering with the driver who was reportedly tipsy, and in a bid to evade arrest, made an attempt to speed off and as a result the policemen were rammed over with the vehicle which led the the death of one of the policemen. Mean while his colleague is currently battling for his life.  

Other casualties were said to have been rushed to the Capitol Hill hospital for treatment.   Confirming  the incident, the Delta State Commissioner Of Police said, they lost one officer and another injured, currently receiving treatment.

DISGRUNTLED POLITICIANS STOCKPILING ARMS TO SCUTTLE 2019 POLLS – SECURITY CHIEFS

Security chiefs have raised the alarm that disgruntled politicians are stockpiling arms to scuttle the 2019 general elections.

They made this claim in their presentation to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday during their National Security Council meeting.

In attendance were all the service chiefs – the chiefs of army staff Gen Tukur Buratai; air staff, Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar; naval staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas, and defence staff, Gen Gabriel  Olonisakin, as well as the director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi; the inspector general of police, Ibrahim Kpotun Idris; the minister of defence, Mansur Dan Ali, and national security adviser, Gen Babagana Monguno.

The chief of defence staff, Gen Olonisakin, who made the presentation on behalf of the service chiefs, said the country’s security architecture was primed to ensure violence-free general elections next year.

According to him, the security bosses discussed the general overview of the security situation in the country as it relates to the conduct of the forthcoming 2019 general elections.

Expressing concern over the possibility of post-election violence, the security chiefs alleged that desperate politicians may whip up ethno-religious sentiment to create security situation in the country

They recommended the deployment of security agencies to states to ensure the peaceful and smooth conduct of the elections, to douse tension created by the outcome of the political parties’ primaries and to thwart the plan of some desperate persons to sabotage the electoral process.

“The meeting also discussed attempts to put pressure on  the electoral body by some notable personalities through demonstrations, which was brought under control by the combined efforts of security agencies, to avoid it from being hijacked by hoodlums and armed bandits.

“Another area of security concern includes post-election violence, as desperate politicians may whip up ethno-religious sentiments to create security situation in the country.

“Also of concern is the proliferation and stockpiling of weapons by some disgruntled elements with a desire to take the law into their hands at the slightest opportunity,” he said.

Olonisakin further stated that the Council called for the concerted efforts of all security agencies to ensure that 2019 elections are hitch free, just as it stressed the need for continuous sensitisation of the public by National Orientation Agency (NOA) and regular meetings of relevant stakeholders including INEC, international/ local observers and the media ahead of the elections.

WE’RE NOT OPPOSED TO NEW MINIMUM WAGE, SAY GOVS

THE thirty- Six (36) state governors under the aegis of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF said Thursday that they were not in any way opposed to new minimum wage for workers in the country.

Governors Forum meeting: Director General, Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Asishana Okauru, Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, Governor of Ekiti State Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Logo state Governor,  Yaya Belly,  during Governors Forum Meeting in Abuja yesterday. 
Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan

Rising from a meeting in Abuja Thursday, the governors who noted that the Organised Labour was right to agitate for salary increase, however said that their concern is the ability to implement it and pay, adding that the problem was not just about agreeing to a figure, but the availability of resources to meet up with the commitment.

Speaking to Journalists after the meeting in Abuja, governor of Zamfara State and Chairman of NGF, Abdulaziz Yari stressed that with the present minimum wage at N18,000, many states were struggling to pay with some of them already hugely indebted.

The Organized Labour is asking for N30,000 whereas the government is offering N24,000.

Yari said: “Like we said, we can do minimum wage on any amount we need but the issue is the ability to pay the minimum wage agreed in the last meeting which the Minister of Labour attended with the negotiation committee and also the committe that we also set up.

“We made it clear that we are not against the upward review of salary, we are in tandem with the NLC to get the minimum wage reviewed but the problem we are having is the capacity to pay what is agreed .

“As at today, most of the states are struggling to pay the N18,000 minimum wage. Some states are paying between 35 to 50% of the minimum wage and some states are owing salary arears.

“If we say we are going to do an upward review of the minimum wage, it is not about only reviewing it but how we are going to get the resources to cater for it.”

">Lago Governors Forum meeting : From left, Lagos State Governor, Akinwumi Ambode chatting with Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, Silas Agara and Edo state Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu during Governors Forum Meeting in Abuja yesterday. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan

Meanwhile, the National President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, was invited to brief the Forum on states’ performance in the use of London and Paris Club refunds.

It would be recalled that the Federal Government disbursed the fund to states with the condition to use larger percentage of the money to pay workers’ salaries.

Speaking further, Yari said, “Also, sometimes ago, London and Paris Club refund was paid and part of the agreement was that we will deal with the issues of workers and it was a serious agreement that we signed with the Minister of Finance and the Federal government that the larger chunk of the money will be channeled to payment of salaries .

“Some states are in the process but one of the conditions critically accepted is to ensure that this funds was utilised acccording to the agreement.

“We invited the National President of the Nigerian Labour Congress to give us a details on how some states have performed. Some states that are not up to date have signed an MOU with the NLC and their representatives in states on how they can overcome the issue of salary arears and that has been done and it will be taken to the CBN so that those states will be paid.”

Also speaking to reporters after the meeting, Wabba who insisted that workers cannot continue to provide services on empty stomach, said that even though Labour was prepared to dialogue on the minimum wage issue, but there is limit to it.

Wabba said: “All through history of minimum wage in Nigeria, it has never been given on a platter of gold. We thought the situation has changed, things have improved, and therefore, through collective bargaining and dialogue, we will be able to reach a compromise.

“If we do that, fine and good. Where that is not done, you should also know that no worker can continue to work on an empty stomach. That has been our message. We will continue to dialogue but there is also a limit to dialogue.”

The NLC boss noted that the challenge in the Nigerian economy especially the eroding of the purchasing power of the worker caused by continuous devaluation of the naira, the exchange rate, the increase in pump price of petrol and electricity tariff, have affected the Nigerian worker.

Wabba who observed that by law, the minimum wage ought to have been reviewed as far back as 2016 as previously agreed, said, “All these factors put together necessitated the NLC and organized Labour to demand for a new minimum wage which is in tandem with best global practice.

“What we are telling the Governors is that the minimum wage is due and everybody must be committed to it, committed to it in the sense that every state was given an opportunity to…when the (negotiation) committee finished its work, we wrote individually to the state governments to send in input.

“Twenty one states responded in writing. Some quoted figures, some said, whatever is agreed, they are going to pay. Some have made statements that they are going to pay.

“So, for anybody to come under a platform and say ‘well, we have issue with that,’ I think the best thing is to go back to their states, put your workers together and say ‘I will not be able to pay. That is what I think is honourable, that is what I think is supposed to be done.”

However, the Labour leader said that he pleaded with the governors that they should understand that the workers must earn a living from their salary as they provide critical services in the system.

…WE Will RESIST NO WORK NO PAY POLICY – NLC

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said it would resist any attempt by the federal government to implement a No Work No Pay policy.

NLC president, Ayuba Wabba while reacting to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) white paper on No Work, No Pay policy said workers would also implement a No Pay No Work policy.

He said, “The right to strike is a human and trade union right and can not be wished away, that’s why strike is legalized by our laws, and had been excised since colonial era to date.

“The right to strike is what differentiate a worker from a slave. Just like the right to strike, right to picketing, the right to work”.

He said that it is morally and legally wrong to apply a phrase in a body of law without respecting all other provisions of the same law, adding that the same law provides that a workers wage is due after 30 days, “where this and or any collective bargaining agreement is violated it is legally and morally justifiable for unions and workers to apply “No pay No Work.”

He warned that the threat of no work no pay can not therefore deter workers and trade unions from exercising the right to strike.

“There are clear procedures provided by law to embark on a strike, once the legal requirement is met no work no pay can not apply”, he said.

DRC EBOLA OUTBREAK NOT GLOBAL EMERGENCY YET –WHO

A deadly Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is deeply worrying, but does not yet merit being labelled a global health emergency, the World Health Organization said Wednesday.

“Based on the current context… the committee recommended that the current Ebola outbreak in DRC does not constitute a public health emergency of international concern,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

“I have accepted the recommendation of the committee,” he told reporters in Geneva following a meeting of the UN agency’s International Health Regulations Emergency Committee.

In the WHO’s parlance, “a public health emergency of international concern” is an “extraordinary event” in which a disease may spread across borders and requires a vigorous international response.

Tedros stressed though that the decision not to use the label for the epidemic that has killed at least 139 people in DRC’s violence-torn North Kivu region since August “does not mean that WHO is not taking the outbreak seriously.”

– Over within the year? –

“We will not rest until the outbreak is finished,” he said, voicing hope that the robust response already in place could halt the spread of the virus “within this year”.

Robert Steffen, Chair of the Emergency Committee, also voiced “some optimism” that the outbreak would be brought under control within a “reasonable time”.

He told reporters though that the committee still has great concerns about the outbreak, and stressed that if the situation worsens the WHO could still decide to declare a global emergency.

The latest outbreak — the 10th in DR Congo since Ebola was first detected there in 1976 — emerged in the highly-restive northeastern region of North Kivu, which is home to a clutch of armed groups.

So far, 216 cases have been reported, including 181 that have been laboratory confirmed. A total of 139 people have died, meaning the fatality rate stands at 64 percent, WHO said.

The violence is complicating the response, and making it difficult to track contacts of those infected with the highly contagious virus.

The area, near the Ugandan border, is also densely populated and nine neighbouring countries have been advised that they are at high risk of spread.

Fears and misconceptions about the virus have led to widespread mistrust and resistance to Ebola response workers, including those who come into communities wearing hazmat suits to orchestrate burials.

“The emergency committee had a consensus that this outbreak certainly is not an outbreak of global importance, but they are very concerned for the region,” Steffen said.

The committee determined though that DRC authorities and the international community were already responding robustly to the outbreak, and that Uganda was well-prepared if the virus spreads across the border.

The use of an experimental vaccine is also promising, with more than 18,000 people having received the jab to date, WHO said.

“I think the vaccine is helping,” Tedros said.

(AFP)

RESIGN YOUR SENATE POSITIONS, AKPABIO TELLS SARAKI , OTHERS

Former Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has challenged other senators who have defected from one party to another to quit their leadership positions in the chamber.

Akpabio, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, challenged other defectors to imitate him with his resignation as Minority Leader after leaving the opposition party.

He gave the challenge while answering questions from journalists after the plenary on Wednesday.

The resignation challenge, however, appeared to be in a veiled reference to the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, who also defected from the APC to the PDP and is the only one left in the leadership of the Senate to have changed political parties.

Akpabio said, “I moved from PDP to APC, to make sure that this government works before the election. It should not be all about the election, it should be first about Nigeria. Let others also move in the national interest.

“I did not just move like that, I was a (Minority) Leader in the Senate. I resigned my position in order to show that, yes, I meant business. Let others who also have positions in the Senate who wish to also cross carpet from one political party to another also resign their positions and take a cue from what Godswill Akpabio did.”

The APC caucus, which had insisted on remaining the majority despite the defections, had asked Saraki to resign as Senate President or be impeached. The impeachment plot has however been suspended.

Akpabio stated that the sitting arrangement in the Senate chamber must be restructured to reflect the party configuration.

MINIMUM WAGE: ORGANISED LABOUR HOLDS CRUCIAL MEETING

NLC President, Mr. Ayuba Wabba

The Organised Labour says it will meet on Thursday to take a final decision on the new National Minimum Wage for workers, following the delay by the Federal Government to announce its figure.

Mr Ayuba Wabba, President, Nigeria Labour Congress, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja.

NAN reports that Senator Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, had said there was no agreement yet by the Tripartite Committee on the new National Minimum wage figure in the country.

NAN also reports that organised labour and the Tripartite Committee on the New National Minimum Wage had completed its assignment for onward submission to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Wabba said that the struggle for a new National Minimum Wage for workers was on course, saying that labour was proposing N30, 000 as requested by organised private sector.

“So, we as organised labour will be meeting tomorrow (Thursday) in Lagos after which we will brief newsmen on the outcome of our decision.

(NAN)