UNPAID WORKERS ARREARS: NLC DECLARES WAR AGAINST GOVT OF KATSINA, RIVERS, OGUN, BORNU

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it would stop at nothing to ensure that the Federal Government recalls the Paris Club Refunds paid to the government of Katsina, Rivers, Ogun and Bornu States for failing to pay arrears of civil servants.

The President of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, stated this during the Joint National Service Negotiating Council meeting, organized by the office of the Head of Service of the Federation (OHCSF) in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State Capital.

According to Warba, the said States made commitments to use the Paris Club Refunds to offset arrears of several months they owe workers in the civil service in their respective States.

Explaining further he said the NLC entered an agreement with the Presidency to pay the Paris Club Refund to only States that agree that they would use the funds to offset workers salary arrears but that “amongst the States that agreed to abide by the terms, Katsina, Rivers, Ogun and Bornu States are yet to fulfil that promise.

“We are going to write to the Presidency to recall the Paris Club Refund sent to them because the funds have not created an impact in the life of workers in the civil service in these States.

“We are bent on taking this step because some States are more interested in diverting the funds meant to pay the salary of workers to pursue flagrancies. This is why many States owe workers salary and gratuity. This is why our universities are on strike because the government have been living on denial,” he added.

Presenting the constitution of the councils and declaring the three days meeting open, the governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Seriake Dickson attributed the prevailing harmonious government and labour relationship in the state to his consultative and inclusive style of governance.

Dickson further underscored the importance of the public service in translating government’s policy objectives to tangible achievements, saying his administration would continue to prioritise the welfare of workers within the ambit of subsisting labour laws as no government could succeed without the cooperation of the public workforce.

He expressed gratitude to civil servants both at federal and state levels for their contributions and show of understanding especially during the period of economic recession which affected the payment of their salaries.

His words, “Let me also report to you that I’m very pleased with the attitude and quality of the manpower we have in our workforce in the new Bayelsa we are building. I’m particularly appreciative of the collaboration that is existing between those of us in government and the leadership of organised labour.

“To a large extent, that is made possible because of my consultative and inclusive approach to issues, which has informed not just my politics but also in the governance of this state. There is no major decision we take concerning the public service that we don’t sit down and discuss and get inputs from organised labour in this state.”

Using the opportunity to highlight some of the achievements of the state government, Dickson noted that his administration’s comprehensive reform programme has provided the enabling environment to promote workers welfare and productivity.

According to him, “Between the last time, you came to Bayelsa and now, so much new and wonderful things have taken place. In very a few days from now, people will land in one of the best airports in our country built here by my administration.

Also Speaking, the Chairman of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, commended Dickson for showing commitment to the welfare of workers in the country.

According to her, the Dickson was among the first few state governors to allow the state council to have a written agreement in respect of the payment of salary arrears owed workers from the Paris Club Refunds as requested by the Federal Government.

Assuring workers of Federal Government’s determination to improve their welfare and condition of service, Mrs Walson-Jack, urged public servants to imbibe the tenets of integrity, merit, performance and transparency in consonance with the ethics of the public service and national development.

Also speaking, the Acting Head of the Bayelsa State Civil Service, Mr Luka Wellington-Obiri described as apt the theme of the meeting, Sustaining Industrial harmony in the Public Service: An Imperative for Achieving Federal Government’s Change Agenda for National Development.

Mr Obiri noted that real change has already taken place in the Bayelsa State Public Service as a result of the dogged manner the present administration initiated and implemented its reform programme.

The high point of the opening ceremony was the unveiling and presentation of constitutions of Council one, two and three as well as that of the Joint Council by Governor Dickson.

'IT FEELS LIKE THERE IS NO HOPE': NIGERIA'S WORSENING JOB CRISIS - ALJAZEERA

Four out of every 10 people in the country's workforce are either unemployed or underemployed.

There has been one single promise that has dominated the election manifestos of Nigeria's presidential candidates as they seek to lure the support of the country's voters ahead of polls in February: jobs, jobs and more jobs.

This has also been the one issue that has consumed Immaculate Uba, who lost her bank job two years ago.

"It has been a horrible experience I never expected in my life - knowing fully well that you are willing and able to work but can't secure a job," she told Al Jazeera in Nigeria's capital, Abuja.

"I am still searching for a paid job," she says. In the meantime, she adds, she's trying to make a living by doing bead- and shoe-making work.

Shrinking opportunities
Four out of every 10 people in the country's workforce are either unemployed or underemployed.

The unemployment rate stood at 18.8 percent in the third quarter of 2017, with underemployment at 21.2 percent.

The National Bureau of Statistics has not released new jobs data since last year, prompting accusations by critics that this is due to political reasons.

Meanwhile, a number of companies have exited Nigeria in recent months - the latest being global banking giants HSBC and UBS.

South African casino and hotel operator, Sun International, is also close to shutting operations after its earnings were "hurt by subdued growth and one-off costs", the company said.

Analysts have blamed the exits on shaky investor confidence, dealing a big blow to foreign direct investment and jobs in Africa's most populous nation.

"Nigeria's unemployment level is beyond crisis levels, and ought to be the government's top concern as it has social implications," Cheta Nwanze, head of research at Lagos-based SBM Intelligence, told Al Jazeera, describing the joblessness figures as "unsustainable".

Amid this environment, thousands of young Nigerians are seeing the prospects of landing their dream job fade.

"I had hopes of a very bright career after graduating from university," says Agnes Uzoigwe attention, a 28-year-old who took her geology degree six years ago.

"I looked forward to a job with an oil company in the Niger Delta area but after almost four years of applying for different roles, I got frustrated," she adds, fighting back tears.

"The most annoying thing is that it looks like there's no hope. Those employed by companies are being sacked and people like me with no job experience can't even imagine getting any job," she adds.

Uzoigwe's father, who funded her studies, recently retired as a government employee and is relying on his pension to cater for his family of seven.

After a long period of searching for a job in Abuja, Uzoigwe has now taken up a job as a teacher in a private college. But she says her wage is barely enough to take care of her basic needs.

'Frustrated people will eventually turn to demagogues'
Nigeria is Africa's biggest economy, yet this that has not translated to jobs for many.

Frustrated and desperate, many job seekers have often fallen victim to fake hiring firms which cash in on their need to get a job.

These companies advertise positions with attractive offers, but end up swindling job seekers who are asked to pay "registration and logistics" fees before landing a job.

"With the school system adding roughly a million people a year to the workforce, and a very high birth rate, this represents Nigeria's biggest challenge," Nwanze, the analyst, says.

"Frustrated people will eventually turn to demagogues for their daily bread," he adds.

Political arena
The country's worsening unemployment situation has negatively affected the government's image.

President Muhammadu Buhari won the 2015 elections on the back of a campaign vowing to fix the nation's economy, but has struggled to fix the worsening economic crisis.

Now, ahead of the February elections, he is promising to generate more employment.

"The next level of effort focuses on job creation across various sectors," Buhari said in his election campaign's policy document.

"From an enlargement of the N-Power programme [government loan scheme for young graduates] to investing in technology and creative sector jobs to agriculture and revolutionising access to credit for entrepreneurs and artisans, there is scope for over 15 million new jobs."

His main challenger for the presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, has attacked the government's job creation record since Buhari assumed office four years.

"Close to 16 million people are unemployed, nine million more than in 2014," Abubakar said in his own campaign document.

Abubakar has promised to remedy this with "the creation of up to three million self- and wage-paying employment opportunities in the private sector annually".

Iniobong Paul, a hotelier who lost her job two years ago, told Al Jazeera she hopes that the political promises will be realised after the elections.

"It's not been easy," she says, adding that she looks forward to working again.

https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2018/11/feels-hope-nigeria-worsening-job-crisis-181127193954772.html?

CROSS RIVERS STATE WORKERS CELEBRATE EARLY CHRISTMAS IN AS GOV. AYADE PAYS DECEMBER SALARY

Gov Ayade

Cross River State Civil servants have received their December salary, barely four days after getting November salary.

This is even as the state is yet to receive federal allocation for November.

In the past years it has become a tradition in the state under the governorship of Senator Ben Ayade, for workers in the state to receive their December salaries in November.

According to reports, although a section of the workforce has on many occasions protested against early payment of salaries in the state, Governor Ayade has stayed steadfast to early payment of salaries.

On the rationale for the payment of December late November, the Governor explained that the idea is to get workers to do their shopping early, to avoid inflation that always occasion shopping close to Christmas.

“We pay workers in the state early to usher in the Christmas festivities that begin in the state on December 1st. Besides, it also saves our workers the stress and strain of shopping close to Christmas given the tendency for prices of goods to skyrocket.

“So by paying early we ensure that our workers do their Christmas shopping early, thus getting true value for their money instead of buying goods at highly inflated prices if they shopped close to Christmas.

Given that the payment of December salary was done early, he assured that salary for the month of January will also be paid early.

“Because we have paid December salary early, we will also pay January salary early so as to assist our workers who are parents meet up with the obligation of paying schools fees for their children,” Ayade assured.

ALL THE AGGRIEVED APC MEMBERS HAVE RIGHT TO GO TO COURT – PRESIDENT BUHARI

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday declared his backing for aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress who opted to sue the party for being dissatisfied with its decisions.

The President said the courts remained the last option for the amicable resolution of disputes, hence he insisted that the party must allow the aggrieved members to fully explore their democratic and legal rights.

It is yet another sign of the deepening disagreements within the fold of the ruling party.

The APC has been battling post-primary election crises, amid fears that the development may rub on its chances at the 2019 polls.

The National Chairman, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, in particular, has been pitted against some state governors, who are reported to be bent on removing him before the polls.

The party has also suffered a gale of defections across the states and the National Assembly, where there is now a real threat of losing the majority position in the House of Representatives.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in a statement in Abuja on Monday, expressed Buhari’s backing for the decision of aggrieved members to approach the courts.

The statement quoted Buhari as saying, “We can’t deliberately deny people of their rights.

“We agreed that party primaries should be conducted either through direct, indirect or consensus methods, and if anyone feels unjustly treated in the process, such a person can go to court.

“The court should always be the last resort for the dissatisfied. For the party to outlaw the court process is not acceptable to me.”

Buhari, who also cited the threat issued by the National Working Committee of the APC last week, said he did not agree with the position of the party’s leadership.

The NWC had warned, “The party intends to activate constitutional provisions to penalise such members as their action is capable of undermining the party and hurt the party’s interest.

“We hereby strongly advise such members to withdraw all court cases, while approaching the appropriate party organs with a view to resolving any outstanding disputes.

“In addition to this, aggrieved members are urged to take full advantage of the reconciliation committees the party has put in place.”

PDP CHAIRMAN (KANO), DEPUTY AND OTHERS DUMP PDP, JOIN APC.

Report reaching our news desk have it that the PDP chairman of the Kano state, His Deputy and Others dump PDP), Senator Mas’ud Jibrin Doguwa, his deputy, and other PDP stalwarts in the state have defected to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

See List of decampees

Derails later.... 

MALABU OIL SCAM: UK COURT REPATRIATES $73M TO FG

*We’ve deposited cash with CBN —Malami 

*FG signs new pacts with 6 countries to block looting of funds 

Although the Nigerian Government is yet to prosecute and convict many individuals and entities involved in the alleged monumental fraud running into billions of Naira in the controversial Oil Prospecting Lease 245, the United Kingdom has returned the sum of $73 million seized in connection with the fraud to the Nigerian Government. 

Fuel Supply: NNPC set to control more than 14% market share Oil However, the name of the individual or the company the cash was recovered from has not been named at the moment, even as the money has been received in Nigeria.

According to a document made available to Saturday Vanguard by the Attorney General of the Federation, the money was part of the questionable proceeds from the sale of OPL 245 by Malabu Oil and Gas Company to ENI/Shell. 

The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, confirmed in the document he made available to Saturday Vanguard that the cash had already been received and paid into the Central Bank of Nigeria. 

“The Commercial Court in the UK ordered a pay out of the sum of over $73 million with interest to the Nigerian Government, this being part of the proceeds from the sale of OPL 245 by Malabu Oil and Gas Company to ENI/SHELL. 

“The said sum has also been received and deposited with the Central Bank,” the minister said. The repatriation comes as the Federal Government has taken major steps to block the looting of funds into or out of the country by corrupt elements.

Accordingly, the government has signed memoranda of understanding and bilateral agreements with the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Italy to ensure that funds looted to those climes are promptly returned and vice versa.

Malami also said that the government was making international recovery efforts to cover other countries such as the United States, Ireland, Island of Jersey and France.

Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/11/malabu-oil-scam-uk-court-repatriates-73m-to-fg/

https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/malabu-oil-scam-12-things-you-should-know-about-controversial-deal-id6519987.html

MALABU OIL SCAM : 12 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT CONTROVERSIAL DEAL

'Jola Sotubo | 13:21 | 12.04.2017

The controversial $1.3 billion deal revolves around “OPL 245,” which is believed to be the most valuable oil field in West Africa.
How ex-oil minister Dan Etete siphoned $1 billion Nigeria oil money
» more How ex-oil minister Dan Etete siphoned $1 billion Nigeria oil money

The Malabu oil scam has been making headlines for years and is being described as one of the largest corruption scandals ever witnessed in the global oil industry.
The controversial $1.3 billion deal revolves around “OPL 245,” which is believed to be the most valuable oil field in West Africa.

The scam is being investigated in Nigeria, Italy and Netherlands due to the participation of oil giants Shell and ENI.

Below are 12 things you should know about the controversial Malabu oil deal:

1. Former petroleum minister, Dan Etete, who was appointed by late dictator Sani Abacha, acquired “OPL 245” through his company, Malabu Oil and Gas Limited while in office in 1998.

Dan Etete
Dan Etete (Reuters)

2. The deal was struck only five days after the company was incorporated with three shareholders; Mohammed Sani Abacha , Kweku Amafagha (a fake name created by Etete) and Hassan Hindu (wife of a former Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK).

Mohammed Abacha (pictured) has purchased the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nomination form to contest in the 2015 Kano governorship elections
» more Mohammed Abacha (pictured) has purchased the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nomination form to contest in the 2015 Kano governorship elections (Nairaland)

3. Etete illegally awarded himself the oil block and paid only $2 million out of the $20 million legally required by the state.

4. The oil block, which is said to have about 9 billion barrels of crude oil, was sold to Shell and ENI for $1.3 billion in 2011.

5. However, Shell and ENI did not want to deal directly with Etete, who had been convicted in France for his part in a separate money laundering scandal, so they sent the money to an account belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria in JP Morgan bank, London.

6. The Federal Government of Nigeria, under the Goodluck Jonathan regime, then transferred $801 million of the money into accounts controlled by Malabu and Etete in Nigeria.

7. The money was then allegedly shared to various public officials in Nigeria as bribes while the government got only the sum of $210m USD as signature bonus on OPL 245.

8. Officials accused of receiving bribes in connection with the deal include, Goodluck Jonathan, former Nigerian Attorney General, Mohammed Bello Adoke and former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Diezani Alison-Madueke no longer cares about protecting co-conspirators, Kola Aluko and Jide Omokore.
» more Diezani Alison-Madueke no longer cares about protecting co-conspirators, Kola Aluko and Jide Omokore. (AFP/File)

9. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a nine-count criminal charge against Adoke, SAN, and eight others over the oil block scam.

Mohammed Adoke
Ex-Attorney General, Mohammed Adoke

10. Fresh evidence based on a report released by watchdog groups, Global Witness and Finance Uncovered shows that top executives at Shell and ENI knew that the money they paid for oil block “OPL 245” would go to Etete.

11. Shell and ENI have denied wrongdoing even though emails shared by Shell staff show that its executives were negotiating directly with Etete for a year before the deal was finalized.

Correspondence by Shell staff on Etete and Malabu oil deal
» more Correspondence by Shell staff on Etete and Malabu oil deal (Buzzfeed)

12. Goodluck Jonathan is alleged to have received up to $200 million from the controversial deal.

Meanwhile, Shell has, through spokesman, Andy Norman, admitted that it knew the $1.3 billion paid by itself and ENI would be used to settle Etete.

“Over time, it became clear to us that Etete was involved in Malabu and that the only way to resolve the impasse through a negotiated settlement was to engage with Etete and Malabu, whether we liked it or not,” Norman told the New York Times via an email sent on Monday, April 10.

IF YOU UNDERMINE WORKERS BENEFITS, YOU WILL EVENTUALLY GO TO JAIL, BUHARI TELL CORRUPT LEADERS

President Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari, says leaders who undermine the economy by denying workers their benefits, while stuffing their personal accounts with public funds will not escape the current anti-corruption dragnet.

The president stated this when he received All Progressives Congress delegation from Benue State, led by Senator George Akume, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

President Buhari said the Federal Government’s bailout to states and Paris Club funds were basically to alleviate the sufferings of the people, describing misappropriation as unjust and unfair to workers.

He said: “I honestly don’t know how people sleep when workers have not been paid. The workers have to pay rent, buy food, send their children to school and they have health care to take care of.

“I assure you that my main interest is all Nigerians in all parts of the country.

“Therefore, if anybody who tries to create any impression that I prefer any group across ethnicity or religion let him dare me by being caught red-handed stealing public funds. I will deal with him.’’

The President told the APC delegation that the Federal Executive Council had been monitoring the plight of workers across the country and utilisation of the bailout and Paris Club funds by some states.

“I thank you for your courage to come and see me. This visit has resuscitated our morale,’’ he said.

LABOUR TO GOVS: CUT DOWN ON EXCESSES TO PAY NEW MINIMUM WAGE

The leadership of Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, has told governors to cut down on their excesses and unnecessary political appointments to be able to pay civil servants N30,000 new minimum wage.

A deputy president of NLC, Mr. Peter Adeyemi, said this in an interview with journalists in Ilorin, noting that the governors are being wicked by insisting that they could not pay the workers N30,000.

Adeyemi, who is also the General Secretary of Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, spoke at the regular trade group meeting of research trade group held at the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies, MINILS, yesterday.

He also issued 21 days ultimatum to the management of MINILS to settle the eight points demand of the workers as listed by the branch chairman, Mrs R.O. Adebayo, which include unpaid staff claims, inconclusive 2018 promotion exercise and seizures of 2017 promotion letters of some members among others or incur the wrath of the union.

Adeyemi said by the new N30,000 minimum wage, governors must under-stand that an estimate of N1,000 per day for a family of six in 30 is still ridiculous and unrealisable, hence they must pay the new minimum wage.

His words: “We think the governors are trying to play to the gallery. Nigerian workers must not compromise their rights; they should use their PVC wisely to vote these governors and their party out of office because they are insensitive and do not have the feelings of human being.”

AT LEAST 50 STAFF DISMISSED AT NIGERIAN HIGH COMMISSION IN LONDON

Over 50 Staff of the Nigerian High Commission London were dismissed and asked to accept a letter dated 22nd of November, 2018, Meanwhile, the Commission claims the dismissal took effect from 1st of January 2018. The staff of the commission has been working all year (2018) with months of no pay.

The letter of termination came due to a continual outcry from staff members of the commission demanding their salary arrears. In the letter signed by Helen Nzeako on behalf of the Nigerian High Commission UK, the termination of employment is as a result of the restructuring of the organization and due to budgetary constraints.

The staff members of the Commission have received this news in dismay and disappointment as most have served the Federal Government of Nigeria meritoriously. A source alleged that the exercise is a plot by the management to disengage every staff to so as to pave way for them to employ their friends & family members into these positions.

The letter of termination or disengagement instructed staff to reapply for the same job if they so wish.

“We want the World to see how we are been ill-treated just because we asked for our salaries. This is so unfair and an injustice to democratic rule”.

As quoted by a displaced staff of the commission. However the aggrieved staff are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari, the Federal Government of Nigeria to look into the matter.

CLAIMS THAT OKONJO-IWEALA , OTHERS URGED ME NOT TO CONCEDE DEFIS TWISTED LOGIC – GEJ

Former President Goodluck Jonathan (middle); Former Vice President Namadi Sambo (left) and Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has debunked insinuations by a newspaper that he was persuaded not to concede defeat by some of his ministers including former finance minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala describing it as twisted logic.

Responding to a story which indicated that those with him at the time he called President Muhammadu Buhari to concede thought otherwise, Jonathan noted that such interpretation was tantamount to stretching interpretative reporting beyond acceptable limits, stressing that the writer wilfully ignored the true account of what happened at that critical moment as clearly stated in the book, ” just to create mischief.”

Jonathan and Okonjo-Iweala

In a statement issued by Ikechukwu Eze, his media adviser, Jonathan further described the claim as a gross misrepresentation of what he wrote in his new book.

He said: “Our attention has been drawn to a circulating story titled ‘Jonathan: I was pressed to reject 2015 election result’ which erroneously claimed that some identified former aides and ministers of ex-President Jonathan advised him “not to accept defeat.”

The story which was said to have been written from President Jonathan’s new book ‘My Transition Hours’ mentioned the then Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Attorney-General of the Federation and Justice Minister Mohammed Bello Adoke; Aviation Minister Osita Chidoka, as those whose advice was rebuffed by Jonathan.

“This is obviously a gross misrepresentation of what was clearly stated in the book. .
“President Jonathan had maintained that he never consulted anybody over the decision to call and congratulate his opponent while the results of the 2015 Presidential election was still being tallied. Whereas the decision to concede defeat was one he took without any compelling, the former President is however grateful to those who were with him at that moment and many other Nigerians that shared in his conviction to put across the historic phone call.

“For the avoidance of doubt the former President in his narrative of his engagement with the mentioned key appointees at that critical time in the nation’s political history stated clearly that the we’re considering “sundry alternatives, but I was quiet in the midst of their discussion.” However, this was how The Nation chose to report the narrative: “Okonjo-Iweala, Adoke, Chidoka, Dudafa advised me not to accept defeat”.

“It therefore beggars belief that the phrase ‘sundry alternatives’ could be interpreted to mean that the former President was advised by the identified personalities ‘not to accept defeat.’

“We always say that the society will be better served if journalists keep their interpretative reporting within the limits of credible and constructive imagination.”