May Day: Workers call for improved welfare
NAN-H-35
Day
Abuja, May 1, 2017 (NAN) Nigerian workers across the country on Monday, joined their global counterparts to mark the day, urging improved welfare for workers.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Correspondents in Lagos reports members of the United Labour Congress (ULC), urged the Federal Government to invest in workers to ensure economic development of the country.
Joe Ajaero, President of ULC spoke in Lagos at the celebration tagged “Trade Union in a Recessionary Economy,’’ held at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
He said that without workers, pursuit of economic progress would become a mirage, as work based on equality and justice would eliminate poverty, hunger and diseases.
He said that efforts to overcome recession would be impressive if the prices of goods and services are reduced and companies that have gone comatose are resuscitated.
He urged government at all levels not to relent in their efforts to address issues of unemployment, precarious work, privatisation and casualisation.
“We call on the government to revive the steel industry as one of the basic infrastructure for catalysing manufacturing and industrialisation in any society.
“Discourage all companies destroying collective bargaining platforms in order to encourage decent work places and enhance terms and conditions of service for Nigerian workers,’’ he said.
Also, Mr Igwe Achese, President, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), in his message said workers have lost their jobs because of the oil glut.
Igwe said that the drop in oil price made the multinationals and contractors to embark on endless redundancies and that the union would continue to resist casualisation and outsourced.
“The challenges facing us are many. NUPENG is disappointed that till now the Petroleum Industry Bill still has not being passed in spite of passing third reading in the National Assembly,’’ he said.
The NUPENG president urged stakeholders to call on the National Assembly to pass the PIB bill into law as well as ensure that epileptic operations in the nation’s four refineries are resolved to stop importation of petroleum products.
In Ondo state, Mr Bala Kaigama, National President, Trade Union Congress (TUC) Ondo state chapter, urged the Federal Government to create new workplaces through empowerment schemes to make real impact on the nation.
“This is the way to go if they really want to deal with insurgency, political thuggery, suicides, robbery and the general discontent towards the country,” he said.
Kaigama, who was represented by Mr Clement Fatuase, Secretary, Ondo State TUC, urged workers not to relent in their struggle for emancipation.
Also, Mrs Bosede Daramola, chairperson, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ondo State, called on governments at all levels to make concerted efforts to diversify the economy.
“We need to develop other sectors that are moribund such as agriculture, mining, tourism and sports, among others, in order to boost our foreign earnings,” she said.
She described what she called delay tactics being adopted by the Federal Government on issue of new national minimum wage as further punishment to workers since expiration of the current minimum wage.
“We also commend the spirited efforts of the Federal Government in fighting and decimating the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents that have maligned our image among comity of nations,” she said.
Daramola further urged workers in the state to make the interest of Ondo State their paramount focus.
Mr Soladoye Ekundayo, Chairman, TUC, Ondo State Chapter, gave assurance of readiness to partner with the state government whenever called upon.
He also urged the state government to embark on programmes that would enable the teeming youths to be gainfully employed.
“This will no doubt reduce rate of crime drastically and equally reduce amount of millions of naira spent on security issues on monthly basis.
“Over reliance on statutory allocations from Abuja will not take us anywhere, hence the state government should embark on aggressive IGR drive and look inwards to expand its revenue base,” he said.
Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo in his message to the workers urged them to embrace the rule of law in pursuits of rights in their workplace to minimise negative consequences of incessant industrial crises.
Akeredolu solicited cooperation and understanding of workers, whom he described as partners in progress, in ensuring an atmosphere of industrial peace and harmony.
He said this would further promote high productivity as a prerequisite for sustainable socio-economic progress.
“Welfare of workers and the people of Ondo are the priority of this government which is evident in our concerted efforts in prompt payment of workers’ salaries and gradually offsetting salary arrears.
“There is a need, particularly for workers in the state, to start thinking out of the box on how to diversify our economy from the oil dependence to agriculture, entrepreneurship and industrialisation in order to boost our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR),” he said.
Akeredolu further implored the workers to cultivate a positive attitude and shun absenteeism, lateness and other unethical conducts tantamount to indiscipline and poor output in the public service.
Highlight of the event was march pass by the state chapters of various trade and industrial unions, artisans and civil servants
Also, workers in Kafanchan, Kaduna state, appealed to the state government to `rebuild’ Southern Kaduna bedeviled by recent crises.
Emmanuel Moses, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Railway Workers, North Central District, stated this during a seminar on as part of activities to mark the day.
Moses who expressed concerns over the loss of union members, colleagues and families, described the ugly trend as having far reaching effects on the safety of lives and properties of workers.
The chairman also urged authorities of the NRC, to review salaries of workers in view of the present economic realities.
Other demands include provision of working materials, renovation of dilapidated residential quarters, workshops and offices as well as making available a locomotive for train services among others.
Moses, however, noted with satisfaction the cordial working relationship between the workers and Management of the North Central District.
Moses appealed for sustenance of the good spirit in the overall interests of the corporation.
In his message, Railway District Manager, (RDM) Kafanchan, Mr Frank Ajoku, represented by the District Human Resource Officer, Mrs Rakiya Sawa commended the workers for their perseverance and resilience in rendering selfless service to humanity.
Ajoku also solicited for more cooperation from the workers to further consolidate on the level of development of the corporation.
Similarly, workers in Abia state marked the day with a call for synergy between them and governments at all levels.
Chief Uchenna Obigwe,the Chairman of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Abia chapter, called for a healthy working relationship between the Federal Government and workers.
Obigwe who spoke at the celebration in Umuahia said that it was necessary for the working class to partner with the political class for the socioeconomic revival of our nation.
The Chairman said that workers played an important role in the sustenance of Nigeria’s democracy, adding that it was necessary for the Federal Government to prioritise the enhancement of their well-being.
Obigwe appealed to the state government to formulate and implement policies that would improve the welfare of workers in Abia.
Chief Christopher Okpara, Abia Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), appealed to Abia government to expedite action with respect to prompt payment of salaries, arrears and end of year incentive.
Okpara called for the upward review of the national minimum wage in order to ameliorate the living condition of the average Nigerian worker.
“The current minimum wage which came into force in March, 2011 ought to be renewed every five years according to the National Minimum Wage Act,
“And the present economic status of the nation has made it necessary for the review to be executed,’’ he added.
In his remark, Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia thanked Abia workers for their commitment towards the state government’s developmental programmes.
Ikpeazu assured them of Abia government’s commitment towards their welfare.
Ikpeazu urged parastatals and agencies to turn over a new leaf as well as be considerate in their duty for the state and generate enough revenue for the payment of their salaries.
In Cross River, members of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) called Gov. Ben Ayade, to terminate the services of the consultants handling the audit/payroll for both state and local government employees.
Mr John Ushie, state Chairman of NLC who spoke at the celebration in Calabar said the call for the termination of the consultants became necessary following alleged illegal monthly deduction of N500 from each staff in the state government’s payroll.
Ushie said that the deductions started in Oct. 2016, adding that the consultants deducted Nine million naira monthly from the salaries of civil servants in the state.
“As we celebrate the 2017 workers’ day, the NLC in the state is calling for the termination of service of the consultant handling the audit/payroll for both state and local government workers.
“The consultants deduct N500 monthly from each civil servant. From the amount, Nine million naira is deducted monthly and from Oct. 2016 till date, over N63million has been deducted.
“In spite of our protest and appeals, the consultants is still deducting our monies and they have been incorrect payment of salaries to workers due to data mix-up’’, he said.
On pension, the Chairman appealed to the state government to commence the payment of gratuities to pensioners who retired from the state civil service since 2012.
He also called for recruitment of young school leavers into the state civil service, saying that the state public service was short of staff as many have retired.
Ayade, who was represented by his deputy, Prof. Ivara Esu, charged workers in the state to shun truancy and lateness to work.
He assured NLC that the issues raised will be looked into with a view to curb any further industrial crisis between the state and the NLC.
“Today, we can say without fear of contradiction that we have a better motivated workforce in the state.
“I want to assure workers in the state that we will continue to place premium on the payment of their salaries’’, he said.
NAN reports that civil servants in the state received their May salaries on April 30. (NAN)
Reporters/ NAN
Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi