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Minimum Wage: NLC prepares for showdown with state governors Dec. 31

Minimum Wage: NLC prepares for showdown with state governors Dec. 31

Wage
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, Dec. 12, 2019 (NAN) The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it cannot guarantee industrial peace and harmony, if state governors refuse to conclude negotiations and payment of the National Minimum Wage by December 31.
In a communique issued at the end of its meeting with state council chairmen on implementation of the National Minimum Wage, the union said there were currently three implementation categories in which all states fell into.
The communique was jointly signed by NLC President; Dr Ayuba Wabba, NLC General Secretary; Emmanuel Ugboaja and Abdulrafiu Adeniji; National Chairperson, Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (Trade Union Side).
The communique noted that Kaduna, Kebbi, Lagos and Adamawa have commenced implementation and payment of the newminimum wage, while Jigawa had concluded negotiations but yet to make its first payment to workers.
It also noted that Borno, Abia, Kano, Bayelsa, Sokoto, Niger, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Ondo, Ebonyi, Katsina and Zamfara States, have constituted a negotiating committee between their state government and Labour, following consequential adjustments of salaries.
“States which have not put in place a Negotiating Committee between the State Government and Labour on the consequential adjustment of salaries, include Bauchi, Yobe, Rivers, Benue, Gombe, Kwara, Imo, Osun, Ekiti, Oyo, Anambra, Taraba, Cross River, Ogun, Enugu, Nasarawa, Plateau, Kogi and Delta States.”
The communique noted that Organised Labour in the states comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, and the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (Trade Union Side) would work in harmony to ensure that all workers enjoy the full benefit of the new National Minimum Wage.
The union urged state chairmen to immediately convoke an emergency State Executive Council meeting and State Congress of all workers to brief them of the outcome of the stakeholders’ meeting on the new national minimum wage implementation.
“States that are still on the discussion table (Category 2) should expedite discussions to conclude the negotiations on or before the 31st of December, 2019.
“States which have not commenced discussion should quickly constitute a Negotiating Committee and expeditiously conclude discussions on salary adjustment consequent on the new national minimum wage on or before 31st December, 2019.
“In the event that any state fails to comply with these resolutions on or before 31st December, 2019, organised labour would not guarantee industrial harmony in such states,” it added. (NAN)
TAK/AFA
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Edited by Felix Ajide

Metro

59th Independence: Time to reassert our relevance, leadership- NLC, TUC

59th Independence: Time to reassert our relevance, leadership- NLC, TUC

Independence

By Tosin Kolade

Abuja, Oct. 1, 2019(NAN) As Nigeria marks her 59th Independence, the organised labour has called on the country to reassert her value and leadership in the continent and stand by the tenets of democracy.

Mr Ayuba Wabba, the NLC President, in a statement said the anniversary of Nigeria, like the ones before it, offered an opportunity for serious soul-searching and very candid reflection.

According to him, in our journey to nationhood, Nigeria has had a number of highs and lows, saying while we should celebrate the highs, we must also ponder on the lows and pick useful lessons from them.

“It is important to celebrate the deconstruction of colonial rule and what independence offered the Nigerian nation and people.

“A priceless opportunity to pursue our dreams and rewrite the history of colonial evil by the strides of our post colonial existence,” he said.

Wabba said that the country started off on a trajectory of solid foundation laid by the country’s founding fathers, who he said were in a hurry to hurl her at par with development elsewhere.

He said that the founding fathers invested heavily to build the social capital of the country through their commitment to quality and universal public education and construction of excellent medical facilities.

The result, according to him, was topnotch human capital development as Nigeria became the doyen of intellectualism in Africa, producing world class scholars, professionals and workers in different sectors of the economy.

He stated that many of the country’s universities and hospitals were ranked among the best on the continent and in the world, adding that it attracted scholars and sick people from all over Africa and even beyond.

According to him, our founding fathers showed sincere commitment to industrialisation because they believed in the dignity of labour and wanted every Nigerian to be gainfully employed.

“Industrialisation was not the dessert but the main menu of governance, our founding fathers proved this by creating the enabling environment for industrialisation, by providing quality roads, mass electrification and security of lives and property.

Wabba, however, said that the 59th independence anniversary offered Nigeria a moment to reflect, re-prioritise, re-strategise, re-position, and re-launch the Nigerian dream.

He said that as leaders and citizens, “we owe ourselves, and generations unborn the responsibility of bequeathing a nation of justice, equity and prosperity.

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) President, Quadri Olaleye, and Secretary General, Musa-Lawal Ozigi, in a statement said military incursion into politics, corruption, ethnicity, religious crisis were major reasons inhibiting the nation’s growth.

The statement read, “The military incursion into politics, corruption, ethnicity, religious crisis, have worked against our national development. It is even more worrisome and unfortunate that at this time and age the crack is widening by the day.

“We must interrogate the reason why countries we were at par with have left us far behind. China, India, Indonesia, were our contemporaries but they are now in the first league while we are dragging economic space with some countries in Africa.

“Although revenue from tax has improved significantly but unfortunately, instead of widening the tax net, the impoverished public is overtaxed, leading to despondency and despair.”

TUC also berated the Federal Government for failing to pay the new Minimum Wage of N30,000 as earlier agreed.

“We find it disturbing that months after the National Minimum Wage committee set up by the Federal Government to work on the new wage had submitted their report, government is still not committed to paying the new wage.

“We are beginning to think that signing it in the first place was because of the 2019 General Elections. To talk about setting up another committee over the same issue makes us feel we have been swindled. We have learnt our lessons.

“The argument on the part of government has always been that there is no money to pay minimum wage, whereas lawmakers have budgeted N5.6bn to purchase automobile that are not produced in Nigeria.

“Our belief is that government can actually pay if only the cost of governance will be reduced.” (NAN)

TAK/IFY
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Edited by Ifeyinwa Omowole

Metro

NLC urges end to Xenophobic attacks, cautions against crude retaliations

Xenophobia

By Tosin Kolade

Abuja, Sept. 4, 2019 (NAN) The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has urged the Federal Government to adopt urgent measures to end Xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

The NLC, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, also cautioned against crude retaliations by Nigerians at home.

The labour union, in  a statement signed by its President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, also suggested some form of compensation to families of Nigerians that had lost their lives in the attacks.

Wabba regretted that the attacks had become too frequent, urging the federal government to take decisive action to end the indiscriminate assault on Nigerians in South Africa and every other nation in the world.

“The frequency and escalation of these attacks are not only reprehensible but capable of undermining the illustrious bilateral relations between both countries.

“However, as despicable as these attacks are, we will advise against crude retaliatory measures such as the burning down of perceived South African businesses in Nigeria because, in reality, some of those businesses are owned by Nigerians.

“We appeal to Nigerians to leave this matter to the Nigerian government which has acted properly by sending an envoy to South Africa to express its displeasure as well as table its demands.”

Wabba said that the South African government should be held responsible for failing in its duty to protect or safeguard the lives and properties of foreign nationals, especially Nigerians, who have been subject of attacks over time.

He demanded an immediate end to the killings and destruction of property and an assurance that such would not happen again, not only to Nigerians, but all foreign nationals in South Africa.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), recalls that there have been a series of attacks on Nigerians and their businesses in South Africa.

Nigeria’s foreign affairs minister Geoffrey Onyeama has reacted to the killings and accused the South African government of not doing enough to quell the attacks. (NAN)

TAK/ETS
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Edited by Ephraims Sheyin

Metro

Ugboaja replaces Ozo-Eson as NLC General Secretary

NLC
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, Sept. 4, 2019 (NAN) Dr Peter Ozo-Eson has formally disengaged from the services of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) with the election of Emmanuel Ugboaja as the new General Secretary

Ozo-Eson, who became General Secretary of the NLC in 2014, handed over the administrative aspect of the congress to Ugboaja.

Ugboaja’s appointment was confirmed by the National Executive Council of the Congress at its meeting in Kano recently.

NLC President Ayuba Wabba lauded Ozo-Eson for his contribution to the growth of the congress and Labour movement in Nigeria.

Wabba said: “the out going General Secretary is only retiring not tired. He will continue to be part of the family, and he will continue to guide us and work for Nigerian workers.

“So on behalf NLC secretariat, let me present appreciation of all the working men and women of Nigeria for the meritorious service you offered to Nigerian workers.

“Importantly, the history of NLC cannot be complete without having a space to accommodate some of the issues and challenges we passed through within the period you were with us, and how you have been able to stabilise the system.

“Part of your mandate was to work out a succession. I am extremely delighted that this has happened. The joy of every leader is actually to see that what he or she nurtured grows and prosper.

“I am certain that wherever you will be, you are still part of us and will continue to advice and make impute to the success of NLC.”

In his remarks, Ozo-Eson commended the leadership of the Congress for the support accorded him while in the movement and urge staff of the secretariat to extend the same support accorded him to Ugboaja.

He also described labour movement as a unique place, adding that comrades must disagree on principles but in the end work together for the over all interest of the movement.

Ugboaja assured workers that he would ensure the building on foundation already laid, saying “we will not disappoint you”.

Ugboaja, who was born on May 15, 1966, is a 1987 Law graduate of the University of Calabar.

In 1993, he became the first lawyer in Nigeria to work full time for a trade union when he joined the National Union of Chemical Footwear Rubber Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees (NUCFRLANMPE), an affiliate of the Nigeria Labour Congress.

He rose through the ranks of the NUCFRLANMPE to serve as the General Secretary from 2000 to 2005. (NAN)
TAK/IS
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Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Metro

Minimum wage negotiations ongoing — NLC

Minimum wage negotiations ongoing – NLC

Wage
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, Aug. 15, 2019 (NAN) The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has dispelled ongoing reports that negotiations between the organised labour and the Technical Committee on Consequential Adjustment of the new minimum wage had stopped.

Mr Ayuba Wabba, the NLC National President, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday that the negotiations were still ongoing.

He said even although the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) were not directly involved in the negotiations, they would step in if any disagreement occurred.

It would be recalled that the new minimum wage bill was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari in April.

However, deliberations were ongoing as the issue of relativity/consequential adjustment of salaries still persisted.

The Federal Government had on May 14 inaugurated the relativity/Consequential Adjustment Committee which in turn set up a Technical Sub-Committee to work out the template for the adjustment of salaries of Public Service Employees.

However, with negotiations resuming on Aug. 14, Wabba noted that Nigerian workers had waited so long for the new minimum wage.

Wabba said people would want to see an end for its full implementation, adding that it was the desire of the organised labour that this became a reality.

“In spite of that the NLC and TUC are not directly involved during the process of consequential adjustment, the process is ongoing; because I read in the papers of how people were saying it had stopped.

“The report that I read from the Joint Negotiating Council is that they are meeting, and if there is any stalemate we will be informed and will step in to assist and all the details of their discussions have been made public.’’

Wabba said that the delay on the issue was not caused by the NLC.

“For anybody on that table to come and say that labour is the one delaying the process he/she is not saying the obvious.

“This is because I learnt that the person that made the statement is the chairman of the technical committee; so clearly speaking, I think it is not in good faith.

“I think also that workers are becoming very concerned, including us because the process must actually have an end where workers will benefit.

“How can a worker or unions that are at the receiving end be the ones delaying the process.

“`For us as a union we wanted this money to be in workers pockets long before now.’’

NAN recalls that Chief Richard Egbule, the Chairman, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, attributed the delay in the implementation of the “consequential adjustment” of the N30,000 new minimum wage to the unrealistic demands of labour unions.

Egbule explained that the current demand of the labour unions would raise the total wage bill too high and that was why government could not accept their proposed salary adjustments.

“Labour is asking for consequential adjustment and government in its wisdom had made budgetary provision for an adjustment of N10,000 across the board for those already earning above N30,000 per month.

“However, the unions have refused this offer, saying that because the increase in minimum wage from 18,000 to N30, 000 was 66 per cent, therefore they want 66 per cent increment across the board.

“We told them that the minimum wage was not raised from N18, 000 to N30, 000 through percentage increase but as a result of consideration of economic factors including ability to pay.”

Responding to the claim, Secretary of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, Alade Lawal, said the government was trying to force labour to accept its proposal, adding that such would only make workers poorer. (NAN)
TAK/OYE/DCU
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Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole/Donald Ugwu

Metro

Labour urges sober reflection as Muslims celebrate Eid-el Kabir

 

NLC

By Tosin Kolade

Abuja, Aug. 11, 2019 (NAN) As Muslims celebrate Eid-el Kabir, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has urged Nigerians to imbibe the lessons of the season and make sacrifices toward nation building.

Mr Ayuba Wabba, NLC president, in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, emphasised the need for love, humility, and sacrifice, saying that the attributes were crucial to healing Nigeria’s ills.

“As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to celebrate Eid-el Kabir, the NLC wishes to congratulate our Muslim faithful and remind everyone that the festival represents total obedience to Allah’s command, and ultimate sacrifice.

“It also symbolises love, through sharing, humility, peace and good neighbourliness.

“We do believe that this Eid-el Kabir has come at a time when great challenges, both economic and social, are threatening our common bond and values that hold us together.

“It therefore, offers us a great opportunity for deep reflection and rededication of our lives to nation building.

“We have no doubt that with love, humility and sacrifice, peace and healing shall return to our nation.

“In the light of this, we urge all Nigerians, and not just Muslims, to imbibe the spirit of Eid-el Kabir for a greater and better Nigeria,” the NLC said. (NAN)

TAK/VOE/ETS
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Edited by Vivian Emoni and Ephraims Sheyin
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Metro

NLC begs FG to release Sowore, 26 others

Sowore
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, Aug. 7, 2019 (NAN) The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the Federal Government to release Mr Omoyele Sowore and 26 other protesters arrested on account of the #RevolutionNow protest on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the publisher of Sahara Reporters and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the February 2019 elections was arrested in the early hours of Saturday by operatives of the Department of State Services in Lagos.

The protests held on Aug. 5 in some states of the federation, with security agencies arresting some protesters.

While Sowore was moved to Abuja on Sunday and currently being detained in the custody of the DSS, 26 other protesters have been arraigned in a Lagos court.

NLC General Secretary, Dr Peter Ozo-Eson in a statement on Wednesday said the right to peaceful protests, assembly and association is fully guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under sections 39 and 40.

According to him, the NLC view the violent attack on the peaceful protesters by security forces as a total violation of their fundamental rights as guaranteed by the constitution.

“Besides, peaceful protests against perceived anti-people government policies is one of the critical fundamental rights that expands the entrenchment and growth of democracy.

“Sowore and other protesters were not carrying arms against the state and we therefore demand their immediate release unconditionally.” (NAN)
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Metro

NLC has no plan for mass action

Plans
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, Aug. 3, 2019 (NAN) Following reports that the organised labour may go on a nationwide strike for the full implementation of the new minimum wage, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said there was no such plans.

President of the NLC, Mr Ayuba Wabba, in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, said the congress would apply all available means to resolve disputes in the country.

According to him, before the union embark on any mass action or street protest, the issue(s) in contestation will be debated by the appropriate organs of the Congress.

“We would wish to inform our members and affiliate unions, civil society allies and the general public that the Nigeria Labour Congress is neither organising nor getting associated with any mass action or street protest over any issue in any part or every part of the country in the days ahead.

“Similarly, the decision to do a mass action or any form of protest is usually taken by those organs.

“Accordingly, we wish to state unambiguously that neither has such an issue arisen nor a debate for a mass action taken place, let alone a decision to proceed on a mass action.”

He, however, said the Congress respects the right of the citizenry to freely associate and hold an opinion, and to peacefully protest against any policy or policies with which they disagree.

NAN recalls that organised labour had considered the option of a staggered implementation of the minimum wage as being “devisive”.

A statement from the Salaries and Wages Commission had said that the payment of the N30,000 minimum wage would be implemented in percentages across grade levels of civil servants.

It disclosed that only federal civil servants who earn less than N30,000 monthly would benefit from the implementation immediately.

The statement added that federal civil servants who earn N30,000 and above would still get their salaries adjusted after the negotiations with the unions.

A fresh negotiation, which was held Thursday in Abuja, got stuck as both parties failed to agree on wage percentage.

The deadlock has also delayed the payment of the N30,000 to junior workers in the Federal Civil Service.

The two parties have decided to reconvene for talks between Aug. 14 and Aug. 15. (NAN)
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Features

N30,000 minimum wage: Salivating workers await end to waiting game

N30,000 minimum wage: Salivating workers await end to waiting game

By Tosin Kolade, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

“You can see me smiling on behalf of Nigerian workers; President Muhammadu Buhari has assented to the Minimum Wage Repeal and Enactment Act, 2019.

“This makes it compulsory for all employers of labour in Nigeria to pay to their workers the sum of N30,000 as the minimum wage.

“It also gives workers the right to sue for the balance, when compelled to accept salary that is less than N30,000.”

The above quotes were the exact words of Mr Ita Enang, Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, after Buhari signed the new National Minimum Wage into law, on April 18, 2019.

The law mandates all employers of labour in Nigeria to pay to their workers the sum of N30,000 as the least salary, except those with less than 25 workers.

The law also mandates the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission and the Minister of Labour to serve as the principal enforcers of its provisions.

As expected, the signing of the law was celebrated by workers who saw it as a signal to better days with an improved package. The new law was, in itself, a blissful end to several months of a fierce battle between government and the workers during which threats were traded.

The joy of the salivating workers knew no bounds when government said that the implementation of the new deal would commence from the date it was signed.

But, more than three months after the law was signed, the workers are still expecting the windfall, with many still unsure of what they may get from it.

The fears, which started as some rumour, got more intense when government, on May 14, inaugurated the relativity/Consequential Adjustment Committee, which in turn set up a Technical Sub-Committee to work out the template for the adjustment of salaries of public service employees.

The fresh committees sent fears down the spines of most workers who had thought that the template was already ready and waiting for just cash backing.

The fears got even more heightened recently when the Federal Government, through the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, announced that only workers earning below the N30,000 minimum wage would be paid, meaning that the wait for the new wage was getting indefinite for those earning above that.

The commission’s chairman, Mr Richard Egbule, while addressing newsmen on the implementation of the new national minimum wage, on July 16, said that the commencement of the approved payment would be determined by the office of the Accountant-General and backdated to when the President signed the agreement.

Egbule had said that the position of government was that the implementation of the wage would start with workers currently earning below N30,000, while others would follow after the conclusion of talks on consequential adjustments.

Angered by that development, organised labour has hinted of possible industrial action if the current state of affairs as regards the issue of consequential adjustment arising from the new national minimum wage of N30,000 per month remains the same.

The organised labour, in a joint statement signed by Mr Anchaver Simon, acting Chairman, Trade Union Side (TUS), of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), and the Secretary, Mr Alade Lawal, expressed disappointment by “government’s effort to derail the implementation of a new National Minimum Wage”.

“As things are right now, the government side is only prepared to pay peanuts to workers as adjustment under the pretext that it will soon be undertaking general salary review in the Public Service,” the statement said.

Checks indicated that the committee on Consequential Adjustment of Salaries agreed to set up a technical body to work out different scenarios in respect of salaries that would be paid to workers in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), that draw their emoluments from the government treasury.

TUS had initially proposed that since the minimum wage was increased by 66.66 per cent from N18,000 to N30,000, salaries for officers on Grade Levels 01-17 should be adjusted accordingly to maintain the relativity that exists in the salary structure in the Public Service.

But when the government side argued that such increase across board would raise the total wage bill too high, the TUS side reviewed its demand downward and eventually settled for 30 per cent for officers on Grade Levels 07-14, and 25 per cent for those on Grade Levels 15-17.

The government side, on its part, was insisting on 9.5 per cent salary raise for employees on Grade Levels 07-14, and five per cent for those on Grade Levels 15-17.

The workers, through the Trade Union Congress (TUC), rejected the stance, with the TUC President, Mr Quadri Olaleye, accusing the Federal Government of “playing smart to avert industrial unrest”.

“We have read the circular released by Mr Richard Egbule, Executive Chairman of the National Minimum Wage Committee set up by the Federal Government to work out the consequential adjustments arising from the wage increase.

“Let it be known that this circular is unacceptable to us because it contradicts the reason for setting up the committee,” the statement said.

Olaleye said that the TUC considered the circular as a smart move on the part of government to discourage labour action, declaring that “labour is not fooled”.

“We wonder why anything that has labour undertone becomes the issue of rejection by government. By this circular, the government is testing the patience of workers.

“We assure them that they either go to the negotiating table to complete the assignment or risk the wrath of workers.”

Meanwhile, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, has attributed the delay in the full implementation of the new National Minimum Wage to the “unrealistic demands” by labour unions.

“President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to implementing the new national minimum wage and that is why the presidential committee on the consequential adjustment arising from the minimum wage has been sitting to deliberate on it.

“The committee has sat with the union leaderships within the public service to come out with the consequential adjustment arising from the new minimum wage.

“There were a few, what I will call unrealistic, demands from the unions.

“So as not to continue delaying the implementation of the very dear policy of Mr President, we had to go ahead and seek his approval to implement the minimum wage effective from April,” she said.

She explained that the decision was to pave way for the federal government to continue with the discussions on the consequential adjustment.

Oyo-Ita said that the federal government would not allow the demands of the senior staff unions to affect those the minimum wage was largely meant to address – the low income earners.

The NLC and TUC, in a recent letter to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, urged the Federal Government to reconvene the stalled minimum wage committee meeting with the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC).

NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, and TUC President, Quadri Olaleye, jointly signed the letter dated July 16, 2019.

They expressed dismay in the stalemated discussion and the meagre amount being offered by the Federal Government, adding that they were particularly sad over the staggered implementation of the new minimum wage.

While commending the President for setting up the committee to work out the modalities for relativity and any other consequential effect that may arise from the new national minimum wage, it said that its initial optimism was hinged on the fact that the step would speed up the implementation of the minimum wage.

“We are, however, worried by this stalemate and must, in all honesty, point out that what the government is offering is far too small to be acceptable.

“We recall that in the immediate past exercise, 53 per cent relativity was used across board. The resort therefore to unnecessary obduracy by the government’s team is neither helpful nor reflective of precedence.

“The option of a staggered implementation conveyed in a press statement by the Chairman of the Salaries and Wages Commission is similarly not in good faith; the notion of staggered implementation is both divisive and catastrophic.

“It is important to note that the national minimum wage has always been implemented holistically in acknowledgement of the fact that we all go to the same market.

“In the light of this and the need to head off a major industrial crisis, we would urge you to do all that is necessary to ensure that the meeting of the Committee is reconvened with NLC and TUC.”

As the Nigerian workers await the next line of action by the stakeholders, experts and analysts say that reconvening the committee will help in reaching a truce in the consequential adjustments and ensure a mutually agreeable rate that would avert an impending nationwide industrial action.

They equally say that everything should be done by those concerned to end the waiting game so that anxious workers, who were thrown into wild jubilation when President Buhari signed the minimum wage bill into  law in April, will smile. (NAN)

 

 

 

Metro

NLC says AFCTA Agreement will benefit workers, open Africa trade relations

Trade
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, July 16, 2019 (NAN) President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Mr Ayuba Wabba, on Tuesday commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement.

He said the agreement would benefit the lives of Nigerian workers and open trade relations in the region.

Wabba disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the meeting of Labour Experts and General Assembly of the ECOWAS in Abuja.

The meeting has “Strengthening Social Dialogue for the Promotion of Decent work in the ECOWAS region” as its theme.

He said the organised Labour were initially against Nigeria signing the agreement because there was no consultation.

He noted that only Nigeria and South Africa carried out extensive consultation on the agreement, adding that the observations of organised labour have been reflected in the agreement.

According to him, part of observation is that goods to benefit from the trade agreement must be produced in Africa.

He said “We were against it because there was no consultation and nobody even knew the content. I can say with nostalgia that it is only Nigeria and South Africa that did the type of consultation we did.

“Through our engagement process, there was dialogue, there was consultation with key stakeholders in the economy and we were able to identify way to improve and key into the Africa Continental free Trade Agreement and to have a comparative advantage.

“Part of what we agreed on is that those goods must be made in Africa, they must be goods we produce in Africa that will be used for the trade among ourselves.

“In the course of the dialogue, we found out that trade among African countries is less than 16 per cent. Therefore, it will be an advantage for African countries to trade among themselves than trading with other countries.”

Wabba said it was important for policies and programmes to protect the local market, noting that the agreement would help in promoting common tarrifs.

“With our population of about 200 million, you will be at the receiving end. Goods will be produced by your neighbour and flood your country because they have favourable employment policies, key investment opportunities like power and critical infrastructure.

“Critically, we said that our jobs must be protected, Otherwise, our jobs will be taken away and the unemployment situation will continue.

“What we, organised labour are impressed with is actually the consultation process that went into the process. If policies are about the people, then they should be consulted and that is the hallmark of it.

“It was because we shouted that people started asking questions about the content of the agreement. So, how do we sign what we are not aware of? We don’t just join the bandwagon. Africa is about Nigeria. Some of those countries that signed earlier are less than local government in Nigeria.

“If Nigeria has not signed the agreement, it means Africa has not signed it because we are the largest economy in Africa and also the key market in Africa. What we are impressed with and have canvassed that all other policies should be tailored along is the consultations.

“We have also insisted that it should be made in Africa goods and it should be strictly trade among African countries and that you import goods from other parts of the world, dump them in one African country and begin to flood our market with the goods. That is not part of the agreement because it is going to affect our economy and we will be at the receiving end.”

On the strike alert already issued, he said the Congress has not issued any strike notice over the implementation of the new national minimum wage by the government.

“No, we don’t work with that please. NLC, as an organised body, I am not sure we have given any notice to that effect. If we reach a point of issuing threats, we will do that without hesitation.

“But I have seen many information on the social media, we are a credible organisation and we should be able to speak for ourselves.

“If we get to that point, we will be able to inform you, but for now, the process is going on and we have been able to expand the scope of dialogue to include NLC/TUC and only limited to the unions in the public sector”. (NAN)
TAK/DE/IS
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Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Ismail Abdulaziz