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NPC workers’ strike “put on hold” – Union

NPC workers’ strike “put on hold” – Union
NAN-HG-1
Protest
By Chinenye Offor
Abuja, Jan. 30, 2018 (NAN) Striking workers of the National Population Commission (NPC) on Tuesday said their protest had been “put on hold’’ pending the response of the Federal Government to their demands.
The President of the workers union, Mrs Rita Agaba, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
She explained that the strike was put on hold following the intervention of the national Presidents of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress.
Agaba said the union members decided to put on hold the strike in respect of the NLC and TUC with offices reopened.
However, the unionist maintained that they would operate a work-to-rule regime to facilitate dialogue and in anticipation of government positive response.
NAN recalls that the leadership of organised labour on Jan. 29 directed the aggrieved NPC workers to suspend their strike to give room for dialogue.
Mr Ayuba Wabba, President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) with his counterpart, Mr Bobboi Kaigama, President, Trade Union Congress (TUC) gave the directive while addressing the NPC staff in Abuja.
Agaba also disclosed that the scheduled Jan. 30 meeting between leaders of the NPC workers’ union and the Secretary to Government of Federation had been postponed till further notice.
NAN reports that the NPC workers embarked on the strike in the last three weeks to protest the reappointment of their Director-General, Dr Ghaji Bello, by the federal government.
The workers are also demanding for improved working condition and probe of the finances of the commission. (NAN)
CSO/OSA/MST
Edited by Shittu Obassa/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

NPC Strike: Workers demand Mr President’s intervention

NPC Strike: Workers demand Mr President’s personal intervention
NAN-HG-5
Appeal
By Chinenye Offor
Abuja, Jan. 28, 2018 (NAN) Striking workers of the National Population Commission (NPC) on Friday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to personally intervene in their industrial dispute to restore peace and normalcy in the commission.

They made the appeal in a statement signed by their labour leaders and issued to newsmen on Friday in Abuja.

The statement was jointly signed by Mrs Rita Agaba, Messrs Aminu Abashiya, Ibrahim Saleh and Ogunyemi Funke as leaders of the four trade unions in NPC.

They said the statement was meant to update the public on developments over the reappointment of Dr Ghaji Bello as the Director-General of the commission.

They dismissed speculations that the dispute had been resolved following the intervention of the Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige.

The workers reaffirmed their earlier position on the no-confidence vote passed on Bello by the unions, management and members of staff of the commission.

They rejected the minister’s directive to the NPC management and appeal to the workers to allow Bello resume duty on Jan. 29.

The unions said that the minister’s action was not consistent with the principles and polices of the present administration on anti-corruption and whistle blowing.

They noted that allegations of financial impropriety leveled against Bello was not referred to the appropriate agencies for investigation despite deluge of information provided.

The labour leaders explained that the update was predicated on the outcome of their meeting with the Ngige on Jan. 25.

They also noted the minister’s attempt to resolve the strike and how he handled the Federal Commissioner representing Lagos State who, like her other counterparts, had assumed the role of Head of Service of the Federation.

They claimed that the commissioners had flagrantly disregarded Civil Service Rules and Procedures such as the strict implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and financial regulations.

The unionists flayed the “desperate, subtle and coercive efforts to break the ranks of the agitating workers”, which they described as inimical to industrial peace and harmony in NPC.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the congress in a show of solidarity reiterates the issues raised earlier in her first and second meetings where the management and staff not only passed a no-confidence vote on Dr Ghaji Bello and equally unequivocally, rejected his imposition on National Population Commission.

“The appointment of Dr Ghaji Bello brought career jeopardy to serving officers from reaching the pinnacle of their career in a professional MDA such as the commission.

“This have consequently retarded the career progression of the staff who has put in their life in the service and has the requisite professional, technical knowledge and competence to drive the mandate of the commission.

“Congress notes that democracy is all about the rule of law and following precedence that have already been set with the reversal of the appointments of the Director-General of NAFDAC, NHIS executive secretary and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,

“and as such we ask that the reappointment of Dr Ghaji Bello be reversed for the interest of peace.

“They requested that a core professional be appointed as Director-General rather than the present situation.

“Dr Bello lacks professional and administrative competence as required by NPC Act to run the affairs of the commission which became manifest in his performance in the last four years.

“We have ample information of plans to arrest some members of staff of the commission and flood the office with armed policemen on Monday, 29th January, 2018, in order to facilitate Dr Ghaji’s resumption.

“Congress however request the Hon. Minister to kindly advise Dr Ghaji Bello to stay away from all offices of National Population Commission nationwide in the interest of peace and industrial harmony,” the communique read in part.

The workers therefore resolved to sustain the protest to drive home their rejection of Bello’s return to the commission.

They also agreed to close all offices of the commission nationwide from Jan. 29, in line with their earlier resolution passed on Jan. 23, until the matter was amicably resolved in their favour.

The management of the commission and Bello are yet to react to the current development.

However, the Chairman of NPC, Chief Eze Duruiheoma, had earlier appealed to the agitated workers to end their work-to-rule industrial action and resume duties.

Duruiheoma assured them that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Minister of Labour were addressing their grievances. (NAN)
CSO/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

NPC Protest: Union says agitation not political

NPC Protest: Union says agitation not political

NAN-HG-3
Protest
By Chinenye Offor
Abuja, Jan. 15, 2018 (NAN) Mrs Rita Agaba, the President of the workers union in National Population Commission (NPC) has dismissed insinuations that their protest against the reappointment of the Director-General of the commission, Dr Ghaji Bello, was political.

Agaba expressed the workers view in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

According to her, the staff still maintained their position on the reversal of the reappointment of Bello and had vowed to shut NPC offices nationwide until government addressed their demand.

She also called on the Federal Government to investigate the activities of the reappointed director-general for the four years of his tenure in the commission.

“The union is not bias and have nothing to do with politics as the reappointed DG was also appointed by PDP.

“As am talking to you, all the repatriation allowance have not been paid and funds are being diverted to his own pocket.

“He prefers to run generator on montly basis at the cost of N2.3 million instead of paying N500,000 PHCN monthly bill.

“The DG is also the contractor that supplies diesel to the commission,” she said.

Similarly, the Vice Chairman, Joint Association of Civil Servants Union of the commission, Mr Ibrahim Saleh, flayed the manner the director-general handled the affairs of the commission.

He noted that the director-general has usurped the functions of the Procurement and Accounts departments of NPC.

“The DG took over these departments in order to award contracts to himself without due process.

“He subjects the directors to ridicule and as well owed the cleaners and ex-corps members allowances,” he said.

He added that the staff members of NPC nationwide had joined in the protest and the exercise continues until the reappointment of the director-general was reversed and other sundry demands met.

Reacting to the development, Bello told newsmen that the protest was politically motivated

He also said the commission was grossly underfunded to run its primary mandate and there was no money to steal as alleged by the workers.

NAN recalls that the workers embarked on a peaceful protest in the last five days while the headquarters of the commission remained locked. (NAN)
CSO/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola