Dangote/PENGASSAN: NLC mobilises for total lockdown

The Dangote/PENGASSAN dispute is taking a turn for the worse as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed all its affiliate unions to immediately commence mobilisation for industrial action against the Group. This directive is contained in an internal memo signed by NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero, on Monday in Abuja. The order follows a dispute between Dangote Refinery and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) over the alleged sack of over 800 workers. Ajaero said the directive was prompted by what the congress described as the Dangote Group’s “anti-worker crusade” against Nigerian workers. He alleged that the conglomerate consistently violated Section 40 of the Constitution and ILO Conventions 87 and 98, which protect workers’ rights to association and unionisation. According to him, affiliates are placed on full alert and must begin unionisation drives in all Dangote facilities within their areas of jurisdiction. “The impunity of the Dangote Group must be met with resistance. Each affiliate should establish an Action Mobilisation Committee and liaise with the NLC Secretariat within 72 hours,” Ajaero said. He urged affiliates to mobilise resources and members for nationwide action, stressing that unity of purpose and collective resolve were non-negotiable. Meanwhile, there is report that the Federal Government has convened a conciliatory meeting to prevent escalation of the dispute.

NLC demands probe of UBA Fire, market Infernos

Insists that the fires are totally not accidents of fate The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has demanded an independent probe into the recent United Bank for Africa (UBA) fire and other infernos on Lagos Island. This is according to a statement signed by the Acting President of NLC, Prince Adewale Adeyanju,  on Thursday in Abuja. It would be recalled that on Sept. 16, no fewer than  six people died in the UBA Afriland Building blaze, while several others sustained injuries and remain hospitalised. “Our grief is worsened by the fresh memory of another devastating fire that consumed shops and warehouses in the same axis, destroying livelihoods and goods valued in billions of Naira. “These fires are totally not accidents of fate. They are products of systemic rot, institutional negligence,, and disregard for safety rules which expose citizens to needless deaths and losses,” it said. The NLC said that the sight of workers jumping out of windows to escape the UBA fire was disheartening. “Were there safety precautions in the building design? Were workers trained? Where were crisis management teams?” the statement asked. The congress also expressed concern over recurring market fires in Lagos, calling them an annual ritual that should have been addressed with adequate safeguards. It added that every society was judged by how it safeguarded citizens. “In Lagos, we see the opposite fires without water, collapsing buildings without rescue, citizens without emergency response. “Why do emergency agencies continue to budget billions annually yet arrive unprepared in moments of crisis?. “Why are corporate institutions allowed to compromise safety standards without accountability?” it asked. The NLC,  therefore, demanded the investigation of the fires, compensation for victims, mandatory safety enforcement, and adequate funding for emergency services. “No worker should leave home for work and end up in the morgue because of preventable disasters,” it said. The NLC also warned against reducing the tragedies to mere statistics. “The blood of the workers cries out for justice,” the statement said. The NLC commended NEMA for issuing flood warnings but urged proactive evacuations and long-term solutions to annual flooding linked to water releases from Cameroon. It called on Nigerians to resist normalising tragedies. “We must demand institutions that work, safety that is guaranteed, and governance that protects, not abandons,” the NLC stated.

N104,000 monthly pay for Imo workers

The state’s doctors’ pay was also raised from N215,000 to N503,000, while that of tertiary institution teachers went up from N119,000 to N222,000 It’s a bumper season in Imo as Gov. Hope Uzodimma approves a new minimum wage of N104,000 for civil servants in the state. Uzodimma made this known during a meeting with various labour union leaders on Tuesday night at the Government House in Owerri. The current value represents a 84.2 percent increase from N76,000 that was the minimum wage previously approved by the governor. Similarly, the minimum wage of doctors was raised from N215,000 to N503,000, while that of tertiary institution teachers went up from N119,000 to N222,000, among others. He said Imo citizens had faced numerous challenges since his government took office, including insecurity, the COVID-19 pandemic, economic hardship from reform policies, and disputes over minimum wage and subsidy removal.  “There is no way any government will do well if it doesn’t have a friendly and cordial relationship with the organised labour. “When workers are paid well, productivity rises, families are happier, and the local economy grows. “This is our way of investing in Imo people. Government believes in stimulating political and economic activities, carrying bureaucrats along, and making sure that workers’ welfare was highly respected,” he said. Uzodimma said that the state Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) had grown from N400 million to over N3 billion monthly. According to him, in 2020, we were receiving allocations between N5 billion to N7 billion, but has increased to N14 billion. “In 2020, the state recorded a debt profile of over N280 billion but has reduced to less than N100 billion,” he added. The governor recalled that when he assumed office in 2020, the major infrastructure in all sectors were totally collapsed. He said a lot had been expended to rebuild the collapsed infrastructure especially roads and combating the insecurity challenges. He stressed that the removal of fuel subsidy had equally raised the cost of living in Nigeria as much as it had its own advantages. “It is a thing of joy that we have started seeing the dividends of that bold decision of President Bola Tinubu to remove fuel subsidy. “What government is confronted with now is how to ensure that the dividends of that policy trickles down to the common man on the street. “Cognisant of the fact that our effort has started yielding dividends and that our IGR had improved and that reform policies of the President has also increased our allocations to sub-national governments, every responsible government must be transparent about it,” he said. The governor further said that the state government will on Aug. 27, begin  payment of the last batch of gratituity of N16 billion owed pensioners in the state. He said his administration had carried out major reforms in the health sector, including initiating health insurance scheme and equipping health facilities to ensure world class treatment for Imo citizens. He said his government had keyed into the Federal Government project of establishing 1,000 businesses in every active INEC ward. He charged labour unions to unite to foster good working relations between labour and government, Uzodimma, who solicited for value addition from workers, also cautioned them against unethical practices and redundancy at work. Responding, the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Uchechigemezu Nwigwe described the increase in minimum wage in the state as “victory for the entire work force in the state.” Nwigwe said Uzodimma did not only rescue the workers from the economic challenges, but had made the state one of the highest in payment of minimum wage. “Today, no worker in Imo will say you (Uzodimma) have not been fair to us,” he noted. Nwigwe prayed God to continue to protect the governor, assuring him that workers will reciprocate the gesture with more diligent, efficient and effective service. Also speaking, the state Chairman of Trade Union Congress, Mr Uchenna Ibe, also lauded the governor for his “strong political will in taking up strong projects, including the increase in minimum wage.”

NUJ seeks constitutional protection for journalists

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has called for constitutional protection for journalists and their equipment to uphold human rights and align with international best practices. Mr Alhassan Abdullahi, NUJ National President, made the demand at the South-West Zonal Constitutional Review Conference held in Lagos on Saturday. He noted that while the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression, the safety of journalists remains a critical, inseparable aspect of this fundamental right. Abdullahi stated that attacks on journalists and independent media are systemic threats, not isolated incidents, undermining national progress and social stability. He described attacks on media professionals as violations of fundamental freedoms meant for all citizens in a democratic society. “We meet today at a decisive moment. A free and independent press is vital to transparency and accountability in any democratic society,” Abdullahi said. He warned that media professionals now face growing dangers, including threats to their safety and a worsening economic climate affecting independent journalism. Abdullahi stressed that journalists deserve constitutional protections to reinforce their right to life and liberty, especially while carrying out professional duties. He said the absence of explicit protections encourages impunity, allowing attackers to go unpunished and worsening the suppression of press freedom. “The time for action is now. This constitutional review must create a safer future for media professionals to work without fear,” he said. Abdullahi added that National Assembly support for the proposals would reshape the media sector and strengthen Nigeria’s democratic foundations. He said the proposal was more than a plea — it is an urgent strategic action to protect democracy and ensure a well-informed public. Abdullahi reiterated that threats to journalists were broader societal problems, not just industry-specific challenges, affecting everyone’s stability and development. He called for urgent consideration of a bailout fund to support innovation and sustainability in media organisations. The NUJ president said the Media Bailout Fund would help secure independent journalism and acknowledge its essential role as a public good. He added that fund management must be transparent and fully accountable, free from political interference or favouritism. “An independent body, without government influence, must manage the fund to ensure it supports journalism, not political interests,” he said. In his remarks, Mr Funmi Sessi, Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), demanded stiff penalties for states tampering with workers’ pensions or salaries. Sessi said the constitution must include strong provisions to punish state governments that interfere with labour entitlements. He also urged the committee to retain all labour-related matters under the exclusive legislative list for federal oversight. 

Police condemned for restricting peaceful NASU, SSANU protest in Abuja

By Doris Isreal Ijeoma The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has criticized the Nigeria Police Force for restricting a peaceful protest by non-teaching staff unions in Nigerian universities. Benson Upah, NLC’s head of information, made the statement on Thursday in Abuja. The protesting unions include the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU). The police had prevented these unions from proceeding with their planned street protest in Abuja, aimed at addressing their four months of unpaid salaries and other related issues. The protesters had gathered at the Unity Fountain with plans to march to the ministries of education and labour and employment to submit their letters to the ministers. However, they were restricted to the Unity Fountain. FCT Commissioner of Police Beneth Igwe had informed the union members that the protest was confined to the Unity Fountain for security reasons. Upah noted that the peaceful protest by NASU and SSANU was a last resort after all other avenues to secure their salaries had been exhausted, especially since workers from other unions had already been paid for the same strike action. He argued that the police’s actions breach the 1999 Constitution (as amended), ILO Conventions 87 and 98, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which guarantee freedom of association and speech. ”It is a violation of the Supreme Court ruling that citizens do not need the permit or approval of the police to peacefully protest and an insult to the dignity of self-respecting and law-abiding citizens. “In light of this, we demand an immediate police apology to NASU and SSANU members whom they violated. “We also demand the immediate payment of the withheld salaries. “We had had cause to write to government as well as issued a press statement on this matter in the recent past. “Government will be courting a major national industrial protest if it continues to ignore our wise counsel,” he said.

Labour Minister reveals what’ll happen if NLC strike continues

Minister of Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, stated the obvious while disclosing that Nigerians will suffer if the Organised Labour continues its nationwide strike. Nkeiruka stated this during an interview on Monday. On Monday, the organized labour embarked on an indefinite nationwide strike after the union failed to reach an agreement with the federal government over minimum wage. The action crippled activities in various sectors, as schools, hospitals and offices were closed. Reacting to the development, the Minister said, “We know what the issues are and we hope they will be resolved, but going to strike will take the matter to the extreme with a lot of negative implications to both our economy and the welfare of the citizens. “If the strike continues, the citizens will suffer and they have started suffering. “Our students who were supposed to be taking exams have been affected because they can’t find means of transportation to exams centres. “There are people who can’t eat until they go to their places of work. Some people who work at the Secretariat live daily on what they get from the officers there.” She lamented the effect of the strike on hospitals, stating that the National grid shutdown will continue to affect a lot of medical procedures. She stressed that hospitals being inaccessible, and doctors not being able to perform their duties might lead to death of patients. “On production side, we know that when activities are shut down, it will affect our economy. Businesses will definitely be affected. Social life has also been affected too”, she said. It was reported that the NLC, despite reaching an agreement with the Federal Government after a meeting on Monday night, has insisted on continuing the nationwide strike.

Any Government That Refuses To Implement N35,000 Wage Increment Does Not Deserve Peace – Oshiomhole

Senator Adams Oshiomhole is urging all levels of government to enforce the Federal Government’s N35,000 grant, emphasizing that no government at the state or local level should experience peace if they fail to implement the grant. President Bola Tinubu’s administration had approved the N35,000 provisional wage to alleviate the impact of subsidy removal, applicable to all treasury-paid federal government workers for six months.  Expressing his concern on Channels Television, Oshiomhole questioned why no Nigerian state government has implemented the wage increase despite federal approval, asserting that it should be applied universally across federal, state, and local levels, as well as in the private sector. According to him, “The Federal Government approved N35,000 increase on top of current wage levels. But I’m yet to understand why any Nigerian state government or governor is not implementing that agreement. “I don’t agree that the money was for only federal employees. Federal employees don’t have different markets from state employees and the struggle that was mobilised, workers in Nigeria were mobilised both public and private sectors in what we called a general strike before that money was awarded. “By extension, therefore, all state governments, local governments, federal government and private sector employers should implement it. I don’t think NLC business is to lament it. “They should fight for the implementation of their rights. Any government that refuses to implement the N35,000 is not entitled to peace. That’s my view.”

NLC Declares Nationwide Strike

After an extended vacation in both Lagos and Paris, France, it seems the party is over for President Bola Tinubu as the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have sent a notice of a 14-day national strike to the federal government. The unions said that the 16-point agreement that was reached on October 2, 2023, between them and the federal government, has not been implemented. The national leadership of the TUC and NLC expressed sadness that the government appears indifferent to the widespread suffering and adversity in the nation, despite their attempts to maintain industrial peace. The unions in a statement said: “The October 2nd agreement was focused on addressing the massive suffering and the general harsh socioeconomic consequences of the ill-conceived and ill-executed IMF/World Bank-induced hike in the price of PMS and the devaluation of the naira. These dual policies have had, as we predicted, dire economic consequences for the masses and workers of Nigeria.” They further lamented: “It is regrettable that we are compelled to resort to such measures, but the persistent neglect of the welfare of citizens and Nigerian workers and the massive hardship leave us with no choice. “Constrained by this development and recognising the urgency of the situation and the imperative of ensuring the protection and defence of the rights and dignity of Nigerian workers and citizens, the NLC and TUC hereby issue a stern ultimatum to the Federal Government to honour their part of the understanding within 14 days from tomorrow, the 9th day of February 2024.”

Nigeria @63: NLC Issues Powerful Message To Nigerians Ahead Nationwide Protest

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has released a powerful message to mark the 63rd Independence Day of Nigeria. In this message titled “63RD INDEPENDENT DAY MESSAGE TO ALL NIGERIAN WORKERS AND PEOPLE BY THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS (NLC)… NIGERIA: THE TRAVAILS OF A MISMANAGED GIANT”, the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, addressed the country’s downward spiral since its early days of independence, emphasizing the critical need for reforms and a nationwide strike to demand change. According to Ajaero, Nigeria, which was once seen as a promising giant on the world stage, has suffered from mismanagement and corruption over the decades. He recalled the optimism of the nation’s early years, with thriving agriculture, industries, and a population full of hope. The healthy competition among regions drove progress and prosperity. “However, the promise of Nigeria’s early independence years soon gave way to a series of missteps, corruption, and missed opportunities. The erosion of ethical governance, widespread corruption, and political instability became the hallmarks of the nation’s trajectory. “One striking example of this decline is the demise of Nigeria Airways, a once-thriving national airline with a global presence. Today, Nigeria has neither a national airline nor a national shipping line, which has led to embarrassing situations like the ill-fated Nigeria Air project. The country’s once-strong currency, the Naira, has also weakened significantly in comparison to the U.S. Dollar,” Ajaero said. The press release further questions the privatization of key assets, including power generation and distribution companies, aluminum smelter companies, and steel manufacturing companies, which seem to have failed to deliver the expected benefits to the Nigerian people. On the healthcare and education fronts, the NLC expressed concern about the declining state of public hospitals and the exorbitant cost of quality education, leading to many Nigerians seeking education and healthcare abroad. The message also raises the issue of insecurity, particularly the challenges in combating Boko Haram insurgency, despite the military’s past successes in conflicts like the Nigerian Civil War. Furthermore, the NLC said it has not overlooked the plight of Nigerian workers, who face unfair labour practices, inadequate wages, and the burden of rising fuel prices. They argue that the minimum wage of N30,000 is insufficient to meet basic needs. The NLC extended its message beyond criticism, as it called on Nigerians from all regions to unite, demand transparency and accountability from their leaders, and work toward a brighter future. The NLC’s nationwide strike, scheduled for October 3rd, aims to draw attention to these issues and rally citizens to be active participants in reshaping their nation. Comrade Joe Ajaero reminded Nigerians that the path to a better future for their nation requires collective effort. He called on the people to join hands and build a coalition to address the nation’s challenges, transforming Nigeria into a truly independent and prosperous nation once more. See Full Statement Below: 63RD INDEPENDENT DAY MESSAGE TO ALL NIGERIAN WORKERS AND PEOPLE BY THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS (NLC)  NIGERIA: THE TRAVAILS OF A MISMANAGED GIANT Our nation with all its flaws at conception possesses a great potential to be amongst the best economies of the world. It had the promise of a nation destined to be prosperous and continually developing. At independence, it began to demonstrate the signs that it was going to fulfill these expectations especially with all the giant strides being recorded in all the regions that made up the country. There was a healthy competition amongst the diverse regions for progress with pacesetting and record-breaking achievements all around the nation. When Nigeria gained independence on October 1st, 1960, the world watched in awe as a nation endowed with abundant human and natural resources took its place on the global stage. With a thriving agricultural sector, burgeoning industries, and a diverse and vibrant populace, Nigeria held immense promise. The spirit of unity and hope that characterized those early years was palpable, and it seemed that we were poised for greatness. The famous groundnut pyramids became the symbol of a prosperous north while the famous Cocoa House standing on the Cocoa output and the Western Television showed the readiness of the Western region to outpace others with the Eastern region demonstrating its prowess in Palm produce and its rich technological start-ups. It was indeed a nation poised for greatness as the sky beckons. Our Hospitals and Educational institutions were top notch as royalties thronged our shores for medical treatments while Asian and other African students found home in our citadels of learning. We had a nation that could feed, house and cloth her people; a nation whose citizens lived in prosperity and enjoyed a life that was comparable to that possible in all parts of the globe. Our currency which was originally the British Pounds and was changed in 1973 to the Naira was stronger than the U$ Dollars but was at par with the British Pounds. Going abroad for studies or to live was not attractive and foreign nationals thronged our shores for greener pasture. Social infrastructure was efficiently maintained and the public utilities remained functional. As we celebrate Nigeria’s 63rd independence anniversary, it is important that we drew our attention to the fact that this nation was once a great nation filled with great hope inspired by great leaders until inept and corrupt leaders took over the helms of affairs and ran the country aground. The crisis of leadership is truly the crisis of our national development.  The continued mismanagement of our resources has made it difficult for us a nation and as a people to make sustainable progress rather, we have continued to march backwards with every preceding year looking worse than the previous one.  Regrettably, the decades that followed were marked by a series of missteps, mismanagement, and missed opportunities. The erosion of ethical governance, rampant corruption, and political instability became defining features of our nation. Instead of harnessing our potential for the collective good, our leaders often pursued personal interests, leaving the masses to grapple with the consequences. There is no other way