News Agency of Nigeria
Dangote, NUPENG Face-off: NLC seeks Tinubu’s intervention
General News

Dangote, NUPENG Face-off: NLC seeks Tinubu’s intervention

Intervention

By Joan Nwagwu

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to promptly intervene in the face-off between the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Dangote Group.

The congress specifically called on the President to call on the Dangote Group to comply with labour laws and international conventions.

NLC made the call in a statement signed by its President, Mr Joe Ajaero, which was made available to newsmen on Saturday in Abuja.

The statement was sequel to the announcement by NUPENG that it would commence a nationwide strike from Sunday, over what it described as  Dangote’s “anti-union practices, monopolistic agenda, and indecent industrial relations strategies.”

Ajaero called on the President to “immediately call Aliko Dangote and Alhaji Sayyu Dantata to order” and impress on them to respect the nation and international laws.

Ajaero added that the government must not look the other way while a few individuals privatise the nation’s energy future and enslave its workforce.

The NLC President accused Dangote Group of exploiting Nigerian workers while disregarding their constitutional rights to unionise and bargain collectively.

“The NLC unequivocally condemn the anti-union, anti-worker, and monopolistic practices of the Dangote Group and its affiliates.

“Nigerian workers are not slaves and cannot be serially abused without consequences,” he said.

Ajaero said the congress further demanded the immediate unionisation of Dangote Refinery and all its subsidiaries.

Accordig to him, preparations are underway for a united resistance in solidarity with NUPENG, including possible industrial action.

“If Dangote continues on this reckless anti-union path, we will move beyond words to action.

“Our solidarity is not negotiable. We will fight because we must.

“The working class must not be sacrificed on the altar of corporate greed,” he said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

NLC lauds Sani over recall of sacked teachers
General News

NLC lauds Sani over recall of sacked teachers

By Ebere Agozie

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Kaduna chapter, has commended the State governor, Sen. Uba Sani, for recalling some of the teachers dismissed by the immediate past administration in the state.

 

The State NLC chairman, Mr Ayuba Suleiman, gave the commendation while addressing members of the Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists (NGIJ), who are currently in the state on a Governance Assessment visit.

 

It would be recalled that Kaduna former governor, Nasir el-Rufai, had sacked more than 23,000 teachers, including the then National President of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), between 2018 and 2021.

 

Suleiman disclosed that the present administration had so far reinstated head teachers, administrative staff and science teachers affected by the mass sack, noting that the process of correcting the errors of the past government was ongoing.

 

On the issue of new minimum wage, the labour leader revealed that the governor had approved the payment of N72,000 minimum wage for workers on grade levels 1–7, saying that it has already taken effect.

 

“We appreciate His Excellency for his prompt action on the new minimum wage.

 

“Discussions are ongoing on the consequential adjustments for senior staff and the state government will require more than N1.2 billion monthly to fully implement the new wage structure.”

 

He further lauded the governor for deploying 20 buses to provide free transportation to workers and students as a measure to cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal.

 

The NGIJ members are engaging stakeholders through administering questionnaires across the 23 local government areas of Kaduna State as part of their ongoing Governance Assessment among other strategies.(NAN(www.nannews)

Edited by Francis Onyeukwu

NLC suspends nationwide rally over proposed telecom tariff hike
Metro

NLC suspends nationwide rally over proposed telecom tariff hike

Suspension

By Joan Nwagwu

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has suspended its planned  nationwide rally over proposed 50 per cent telecommunications tariff hike.

Mr Emmanuel Ugboaja, General Secretary of the NLC disclosed this in a statement addressed to all its state councils and affiliates on Tuesday in Abuja.

It would be recalled that the NLC’s National Administrative Council (NAC) had declared a one-day mass rally at all Nigerian Telecommunications Commission (NCC) offices nationwide in response to the tariff hike.

“Following our resolution, the Federal Government invited us to a meeting, where an agreement was reached to establish a 10-member committee to address key concerns raised by Congress.

“As a result, our protest has already achieved success, as the government has conceded to some of our demands without the need for an actual demonstration.

“In light of this development, we will now pursue other decisions of Congress on this matter,” he said.

Ugboaja commended NLC members for their support and encouraged them to keep their fingers crossed as they continue to engage with the federal government.(NAN)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

Telecom tariff hike: NLC declares mass rally on Feb. 4
Economy/Business

Telecom tariff hike: NLC declares mass rally on Feb. 4

Protest

By Joan Nwagwu

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared plans to embark on a nationwide mass rally on Feb. 4 over the 50 per cent hike on telecom services by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC).

Mr Joe Ajaero, NLC President, said this in a communique issued at the end of the Congress’s National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting in Abuja.

He said the NAC-in-session totally rejected the 50 per cent telecom tariff hike as it was considered as too harsh for the citizens.

According to him, to express our collective opposition to this arbitrary tariff hike, the NLC will embark on a nationwide mass rally on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

“The rally will serve as a warning on the dangers of imposing such an unfair increase on a struggling population earning a minimum wage of only N70,000.

“A population that has suffered outrageous hike in the price of petrol, high cost of food, hike in electricity tariff and general rising inflation.

“All NLC affiliates and state councils are directed to begin full mobilisation in preparation for the Feb. 4, nationwide protest rally. Willing civil society allies are also encouraged to join the preparation.

“The Congress calls on all Nigerian workers, the informal sector, and the general public to stand in solidarity against this unjust policy,” he said.

Ajaero therefore said that NAC-in-session called for the immediate suspension of the 50 per cent tariff hike.

He also called on the Federal Government, the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC and the National Assembly to engage in meaningful dialogue with critical stakeholders to review the proposed tariff adjustment.

He added that the tariff should be reviewed within the context of the economic realities facing Nigerians.

“Should these not be heeded, the Nigeria Labour Congress will escalate its actions, including the possibility of a nationwide boycott of telecommunication services.

“Others are further mass actions which may involve nationwide withdrawal of our service to resist policies that exacerbate poverty and inequality,”he said.

He added that the NLC remained committed to protecting the interests of Nigerian workers and citizens against exploitative economic policies.

“We will not relent in our struggle against policies that undermine the welfare and dignity of our people,”he said.(NAN)

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

Mininmum Wage: Labour gives defaulters till March to implement
Metro

Mininmum Wage: Labour gives defaulters till March to implement

Wage

By Joan Nwagwu

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) sys that stringent measures are in place to ensure that states and employers implement the national minimum wage and the consequential adjustment before the end of March.

Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, President Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) said this at its one day National Leadership Retreat organised for the union’s National Administrative Committee Members in Abuja.

The theme of the retreat was, ” Leadership Challenges amongst Activists”.

Ibrahim, who is also the National Internal Auditor of the NLC, said that the measures were imperative due to the continuous delay by states and institutions to manipulate wage payments.

According to him, one of the issues in the implementation of the minimum wage is that of insincerity.

“The national minimum wage has been signed into law, and payments should have commenced nationwide.

“But in most institutions and states, what they did was just to award a certain amount or a figure they are merely using to play with the intelligence of workers as minimum wage.

“But I am happy that the NLC is not sleeping on this matter and we have been engaging.

“But going forward, I can assure you that we are taking very stringent measures to ensure that between now and the end of this first quarter, that the minimum wage and consequential adjustment will be implemented.

“Any state or employer of labour that refuses to implement the national minimum wage and the adjustment in workers’ salaries accordingly will face the consequences.

“The labour laws are there and we have all that it takes to enforce our rights against those employers,” he said.

Ibrahim, while speaking on the theme of the retreat, said that some members sabotaged strike actions, weakening the effectiveness of industrial actions.

“Unfortunately, some of our own members work against our collective struggle. They engage in blackmail and underhand dealings to derail strike actions.

“But this is not unique to SSANU; it happens in every sector. Part of why we are holding this retreat is to educate our members on the importance of unity and discipline within the union,” he said.

Ibrahim also admitted that industrial actions had lost their effectiveness due to government indifference and worker fatigue.

He noted that while strikes remained a last resort, the union would explore alternative negotiation strategies.

He emphasised the need for continuous training of university staff and better funding of tertiary institutions.

The SSANU president, however, said that universities must remain the centers of learning and innovation, requiring continuous capacity building for staff.

“As leaders of this great union, we must ensure that our national executives are equipped with the latest global trends.

”SSANU is an affiliate of NLC, and we have benefited from international training programmes.

“It is important that we bring this knowledge back home and share it at all levels,” he said.

Those present at the retreat include the former NLC President Ayuba Wabba, former SSANU President Chief Promise Adeusi, and the Director-General of the Institute of Mentoring and Coaching, Mr Rotimi Mathew.(NAN)
Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

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