NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Nigerian Union in South Africa inaugurates executives

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Inauguration
The Nigerian Union South Africa (NUSA) is to inaugurate its Presidential and National Executives on Saturday.

A statement issued by the apex body of Nigerians in South Africa said the forum is themed: “Uniting Nigerians in South Africa.”

It said the theme aligned with NUSA’s core objectives of promoting unity among Nigerians living in South Africa.

The body said the objectives also included supporting growth in trade and commerce as well as fostering stronger relationships between Nigerians and South Africans.

It added that the forum would feature the official launch of The Migrant Magazine.

” The launch of The Migrant Magazine further demonstrates our commitment to informing, connecting, and empowering the Nigerian community in South Africa,” it said.

The statement also said the occasion billed for Sandton, Johannesburg, “represents a pivotal moment in NUSA’s journey to strengthen the bonds within the Nigerian community.”

The forum , it added, would amplify the voices of Nigerian migrants in South Africa.

Established in 2008, NUSA is a not-for-profit association dedicated to representing the interests of Nigerians in South Africa.

The organisation operates across all nine provinces and focuses on building a thriving community that promotes and supports its members’ strengths positively.

The new leadership is expected to continue NUSA’s tradition of providing legal support,advocacy, educational opportunities, and cultural promotion for Nigerians living in South Africa.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail abdulaziz

Group seeks dissolution of pensioners union’s executives

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By Ahmed Musa

Some pensioners under the aegis of Concerned Federal Civil Service Pensioners Stakeholders on Thursday called for immediate dissolution of the national executives of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP).

The Coordinator of the group, Mr Ignitius Uzomah, who made the call at a news conference in Abuja, alleged that the NUP had no substantive election known to law that produced the current national officers of the union.

Uzomah said his call also followed the exclusion of federal pensioners in the scheme of things of the union, adding that the federal arm of the union contributed 10 per cent funds to the union.

“We filed a complaint to the Federal Ministry of Labour over the Federal Civil Service Pensioners (FCSP) election where we stated that there was a constitutional breach regarding the election that produced NUP executives and all parties were invited.

“It is a constitutional provision that the state controllers of labour in the 36 states must confirm for the election to be validated.

“It is on record that all our members in the state have confirmed to us that the election that was supposed to hold on Oct. 3, 2024 did not hold.

“Our members have not been adequately carried along side-line in the NUP executives because currently our memberships have reduced from nine executive members to three at state levels,’’ he said.

He expressed concern over the inability of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Federal Ministry of Labour to adequately address their demands amid suppression by the Nigerian Union of Pensioners.

“Our demands are that we want the national officers of NUP to be dissolved and new elections be held, and also want a full representation of Federal Civil Service Pensioners into the leadership positions of NUP.

“This is because we contribute 10 per cent of pensioners` funds in the union and aside from that we have more experienced technocrats than those who dominate the union from the states and local governments,’’ he said (NAN

Edited by Deji Abdulwahab

Prioritise education over strikes, minister urges labour unions

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By Joan Nwagwu

Dr Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, has appealed to labour unions in the sector to prioritise education over strike for the good and future of the Nigerian students.

Alausa said this at the 359th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) on Wednesday in Abuja.

The theme of the conference was, “Respecting Collective Bargaining Agreements and Industrial Peace in a Democracy”.

He said that industrial action should not be the first line option in seeking government”s attention to the unions’ demands.

“I know you as an association, together with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Non Academic Staff of Universities(NASU),. collectively, your psyche has been affected.

“The government has gone into agreement with you, and most of the time, the government has not fulfilled their own part of the agreement.

“But let me promise you this, President Bola Tinubu is a democrat, he will work to meet his obligation and agreement that he enters with you.

” Let us prioritise the future of our children and work together to keep them in school,” he said.

Alausa also said that the government was constrained by certain financial limitations like heavy expenditures by the previous administration on subsidies and artificially low exchange rates.

He said that these policies had drained the country’s resources and benefitted the wealthy at the expense of crucial sectors like education.

“Subsidies cost Nigeria nearly one billion dollars daily, while artificially maintaining the exchange rate added another 500 million dollars monthly.

“These unsustainable practices took resources away from critical sectors,”he said.

He urged the labour unions to give the government the benefit of the doubt and engage in collective bargaining with mutual respect.

“We have assembled a committee led by respected Nigerians, including Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, former Head of Service, to negotiate with unions,” he said.

Also, Mr Ayuba Wabba, Former President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said that labour unions’ were frustrated by repeated breaches of agreements with the federal government.

“Failure to honour collective bargaining agreements has been a major source of strikes in Nigeria,” he said.

Wabba called for establishment of a Labour Council, similar to South Africa’s model, that would facilitate quarterly meetings between government and union representatives.

He added that this would help in addressing the emerging issues proactively and fostering trust.

Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, National President of SSANU, called for a shift in perceptions around unions.

Ibrahim said that SSANU and other unions were often mischaracterised as “strike-happy” and called for a new narrative that promotes industrial peace.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman

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