Labour

New salary begins April 1 2024 – FG

By Web News 1183

The Federal Government on Thursday said a new minimum wage regime would come into effect on April 1, 2024.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed, who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, said the current N30,000 minimum wage would expire at the end of March 2024.

Mohammed said this on Thursday as an analysis of the 2024 –2026 Fiscal Framework budgets by our correspondents indicated that the Federal Government would spend N24.66tn on salaries in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Following the removal of the fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu on May 29, 2023, the Federal Government agreed to pay N35,000 to each of its workers to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal.

 But the organised Labour insisted that the N35,000 wage award was a temporary measure, adding that the minimum wage should be reviewed in 2024.

The Federal Government’s team and the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council on October 18, 2019, agreed on the implementation of the N30,00 minimum wage after months of negotiations.

However, Labour unions on Thursday confirmed that they had started a negotiation process with the Federal Government, adding that based on the country’s labour law, the minimum wage should be reviewed every five years.

The Nigeria Labour Congress National President, Joe Ajaero, recently said, “It is open knowledge that the review of the national minimum wage is a matter of the law which is expected to happen in 2024.”

On his part, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed, said that the improved take-home pay was meant to replace the temporary palliative measure put in place by the government to ameliorate the hardship caused by the fuel subsidy removal.

He said, “Certainly, there is a new wage regime that will come in on April 1, 2024. That is why these palliatives were targeted so they would cushion economic hardship before then. In our negotiation with Labour, we said that the wage issue was not something one could just fix. A committee that will also involve Labour itself will work on it.

“The committee is being constituted and we are talking to Labour about it. And by the time this current wage regime expires by the end of March, we will expect that a new wage will begin by April. It is in this wage regime that we will now have a proper salary structure for workers across the length and breadth of Nigeria. We expect that the private sector and state governors will also do the same.”

A top official of the NLC, in an interview said the organised Labour had initiated talks with the government

He said, “By April 1, 2024, the current minimum wage will expire. We have all agreed to set up a national wage negotiation committee, and that the committee should comprise all parties.’’

Punch/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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Labour

Nationwide Strike: FG Invites NLC, TUC for Emergency Parley

By Web News 491

The Federal Government, in a desperate move to avert the planned nationwide strike from October 3, has summoned an emergency meeting with the leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and their Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, counterpart.

Vanguard gathered the meeting is scheduled to hold later this evening at Aso Villa, Conference Room of the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President.

It was gathered that the government had earlier fixed the meeting for 12 noon today, but had to be shifted to evening to enable Organised Labour to reach out to their leaders outside Abuja.

According to sources, the NLC and its TUC counterpart received the government’s invitation this morning through the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Vanguard/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Labour

Ongoing staff audit will not lead to sack – Osun Govt

By Web News 1295

By Funmi Adekoya

Osun State Government has allayed the fears of labour leaders over ongoing staff audit, clarifying that the exercise is not to witch-hunt or an agenda to sack workers in the state service.

In a statement by Governor’s Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the government says it has taken note of the concerns of labour leaders as the Governor has directed a review of the issues raised by the union leadership.

While describing the relationship between Governor Ademola Adeleke and the labour movement as unprecedented in Osun state, the government noted that there was no hidden agenda to sack workers through the ongoing staff audit.

Osun State government maintained that the welfare of labour is the priority item on its governance agenda, assuring all stakeholders that no anti-labour policy can surface under the watch of the current labour friendly administration.

The government added that the request of the labour leadership to be part of the audit process is being looked into.

Politics

PDP, Labour Lose Chairman in FCT

By Web News 425

A family member who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorized to announce it confirmed the development to Vanguard on Saturday.

He said, “Our brother, the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Chairman in the Federal Capital Territory, died in a motor accident with some of his aides in the early hours of this morning.

“The late chairman who was a committed party member died on his way home to Kuje from a party engagement around 3:00 am alongside his personal security aide.”

Similarly, the Chairman of the Labour Party in the Karshi District of the Federal Capital Territory, Valentine Onuigbo, has been found dead in his home in the early hours of Saturday.

His remains were reportedly discovered by family members who became worried when he did step out of his room early on Election Day.
Official confirmation of the sad incident is still being awaited.

Vanguard/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Lifestyle

Ogun Govt Condoles with Labour over Deceased Member

By Web News 445

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has sympathized with the Organized Labour, the Nigerian Union of Teachers and the family of Mr. Sunday Ogunjimi, a teacher, who died last Friday at the secretariat of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC in Abeokuta. 

In a statement by the State Head of Service, Dr Nafiu Aigoro, Governor Abiodun said he received the news of the sudden and unfortunate death of Mr. Ogunjimi with great shock and sadness.

While describing the death of the late comrade as a big loss not only to his immediate family and Labour, but also to the state at large, the Governor prayed that God would grant the deceased eternal rest and comfort the family, colleagues and associates.

Governor Abiodun pointed out that death is inevitable and urged Nigerians to endeavour to take personal health more seriously by embarking on regular medical checks and physical exercise.

The Governor reiterated his commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of the workforce, emphasizing that his administration would honour all the terms on the agreement reached with the leadership of the Organized Labour.

It would be recalled that Mr Ogunjimi, along with his colleagues, had converged on the NLC Secretariat in Abeokuta to know the agreement between the leadership of the Organized Labour and the state government when he reportedly slumped and died.

Bolanle Adesida.

Lifestyle

Labour Unions Celebrate Workers Day Nationwide

By Web News 745
Nigeria Labour Congress Kaduna State Council has celebrated the workers day in grand style at Ahmadu Bello Stadium Kaduna.

Kano State is holding the event indoors and virtually due to Coronavirus and the Ramadan fasting.

The state NLC chairman, Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibir said, during a pre-May Day symposium, that the union would however honour dedicated workers.

He lamented about the inability of the state to implement the national minimum wage.

The pavilion of the Lafia Square, Nasarawa State is beginning to gather momentum as workers have converge to begin the celebration.

Also, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, has paid glowing tributes to Nigerian workers on this year’s Workers’ Day.

Mr Gbajabiamila, who said Nigerian workers are worthy of being celebrated, noted that the Nigerian system remained stable due to the dedication and sacrifices of the workers.

A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, the Speaker says the welfare of workers would remain paramount on the government’s table.

He said the 9th House of Representatives remains committed to improving the working conditions of workers through legislative interventions.

Mr Gbajabiamila, called on workers to continue to give their best to the country, even as government must keep its side of the bargain to the workers.

Adam Yusuf in Kaduna, with additional report from Abdullahi jalaluddeen in Kano and Chris Nyamtu in Nasarawa and Ibrahim Shehu Abuja

FRCN Abuja

 

Economy

Ondo Govt. Averts Industrial Action

By Web News 1205

In order to avert looming industrial unrest in the state public service, the organized labour and the Ondo State Government have agreed to settle five months unpaid deductions and pension.

They reached the agreements at today’s meeting in Akure after the workers’ Parliament empowered the Labour leaders to sign the agreement with the government team led by the Head of Service, Mr. Dare Aragbaiye and the state Accountant-General, Laolu Akindolire.

The organised Labour led by the NLC Chairman, Comrade Sunday Adeleye-Oluwole; JNC Chairman, Niyi Fabunmi and the TUC Chairman, Helen Odofin, said the government had agreed to pay deductions on salaries from May to September, 2020 and settlement of September pension.

The labour leaders also resolved that salary of UNIMEDTH staff should be paid, while two months subvention would be paid to settle June and July 2020 salaries of tertiary institutions workers.

Labour/Government  agreement also directed all Cooperative Societies to immediately pay workers who applied for loans as soon as the deductions were settled.

According to the agreement signed by the labour leaders, the head of service, Mr. Aragbaiye and the Accountant-General, government should pay the salaries, pension and deductions within one week.

Leke Adegbite

News Analysis

Incessant Labour Unrest and It’s Implications.

By Web News 920

A harmonious, peaceful and orderly work place is essential and needed to guarantee satisfaction of employees and employers’ for enhanced productivity.

However, whenever there is conflict in the interest of parties, industrial unrest and crisis becomes inevitable and unavoidable. 

Research has shown that disharmony between workers and their employers’ often centre on poor remuneration, inadequate welfare, non payment of salaries and allowances as and when due.

Other factors for industrial actions are unconducive working environment, delay in promotion and breach of contractual agreement. 

Recently, Nigeria was plugged into a season of industrial action, especially in health, education, oil and gas as well as the civil service. 

This harvest of strikes include the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, COAESU, Joint Health Staff Union, JOHESU, NARD, NUPENG and PENGASSAN. 

A national  strike planned for last month was averted at the last minute by the federal government.

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and Trade Union Congress, TUC had threatened to lead Nigeria workers on an indefinite strike due to electricity tariffs increase and fuel price hike that worsened living condition in the country.

While industrial action is the statutory right of workers to press home their demands, the result of such unfortunate happening is socio economic paralysis in the various sectors of national life. 

Incessant strikes often lead to brain drain which is why there is exodus of the country’s trained personnel and professionals to other countries of the world in search of greener pasture.

In moving forward, there is the need to ensure industrial harmony between government at all levels and in the private sector to minimize the adverse effects of labour unrest on the socio economic life of the citizenry.

Government should fast track and implement policies that can reduce inflation and ameliorate the poor living condition of the people and help to decrease the level of employer and employee frictions in the country.

Dialogue should be encouraged at all time while government should not wait for workers to embark on strike before meeting their legitimate demands. 

Since it is evident that industrial welfare is an ill wind that blows no one any good, ensuring a sound and harmonious workplace relation is essential not only to the workers but the entire society.

Tayo Sanni

Economy

Ogun Govt. Asks Labour Union to Return to Negotiations Table

By Web News 661

Ogun State Government has called on representatives of the organised Labour to return to the negotiation table to address the grey areas of their demands.

In a statement in Abeokuta, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi claimed that the Labour representatives had withdrawn abruptly from the negotiation process before embarking on what he described as unilateral declaration of one week strike. 

Mr Talabi, who maintained that the decision was unfair and a violation of the principles of collective bargaining, said that the present administration in the state had inherited about 107 billion naira workers’ welfare debt, adding that the past administration only remitted deductions from staff salary for check off dues and cooperative deductions in the twilight of its exit, leaving out the accumulated Contributory Pensions. 

While pointing out that the socioeconomic impact of COVID-19 had forced the state to review its 2020 budget downward by 38%, Mr Talabi said the government had ensured regular remittance of workers’ deductions.

The Secretary to the State government announced plans by the present administration to implement the new minimum wage for all categories of workers, starting from November, 2020, while making efforts to clear the outstanding arrears gradually.

Bolanle Adesida