Tuesday, July 19, 2011

More to The Outcome of Last Monday's Meeting On Minimum Wage Industrial Action

Minimum wage Problem in Nigeria



Actually, it is not up to a week since BETTER SECRETS reported the awaiting problem in Nigeria with respect to workers’ minimum wage and still went ahead to ask a question “What do you have to advice them? can you advice nlc in this regard? how would you advice the government?” at the end of the write-up.


 

It was when the Federal Government met with labour congress of Nigeria last night in a last ditch effort to avert tomorrow’s(Wednesday)  proposed strike by workers over minimum wage, government has said it would not be able to pay the new N18, 000 until next January, which has accidentally fueled fears that a long drawn labour strike might be in the offing. The meeting was deadlocked even as the chairman of governors forum, Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi begged for understanding.

Government’s position appeared to have vindicated labour which had on Sunday expressed misgiving that government’s promise to pay the minimum wage was a mere ploy to get workers to shelve the impending strike. In choosing next January as the commencement date for the payment of the N18,000 national minimum wage, the government had explained that the amount required for the new wage bill was not captured in the 2011 budget.
However, labour maintained its stand to go on strike even as a meeting ended in a stalemate despite government’s warning that the strike would have severe effect on the poor masses.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, who led the government team which also included the Labour Minister, Emeka Wogu, and the Chairman of Governors Forum, Amaechi, had  appealed to labour to consider the prevailing economic and security situations in the country before going ahead with the strike.

However, labour dismissed the explanation urging it to treat the issue of the national minimum wage as a matter of urgency, by releasing money to pay workers as had been agreed before now.
Labour said that government can deal with any emergency situation in the country, citing the N100 billion released to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enable it  organize the April general elections, without waiting for the 2011 budget.

Expressing disappointment that despite all the meetings held to discuss the matter of the national minimum wage, government still tried to play smart with the intelligence of workers, labour accused the government of insincerity and insensitivity to the plight of workers.
At the meeting held at the conference room of the Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation, SGF, the government appealed to labour to call off its planned strike, and promised to pay the minimum wage across board from January, 2012.

But labour described the situation as that of an emergency in the pockets of workers and urged government to fulfil its obligation. President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Peter Esele, who was obviously dismayed at the turn of event during the meeting, said:  “I have come to know that in Nigeria, nothing is impossible. And since nothing is impossible for almost N100 billion to be released for INEC, I think it will not be impossible for another few billions to be released for Nigerian workers.

“We should not be thinking of waiting till January next year for budget to be prepared. I think if there is an emergency we will rise up to it and I think that Nigerian workers have an emergency. There is a state of an emergency in our pockets and in our homes.”
On his part, the SGF, while appealing to labour to consider the lifespan of the present administration which came on board only on May 27, assured that the administration would not do anything to jeopardise the interest of workers but act according to the provisions of the law.

He said: “In order that we act according to the law, we will pay for levels 1-6 which we have provided for in this year’s budget, we provide for the relativity principles from 7-17, from January next year so that we will be able to pay across board. The whole idea is that we have to act within the law. Since we have not made provisions for levels 7-17 in the budget, we are appealing to labour to that since we are working together as we process this year’s budget, we will provide for the relativity of all”.

Also appealing to labour, on-behalf of governors of states, Gov Amaechi while promising that governors will not in any way go against the laws of the land, assured NLC, TUC to be rest assured that both the federal and state governments will not disobey the laws which, according to him, must be implemented. Rotimi told the labour leaders to find ways of dialoguing with government rather than embarking on strike as the effect of the three day warning strike would have a more severe effect on the poor masses which the labour represents.
He said: “If there is a disagreement on the mode the implementation will only appeal to labour to dispassionately look at the issues being raised by all the parties involved in the dispute.

“Please, suspend the strike until we finish negotiations. I believe that at the end of the day, it will be to the benefit of labour and the society and government if that strike is called off. And at the end of the day, we will be able to arrive at something that  will be of benefit to workers of Nigeria. I believe that NLC people are patriotic and have no other country than Nigeria with a huge population of both the poor and the rich.  I hear you have said people should go to the market and buy things because of the strike, how many poor people whatever they can stock for three days.” They buy things that they eat on a daily basis so, if the market is locked the next day, how will those people that you represent be able to feed. If the water to drink is not functioning, the rich have boreholes, the poor rely on public water scheme, they will suffer water borne diseases  and it is not in the interest of labour that this people that they represent will die. If hospitals are not functioning, and the poor fall ill, they cannot possibly have enough money to go to the private hospitals.

The rich will go to private hospital so the same poor people you are representing will suffer. I believe that you should consider all of us to talk and give us an opportunity to be represented by you by ensuring thatnyou give government the chance to elongate the opportunity that government can have to complete negotiations”. He said. As at Press time, the meeting between the organized labour and the Federal Government was still on.
Also, the state chapters of the NLC are set to down tools in compliance with the national secretariat’s directive while the Nigerian Employers Consultantave Association (NECA) condemned labour for its planned strike.
Determined to press home their demand for the implementation of the new minimum wage, workers in the Oyo State public sector will from today (Tuesday) begin an indefinite industrial action.

The decision to embark on the strike ahead of the Wednesday’s commencement of the three-day warning strike declared by the national leadership of the NLC and TUC was after its congress in Ibadan , the state capital.
The Bauchi State NLC yesterday threw its weight behind the decision of national body of the union to embark on the strike.
Its chairman, Comrade Hashimu Gital, stated this in a press conference held at the NLC state council chamber in Bauchi.

Gital said the federal, state and local governments as well as all the stakeholders were not sincere on the non implementation of legislated minimum wage.
In another development, NECA yesterday in Lagos kicked against the planned strike, insisting that it has directed its members in the private sector to sanction any employee who is involved in the strike.
The association has also called on labour to consider the plight of the private sector employers that have long started implementation of the New Minimum Wage Act in their plans to plunge the economy into crisis through the strike.

NECA’s President, Chief Richard Uche, made the declarations while briefing newsmen of the association’s position in the way and manner government and labour have been handling the implementation of the National Minimum Wage Act (NMWA) 2011 that may plunge the economy into crisis.
“We appeal to the NLC and TUC for a deep reflection on this issue and implore them to demonstrate restraint and responsibility in the way they use strike to pursue their objectives,” he said.
Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor and the chairman of Governors’ Forum, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, has again appealed to labour to shelve the strike.

ahead of the planned meeting with labour and Governors’ Forum, Amaechi called on the NLC and TUC to put off the planned action as government at all levels have agreed to pay.

In a statement, Monday night from Abuja , his Senior Adviser, Media and Publicity, David Iyofor, quoted Governor Amaechi to have said that:
‘For the sake of our country, in the interest of Nigeria , Labour should please not embark on the strike action tomorrow. With Governors now agreeing to pay the minimum wage, I believe the fundamental issue that should have led to labour going on strike have been resolved. If there are other issues that are still outstanding, these can be easily resolved through dialogue. We, the governors have accepted to pay the N18, 000 minimum wage, which I believe is the main issue at stake.’
The governors had after a meeting in Abuja last Friday agreed to pay the new salary but Labour’s grouse is on arrears and a written agreement committing the governors.

The governors are expected to meet with the labour leadership today in Abuja to deliberate on the way to avoid the strike, even as the TUC President General, Comrade Peter Esele has vowed that only written commitment and immediate implementation and not words from the government could forestall the planned strike.

Minimum wage Problem in Nigeria
Actually, it is not up to a week since BETTERSECRETS reported the awaiting problem in Nigeria with respect to workers’ minimum wage and still went ahead to ask a question “WHAT do you have to advice them? can you advice nlc in this regard? how would you advice the government?” at the end of the write-up.


It was when the Federal Government met with labour congress of Nigeria last night in a last ditch effort to avert tomorrow’s(Wednesday)  proposed strike by workers over minimum wage, government has said it would not be able to pay the new N18, 000 until next January, which has accidentally fueled fears that a long drawn labour strike might be in the offing. The meeting was deadlocked even as the chairman of governors forum, Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi begged for understanding.

Government’s position appeared to have vindicated labour which had on Sunday expressed misgiving that government’s promise to pay the minimum wage was a mere ploy to get workers to shelve the impending strike. In choosing next January as the commencement date for the payment of the N18,000 national minimum wage, the government had explained that the amount required for the new wage bill was not captured in the 2011 budget.
However, labour maintained its stand to go on strike even as a meeting ended in a stalemate despite government’s warning that the strike would have severe effect on the poor masses.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, who led the government team which also included the Labour Minister, Emeka Wogu, and the Chairman of Governors Forum, Amaechi, had  appealed to labour to consider the prevailing economic and security situations in the country before going ahead with the strike.

However, labour dismissed the explanation urging it to treat the issue of the national minimum wage as a matter of urgency, by releasing money to pay workers as had been agreed before now.
Labour said that government can deal with any emergency situation in the country, citing the N100 billion released to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enable it  organize the April general elections, without waiting for the 2011 budget.

Expressing disappointment that despite all the meetings held to discuss the matter of the national minimum wage, government still tried to play smart with the intelligence of workers, labour accused the government of insincerity and insensitivity to the plight of workers.
At the meeting held at the conference room of the Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation, SGF, the government appealed to labour to call off its planned strike, and promised to pay the minimum wage across board from January, 2012.

But labour described the situation as that of an emergency in the pockets of workers and urged government to fulfil its obligation. President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Peter Esele, who was obviously dismayed at the turn of event during the meeting, said:  “I have come to know that in Nigeria, nothing is impossible. And since nothing is impossible for almost N100 billion to be released for INEC, I think it will not be impossible for another few billions to be released for Nigerian workers.

“We should not be thinking of waiting till January next year for budget to be prepared. I think if there is an emergency we will rise up to it and I think that Nigerian workers have an emergency. There is a state of an emergency in our pockets and in our homes.”
On his part, the SGF, while appealing to labour to consider the lifespan of the present administration which came on board only on May 27, assured that the administration would not do anything to jeopardise the interest of workers but act according to the provisions of the law.

He said: “In order that we act according to the law, we will pay for levels 1-6 which we have provided for in this year’s budget, we provide for the relativity principles from 7-17, from January next year so that we will be able to pay across board. The whole idea is that we have to act within the law. Since we have not made provisions for levels 7-17 in the budget, we are appealing to labour to that since we are working together as we process this year’s budget, we will provide for the relativity of all”.

Also appealing to labour, on-behalf of governors of states, Gov Amaechi while promising that governors will not in any way go against the laws of the land, assured NLC, TUC to be rest assured that both the federal and state governments will not disobey the laws which, according to him, must be implemented. Rotimi told the labour leaders to find ways of dialoguing with government rather than embarking on strike as the effect of the three day warning strike would have a more severe effect on the poor masses which the labour represents.
He said: “If there is a disagreement on the mode the implementation will only appeal to labour to dispassionately look at the issues being raised by all the parties involved in the dispute.

“Please, suspend the strike until we finish negotiations. I believe that at the end of the day, it will be to the benefit of labour and the society and government if that strike is called off. And at the end of the day, we will be able to arrive at something that  will be of benefit to workers of Nigeria. I believe that NLC people are patriotic and have no other country than Nigeria with a huge population of both the poor and the rich.  I hear you have said people should go to the market and buy things because of the strike, how many poor people whatever they can stock for three days.” They buy things that they eat on a daily basis so, if the market is locked the next day, how will those people that you represent be able to feed. If the water to drink is not functioning, the rich have boreholes, the poor rely on public water scheme, they will suffer water borne diseases  and it is not in the interest of labour that this people that they represent will die. If hospitals are not functioning, and the poor fall ill, they cannot possibly have enough money to go to the private hospitals.

The rich will go to private hospital so the same poor people you are representing will suffer. I believe that you should consider all of us to talk and give us an opportunity to be represented by you by ensuring thatnyou give government the chance to elongate the opportunity that government can have to complete negotiations”. He said. As at Press time, the meeting between the organized labour and the Federal Government was still on.
Also, the state chapters of the NLC are set to down tools in compliance with the national secretariat’s directive while the Nigerian Employers Consultantave Association (NECA) condemned labour for its planned strike.
Determined to press home their demand for the implementation of the new minimum wage, workers in the Oyo State public sector will from today (Tuesday) begin an indefinite industrial action.

The decision to embark on the strike ahead of the Wednesday’s commencement of the three-day warning strike declared by the national leadership of the NLC and TUC was after its congress in Ibadan , the state capital.
The Bauchi State NLC yesterday threw its weight behind the decision of national body of the union to embark on the strike.
Its chairman, Comrade Hashimu Gital, stated this in a press conference held at the NLC state council chamber in Bauchi.

Gital said the federal, state and local governments as well as all the stakeholders were not sincere on the non implementation of legislated minimum wage.
In another development, NECA yesterday in Lagos kicked against the planned strike, insisting that it has directed its members in the private sector to sanction any employee who is involved in the strike.
The association has also called on labour to consider the plight of the private sector employers that have long started implementation of the New Minimum Wage Act in their plans to plunge the economy into crisis through the strike.

NECA’s President, Chief Richard Uche, made the declarations while briefing newsmen of the association’s position in the way and manner government and labour have been handling the implementation of the National Minimum Wage Act (NMWA) 2011 that may plunge the economy into crisis.
“We appeal to the NLC and TUC for a deep reflection on this issue and implore them to demonstrate restraint and responsibility in the way they use strike to pursue their objectives,” he said.
Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor and the chairman of Governors’ Forum, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, has again appealed to labour to shelve the strike.

ahead of the planned meeting with labour and Governors’ Forum, Amaechi called on the NLC and TUC to put off the planned action as government at all levels have agreed to pay.

In a statement, Monday night from Abuja , his Senior Adviser, Media and Publicity, David Iyofor, quoted Governor Amaechi to have said that:
‘For the sake of our country, in the interest of Nigeria , Labour should please not embark on the strike action tomorrow. With Governors now agreeing to pay the minimum wage, I believe the fundamental issue that should have led to labour going on strike have been resolved. If there are other issues that are still outstanding, these can be easily resolved through dialogue. We, the governors have accepted to pay the N18, 000 minimum wage, which I believe is the main issue at stake.’
The governors had after a meeting in Abuja last Friday agreed to pay the new salary but Labour’s grouse is on arrears and a written agreement committing the governors.

The governors are expected to meet with the labour leadership today in Abuja to deliberate on the way to avoid the strike, even as the TUC President General, Comrade Peter Esele has vowed that only written commitment and immediate implementation and not words from the government could forestall the planned strike.







We still want to ask, how do we solve this?

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Issues About NLC strike


ABUJA — The House of Representatives  has waded into the looming industrial crisis in the country over the vexed issue of the new National Minimum wage plan.

It was learnt that the leadership of House led by its Speaker, Mr Aminu Tambuwal, yesterday Wednesday met with the leadership of the NLC  and that of  the Trade Union Congress, TUC.
This was confirmed by the Acting General Secretary of  NLC, Comrade Owei Lakemfa..
It would be recalled that  the NLC, on Tuesday, declared that workers in the country would embark on a three-day warning strike from Wednesday if the three tiers ( Federal, State, and Local government) of government and the private sector failed to implement the new minimum wage law which came into effect last March.

President of NLC, Comrade Abdulwaheed  Omar handed down the strike warning notice  in a press conference he addressed after the National Executive Committee (NEC) of NLC  held an emergency meeting last Tuesday  over the implementation of the National Minimum wage Law.
According to the NLC President : “The NEC of NLC  has painfully observed that over three months since the New National  Minimum  Wage became law , no government whether federal, state or local  has implemented it. Also no private sector employer has paid the new wages.”
The NLC had also rejected the restriction of payment of the new wage to only workers in salaries levels  one to six. Meanwhile the Socialist Workers League has declared its  support for the labour movement’s planned strike scheduled for 20 to 22 July. This was contained in a press statement issued yesterday  by the group and signed by its National Chairperson Baba Aye.
According to the group: “it is preposterous for any government  to claim it cannot pay meager sum of N18,000 which is barely enough to live on while elites in and ouside government live in ostentation”.

The storm seems to be gathering over the minimum wage issue between the organized labour and state governments finally. Three months after the enabling Act was assented to by President Goodluck Jonathan, the organized labour under the auspices of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (NLC) on Thursday handed down a two-week ultimatum within which the implementation must take effect.

Failure to do this, the two labour bodies after a joint meeting in Abuja directed all civil servants to commence a full-blown action on July 14.
Consequently, the labour said it has ordered all its state councils to comply with the strike order.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, President of the NLC and his TUC counterpart, Peter Esele said the position of the governors was particularly annoying, warning that labour could no longer endure flagrant breach of the law legalizing the N18,000 minimum wage.


According to them, if at the expiration of the ultimatum, the new wage is not implemented, it will be a total showdown with the Federal Government and the recalcitrant state governors as government workers at all levels would embark on action to ensure the law is obeyed by government which is supposed to be the custodian of law.

The negotiation for a new national minimum wage commenced with the demand by labour for a N52,000 minimum wage following which the Justice Belgore Committee was set up.
However, the N52,000 wage demand was beaten down to N18,000 after series of meetings involving all critical stakeholders including private sector employers, federal and state government, FIRS, Salaries and Wages Commission and other bodies.

The National Assembly deliberated on the New National Wage bill and after several debates, the N18,000 new wage bill was passed and President Jonathan assented to it last March.
The labour leaders vowed yesterday that if at the end of the ultimatum the federal and state governments failed to begin the full implementation of the new minimum wage, workers would resort to a protracted industrial action that would ground the entire economy.
NLC showdown
Reading the communique of the meeting at the NLC secretariat in Abuja, Omar explained that labour had reviewed the controversies trailing the wage bill and found out that arguments canvassed by the state governors did not hold water. He wondered why none of the governors has taken the initiative to begin its implementation.


Omar accused the Governors’ Forum, headed by Governor Rotimi Amaechi as being behind the stalemate because it is working to frustrate the effective implementation of the wage bill in spite of repeated assurances by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) that most governors were in a healthy financial condition to implement the new salary structure.

The NLC President argued that it was the Governors’ Forum that was dissuading some governors who could have started paying to hold on so as not to put others unwilling to pay into trouble with their workers.
He said: “Having reviewed the state of respect of the minimum wage law, we have come to the sad realization that no level of government has implemented the law, be it federal, state or local governments, in spite of the law coming into effect since March 2011.

“In the case of the Federal Government, the salaries and wages commission has been unable or unwilling to produce a table for implementation to the federal public servants.
“On the part of the state governments, while some are showing indication of wanting to pay, others that want to violate the constitution and the law are inclined to blackmailing their colleagues.
The Governors’ Forum in a show of reckless insensitivity to the plight of the Nigerian people have introduced strange elements into the scene, geared at subverting the process.”

He described as laughable the conditions being given by the governors for implementation, saying they have forgotten that it is a matter of law, which did not call for any negotiation or condition.
The NLC President argued that the review of the revenue allocation formula which most of the governors are hinging on not to effect the pay structure was quite laughable as it would require a constitutional amendment process to achieve that objective.
Esele in his comment noted that the ultimatum would not be shifted or labour cajoled into abandoning it, saying the only thing that could avert the strike is payment of the new wage.
TUC salvo
Noting that the law concerning the wage act was clear and totally unambiguous, he said all stakeholders were party to the formulation of the law. “Our ground is rooted in the law which was signed by the President, it is not a matter for negotiation, so whatever the governors are saying is not our concern or a matter for any debate.”
Esele described as sinister moves by the Ondo State governor, Segun Mimiko to go into private agreement with his state workers to pay N14,000. He said such negotiation would never enjoy the backing of the apex labour unions.
He also threatened that state chapter chairmen who append their signature to such agreement would lose their jobs, saying it was disheartening that a governor who emerged on the platform of Labour Party would initiate such an approach to subvert what has already been cleared by the law.

“For TUC and NLC, there is no basis to commence any negotiation, the wage bill has already been transformed into a national law and binding on the Federal Government and governors, our only concern at this stage is for them to implement it simple.”
The communique read:
We called this meeting out of deep sense of responsibility and duty to rein in the dangerous cacophony of outburst against law and order in our country regarding the status of the Minimum Wage Act 2011.
“Having reviewed the state of respect of the minimum wage Law, we have come to the sad realization that no level of government has implemented the law, be it federal, state or local governments, in spite of the law coming into effect since March 2011.
“In the case of the Federal Government, the Salaries and Wages Commission has been unable and or unwilling to produce a table for implementation to Federal Public Servants, and so the Federal Government has not implemented the law.

“On the part of the state governments while some are showing indication of wanting to pay, others that want to violate the constitution and the Law are inclined to blackmailing their colleagues. The Governors’ Forum in a show of reckless insensitivity to the plight of the Nigerian people have introduced strange elements into the scene, geared at subverting the process.

“Firstly, the issue of new Revenue Allocation Formula, which requires Constitutional Amendment to achieve has been touted to be condition precedent to implementation of the minimum wage. We find this as laughable and completely unacceptable as the Law is clear and unambiguous. All stakeholders were party to the formulation of the Law and we know of a fact that they can pay the N18,000 minimum wage.   

“Secondly, the sadistic introduction of the oil subsidy argument, is essentially asking government to increase the prices of petroleum products and further impoverish the mass of our people. Again, we reject this, and state unequivocally that there can be no conditionalities for payment of the new minimum wage.

“Labour will never succumb to the blackmail of the masses to accept an increase in fuel prices. Any attempt to increase the prices of petrol in guise of deregulation will be resisted, and organized Labour is willing, ready and capable of leading the Nigeria people on mass resistance against such unprovoked, unpatriotic move.
“Our attention has also been drawn to the fact that some state governors are applying the twin evil tools of intimidation and timid compromise on the workers leadership in their states by threatening mass sack, and high taxation. We hereby serve notice that any state government that indulges in this or induces an illicit agreement to pay less than N18,000, will have to contend with a most robust form of resistance ever in the annals of workers solidarity in our country.

“Given the above manifest reluctance or failure of federal and state governments  to implement the minimum wage, which has consequently caused implementation inertia in the private sector, organized labour under the auspices of Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress hereby issue a two week ultimatum for full implementation of the minimum wage across the country.
“Unions in both Public and Private Sectors are hereby called upon to begin immediate sensitization and mobilization of Nigerian for a nation wide strike action at the expiration of this ultimatum. Anything short of N18,000 Minimum Wage is totally unacceptable.

The organized labour yesterday shunned all entreaties by government and declared that it was going ahead with its planned nationwide strike over alleged non-readiness of the Federal Government and some state governors to implement the new N18, 000 national minimum wage.
Consequently, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) gave government up to Tuesday, July, 19 to comply with their demands after which it will commence a three-day warning strike, beginning on Wednesday, July, 20 to Friday, July 22.

The general strike, according to the organised labour, would be against the federal, state and local governments as well as the private sectors.
President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Abdulwaheed Omar, who gave the warning yesterday at a press conference held after an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC), expressed dismay over the attitude of both the federal and state government to implement the N18, 000 minimum wage which was signed into law in March 2011 by President Goodluck Jonathan.
He said the NLC was left with no option than to embark on strike.
“As a result of the above, the labour movement calls a three day general strike accross the country with effect from Wednesday, July 20 to Wednesday, July 22.

“Failure to do anything about the full implementation of this minimum wage,  Nigerian workers will be ready to embark on an indefinite strike to be announced at a later date.”
The NLC president further warned that the attempted decision by the Federal Government to make the new national minimum wage implementation applicable only to workers on Grade Level 01-06 in the federal service would not be accepted by the NLC, saying that the minimum wage had a national applicability and affects all workers, irrespective of sector and grade level.

At the press briefing that lasted for about 10 minutes, the NLC president said: “The National Executive Council (NEC) of the NLC has painfully observed that over three months since the minimum wage became law, no government whether federal, state or local government has implemented it. Also, no private sector employer has paid the new wage.

“Although many state governments have promised to pay, there is no negotiated payment table on which the minimum wage is based. Unfortunately, state governors are allowing their colleagues to hold them to ransom on the implementation of the new national minimum wage.
“Even the Federal Government has also fallen foul of the minimum wage law. The attempted decision by the Federal Government to make the new national minimum wage implementation applicable only to workers on Grade Level 01-06, is not acceptable to us.

“We observed that the national minimum wage has a national applicability and affect all workers irrespective of sector or grade. Therefore both the payment table and the implementation circular presented by the Federal Government are rejected by the congress,” he said.

Comrade Omar who said that labour had expected the federal government to set a good example as a good employer by paying above the minimum base of N18, 000, in line with the labour-federal government understanding in year 2000, where it was agreed that the federal government, Lagos and oil producing states would pay higher than the minimum wage, expressed sadness that the same government has fallen foul of the minimum wage law.

To this end, he said the NEC has resolved that “given the non implementation of the minimum wage by the federal, states and local governments as well as the private sector, the labour movement is left with alternative than to defend the minimum wage law, interest of working people and the fundamental human rights of the Nigerian populace to live above poverty line”.

He pointed out that “we also have the historical duty to hold government accountable to the people and ensure that governments at all levels obey the laws of the land”.


WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO ADVICE THEM? CAN YOU ADVICE NLC IN THIS REGARD? HOW WOULD YOU ADVICE THE GOVERNMENT?

CHANGE CAN BE EFFECTED BY YOU!
UBONG EDEM


Monday, July 11, 2011

Insight to Kerosene scarcity in Nigeria

It was last week’s Thursday when the minister of petroleum, Diezani Allison-Madueke, blamed illegal diversions and smuggling for the months-long scarcity of kerosene being experienced across the country.
Testifying at the House of Representatives plenary hearing on the product scarcity on Thursday, Mrs Allison-Madueke affirmed a member’s poser that by deduction, huge government subsidy on kerosene have ended up benefitting users in other countries.
Jonah Enoh, a former chairman of the House committee on finance, had asked the minister if the explanation that trans-border diversions of fuel products account for acute kerosene shortage implied that Nigeria paid for the cost of the product elsewhere. “By implication, yes,” Mrs Alison-Madueke answered. “Obviously, if our kerosene is going outside and our retailers are taking them there, then those countries are getting them at a cost cheaper than the actual cost.”
The total quantity of products shipped outside the country and their worth is not yet clear. But the minister said although the daily kerosene need of the country is estimated at eight million litres, 11 million litres is provided to the market.
Much of that are “hoarded, diverted and illegally moved” into other countries, sustaining a shortage that has remained for months, the minister said.
But the minister’s diversion claim was faulted by the marketers. Musa Felande, the national president of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigerian, who also briefed the lawmakers, said if there were diversions, these would be insignificant to affect circulation.
“Marketers are cash and carry people, to the extent that if they get their money, they will give over the product and get the money. They don’t need to take the products outside the country,” Mr Felande said.
He added that the daily product needs have been underestimated, and should be upgraded.
Mrs Alison-Madueke, however, also blamed suppliers of aviation fuel for the scarcity, saying, “unscrupulous marketers” purchased much of the kerosene meant for cooking to sell them to airlines at a higher price.
Her remarks represented the frustration the administration has faced in containing the shortage that has outlasted market predictions and has lifted the kerosene cost by more nearly 200%. Despite earlier government assurances that the scarcity of the cooking fuel will be addressed shortly, kerosene presently sells at more than N200 a litre in some cities in Nigeria. But, as at last week, it was sold for N120 per litre in Owerri, Imo state while it is N130 per litre in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.
New government measures to address the scarcity include “flooding” the market with the product, and deploying 80 kerosene dispensing trucks for direct delivery to the hinterlands. The supplies are to be stabilised within two weeks, Mrs Alison-Madueke said.
The House summons to the minister yesterday came after the Senate posed similar concern about kerosene to the minsiter last week at her screening for office. She appeared before the Reps with officials of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
For hours, she answered questions from the lawmakers, ranging from demands for detailed performance of the national refineries, to calls for a “revolutionary change” to the operations of the NNPC.
“Can we know the total of how much we have spent on Turnaround Maintenance (TAM) of our refineries since the return of democracy?” Mr Enoh (Cross River State, PDP) asked.
The question received no detailed response, but the minister said the nation’s three refineries now perform at 60% capacity utilisation, up from the 30% the Goodluck Jonathan administration said it met in 2010.
While the upgrade continues, she said three new refineries are expected to be sited in Lagos, Bayelsa and Kogi States. Thirty two per cent of the current fuel needs are met by products supplied by the local refineries.
Nigerians, what is now your stand? Won't you rather support the government of Dr. G. J. ?  Won't you start producing something and stop smuggling? 
All i want to say is that we still change for better!

Friday, July 8, 2011

Civil Engineers' Faults felt in Lagos

It is important to note that if a doctor makes a mistake, he/she only kills one patient. But, if an engineer like us are mistaken, not one person will die. In fact, people will surely die.

The effect of mistakes by the engineers who constructed a commercial scene in the second most-populated city in the world has not yet been abated as people have not even been able to cry-out-loud.

According to an official from the National Emergency Management Agency (N.E.M.A.), a four storey building has collapsed in the commercial capital of Africa's most populous nation, Lagos. It is said that the distorted building that served as a ware house and home for many people has killed at least six people in the heart of Lagos' Idumota market.

N. E. M. A.  director has put all the blame on the inferior construction work for the building.
According to Tunde Adebiyi,  rescue work is on to save the trapped people from Tuesday night and rescue workers have freed 30 people so far. N.E.M.A.  spokesman Yushau Shuaib, confirmed that there were casualties but they were unable to give details immediately.

In Lagos, Idumonta market has always been said to be one of the busiest and largest market for fabric shopping. One of the rescue workers added  that the injured bodies were taken to Agoro mosque in Idumota.
Residents were seen sobbing from the debris and it is said that rescue operation lasted for 10 hours.
The building that collapsed was built about 10 years ago and the ground floor of the building was used as a shopping mall, while the other floors had apartments.

If you can imagine it, you'll surely have it!