May Day: Workers reject Ngige’s representative, decry casualisation; Buhari, Ikpeazu, other governors assure workers on welfare

A mild drama and confusion ensued at the Eagle Square, Abuja, on Monday as workers disallowed the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mrs Biola Bawa, from standing in for the minister, Dr Chris Ngige.
Ngige had declined to address the workers in his capacity as the minister and sent the Permanent Secretary because he (Ngige) represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the occasion.
But the workers chorused “no, no, no’’ to the move and continued to chant, “minimum wage, minimum wage.’’
The incident disrupted the May Day celebration for more than five minutes.
As the workers surged toward the podium to protest the move, Ngige and top officials of the labour union had to step in to calm them.
The crowd thereafter shouted “we don win, we don win’’ as the permanent secretary stepped down from the podium and walked into state box.
Following the incident, many of the workers staged a walk out from the square without taking part in the usual march past.
Meanwhile, some workers from various industrial unions on Monday described casualisation, rights abuse, unjust retrenchment and poor welfare package as their major challenges.
They spoke in Lagos during the celebration of International Workers’ Day.
Mr Umaru Osbuade from the Steel Workers’ Union of Nigeria (SEWUN) said that staff members full-fledged workers in the iron and steel industry were regularly sacked and re-employed as casual or contract workers.
Osbuade said that the workers were also poorly paid, with no provision for healthcare.
“As steel workers, we suffer humiliation and other unfair labour practices. Before a worker will be confirmed, he would have worked for about four years.
“The work environment is bad, and when you complain, you will be told to look for another job.
“The union does not call for strike often because it does not want the some workers to lose their jobs.
“Employers are always threatening to retrench, blaming the economy for all their inadequacies,’’ he said.
The SEWUN member appealed to the Federal Government to address casual employment of workers to give hope to the Nigerian worker.
Mr Harold Benstowe, Acting President, National Association of Plant Operators (NAPO), said that members of the union were driving trucks for construction companies.
Benstowe said that NAPO members were often dehumanised, as many employers used and sacked them without warning.
“The workers are employed as casuals, and when they complete their projects, the companies sack them without adequate compensation.
“Right now, we are having issues with Dawoo Nig. Ltd., which sacked more than 200 members of NAPO without compensation.
“The company branded workers cultists for demanding for their rights; the workers were beaten by security agents,’’ he said.
The unionist appealed to the government to make a law to stop firms from molesting workers and abusing their rights.
Mr James Adetunji, a member of the National Union of Railway Workers, said that railway workers were being neglected and improperly remunerated.
Adetunji, however, hailed the Federal Government for rehabilitating the railway and urged it to ensure adequate wage for the workers.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigerian Labour Union Congress (NLC) called for a special salary for employees residing in the FCT following the high cost of living in Abuja
The Union Leaders made the call on Monday at the 2017 May Day Celebration in Abuja, with the Theme: “Labour Relations in Economic Recession: An Appraisal.”
Mr Amodu Olayinka, TUC FCT Chairman, said the Federal Government and the FCT Administration need to urgently create and adopt a special salary structure for workers residing in the capital territory.
He said special salary would motivate and increase the morale of workers in Abuja as civil servants are the engine room of any government.
Olayinka explained that the prevailing economic recession and high cost of living in the FCT made it imperative for government to create a special salary structure for employees residing in Abuja.
According to him, the new injection of luxury buses for transportation by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has reduced the stress and suffering of commuters.
“We will appreciate if more buses can be provided and other MDA’s to follow the same step to help ease the stress of the common man.”
He commended the administration for the initiative to construct 400 housing units for staff of FCTA/FCDA, saying the union was looking forward to the commencement of the scheme and the collaboration of labour centres on the project.
According to him, the creation and completion of more access roads to link up area councils will reduce traffic congestion, stress and fatigue experienced by commuters on daily basis.
He, however, called on the FCT administration to urgently complete these roads; Orozo-karshi-Takalafia-Abuja, karshi-Garki access road, Gwagwa-deidei link road and Mararaba-Gurku-Asopada-Mpape road.
He noted that the FCT was becoming a dump site of refuse especially in the satellite town and this has serious health hazard on residents.
“We will like the administration to put relevant authority in charge to provide enable environment for proper sanitation which will help generate funds and create more employment for the citizens’’.
Also, Mr Amaechi Lawrence, NLC FCT Chairman, said the non-regular payment of pension to retirees was becoming a recurrent issue and urged that remittance should be monitored against sharp practice of withholding some percentage of pensions of retired civil servants.
Lawrence said delay in staff promotion was demoralising and appealed to MDA’S to conduct promotion and release the result on time to boost the morale of workers and lay to rest stagnation in the service.
He, however, commended the Federal Government on its efforts towards economic revival with the launch of New Economic Reform Plan (NERP).
The Federal Government, on Monday, in Abuja assured the workers of speedy passage of the new National Minimum Wage.
President Muhammadu Buhari said this in a message to workers on the occasion marking the 2017 May Day Rally with the theme, “Labour Relations in Economic Recession: An Appraisal”.
“I am happy to inform you that Government will give expeditious consideration to the proposal contained in the Technical Committee’s Report which was submitted to it on April 6, 2017.
“Government will take necessary steps to implement the final recommendation of the Main Government/Labour Committee as it relates to the setting up the new National Minimum Wage Committee and the needed palliatives.
“This is in order to reduce the discomfort currently being experienced by the Nigerian working class.
“I want to assure you that government will continue to do all at its disposal to better the lots of all Nigerians and more importantly to provide a commensurate welfare for all Nigerian workers, ”he said.
He said that he was aware that the economic recession in the country has huge implication for the seamless conduct of industrial relations.
He noted that this arises  from the fact that the economic recession by its nature was characterised by a substantial risk of the “vicious circles of low- productivity.
He said others are mass retrenchment of workers and closure of workplaces due to high cost of doing business, unregulated subcontracting and outsourcing with its consequences on welfare of workers among others.
According to him, in the face of these inevitable challenges, you have shown maturity and understanding in spite of the situation in which we found ourselves.
“I strongly salute your great sense of patriotism and loyalty to the country, ”he said.
Buhari, however, called for effective deployment of labour relations, an amalgamated approach that would be used in creating a conducive work environment that would attract foreign investment for wealth creation.
He called on government, workers and employers to work together to put out the economy from the recession.
“Therefore, I called on the organised labour to continue to partner with this administration by resorting to social dialogue as an indispensable tool for conflict resolution
“Today, we stand in solitary with workers all over the world to commemorate this historic Day which marked a turning point in the economies of the nations and the welfare of  the working class, ”he added.
He commended the organised labour  for their support and encouragement to the administration’s fight against corruption which was the bane of sustainable economic development.
He added that, “my commitment to fight against corruption is total and irreversible. We must fight  corruption before it destroys us.
“As a matter of fact, the workers should be in the forefront of activities in the realisation of the WhistleBlowing Policy of this Administration,” he said.
He called for support and cooperation while adding that government was determined to restore growth, investment in people and also building a global competitive economy to its full realisation.
In Ebonyi State, Governor David Umahi directed that pension deductions be suspended in the state.
Umahi who gave the directive on the celebration of workers Day in Abakaliki also directed that already deducted pension be refunded to workers.
“We are going to suspend the pension law and all your desires will be taken into consideration.
“On May 15 every deduction made in respect of the pension law, will be refunded back to you.
“You will be the one to tell when the law should come into effect any moment it is convenient for workers,” he said.
He further instructed that accumulated promotion of workers should be released and also approved leave allowance of workers.
Umahi further assured the workers that other outstanding requests will be given due reconsideration.
He appreciated the relationship existing between government and workers.
“On the issue of leave allowance from the mono-filament June, we will engage in gradual payment and will not stop until we finish and it will be sustained,” he added.
Leo Nkah, Acting Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Ebonyi council said that workers expect change in their welfare with the good relationship between government and workers, their solidarity and understanding.
He said workers strongly believe that their demands of promotion, leave allowances among other requests will be addressed.
“Our belief is that with the good rapport between government and workers, they expect turn around in their pockets, ” he said.
His Anambra State counterpart, Governor Willie Obiano, assured workers of an increase in their salaries soonest.
He, however, urged them to ensure that all leakages in the Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) are blocked so as to hit a targeted amount for their salaries to be increased.
Obiano in his May Day speech also directed the chairman of state Civil Service Commission (CSC) to commence this year’s promotion exam.
“I want you to join me in making sure that all our IGR linkages are blocked so that as soon as we get to N2.4b from our present N1.4b, I will increase your salaries.
“I have directed the Chairman of the state CSC to start without delay the promotion of qualified staff due this year,” he said.
Obiano said that a 100 unit housing estate would be ready before November while amnesty he granted to 13 prisoners.
“The first batch of 100 workers in the state will benefit from the housing estate we are building at Isiagu, Awka South before November.
“I have ordered the release of 13 prisoners whose offenses are not grievous and want workers to participate in the validation exercise for them to vote,’’ he said.
Workers in the state led by their leaders had earlier endorsed the governor for a second term.
Also, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State thanked the workers and unions for their supportive role in the development and ensuring industrial harmony in the state.
He noted that the state government had been in the fore-front of ensuring that workers’ salaries were paid regularly and promptly at the end of every month.
“I am quite happy today seeing our senior citizens – the pensioners – march pass with smiles as the state had already cleared arrears owed to them.
“While other states are currently lamenting economic hardship, our state is forging ahead with laudable developmental projects,’’ he said.
The governor, however, said that he had gone through and taken note of the myriad of demands and requests made by the unions.
“As a listening government, we will address these challenges one after the other based on available resources,’’ he said
Highlight of the day was the honour bestowed on Ugwuanyi by workers as a labour friendly governor.
Meanwhile, the Staff of National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu has decried non-full payment of their salaries since the beginning of January.
The Leader of the Joint Health Workers Union of the hospital, Comrade Cyprian Orjinta, expressed the displeasure at a side line of the Workers Day celebration in Okpara Square, Enugu.
Orjinta noted that the joint union had because of the development embarked on a strike over one week which had paralysed activities at the hospital
“As I speak to you now, the whole staff at the hospital did not receive their October, 2016 salaries. This is aside our agitation on the half salary payment since January of this year.
“We have checked with our colleagues in National Orthopaedic Hospitals in Lagos and Kano, they are not treated with these salary payment issues.
“We are yet to understand, while the branch of the hospital under the Federal Ministry of Health in the South East would be treated this way,’’ he said.
Orjinta, also lamented the disposition of the management of the hospital and its parent ministry which had not call for dialogue over the matter.
On the May Day celebration, the Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Enugu State Council, Comrade Chukwuma Igbokwe, commended Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on his development stride.
Igbokwe lauded the transparent disbursement of N4.2 billion bailout fund for payment of arrears of salaries and pensions of civil servants.
He said the union was also grateful for the 100 per cent application of the Paris Club fund on the payment of Local Government workers’ salaries.
“However, we are imploring the governor to ensure the implementation of the adjusted salary chart and Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) in state.
“We are also seeking the release of the result of the biometric exercise for parastatals and prompt payment of arrears of pension and gratuity in the state,’’ he said.
The State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Virginus Nwobodo, express delight over the statement government’s steps toward ensuring labour harmony in the state.
“The NLC wants the centralisation of payroll system for local government as well as intervention to the non-payment of some parastatal.
“This also includes the clearance of arrears of salaries of parastatals and agencies especially that of the Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS),’’ Nwobodo said.