NLC – :: Onward News 24 :: https://www.onwardnews24.com ... Sun, 01 May 2022 15:58:52 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3 May Day: Workers welfare remains top priority in my administration – Gov. Bello https://www.onwardnews24.com/may-day-workers-welfare-remains-top-priority-in-my-administration-gov-bello/ https://www.onwardnews24.com/may-day-workers-welfare-remains-top-priority-in-my-administration-gov-bello/#respond Sun, 01 May 2022 15:58:49 +0000 https://www.onwardnews24.com/?p=6849 The Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, says workers welfare remains a top priority of his administration.

Governor Bello who stated this on Sunday at the 2022 International Workers Day Celebrations held at the Mohammadu Buhari Civic Centre, Lokoja, promised to sustain the regular payment of salaries and pension to workers.

Bello, while asking the Organized Labour in the State to see the Government as a partner and not an antagonist noted that,
he remained a strong advocates of better pay for workers in Nigeria.

The Governor who was represented by the Secretary to the state government, Dr. (Mrs), Folashade Ayoade Arike, thanked the organized labour for their commitment to industrial Peace, appreciated the organized labour for their understanding, patience and sacrifice.

Bello noted that he was among the first states implement the new minimum wage for workers and lauded the support of labour for his administration.

The Governor who acknowledged the payment of percentage salaries to workers at the LGA level, said the problem arose from over staffing and as well as the low inflow of allocation, saying that having paid 100% as salaries to workers in the State, the same would be made to Local government workers soon as the allocation improved.

The Governor added that since after the staff screening in 2018, the State Government has paid appropriately salaries and pension and gratuity on or before 26th of every month.

Gov. Bello dispelled the rumour making the rounds that the state government is planning retrenchment or downsizing of its workforce.

He expressed sympathy with Nigerians and workers that since 2019, the cost of living has been tough, particularly for workers in the public sector owing to the rising cost of inflation in the country.

Gov. Bello commended Kogi State workers and the Union for their sacrifices, maturity, patience, assuring that he intends using any opportunity available to apply palliatives that would cushion the pains of the workers in the State.

Gov. Bello promised a resuscitation of the car refurbishing loans for civil servants, pointing out that benefitting workers will get
N500,000 each as a revolving loan.

While promising to continue to serve the people of Kogi State with sincere commitment, assured of free and qualitative education, healthcare delivery, good roads, security of lives and property under his administration.

Earlier, the chairman of Trade Union Congress, (TUC), Comrade Ranti Ojo who spoke on behalf of labour, listed the problems of workers to include, non cash backing of promotions, outstanding leave allowances, outstanding 30% of February 2022 salary and the problem of percentage salary payment at the local government level.

In addition, he called on the state government to look into the plights of the retirees by promptly paying their gratuities.

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Strike: Organized Labour gives Kogi Govt 12 days ultimatum to implement minimum wage https://www.onwardnews24.com/strike-organized-labour-gives-kogi-govt-12-days-ultimatum-to-implement-minimum-wage/ https://www.onwardnews24.com/strike-organized-labour-gives-kogi-govt-12-days-ultimatum-to-implement-minimum-wage/#respond Wed, 10 Mar 2021 13:30:24 +0000 http://www.onwardnews24.com/?p=4350

Organized labour in Kogi State has given the State government 12 days ultimatum to implement the N30,000 minimum wage or will be forced to begin an indefinite strike.

The workers said if their demands are not met on or before 22nd March, 2021, they will embark on an indefinite strike.

The Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress, (TUC), disclosed this on Thursday in a peaceful protest while presenting their letter to the Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly on the transfer of the National Minimum Wage from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List.

Speaking on behalf of workers, the Kogi State Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC), Comrade Onuh Edoka said since the state government set up a 17 man committee in 2019, nothing has been heard from them.

While noting that Kogi workers are suffering in the state due to the unfriendly economic condition of the country, the labour leader accused some cabinet member of the state government of trying to give Governor Yahaya Bello a bad name.

” The committee headed by the SSG in 2020 hide under the guise of corona virus not to submit its report to the Governor. Up till now, nothing have been held from them. Let the committee members come together and present the report of on the implementation of the new minimum wage to the Governor.

” No cabinet member should deceive Governor Bello so that they will not submit their report. The Governor is aiming for something higher, and this could be a panacea to his political ambition”

“We therefore want to plead with You, Distinguished Speaker, to use your good office to prevail on the committee set by the state government on the implementation of the Thirty Thousand naira (N30,000.00) New Minimum Wage in Kogi State to expedite action on her works in record time, so as to guarantee industrial harmony and further strengthen peace in the state” he added.

Edoka and his team who were received by the clerk of the house Ibrahim Amouka on behalf of the Speaker however called for an end to percentage salary at the local Government level.

He lamented that Local Government workers are collecting 40 percent salary noting that, lives is becoming unbearable for them in the state.

His words, ” Local Government workers are looking far older than their state colleagues. They are receiving 40 percent salary. Mr Speaker, any political appointees that want local government workers to be paid 40 percent, they should also be paid 40 percent so that they will use their money to develop the state. if this is done, it will make them feel the pains local government workers are passing through.

“The issue of percentage payment of salary to employees at the Local Government level needed urgent attention of the honourable house to mitigate the effect of the hardships steering the workers at that level in the face.

“Life indeed has become unbearable for an average Kogi worker because of the quantum of the current N18,000= National Minimum Wage being paid in the state vis-à-vis its usefulness in the market environment.

“Consequently, there is an urgent need to cash-back all promotions already earned by workers and we seek the intervention of the House of Assembly in this regard please”.

On the bill by the House of representative to transfer the National Minimum Wage from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, Edoka admonished President Muhammadu Buhari not to give room for fifth columnist but continue to stand with Nigerian workers.

He recalled that minimum wage is a agreement of the International Labour Organization which was domesticated during the Alhaji Shehu Shagari in 1981.

“We disagree in totality the move by the house of representatives to tranfers the National Minimum Wage from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List. We are standing on this ground that all workers reject the action of the house of representatives.

“Mr Speaker sir, we equally want to let you know that President Buhari should not give room for the fifth columnist but continue to stand with Nigerian workers. Minimum wage must not be removed from the exclusive list.

“Any attempt to remove Minimum wage from the exclusive list will incidentally bring suffering to all organizes Nigeria workers and the vulnerable, because it is the same wage we collect and we buy from them”.

“Honourable Speaker, the implications of transferring the national minimum wage from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List are very dire. Some of the implications include:
A license for State Governors to drag the country back to the era of ridiculous slave wages which in the past had precipitated multifarious industrial crises in different parts of the country;

“The exponential creation and expansion of a community of the working poor with all the attendant consequences for socio-economic cohesion, stability and progress; and

” It could lead to the exclusion of the private sector (both organised and unorganised) from the concept, rationale and logic of a national minimum wage, yet, it is in this informal sector that horrendously unfair labour practices take place.

” Removing it will be insulting the intelligence of the national assembly and those that drafted the constitution that kept it in the exclusive list. The excuses they are giving saying let state pays according to their wages is totally unacceptable”

He said the bill is anti workers and should be stepped down.

It could be recalled that the House of Representatives last two week ntroduced the bill which according to the sponsor, Hon. Garba Mohammed would allow both the Federal and state governments to freely negotiate a minimum wage with their workers in line with the nation’s federal system, a move which the protesting workers say does not work in their favour.

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Rededicate yourself to ideals espoused by Christmas – NLC tells Govt., Nigerians https://www.onwardnews24.com/rededicate-yourself-to-ideals-espoused-by-christmas-nlc-tells-govt-nigerians/ https://www.onwardnews24.com/rededicate-yourself-to-ideals-espoused-by-christmas-nlc-tells-govt-nigerians/#respond Thu, 24 Dec 2020 15:05:09 +0000 http://www.onwardnews24.com/?p=3301 The Nigerian Labour Congress, (NLC), has urged Nigerians, political leaders and elites at every tiers and arms of government to rededicate themselves to the ideals espoused by Christmas.

The NLC chairman in Kogi State Comrade Onuh Edoka stated this on Thursday while felicitating with Christians in the State and world over on the occasion of this year’s Christmas celebration.

Edoka said workers and pensioners deserve the very best of care and welfare during the yuletide as they are the ones who turn the wheel that creates wealth.

According to him, the leadership of NLC will continue to work hard to ensure that workers and pensioners recoup a measure of the joy that they invest in others.

He however urged Christians to use this special occasion which commemorates the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ to pray for the peace and unity of the country.

He described this period as a time for sober reflection stressing that it is high time for Nigerians to show love and Kindness to one another irrespective of religion, tribe, and political affiliations.

While recognizing the fact that the nation is been faced with challenges ranging from insecurity, covid-19 pandemic, economic hardship, the Labour leader said only God’s intervention through prayers can safe the country from this travails.

He tasked Nigerians on the need to be their brother’s keeper, just as he rejoiced with the Governor of the State Alhaji Yahaya Bello, people of Kogi State for witnessing yet another Christmas in peace, praying that the year 2021 will be more prosperous and rewarding.

“We hope that in the coming year, Kogite and Nigerians in general would reap tonnes of positive turnaround in their lives” he said.

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