Tag Archives: Chris Ngige

There will be no pay during warning strike, Ngige tells ASUP.

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Chris Ngige, the minister of labour and employment, has urged the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) to remember the federal government’s ‘no work, no pay’ policy as it continues its 5-day warning strike.

The minister said there’s nothing like “warning strike”, noting that “a strike is a strike”, Daily Trust reports.

Ngige said the warning strike the association had embarked on was subject to the “rules governing strike.”

He appealed to ASUP to suspend the action in the interest of the nation and students of the affected institutions.

“I wish to remind the trade unions that there is nothing like a “Warning Strike” in our National Industrial Relations System (NIRS) – a strike is a strike and is subject to all the rules governing strike in the world of work.

“Accordingly, the provisions of Section 43 of the Trade Disputes Act, CAP. T8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN), 2004, will apply regarding the law of “No Work No Pay’’ by workers/employees notwithstanding any other circumstances in any section of the Act.”

The minister further assured the polytechnic lecturers of the government’s commitment to embracing dialogue with ASUP members.

“It is important for trade unions to embrace social dialogue in the pursuit and attainment of the economic and social interests of their members anchored on equity, natural justice and agreed procedures.”

 

Source: The Cable

Senate ex-President, Nnamani, emerges leader of South-East APC

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A former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, has been chosen as the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-East geo-political zone, comprising Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia and Ebonyi states.

The party in the zone has also resolved to support President Muhammadu Buhari for second term. The decisions were taken during a stakeholders’ meeting of the party held at the Imo International Convention Centre (IICC), Owerri, at the weekend.

In attendance were Ken Nnamani, Emeka Offor, Ifeanyi Araraume, George Moughalu, Tony Eze, Ebuka Onunkwo, Jombo Offor, deputy governor of Imo State, Eze Madumere, national organiser of the party, Senator Osita Izunaso and other members of the national working committee.

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State had said he declined the offer to lead the party in the zone despite pressure from many members of the party, proposing Nnamani as a suitable person.Okorocha said: ‘’Now that Igbo leaders are together in APC, Nigerians will hear us. There is a vacuum of leadership in the South-East APC. I am a governor. My brothers, Chris Ngige and Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, are ministers. Hence, the importance of Ken Nnamani coming at this time. I decline the leadership of Ndigbo in APC. With Ken Nnamani, the question of who is the leader of APC in the South-East has been answered. Ken Nnamani is the leader of APC in the South-East.

“Senator Nnamani should then work with other leaders like Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Jim Nwobodo and a host of others to give Ndigbo political direction.”
‘’We are going to support President Buhari for the eight years he is going to lead the nation. This is the time for Ndigbo to come and work together. We are also going to use the Anambra election to show that APC has arrived in South-East. The Igbo played bad politics in 2015. Today, we have lost a lot.

We are not anywhere because of our bad politics,” he added. Speaking, Nnamani said the party needed more of the Igbo leaders at the ‘’national leadership of the APC where decisions are made, and even at the National Assembly and other strategic areas and levels.’’

He said: “Some of us going into APC are not doing so because of hunger, but in the interest of the Igbo. We should play politics of ideas, and avoid abusive words. Ndigbo do not have the ingredients for opposition politics. We do not have the media or business or money to play opposition politics, but we won’t ask for handouts.

‘’How the Yoruba voted in 2015 should be an eye-opener. They voted both sides, but the South-East put their eggs in one basket. I am not of the view that everybody should be in APC, but those have seen the need should do so. If Okorocha has realised that he needs more hands in APC, he should be commended. We are worst enemies of ourselves. If we work together we will go very very far. This is the time to play national politics.

“Some people could say we have the Deputy Senate President but he does not attend the meeting of APC caucus where important decisions are taken. We must think ahead. The benefit of that office is therefore personal and does not enhance the political fortunes of the South-East people.”

JUST IN: FG, NUPENG, PENGASSAN To Convene In Abuja

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Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige, is expected to meet today with the leadership of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association Of Nigeria, (PENGASSAN).

 

The meeting is expected to trash out disagreement between the unionist and oil companies over staff welfare.

 

The federal government is mediating on the matter as it did in 2016.

 

After Wednesday’s meeting, it would then be determined whether to proceed on the strike action as a follow up to the three-day warning notice earlier issued by the union.

VIDEO: Political Parties Engage In War Of Words Ahead Of Anambra Polls.

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Politicians from all sides of the political divides have continued to engage each other in a war of words over the gubernatorial elections in Anambra State.

 

The incumbent governor, Willie Obiano has told the APC and other political parties vying for his seat that, there is no vacancy in the government house for them.

 

In response to the governor, the minister for Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngigie has called on the current governor of the State, Willie Obiano to start preparing his handover notes ahead of the forthcoming polls slated tentatively for March 2018.

 

The excitement is however, regarded as premature as the state still has up to 11 months to the said election. Stakeholders have warned all parties to not engage in a frenzy that will incite any form of violent uproar from their supporters as such exchanges is capable of heating the polity.

 

Chris Ngige Booed In Enugu Over Buhari’s ‘Lopsided Appointments’

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The people from the South-East region on Monday, in Enugu, booed the Minister of Labour ?and Productivity, Chris Ngige, after he tried to defend appointments so far made by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr. Ngige was in the Enugu State capital to speak at the Town Hall session for the South-East region organised by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture.

But as he spoke, he was repeatedly jeered by those in the hall who kept shouting “No no no”.

At a point the hall became uncontrollable, and it took a lot of efforts for organisers to restore order.

Some participants complained that Mr. Buhari had so far marginalised the zone in the appointments made so far.

Mr. Ngige had tried to defend President Buhari’s appointments, saying a leader must be allowed to work with people he could trust, a line of argument that sparked further jeers.

Some of those at the event expressed displeasure at the level of neglect they said the region was facing.

Among the issues raised was the ongoing forgery trial of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, with the Ohanaeze Ndigbo vowing to resist any move to remove him.

Credit: PremiumTimes

N5,000 Stipend Not For Lazy Youths – Ngige

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Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, yesterday, said that the stipend of N5,000 promised by the government of All Progressives Congress, APC, for unemployed youths was not for the indolent people.

 

 

He said that no country would give free money, stressing that Nigeria would not be an exception.

 

 

Speaking to journalists yesterday at the national secretariat of the APC in Abuja, Ngige, however, revealed that the Federal Government would ensure that the youths were trained in various skills and programmes to justify the money.

 

 

He added that the project would also involve the state governments.

 

 

According to him, there will be categories of people, who would earn higher than the N5,000.

 

 

“We also have the programme on the commission cash transfer. Though even you, the press, has said it,  we won’t pay N5,000 for people to be indolent. No country in the world would pay people to go home and sleep and collect cash. So, Nigeria would not be an exception.

 

 

“We will pay some people N5,000, we will pay some N10,000, and even for people in teacher conversion scheme, we will pay more than N10,000 and N15,000 as stipend while in training, and then after the training, they are going to be employed by state government and the Federal Government in different institutions.

 

 

“It is not a programme we shall run alone, the state governments are going to buy into it. They are going to synchronize with us.We are going to do it in synergy.”

 

 

Ngige also stated that some of the programmes will “span through Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Labour.

 

 

“Agriculture, because we have some agricultural universities, we will convert some people to teach the relevant agricultural science.”

 

 

The minister who stated that Nigeria has various skill acquisition centers also underscored the importance of training the youth.

 

 

“The ministry has specialist skills acquisition centres; we have seven like that in the ministry under the commissioner of skills or directorate for skills.

 

 

“The NDE have over 120 centres scattered all over the country. We also have those that have been built by state government and we want to capture all of these into that scheme and then get people to the scheme to be bricklayers,  POP designers, builders, welders, electronics repairers and the one they called mecha-tronic, repair of vehicles, automobile carpentry, painting and fabrication of all sorts.”

 

 

 

Credit : Vanguard

FG To Partner TUC On Employment Generation, Says Ngige

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The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, said on Monday that the Federal Government would partner Trade Union Congress (TUC) to create jobs for the teeming youths across the country.

 

Ngige said this when he met with the leadership of the union in Abuja.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was convened in respect of numerous issues bordering on labour administration in the country.

 

Ngige said that the major focus of the present administration included job creation, security and anti-corruption war.

“We are going to partner with you in terms of these three and especially in employment generation, as we are going to do massive employment in the country.

We are also going to do some social responsibility work in terms of gathering so many Nigerians in the social safety net, in order for their life to be meaningful.

At the same time, we want to touch the valuable groups — women and youths –; there are a lot youths that are unemployed now.

I want to assure you that in the 2016 budget of the Federal Government, we have mapped out many poverty intervention projects, especially those that will give jobs to our youths.”

 

 

The minister said that if meaningful jobs were created in the country, the issue of insurgency would be a thing of the past.

 

He said that the ministry would collaborate with the union in ensuring that machinery was put in motion for the government to create jobs for youths.

 

He said that the issue of unemployment was what prompted President Muhammadu Buhari to rename the ministry as the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

 

“Mr President wants the ministry to stand on what its name stands for, which is employment generation.”

 

 

He also called on the union to assist government in fighting corrupting, saying that it was the union’s duty to assist the government block the leakages.

 

 

“You must help the government to fight corruption, because this is why our resources are being mismanaged, stolen and frittered away over the years.”

 

 

The minister said that the Federal Government would honour all outstanding arrears of promotion, adding that civil servants would be paid their dues within effective dates of their promotion.

 

 

Ngige said that other issues pertaining to the welfare of workers such as casualisation, and contract staffing, among others, would be addressed.

 

 

Earlier, TUC President Bobboi Kaigama, urged the minister to include the union as part of the National Labour Advisory Council.

 

 

Kaigama also urged the minister to resolve the crisis in Owena Hotel, the issues of casualisation, the health sector crisis as well as the payment of outstanding arrears allowances owed to workers by the Federal Government.

 

 

(NAN)