JUST IN: Impending crisis as petrol tanker drivers plan strike from Monday

Posted on April 1, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The Petroleum Tankers Drivers (PTD) arm of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) says it will commence a nationwide strike on Monday.

NUPENG’s president, Igwe Achese, announced this in a signed communique on Friday in Lagos, at the end of its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting held at the union’s secretariat in Yaba.

The communique said the strike would draw the attention of the Federal Government to some unresolved issues bordering on the welfare of workers, such as bad roads, poor remuneration, insecurity and the alleged excesses of some security agencies.

“The CWC-in-Session considers inhumane, the refusal of the National Association of Transport Owners (NARTO) to commence negotiation with the union for the renewal of the expired Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) on the working conditions of our Tanker Driver members in the PTD branch, after several appeals and even an ultimatum.

“The CWC-in-Session, therefore, resolves to give full backing to any industrial action the members in this sector might decide to take with effect from Monday, April 3, 2017.

“To avert the pains and discomfort the action might cause, the CWC-in-Session calls on the Federal Government to urgently intervene and apprehend the unfortunate situation, to enable NARTO meet its obligations to tanker drivers,’’ the communique said.

The communique also called on the National Assembly to urgently pass the Petroleum Industry Bill, in order to tackle all the issues of corruption plaguing the oil sector.

It also called for the commercialisation of the operations of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), as well as the turn-around-maintenance for the refineries, to increase local production and reduce the importation of petroleum products.

The communique commended the efforts of the federal government to encourage operators of illegal refineries to be integrated into the establishment of modular refineries.

The union also vowed to resist any attempt to increase the pump price of petrol.

It also commended efforts of the government to shore up the Naira against the Dollar and the decline in the inflationary rate to 17.5 per cent.

The communique, however, called on government to address the challenges of poverty, unemployment, hunger and the rising cost of goods and services.

It also appealed to government to adopt measures to restructure the economy, as well as address challenges confronting the power sector.

The association commended the federal government’s determined efforts at eliminating the Boko Haram sect from the Sambisa forest, but called for increased military intelligence gathering to stem the spate of suicide bombings in Maiduguri, Borno.

While commending the efforts of the Police in combating crime, the union also called for increased surveillance to tackle rising cases of kidnappings, rape and other crimes.

Source: NAN

ONGOING: LAUTECH lecturers meet, may call off strike today.

Posted on February 21, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The lecturers at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, are set to call off their eight months old strike today, an official told PREMIUM TIMES.

The Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, LAUTECH Chapter, Biodun Olaniran. in a chat with PREMIUM TIMES said the lecturers will hold their congress Tuesday and would take a positive stance on calling off the strike.

“We have made progress and all things been equal we should have the strike called off, I am in a discussion with the ASUU National Executive Council already,” he said.

Members of the National Executive Council of ASUU are also expected to attend the LAUTECH congress.

Commenting on the development, the Senior Special Assistant to the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, on Youth and Students’ Affairs, Bolaji Afeez, said “We have done all necessary to ensure that the strike is called off and we look forward to ASUU calling off her strike tomorrow (Tuesday)”.

LAUTECH resumed on January 27 after seven months closure due to workers’ stike over non-payment of salaries. But lecturers refused to resume stating that some of their demands were yet to be met by the Oyo and Osun state governments, who jointly own the university.

One of the major demands of the lecturers is a written commitment by the states on adequate funding of the ?university.

The ASUU congress holds Tuesday afternoon.

Source: Premium Times

Yabatech lecturers vow to continue strike.

Posted on February 16, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, Yaba College of Technology chapter, has accused the management of the institution of short paying staff salary by 25 per cent.

The ASUP Chairman in the college, Adeyemi Aromolaran, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Thursday that for not receiving their full salary, the workers would not call off the strike.

The union had on February 10, begun an indefinite strike over non-payment of the balance of January salary by the college management.

Aromolaran said this was not the right time for the management of the institution to deny workers their full salary when the economy was biting hard.

According to him, for about 10 years now, workers’ salary are being paid by both Federal Government and the institution on 75 per cent and 25 per cent ratio, respectively.

“The Federal Government had in January paid 75 per cent of the salary while the school management is expected to pay the balance of 25 per cent.

“The balance, which represents various allowances, is yet to be paid by the management,” Mr. Aromolaran said.

He said the allowances were supposed to be paid from the internally generated revenue of the college.

Mr. Aromolaran said that the payment of the salary on the ratio of 75:25 by government and school management had been on for more than eight years.

According to him, the fractional payment policy has been on since the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

He also alleged that for more than 10 years, staff salaries and allowances have not been reviewed.

“This is not the right time to deny workers full payment of their salary. The economy is biting harder on the workers, particularly in Lagos State.

“We will not call off the strike until the management pay us our money, all academic activities will remain suspended,” Mr. Aromolaran told NAN.

He recalled that the union had similar experience in August 2016, but that after a protest, the Minister of Education intervened by directing that the allowance be paid.

“This time around, we will remain on strike until our full salary is paid. The management is trying to play pranks with the union.’’

He said that if it warrants waiting for President Muhammadu Buhari to return from vacation, the union would not suspend the strike.

Source: NAN

CAC workers begin strike, paralyse commission’s activities.

Posted on February 15, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The staff union of the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, in Abuja on Wednesday shut down business activities at the commission’s headquarters as the members began a three-day warning strike over alleged non-payment of salary arrears.

The Chairman of the union, Ibrahim Kirfi, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the strike was due to non-implementation of a tripartite agreement on huge salary disparity between the executive and non-executive staff.

Mr. Kirfi said that the agreement was duly signed by the management of CAC, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the national leadership of the body, to resolve the pending salary arrears .

According to him, the agreement with the staff union and the management is way back to 2013, adding that the management is not willing to implement it.

“Today offices are locked until our demands are met, if these three-days warning strikes expire and they are not forthcoming and did not agree with our demands, we will continue the strike indefinitely.

“Earlier, we have had series of consultation with them (management), both formal and informal, written and verbal.

“Everybody knows the economic situation of the country because the performance of the economy is poor; we know Nigeria was in recession in 2016 and there is no money.

“There is no money in the commission does not mean there is no money at all because executives still go on foreign trips; all we are saying is that let the management see reason in commencing the payment of our entitlements.

“Even if it is five persons that will be paid, we will know that there is commitment from their side.

“We can support that as money is coming in gradually they will be able to pay us all our entitlements, but they are not even willing to pay us at all.

“More than two years into the implementation of the agreement, yet nothing,” Mr. Kirfi said.

He said that it was necessary for the management to pay the arrears from January 2014 to date, adding that if the demands were not met, the strike would continue indefinitely from Monday.

Mr. Kirfi said that the industrial disharmony between management of CAC and staff dated back to October 2013, when former President Goodluck Jonathan announced an increase in emoluments of staff by 53.37 per cent relativity pay.

According to him, the agreement has been reached that an increase of 15 per cent and 35 per cent be made in favour of the executive and non-executive staff.

The CAC spokesperson, Godfrey Ike, said that dialogue was ongoing between the union and management to resolve the pending issues.

Mr. Ike said that management would not owe salaries because the commission regarded salaries as its greatest asset.

He said that right now, no staff member was owed any salary, adding that issues of salary were not controlled by the commission but by the Salaries and Wages Commission.

“Management of CAC will go extra mile to ensure that all entitlements due to its staff were paid to them

“There is an agency of government that handles issues of salary and wages and these issues have been presented to them and the commission is still following them up.

“This strike is totally uncalled for because we are still talking and even at this moment dialogue is still going on.

“On training, when we get approval as at when due and everybody goes for training; so in terms of welfare, I think the commission has been fair to ensure that no staff member is denied of any right.

“The commission itself cannot not just implement payment unless it gets approval,” Mr. Ike said.

Source: NAN

It’s only in Nigeria that doctors abandon patients because of strike – Minister

Posted on February 3, 2017 by Staff Reporter

Ehanire Osagie, minister of state for health, believes doctors should not be going on strike, as there are other ways to address grievances.

According to SUN, Osagie said this during the commissioning of electronic medical records/e-payment and solar power installations to mark health week 2017 organized by the federal medical center, Keffi.

He appealed to the doctors to consider the implication of downing tools.

“It is only in Nigeria that medical doctors go on strike and abandon patients on the sick bed,” he said.

“Health workers/medical doctors should not be seen going on strike. Under no condition must you go on strike and abandon your patients on the sick bed, due to non-payment of entitlements.

“In most countries, doctors don’t go on strike as the interest of patients must be given top priority.

“There are ways of addressing such grievances, it may take a little time but certainly will be resolved.”

He said the government is committed to building one primary health center in each of the council wards across the country to reduce the heavy burden on secondary health centers.

Source: The Cable

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

Posted on February 1, 2017 by Staff Reporter

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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

ASUP Strike: Kaduna polytechnic lecturers pull out of strike.

Posted on January 30, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The Kaduna Polytechnic Chapter of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, said on Monday that it would not participate in the warning strike ordered by the national executive council of the union.

Aliyu Ibrahim, the ASUP Chairman, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Kaduna that the chapter was not part of the decision to embark on the strike and had not received any communication on the matter.

“Ideally, the national executives should have invited all the chairmen of the chapters before arriving at that decision.

“I was not invited to any meeting and have not received any official letter on the planned warning strike,” he said.

Mr. Ibrahim advised student of the polytechnic to be in school, adding that all academic staff would be in class.

NAN report that ASUP President, Usman Dutse, had at a press conference in Abuja on January 25 ordered the suspension of academic and administrative exercise in all public polytechnics across the country between noon of January 30, 2017 and February 6 , 2017 .

According to him , the strike was necessary due to the failure of government to implement the NEEDS Assessment Report of July 2014, meant to address problem of decayed infrastructure in the institutions.

He also listed the non-removal of the entry dichotomy between HND and Degree, poor funding of polytechnics, victimisation of union officials, and non release of check-off dues among others, as reasons for the industrial action.

Mr. Dutse said that the union had issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government on November 14 , 2016, to draw its attention to the issues affecting the sector without any response.

He said that the National Executive Committee of ASUP had given a directive to all public polytechnics to comply with the warning strike directive.

Resident doctors end warning strike, give FG 21-day ultimatum

Posted on January 25, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on Wednesday ended its seven days warning strike, and gave the federal government 21 days ultimatum to meet its demands.

John Onyebueze, president of the association, made this known in an interview NAN.

The doctors had embarked on a 7-day warning strike on January 18. Their demands border on welfare, revamping decay infrastructure and equipment in the government-owned health institutions, provide quality and affordable healthcare to the populace.

Others include immediate implementation of the National Health Act, 2014, release of the template and implementation of white paper on residency training programme.

“At the moment, we are still where we are, none of our demands have been met by the government, but the last time we met with the government officials they made some promises,” he said.

“So, we are giving the federal government another 21 days ultimatum now to see those promises translating into action.

“They cannot just tell us that they have set up machinery to implement the National Health Act, 2014 without actions.

“Between now and the 21 days we have given, if we do not see the committee working or implementing the National Health Act that means it’s a mere promise.

“On the other issues regarding welfare, the government also made some promises which of course they have been making since 2013.

“What we are waiting for is for those promises to translate into action.”

Source: The Cable

JUST IN: LASU non-academic staff commence strike.

Posted on January 16, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The non-academic staff of Lagos State University, LASU, on Monday complied with the five-day warning strike by the Joint Action Committee, JAC, of the unions in the institution to press their demands.
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?The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the unions are the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, Non-Academic Staff Union, NASU, and the National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT.?

Saheed Oseni, Chairman, SSANU-LASU Chapter, said that the three unions in the university totally complied with the strike in line with the directive of their national bodies.

Mr. Oseni said ?all administrative activities in the institution had been grounded as its non-academic staff had downed tools following the directive by JAC.

He said that machineries, such as the strike monitoring team, were in place ?to ensure that all staff fully complied with the action.

Mr. Oseni urged the government to do the needful and attend to the issues raised by the unions’ national leaders before the warning strike elapsed.

“But we will await further directive from our leaders on the next line of action if the government does otherwise, as ?failure to do the needful, will be unacceptable to the unions,’’ he said.
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Albert Agosu, ?NASU-LASU chairman, also confirmed that the union members in the institution had commenced strike as directed.

Mr. Agosu said NASU-LASU had earlier sent a letter to its management to inform them of the action and also summoned a congress to intimate its members also.

“Henceforth, for the five days declared, the strike will be total as directed,’’ he said.?
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The JAC of the unions said in a statement that the warning strike became effective on January 16, due the inability of the Federal Government to implement the 2009 agreements with the unions.
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It said that a joint letter for the warning strike by Samson Ugwoke, SSANU President, Sani Suleiman, President of NAAT, and Chris Ani, NASU President, was sent to the Minister of Education.

It added that the letter was also copied to the Minister Labour and Employment, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, and President of Nigeria Labour Congress.

The statement quoted the committee as saying that “the university system is challenged by poor governance and administrative lapses which needs to be addressed holistically.

“Poor funding of our universities, shortfall in payment of staff salaries, increasing corruption in the university system should be addressed.”

It also listed among the problems that required attention of the government to include inadequate physical infrastructure and abandoned projects which, the unions said, had reduced the capacity and output of its members.

Source: NAN

NUPENG calls off 3-day warning strike

Posted on January 12, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) on Wednesday in Abuja called off its three-day nationwide warning strike.

NUPENG’s President, Igwe Achese, announced the suspension at a meeting called at the instance of Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige.

Other groups at the meeting were the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Nigeria National Petroleum Co-operation (NNPC), National Salaries and Wages Commission, oil and Servicing companies, among others.

NUPENG gave a notice of three-day warning strike on Tuesday, over disputes with International Oil Companies, over indiscriminate sack of workers without benefits and refusal to allow their workers to join union.

“I am happy to say that each and every issue raised has been addressed and I hope that all parties will be committed to implement the agreement.

“We have therefore decided to call off the three- day warning strike. ‘’

Mr. Achese commended the minister for his intervention in addressing the issues raised by the union.

Mr. Ngige urged all oil companies that entered into the collective agreement to ensure its implementation.

He also commended PENGASSAN for also calling off its two-weeks warning strike.

The minister gave the oil companies two weeks to resolve all outstanding issues.

LAUTECH students to start New Year with mass protest over 7-month strike

Posted on January 3, 2017 by Staff Reporter

Students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho, are set to embark on a mass protest in Oyo and Osun states over the institution’s seven months strike.

Juwon Sanyaolu, acting secretary general, Alliance of Nigerian Students against Neo-Liberal Attacks, says it is expedient that students stage the protest against the lingering indefinite strike which doesn’t appear to have an end in sight.

Sanyaolu, in a statement made available to Punch, said the protest would hold on Monday, January 9, 2017.

He also implored stakeholders in the education sector to make it impossible for the management of the school to increase the school fees as planned.

“The January 9 mass action is for the outright rejection of the imminent fee hike in LAUTECH and to call for adequate funding of the campus and unconditional reinstatement of the Students Union of the school,” Sanyaolu wrote.

“The declaration of the date as a day of mass action against the aforementioned was a product of the congress of LAUTECH students which premised its conclusion of an imperative mass action on the need to mobilise Nigerian students, youths and activists against further attacks that would soon befall our entire tertiary institutions across the country.

“The fact is that fees hike has never solved the challenges of underfunding in LAUTECH or any other tertiary institution. Rather, it has always deprived students from poor backgrounds access to affordable education.

“We, therefore, maintain that it should under no circumstance be substituted for adequate funding of education.”

NUPENG Gives Notice of 3-day Warning Strike in Jan 2017

Posted on December 8, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has given notice of a 3-day nation-wide warning strike from the first week of January 2017, over unresolved labour issues with multinationals operating in the oil and gas industry.

President of the union, Mr. Igwe Achese, in a statement, yesterday, said the decision was taken at the end of the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Monday. He warned that the 3-day warning strike was preparatory to a nation-wide strike if there was no intervention by the Federal Government.

The union stated that the date in January would be communicated to all its members but advised them to start wearing red bands to work from next week while members of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, had been instructed also to put green leaves on their tankers as a protest preparatory for the commencement of the 3-day warning strike next month. NUPENG insisted that it would resist any divestment by the multinationals that “does not carry the union along, especially in OML 53 and 55 operated by Chevron and now OML 30.”

According to the statement: “The union stresses that it believes that whatever goodwill government has to encourage investors to come should not lead to job loses but job creation. The unresolved labour related issues which made the union to issue a 21-day ultimatum for the Federal Government’s intervention include the non-payment of terminal benefits to 48 contract staff and 250 contract staff terminated in Lagos and Port Harcourt by the Nigeria Agip Oil Company, NAOC.

The others are the refusal of Exxon Mobil Producing to reinstate over 200 NUPENG members sacked through its directives to its labour contractors despite ultimatum jointly issued by NUPENGASSAN.

“The Chevron issue includes the total closure of the company’s eastern operations through divestment and refusal to discuss the redundancy terms and its refusal to facilitate the formation of Chevron labour Contractors Forum to interface with NUPENG. Chevron’s refusal to allow workers to unionize is also causing industrial relations tension. “The other issues include Tecon Oil Services Management reneging on the communiqué signed with the union on offloading the severance benefits of its members working in the companies.” NUPENG added that “other unresolved labour issues involve Pan Ocean non-implementation of annual salary increase for NUPENG Members in the company from 2014 till date.”

NUPENG threatens to embark on industrial action

Posted on December 8, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) says it will embark on a three-day warning strike if oil and gas companies fail to address workers’ welfare.

Igwe Achese, president of the union, disclosed this in a statement signed in Lagos.

Achese said the union had given the federal government a 21-day ultimatum to intervene in labour issues involving multinationals operating in the oil and gas sector.

He said among contending issues was the non-payment of terminal benefits to 48 contract staff.

Achese said 250 staff whose contract was terminated by the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in Lagos and Port Harcourt, were not paid.

He said Exxon Mobil refused to reinstate over 200 NUPENG members sacked.

“There are also the issues of closure of Chevron’s Eastern Operations through divestment and refusal to discuss the redundancy terms,” he said.

“Chevron refused to facilitate the formation of Chevron labour Contractors Forum to interface with NUPENG.”

Achese alleged that another oil company reneged on the communiqué signed with the union on settling the severance benefits of its members working in the companies.

He said the union had yet to resolve issues with Pan Ocean over non-implementation of salary increase for its members since 2014.

The NUPENG president said the three-day warning strike would become full if the government did not intervene on the issues.

Lufthansa cancels 912 flights as pilots strike enters Day 2

Posted on November 24, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The strike by Lufthansa pilots in support of a pay demand is in its second day on Thursday, with the German flagship carrier cancelling 912 flights for the day.

The strike has hit the travel plans of some 100,000 long-and short-haul passengers.

The Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) Pilots’ Union announced that the strike, the 14th in a dispute stretching back to April 2014 would be extended to a third day on Friday, from the two originally planned.

The stoppage, aimed at pressing demands for a backdated pay increase of 22 per cent over the five years to April 2017, grounded 876 flights on Wednesday.

In total, 215,000 passengers have been affected over the first two days.

Report says the Friday action is likely to hit primarily short-haul flights taking off within Germany.

The company said it planned to service all its long-haul destinations on Friday.

Airports across Germany were noticeably quieter than usual, with Munich badly hit as well as the main hub near Frankfurt.

Group human relations head Bettina Volkens repeated a call for the union to enter into arbitration with Europe’s largest airline.

However VC spokesman Joerg Handwerg rejected arbitration, saying pilots had been “uncoupled from changes in pay in Germany for the past five years” and that they were no longer prepared to be left on the sidelines.

Chaos was avoided by many Lufthansa passengers simply staying away from airports.

The company was providing ongoing information on its website and arranging alternatives for stranded passengers.

ASUU strike: Students beg FG for quick resolution.

Posted on November 23, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Some students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka have appealed to the Federal Government to urgently look into grievances of striking lecturers to forestall incessant strikes in universities.

The students made the appeal in Nsukka on Tuesday while reacting to the ongoing warning strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

The President of the Students Union Government in the university, Mr. Emmanuel Chukwu, pleaded with President Muhammad Buhari to urgently resolve the crisis between the Federal Government and ASUU.

Chukwu said that this had become necessary in order to prevent disruption in the academic calendar of universities in the country.

Miss Amarachi Okafor of the Department of Psychology urged the Federal Government to dialogue with ASUU not to allow the strike snowballed into an indefinite one.

Okafor also pleaded with ASUU to consider the plight of students who would be spending extra years in the university, especially in this period of recession.

She said, “The longer the strike lingers, the more the rate of crimes will increase and parents will be paying more for extra years spent in school.”

Another student, Mr Emmanuel Ochi of Mass Communication Department pleaded with ASUU to consider the interest of students in order not to constitute a setback to their academics.

She said, “I want the Federal Government and ASUU to resolve their misunderstanding amicably in the interest of students and tertiary education in this country.

“Students have suffered enough over incessant strikes and we do not want a repeat of what happened in the last administration by ASUU.”

Academic activities have continued to be paralysed at the UNN over the warning strike by ASUU.

The chairman of UNN-ASUU chapter, Dr. Ifeanyi Abada, said that academic activities were grounded in the university in compliance with the directive by the National Executive Committee of ASUU.

He said, “NEC made efforts to resolve this issue with government but it remained unyielding because of its insensitivity to issues concerning education.

“Since government failed to do the needful, ASUU is left with no option than to proceed on a one week warning strike and failure to meet with our demands we will go on an indefinite strike.”

Abada said that ASUU was not taking it lightly with government on issues raised, especially the demand that universities be exempted from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy.

He said, “The strike compliance in UNN is total, no lectures, no examinations no departmental and faculty meetings as members will not participate.

“UNN chapter will not renege on the directive of the national body till government addresses all the issues raised.

“Our monitoring team is moving round and any lecturer found teaching will be sanctioned accordingly.”

ASUU ends Warning Strike, Orders lecturers back to class

Posted on November 23, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Academic Staff Union of Universities on Tuesday confirmed that it had ended its one week nationwide warning strike over the non-implementation of a 2009 agreement with the Federal Government.

The President of ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, who said this in Abuja, urged lecturers to return to work.

“We are making progress, especially with the intervention of the Senate. In the next one or two meetings, if we are able to get a clear path to the matter, we will avoid elongation of the strike action.

“I have been receiving these reports that ASUU says strike continues. No. The strike ends today (Tuesday). All lecturers are to go back to work Wednesday morning.”

According to him, ASUU was hopeful of a positive outcome, going by the response coming from the Federal Government.

FG, ASUU disagree on ‘earned allowance’ as warning strike ends today.

Posted on November 22, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) could not agree on Earned Allowance due to lecturers despite the Senate’s intervention, a situation which forced the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETfund to adjourned the peace meeting it convened indefinitely.

The yesterday’s meeting chaired by Senator Jibrin Barau had in attendance the national leadership of ASUU led by I’d national president, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi; the executive secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Rasheed; and the director general of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, among others.

The meeting ended at about 8.20pm last night without a definite resolution even as the one-week warning strike embarked upon by ASUU since last Wednesday will end today.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, Senator Barau, who is chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETfund, said the peace meeting agreed on all issues at stake except the one on ‘earned allowance’, hence the meeting was called off for further engagements among all parties.

Recall that the Senate had on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 resolved to mandate Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to intervene in the looming industrial action with the aim of averting the strike.

After the first meeting held behind-closed-doors the next day after the Senate’s resolution at the Senate President’s Meeting Room 301 at the New Wing of the National Assembly Complex last week, all parties were upbeat on the quick resolution of the crisis in the tertiary education sector.

The National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU had earlier rose from its meeting on Saturday November 13, 2016 with a resolution to embark on the one-week warning strike starting from Wednesday, November 16, 2016 over the Federal Government’s failure to implement the 2009 Agreement and 2013 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) they both entered into, among other demands.

Meanwhile, ASUU president declined comment as the union’s delegation to the meeting quietly walked away without talking to journalists, who had laid siege on the meeting’s venue.

NUPENG Threatens Strike

Posted on November 21, 2016 by Staff Reporter

THE Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has threatened to embark on a nationwide industrial action over the alleged anti-labour practices of International Oil Companies (IOCs).

Its President, Comrade Igwe Achese, said the spate of redundancy in the industry was worrisome, as workers were being booted out daily.

He pointed out that the actions of the IOCs were contrary to the government’s zero/tolerance for job losses, condemnable and unacceptable to the union.

He threatened strike if the government failed to call the multinational oil firms which have engaged in anti-labour and union activities to order.

“Let me use this opportunity to call on the Federal Government to intervene in the unresolved labour issues with the following companies so that we do not witness a nationwide industrial action by next week when our 21-day ultimatum expires,” he said.

He condemned the anti-union posture of the IOCs, noting that the constitution stipulates freedom of association and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 87 and 98, which Nigeria is a signatory.

He said the anti-union posture of the IOCs was brewing tension in the industry.

He advised the Federal Government to prevail on the multinationals and service companies to stop the spate of retrenchment.

Achese said the union would not support the sale of NNPC’s assets without proper consultation with labour unions in the sector.

According to him, there is no way the unions would allow these assets to be sold without their input.

Achese said: “We are opposed to the sale of the nation’s assets, especially the refineries. We believe that the proposed sale is unnecessary and not in our national interest, as they will be sold to their cronies as scraps. The union will resist any attempt to sell these national assets and advise that government should look at other areas to revamp the economy.’’

“NUPENG says no to sale of NNPC assets, we are against any sale of the nation’s assets because there is no justification for it.

“They are planning to sell them to their cronies like they did in power sector. We cannot continue to watch until they sell the whole nation. Labour unions cannot wake up and discover that assets are being put up for sale without consulting. The state of our roads is still nothing to write home about as they are all dilapidated. We condemn the slow pace of work by the contractors recently mobilised to site.”

ASUU strikes instrumental to the growth of varsity – Chairman

Posted on November 21, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Dr. Christopher Piwuna, the Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities, University of Jos chapter, says incessant strikes by the union have been instrumental to the institution’s growth over the years.

Piwuna said: “The distractions, frustrations and uncertainties caused by the strikes are actually painful, but I can assure you that the school and the students are always the better for it.”

Piwuna spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Jos.

NAN reports that local strikes have become very common in the university and had often led to the loss of complete academic sessions.

Currently, the 2015/2016 session, that should have terminated in July 2016, has been programmed to end in April 2017, owing to another bout of lecturers’ strike that lasted several months.

Students of the school are, however, already apprehensive that even the reviewed academic calendar may suffer yet another review, in view of the interruption caused by ASUU’s on-going one-week nationwide warning strike that started on Wednesday, November 16.

But Piwuna, whose chapter had consistently shut down the university over a myriad of issues with management, claimed that the school owed most of its developmental strides to such strikes.

He said: “Our strikes have ensured the building of new hostels at the Naraguta Campus and the renovation of many others for the comfort and safety of the students.

“The strikes have also forced management to equip laboratories and also secured hazard allowances for those working in them.

“We have also fought and forced management to build many lecture halls which boosted the teaching and learning atmosphere in the school.”

Piwuna said that ASUU had also demonstrated its commitment to boosting quality learning by building a lecture hall with a capacity for 1,000 students.

He described the strikes as “natural and responsible” reactions to a system that had relegated education to the background, and declared that the union shall remain on its feet until education was given the deserved attention.

Piwuna also reacted to statistics showing that the school had lost its mass appeal among candidates seeking univeristy admission, owing to its academic instability.

He said: “I am aware of the reluctance to come to UniJos, but what I want the candidates to know is that the school is better than it was 10 years ago; I challenge them to ask more questions so as to know the gains from the pains of such strikes.

“I also want the general public to know that we are not undermining the system; that we are only fighting to add value to it and make it better by forcing government to live up to its responsibilities.”

He rejected suggestions that ASUU was insensitive and usually selfish as it hardly consider the plight of the students when shutting down the schools.

Piwuna said: “It is wrong to suggest that we hardly weigh the consequences of our actions. We always weigh the consequence of every step because we are also affected by the closures.

“A quarter of our members are equally students pursuing Masters or PhD degrees. We also have wives, children or relations that are students. So we are also affected, but we only make sacrifices so that the right thing will be done.”

He expressed regret that governments and university managements hardly take the lecturers serious until they embarked on strikes, and called for attitudinal change from those in authority.

On the major disagreement of the lecturers with the university’s management, he identified the payment of “Earned Academic Allowance” as one area yet unresolved.

He said: “In 2013, the Federal Government released N30 billion to be shared to the universities out of which University of Jos got N1.161 billion, but the management refused to use the template approved for the sharing of the money and opted to pay even those not entitled to it.

“We also fought and secured hazard allowances for those working in laboratories and handling chemicals, but when the money came to the university, it shared to everyone, leaving very little to those it was meant for.”

He however commended the present management that came on board few months ago, noting that the Vice Chancellor, Prof Istifanus Maimako, had started well by meeting with ASUU to work out improved conditions for staff and minimise the number of workers leaving the institution.

Piwuna also commended Maimako’s humility, especially his insistence on wide consultations before taking decisions, saying that such gesture would boost mutual confidence and enhance industrial harmony.

The ASUU chairman, however, advised management to settle the salariess of assistant lecturers and graduate assistants, who were being penalised for failing to obtain Masters Degrees in three years as was usualy required.

ASUU strike ill-timed – Wole Olanipekun

Posted on November 21, 2016 by Staff Reporter

A former Pro-chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Wole Olanipekun, (SAN), has said that the strike action being contemplated by the Academic Staff Union of Universities was ill-timed because of the biting economic recession.

ASUU has begun a week warning strike action as a preliminary to indefinite strike action to press home its usual demands.

Speaking on Saturday during his yearly scholarship scheme for students at his home country in Ikere Ekiti, Olanipekun said, “I wouldn’t say this is the right time for the ASUU to embark on strike action again, but at the same time I want to plead with the ASUU and federal government to look into the matter urgently.

“We must not kill education, Education leads to revival, it leads to revolution, emancipation and it also leads to freedom. Without education, there would be darkness. Because education brings light.

“Already education is dying in Nigeria. I want to plead with both ASUU and the government, please come together, reason together and urgently resolve your differences for our children. And these children are the reason for our existence, the hub of our life, the anchor of our nation.

“A nation without a future is no nation and what do we mean by future, it is the education for these young people. So, I want to plead with ASUU to reason with government and the government should also reason with them. This is not the right time in the interest of those children.”

Strike: Release our N800bn – ASUU chair tells FG

Posted on November 20, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The chairman of the Nasarawa state University, Keffi, (NSUK) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr. Nghargbu K’tso, has asked the federal government to release the outstanding N880 billion meant for critical intervention projects of university education as a way to avert strike action by the union.

K’tso urged government to show more commitment to the funding of universities and welfare of lecturers in order to save the country’s university system from collapsing.

He regretted that the union has been battling with the federal government since 2009 for the release of the fund to no avail stressing that the funds, if released, would address the problems of infrastructural decay, research development and other key components of the nation’s university education.

Speaking after the union’s emergency meeting in Keffi, K’tso said, the nationwide warning strike embarked upon by the union was to get government back to the renegotiation table in respect of the 2009 agreement between the union and the federal government.

He insisted that federal government’s refusal to negotiate with ASUU to address the pending issues which border on funding for revitalization of public universities based on the 2013 MoU was detrimental to progress of the education sector.

Suicide Bombers Strike In Maiduguri

Posted on November 18, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Three suicide bombers, two females and a male, on Friday struck in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, with one detonating a bomb when intercepted by security personnel.

The spokesman of the police, Victor Isuku, said that the incident happened at 3:50am at Jiddari Polo area of the troubled town.

He said: “By 3:50am today, mobile police personnel on guard duty opposite the Federal High Court, Jiddari Polo area of Maiduguri, sighted three suspected suicide bombers (two females & a male) running towards their sandbag. They ordered them to a halt for questioning. In the process, one of them detonated the IED strapped to her body, killing herself and one other male accomplice.

“The other female survivor was arrested alive and subsequently handed over to the military for further explanation and necessary follow-up actions.”

He added: “Police bomb disposal unit also mobilized to the scene to (defuse) unexploded IEDs on the bodies of the deceased suicide bombers.”

Isuku who revealed that there were two explosions, stated: “The second bang was as a result of the demolition of the remaining IEDs by police EOD units.”

He however said: “Normalcy has already been restored.”

Credit: thisdaylive

LASU lecturers join ASUU warning strike

Posted on November 16, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Lecturers of the Lagos State University (LASU) on Wednesday complied with the one-week nationwide warning strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Dr Isaac Oyewunmi?, Chairman, ASUU, LASU Chapter, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that academic activities in the university had been paralysed.

Oyewunmi said that LASU lecturers’ compliance to the strike directive was total.

He said that the chapter held a congress on Tuesday to discuss the strike, and that a notice was sent to its members and the university management on the commencement of the strike.

“There is no report of any infraction within the chapter; all members have complied as directed by the national body,’’ the chairman said.

Miss Stella Nwachukwu, a student of the university’s Department of Microbiology, told NAN that the strike was unfortunate, saying that it would affect students.

Nwachukwu urged the Federal Government to meet with the ASUU leaders and honour the agreement it had with the union in 2009 to stop the strike.

NAN reports that ASUU had declared the warning strike ?on Tuesday to press home its demand for implementation of an agreement it reached with the Federal Government in 2009.

ASUU strike will go on as planned despite senate’s intervention – President

Posted on November 16, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Biodun Ogunyemi, has vowed that the body will embark on its warning strike billed to commence today despite the intervention of the Senate.

Recall that the academic body had on Monday threatened to embark on a one week warning strike over the failure of the Federal Government to fulfill an agreement reached in 2013.

Following its threat, the Senate had yesterday urged President of the senate, Bukola Saraki to intervene in the matter with the view to stopping the body from carrying out the threat.

The senate, however, extended an invitation to the leadership of the union while calling for a temporary suspension of the planned strike action.

But speaking with The Nation, Ogunyemi insisted that the planned industrial action will go on despite the invitation by the senate.

“They have invited us for a meeting tomorrow (today) and we are going to meet with them. It is only after the meeting that we will call our own meeting and take a position.

“So, for now, the action will commence as planned. When we get to the Senate, we will address the issue. That is the position for now,” Ogunyemi said.

No Going Back On Strike, ASUU Vows

Posted on November 15, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, says there is no going back on its one-week warning strike scheduled to begin on Wednesday.

Biodun Ogunyemi, the union’s National President, told the News Agency of Nigeria on telephone on Tuesday in Lagos that the strike would be total.

The union leadership, after its emergency executive committee meeting, declared the warning strike at a news conference on Monday in Abuja.

Mr. Ogunyemi said chronic under-funding of the sector through low budgetary allocation, which went from 11 per cent in 2015 to eight per cent in 2016, did not go down well with the union.

He pointed out the failure of government to implement the 2009 agreement and the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as some of the reasons for embarking on the warning strike.

The president said that its members were tired of what they described as “government’s empty promises’’ in setting up its negotiation team for the review of agreement as consistently requested by ASUU since 2012.

“There shall be no teaching, no examination and no attendance of statutory meetings of any kind in any of our branches while the strike lasts.”

According to him, the union will put machinery in place to ensure that there is total compliance during the strike.

He explained that the essence of the warning strike was to draw attention of concerned stakeholders and the general public to the challenges that the unions, universities and other stakeholders in the sector were facing.

“Nobody will say before we exhaust the warning strike some issues cannot be addressed if government wants to be sincere with our cause.

“We are doing this because we want Nigerians to come into the matter and ensure that these issues are given adequate attention they deserve.

“Our lecturers are given 40 per cent of their salaries, which is just not encouraging, as this will lead to poor commitment in carrying out their jobs.

“I am sure nobody will like a 40 per cent university education or 40 per cent teaching of various courses including research development and output.

“That is why we have to take the matter before the National Assembly, which we believe, will come into the matter just like the Nigerian parents.’’

Reacting to the impending strike, the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), said that ASUU was right and that it must be supported.

Adeolu Ogunbanjo, the association’s 2nd Deputy National President, told NAN that it was time the government takes the country’s education seriously.

“ASUU has done well by giving warning, considering the patience its members have shown in these whole issues.

“At least it is good for them to feel the pulse of Nigerians and other key stakeholders on the matter.

“However, because Nigeria is struggling with recession presently, we, on behalf of Nigerian parents are begging them not to down tool totally.

“They have made their points and we thank them for creating the awareness but we are begging them to shelve the looming strike to sometimes next year, when the recession might have been abated.

“Government too should seize the opportunity to listen to the union and see what can be done concerning all the issues it has raised.

“It will be a total disaster if government should allow ASUU to down tool indefinitely, considering the hardship that is currently taking its toll on every sector of the nation’s economy.”

Mr. Ogunbanjo said that a full-fledged strike would not be welcomed by majority of Nigerians in the current situation.

He said the strike would only add more grief to the suffering masses.

Credit: NAN

Strike: Senate Asks Saraki To Mediate Between FG & ASUU

Posted on November 15, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Senate has mandated its President, Bukola Saraki, to personally lead the intervention towards resolving the brewing industrial crisis between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.

The Senate resolved to muster efforts at stopping a protracted ASUU strike on Tuesday, barely 24 hours after the Union announced one-week warning strike, starting tomorrow.

The Senate resolution followed a motion on “matter of urgent national importance” with regards to the planned ASUU industrial action by Jibrin Barau (APC-Kano).

The warning strike, ASUU said, is over the failure of the Federal Government to implement terms of the 2009 and 2013 agreements.

“Many aspects of the 2013 MoU and the 2009 agreement with the Federal Government have either been unimplemented or despairingly handled,” ASUU President, Biodun Ogunyemi, said at the University of Abuja on Monday.

“The agreements are: Payments of staff entitlements since December 2015, funding of universities for revitalisation, pension, TSA and university autonomy and renegotiation of 2009 Agreement.”

Backing ASUU in his motion, Mr. Barau argued that ASUU was agitating for smooth running of Nigerian public universities and staff welfare which basically formed the terms of the agreements perfunctorily implemented – or not implemented at all – by the Federal Government.

In his contribution, Danjuma Goje (APC-Gombe), lamented plights of students of public universities whenever lecturers embark on strike, thereby calling for avoidance of ASUU strike.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/215413-asuu-strike-senate-asks-saraki-mediate.html

Exams will continue in OAU despite ASUU warning strike

Posted on November 15, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has informed students that their ongoing examination will progress in spite of the one-week warning strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

In a circular passed on Monday, November 14, D.O Awoyemi, the school’s registrar, enjoined students to proceed with examination activities.

“Following the meeting of the Acting Vice Chancellor and all heads of department, Readers and Professors held today, Monday, 14th November 2016, it has been resolved that the on-going 2015/2016 Harmattan Semester examination will progress as scheduled.

“To this end, all students are enjoined to attend to their examination,” the school’s registrar wrote.

ASUU had earlier released a circular instructing universities to begin one-week warning strike on Wednesday to compel the Federal Government to address pending issues.

‘No teaching, no examination’: ASUU declares one week warning strike.

Posted on November 14, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared a one-week warning strike.

The warning strike would involve all its members in universities across the country.

Biodun Ogunyemi, president of the union, announced the one-week strike in a circular released following their meeting on Saturday, November 12.

The “total and comprehensive” strike will commence on Wednesday, November 16 and end on Tuesday, November 22.

Ogunyemi, in the circular, enunciated the number of issues that federal government is expected to address.

They are;

To compel the federal government to address funding for revitalisation of public universities based on the FGN-ASUU MoU of November 2013.

Non-release of subvention to state universities by their visitors.

Registration of NUPEMCO.

Payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA).

Shortfall in salaries leading to payment of fractions of staff salaries.

Non-payment of salaries of staff in the staff primary schools.

Exemption of universities from Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy.

Renegotiation of the 2009 agreement.

ASUU set to embark on strike Wednesday.

Posted on November 14, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has issued a one-week warning strike to commence from Wednesday.

In a circular signed by its President, Biodun Ogunyemi, ASUU said the warning strike was for the Federal Government to meet the agreement it signed with lecturers in November 2013.

According to the circular, “The NEC of our union at its meeting of 12th November 2016, declared a one-week warning strike beginning from 12.01 of Wednesday November 16, 2016 to 12noon of Tuesday 22 November 2016.

It reads, “For the avoidance of doubt, the one week warning strike is to compel the government to do the following:

“Funding for the revitalisation of public universities based on the ASUU-FG MoU of November 2013.

“Payment of Earned Academic allowances.

“Non-release of subvention to state Universities by their visitors.

“Shortfall in salaries leading to payment of fractions of staff salaries.

“Exemption of Universities from Treasury Single Account policy.

“The strike is to hold comprehensively, no teaching, no examination and no attendance statutory meeting of any kind.”

Cattle dealers threaten nationwide strike.

Posted on October 27, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Amalgamated Union of National Cattle and Foodstuff Dealers Association of Nigeria has threatened to embark on indefinite strike over alleged extortion by security agents across the country.

Hamman-Jalo Hamman-Jam, acting national chairman of the association, told NAN in Mubi, Adamawa state, on Thursday, that the union was tired of the situation.

Hamman-Jam said members of the union were made to part with money at various security check points on major federal highways especially from the northern to eastern part of the country.

He claimed that security agents forcefully stop any truck conveying cattle from the north to the east and demand huge amount of money for unknown purposes.

“We have complained to appropriate authorities concerned over the high level of extortion of money from our members by security agents,” he said.

“Again, we, the Amalgamated Union of National Cattle and Foodstuff Dealers Association of Nigeria, hereby, call on the federal, state governments, and other authorities concerned to urgently look into the matter and address it.

“And if the situation continues without any action from government, the union have no other choice rather to embark on indefinite strike.”

He claimed that the dealers were made to part with between N250,000 to N300,000 per truck on every trip, revealing that who tried to resist payment of the illegal charges were often maltreated.

NAFDAC workers declare warning strike over welfare.

Posted on October 27, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Chairman, National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) branch of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Mr. Anzaku Peter Joseph yesterday disclosed that the union has declared a two-week warning strike.

Anzaku in an interview with The Guardian at the agency’s office at Isolo in Lagos lamented the poor treatment of NAFDAC workers.

According to him, the two weeks warning strike is to demand the Consolidated Researchers and Allied Workers Salary Structure (CONRASS), the Consolidated Health Workers Salary Structure (CONHESS), staff promotion, among others.

He expressed disappointment in the refusal of the management to move the agency’s staff to the negotiated salary structure, CONHESS, adding that an agreement was reached in 2014 for the Salaries and Wages Commission to formulate a befitting template for NAFDAC.

He pointed out that since May this year, the salaries of workers on level 12 upward have been slashed.“In my cadre I have lost about N60,000 and I cannot comprehend and reconcile the differences,” Anzaku said.

The union chairman also agitated for the appointment of a substantive Director General (DG) and a board for the agency.

NUPENG, PENGASSAN threaten strike over sack of 3,000 members.

Posted on October 27, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Two leading unions in the oil industry, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and National Gas (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) have raised the alarm over the sacking of 3, 000 of its members and subsequently issued a 21-day ultimatum to the federal government to put a stop to it.

The National President of NUPENG, Igwe Achese, who addressed the media at the end of the Central Working Committee (CWC), meeting of the union in Effurun, Delta state, said government must do something urgently to stop the mass retrenchment of its members to avoid grounding the industry.

Achese disclosed that most of the companies, like Chevron Nigeria Limited, ExxonMobil, Pan Ocean, Sapiem, and Hercules oil and gas limited, among others, have terminated the appointment of over 3,000 of their workers apparently over the current economic recession in the country.

“More than 3,000 of our members are affected,” Achese said, adding that “Chevron alone is about 1,500, Mobil is about 1,000 and the entire workers of Hercules Oil & Gas are being asked to go home, Pan Ocean have since closed shop and are gone. Industry-wide everybody is being asked to go.

“We are now asking ourselves where we are heading to with the industry. We have lost so much of Nigerian personnel working in the oil and gas industry. What is happening in Nigeria cannot be compared to what is happening in other African countries. We want government to wake up and address some of these issues.”

Achese said if government failed to act and direct the oil companies to stop this ongoing retrenchment of their members, they would be compelled to act to protect their interest.

Unpaid Salaries: Bayelsa teachers meet, insist on strike.

Posted on October 12, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Bayelsa State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has called on all public primary and secondary school teachers in the state to continue observing the strike declared by the union.

Teachers have been on strike since the resumption of the new academic session to protest unpaid arrears of salaries and other unfulfilled obligations of the government.

It was gathered that the NUT had an emergency congress on Monday and resolved that the industrial action should continue.

The body called on the teachers to disregard the directive given by the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) that the teachers should resume work.

The state Chairman of the NUT, Mr. Kalama Tonpre, alleged that the ASUSS might have been compromised and called on the teachers to stay at home until the NUT would call off the strike.

Kalama also called on members of the public to disregard the allegation by the state’s Commissioner for Information that the union had been politicised.

He, however, said the commissioner’s position was his personal opinion which did not represent the standpoint of the state government.

But the state government, yesterday, assured the teachers of prompt payment of their salaries and allowances and appealed to them to call off their strike.

The Commissioner for Education, Mr. Markson Fefegha, gave the assurance during a one day workshop on the preparation of monthly payment vouchers and nominal rolls held at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall,Yenagoa.

Fefegha said the preparation of vouchers in line with the present administration’s policy on transparency to stop the sharp practices perpetrated by some unscrupulous elements in the system.

He said the seminar would assist in addressing the issue of voucher preparation to ease the payment process adding that the Governor Seriake Dickson-led government was passionate about the teaching profession.

He said: “I am sure that most of you have received the two halves and we are working assiduously so that by next week you would receive your other month salary so that you would not only be at par but will be ahead of other civil servants in the state”.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Jonathan Obuebite, appreciated the principals for their cooperation and urged them to prepare an all-inclusive payroll.

He scored the government high in educational transformation and urged to safeguard the infrastructure built by the government.

No Plan To Strike, ASUU Assures Nigerians

Posted on September 14, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has no plans to commence an interim strike on October 2, an official has said.

The Chairman of the University of Abuja chapter of ASUU, Ben Ugheoke, said on Wednesday that he was wrongly quoted on a planned strike.

The News Agency of Nigeria had quoted Mr. Ugheoke on Tuesday as saying the lecturers’ strike would commence next month.

In an interview on Wednesday, Mr. Ugheoke told said he never gave such statement to the NAN reporter.

“A certain reporter in NAN is responsible for this damage,” he said. “As a result of this falsified report, I am facing a panel later tonight from ASUU National body.”

The university don said he had asked for a rebuttal of the story since it was published.

“I have reached out to the NAN reporter and he told me it was a mix-up. He also begged me to save his job,” he said.

In the report widely circulated by Nigerian media, the government news agency quoted the don as saying ASUU was to embark on a one-week warning strike from October 2.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/210380-no-plan-strike-asuu-assures-nigerians.html

ASUU threatens to begin warning strike on October 2

Posted on September 13, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) said on Monday that it would commence a warning strike on Oct. 2.

A statement signed by Mr Ben Ugheoke, the Chairman, University of Abuja chapter of ASUU, stated that the Federal Government had failed to embark on meaningful dialogue with the union.

“We have tried to dialogue with the Federal Government but they have been playing games with us; we will start with a warning strike to show them we are not jokers.

“ASUU has being trying to get the attention of the Federal Government to intervene in the academic system of universities across Nigeria but it has all been abortive.

“Consequently, ASUU will give a warning strike which will start on Oct. 2.

“The strike will last for one week, and if they do not give us listening ears, we will start the indefinite strike in November,’’Ugheoke said in the statement.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that ASUU, had at a recent news briefing accused the Federal Government of reneging on the 2009 agreement with the union.

ASUU’s Coordinator, Abuja Zone, Dr Theophilus Lagi, also said in the statement that the government had only implemented 30 per cent of the provisions of Universities Needs Assessment document.

He said that the fund was disbursed indiscriminately to university councils as a fall out of the six months industrial action the union embarked upon in 2009.

Lagi urged the Federal Government to fully implement the 2009 agreement it reached with the union in order to avert another industrial action by the nation’s public universities.

“The struggle to implement the 2009 ASUU/FGN agreement is not about the union; it is not about the personal benefits of the members only.

“The current issues in contention include funding of universities for revitalisation in line with the Memorandum of Understanding the Federal Government and ASUU had signed in 2013.

“Re-negotiation of the FGN/ASUU 2009 agreement ASUU believes will reposition the entire education sector.

“We also demand the facilitation of the registration of the Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company (NUPEMCO), among other issues in the FG/ASUU 2009 agreement,’’ he said.

FG Enforces ‘No Work No Pay’ Policy At LUTH

Posted on September 5, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Implementation of the Federal Government’s ‘no work no pay’ policy is in effect at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, Lagos.

It was gathered that over 500 nurses have forfeited five weeks salaries and about 20 doctors, two weeks salaries, following their participation in an industrial action.

The nurses, under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), LUTH chapter, have been on strike for seven weeks, protesting non-promotion of 71 members and poor conditions of service. The doctors belong to the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD).

It was learnt that money was not deducted from the salaries of nurses and resident doctors on annual leave during the strike.

Nurses and doctors who confirmed the development preferred anonymity. They, however, said the associations have met and have decided to shut down the hospital, this week, with a fresh round of industrial action.

The nurses suspended their 52-day-old strike Tuesday, August 3, 2016. The management of LUTH, led by Chief Medical Doctor (CMD), Prof. Chris Bode, had warned before and during the action that they could lose their salaries to the ‘no work no pay’ rule.

It was noted that the policy, by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, is in effect in all government institutions.

The nurses on June 10, 2016, began an indefinite strike protesting, among other things, lack of promotion for members and non-payment of salary arrears.

It was learnt that the nurses agreed to suspend the strike following assurances that their demands would be met. Some of the demands have already been resolved by the management.

Aero Contractors Besieged Over Indefinite Leave of Workers

Posted on September 1, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Aviation unions on Thursday besieged the head office of Aero Contractors Airline at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos.

The action is coming against the background of the suspension of flight operations which the airline announced would commence on Thursday.

Mr Benjamin Okewu, the President, Air Traffic Services Senior Staff Association (ATSSSAN), told newsmen on Thursday that the unions embarked on the measure following the indefinite leave given to the over 1,400 workers.

The other union whose members also stormed the headquarters of Aero Contractors is the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE).

The management of Aero Contractors had in a statement issued on Wednesday in Lagos, announced that the airline would commence indefinite suspension of scheduled flight operations from Sept. 1.

According to the statement, the suspension is part of the strategic business realignment to reposition the airline and return it to the path of profitability.

The management stated that the decision was due to the current economic situation in Nigeria, which had forced some other airlines to suspend operations or outrightly pull out of Nigeria.

We’ll Soon Go On Strike, That Is The Only Language FG Understands – ASUU

Posted on August 31, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike to secure the implementation of its 2009 agreement with the federal government.

Olusoji Sowande, coordinator of the union in Lagos, said this at a news conference on Tuesday.

He said the government had shown that the only language it understands is industrial action, as several efforts to ensure that the government address the pending demands of the union, proved abortive.

He said the 2009 FG/ASUU agreement, memorandum of understanding (MOU) on funding of state universities, breaches of the conditions of service and re-negotiation of the agreement, were still pending. ?

He said funding of state universities, earned academic allowance and renegotiation of the agreement were parts of the outstanding issues.

Sowande recalled that the union had embarked on strike in 2012 and 2013 as part of the efforts to make the government implement the agreement, but the issues remained unresolved.

“The review of the agreement should have been undertaken in 2012 and 2015 but that did not happen,” he said.

“The implication is that our union has shown enough patriotism and understanding on these matters in the last four years.

“We are perplexed and disappointed that both the federal and state governments are not responding to our consistent appeals to bring about genuine transformation in the education sector.

“It is unfortunate that the only language government appears to respect and listen to is that of industrial action.”

The don said the national officers of the union met with the Adamu Adamu, minister of education, on May 10 and tabled a 10-point demand, and the minister promised that the issues would be resolved within two weeks, but nothing had been done till now.

Indian Woman Ends 16-Year Hunger Strike

Posted on August 9, 2016 by Staff Reporter

An Indian rights activist who has waged what is thought to be the world’s longest hunger strike ended her fast on Tuesday after vowing to continue her struggle by standing for election in her home state. Irom Sharmila Irom Sharmila, dubbed the “Iron Lady of Manipur” for her unwavering protest against alleged rights abuses by security forces in the insurgency-hit northeast Indian state, was released on bail after she promised a court she would end her fast.

The 44-year-old had been held in judicial custody on charges of attempting suicide — still a criminal offence in India — and confined to a hospital where she was force-fed through a nasal tube. Speaking to journalists outside the court in the Manipur capital Imphal, she said her long campaign had not worked. “I went on a fast for about 16 years thinking I could change the system, but I now realise that this will not yield any result. “So I decided to end my fast and join politics and then fight for the cause that I undertook this mission for — justice,” she told journalists, speaking in her native Metei language. Irom is campaigning for the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which covers large parts of the northeast and the restive state of Kashmir.

It gives Indian forces sweeping powers to search, enter property and shoot on sight, and has been criticised as a cover for human rights abuses. The Indian government says security forces need the powers to help them battle multiple rebel groups whose long-standing demands range from secession to greater autonomy and land rights. – Frail but determined – Amnesty International India campaigner Abhirr VP called Irom’s hunger strike “a testament to her passion for human rights, and her belief that a draconian law like the AFSPA has no place in any society”.

Irom began her fast on November 2, 2000 after allegedly witnessing the killing of 10 people by the army at a bus stop near her home. Two weeks ago she surprised supporters by declaring she would end it to stand as an independent candidate in state elections to be held next year. “My fight so far has been all alone and so I have decided to wage a war against the (AFSPA) act democratically by becoming a lawmaker instead of continuing with my fast,” she told reporters at the time.

On Tuesday she appeared frail but determined as she spoke to reporters, the plastic tubing still taped to her nose. After the hearing she was taken back to the hospital where she has spent much of the past 16 years to complete the legal formalities of her bail. Magistrate Lamkkhanpau Tonsing said she was being released after submitting bail of 10,000 rupees ($150) and a written pledge to stop her fast. It is not clear whether she will return to the family home — she has said she would like to marry her fiance, a British national of Indian origin who she met after starting her fast. Doctors have said she will need medical help to begin eating again. Amnesty International declared her a Prisoner of Conscience in 2013 and she has received several prestigious international prizes, including a lifetime achievement award from the Asian Human Rights Commission. But support in her home state has waned in recent years. Irom’s brother Singhajit told journalists she would either contest the election as an independent candidate or form a new party to “fight for the causes of the people of Manipur”.

PENGASSAN, NUPENG Call Off Strike

Posted on July 13, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria have called off their strike after a meeting with the Federal Government.

Leadership of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, yesterday met with the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige and the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu,

Credit: Vanguard

Dickson, Bayelsa Doctors Meet To Avert Strike

Posted on June 28, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa has met with officials of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in the state to avert impending strike by medical practitioners over backlog of five month salary arrears.

The NMA in Bayelsa had on June 6 issued a 21-day strike notice which lapsed on Monday.

The strike notice, dated June 6, was for the three affiliates of NMA in the state.

Dr Israel Jeremaih, the state Chairman of NMA, confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Yenagoa that the association met with Dickson on Monday over the strike notice.

Jeremaih said that the NMA executives in Bayelsa had scheduled a congress at the association’s secretariat in Yenagoa to review the ‘offer’ made by the governor and take a decision on the strike.

“Yes, we (leadership) met with Bayelsa Governor on Monday and had discussions, and we shall table the deliberations before NMA congress which will decide on the next line of action,” Jeremaih said.

The NMA noted that the non-payment of salary in Bayelsa since January 2016 had taken a negative toll on the health sector as residents could no longer afford to seek medical attention and compelled to either patronise quacks or resort to self-medication.

Credit: Guardian

Resident Doctors Suspend Strike

Posted on June 22, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The leadership of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has agreed to suspend its strike at a meeting with other health sector stakeholders on Tuesday.

The Association’s leadership also appealed to members to suspend the strike until the next meeting scheduled for July 14.

The decision emanated from the meeting between resident doctors and other stakeholders, organised by the Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogàra in Abuja.
The meeting will reconvene in three weeks to review progress made in the implementation of agreements reached in the meeting slated for July

Credit: NAN

Shelve Strike To Allow Dialogue, Fayose Tells Ekiti Workers

Posted on June 2, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, has urged workers in the state to call off their strike to allow for dialogue.

The governor stated that in the meantime, the salary for local government workers is ready for payment, while the little resources that have come to the state are ready for sharing but this cannot be done because civil servants who are on strike have critical roles to play in the disbursement of the funds.

The governor noted that until the workers resume, nothing can be done. Governor Fayose said this yesterday in Ado-Ekiti through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi. Fayose, who expressed sympathy with the striking workers and the inconveniences the current financial situation in the country is causing them, said that the financial condition of the country might not get better soon. While saying that the issue of irregular payment of workers was not limited to Ekiti, the governor urged the workers to note that the country was in a recession and that the state depends much on statutory allocations.

He said he had foreseen the current situation which made him to be transparent in the handling of finances of the state and had always put all the cards on the table for labour leaders and others to see. “I have not hidden anything from the labour leaders and what our dear state is experiencing now has been aggravated by the mindless borrowings of the immediate past administration in the state. The state is paying about N1 billion monthly to service the bond and the commercial loans they took. If that did not happen, we would have had such money to add to our monthly allocations.

Credit: Vanguard

Dana Air Pilots Go On Strike, Passengers Stranded

Posted on May 26, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Dana Air pilots have gone on strike in protest of the non-payment of their salaries, grounding the airline’s operations and leaving hundreds of passengers stranded nationwide.

“The strike started this morning and passengers that were supposed to travel this morning are stranded,” a source at the airport said.

According to the source, the airline had continued to sell tickets to passengers earlier today in the hope that the dispute would be resolved.

It was gathered that the airline has, however, started making refunds with some passengers booking flights with other airlines.

Credit: Punch

FG Praises NLC For Suspending Strike

Posted on May 24, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Federal Government has praised the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for suspending its five-day-old strike.

The Ayuba Wabba-led NLC had embarked on a nationwide strike on May 18 to protest government’s decision to increase the pump price of petrol from N86.50 to N145.00.

The Minister for Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who gave the commendation on the sideline of an interactive session with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Lagos on Monday, said the suspension of the strike was a win situation for Nigeria.

“Nigeria has won, and I want to take this opportunity to thank the NLC for reconsidering their position and agreeing to join us in negotiation.

“So, it is not who has won, but (it is) Nigeria that has won.’’

He expressed the Federal Government‘s commitment to actualising its change agenda through sustained communication between it and Nigerians.

According to him, stakeholders’ meetings will further enhance information flow between government and the citizenry.

“There is nothing like the government continuously engaging the people; you notice that we started this about a month or so ago when we started with our town hall meetings.

“We started in Lagos, moved to Kaduna; we will be in Kano on Friday.

“We have also been meeting with sectoral groups; we’ve met with the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria); we are going to meet with the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission.

“I believe that it is the beginning of trying to bridge the gap between the governed and the government and it is extremely fruitful.

“We’ve heard you, and learnt a lot as well; but more importantly is that we’ve been able to explain to you why certain actions were taken.”

The minister further said that his ministry would hold quarterly meetings with the CSOs in order to engage Nigerians on national issues.

“This is not going to be a one-of engagement.

“The next time we (will) come with three or four ministers, depending on what issues are prevalent.’’

(NAN)

NLC Calls Off Strike

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday suspended the nationwide strike it embarked upon last Wednesday to protest the hike in the price of petrol by the Federal Government.
The government in a statement last night welcomed the decision by NLC and expressed readiness to return to the negotiation table.

NLC president, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, announced the suspension of the 4-day strike action to journalists in Abuja after an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the body.
He said, “NEC after due consultations with its constituents resolved to suspend with immediate effect, the action it commenced on Wednesday, May 18, 2016. The action is thus hereby suspended.’’
Wabba said the NLC would resume negotiations with the government on the twin issues of hike in electricity tariff and petroleum products as well as any other issue that might arise thereof.
He urged the government to play by the rules in its engagement with its constituent part, stakeholders and non-state actors as proof of its commitment to deepening democracy.
Wabba said that the union’s action was taken in the best interest of the poor and in drawing government’s attention to the dangers of relying on importation of petroleum products as a sustainable strategy for making available petroleum products. He added that posterity would prove its position right.
He said the Congress adjudged the protest action to be successful in spite of both internal and external challenges.

Credit: dailytrust

Bayelsa Workers Begin Strike Today Over Unpaid Salaries

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Civil servants in Bayelsa State will on Thursday (today) proceed on an indefinite strike over months of salary arrears owed by the state government.

This is just as the 21-day ultimatum issued by workers’ unions to the Bayelsa State Government to pay all outstanding salaries and allowances elapsed on Wednesday (yesterday).

The state chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress had issued an ultimatum to the government on Thursday, April 28, 2016.

They had warned that at the end of the ultimatum, they would take an action against the government if it failed to comply with their demands.

State workers are currently owed four months’ salaries with pensioners being owed seven months’ arrears even as local government council workers are being owed 12 months’ unpaid salaries.

The NLC and the TUC, in a joint meeting on Wednesday at their council’s secretariat in Yenagoa, resolved that they could no longer guarantee the existing industrial harmony the state.

The unions said the decision to proceed on strike became imperative as government had refused to yield to their demands to relieve workers of the huge economic pains they were going through.

Bayelsa State NLC Chairman, Ndiomu John-Bipre, and the state TUC Chairman, Tari Dounana, said that the two labour groups in Bayelsa resolved to join the ongoing nationwide strike arising from the hike in the price of fuel and electricity.

A statement by the two groups said, “The council-in-session has also resolved that due to the inability of the state government to measure up to the demands of workers arising from the non-payment of salaries from January till date, workers are directed to proceed immediately on an indefinite strike, taking effect from Thursday, May 19, 2016.

“Workers are by this development advised to stay off their places of work and remain at home as long as the strike may last.”

Credit: Punch

Fuel Price: Youths Urge Labour To Cancel Planned Strike

Posted on May 17, 2016 by Staff Reporter

A group of youths under the aegis of Buhari Youth Organisation, has called on the Nigerian Labour Congress to cancel its planned strike in protest against increase in price of petrol.

The call is contained in a statement signed by the group’s National President, Mr Ubale Nalado and made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

The statement said NLC should join other workers unions that have declared support for the increase in the price of petrol, as a sacrifice for the future of the nation’s economy.

It said that the group was confident that the Buhari administration possessed the sincerity of purpose to judiciously use the savings from the removal for subsidy to build critical national infrastructure.

According to the statement, Buhari’s antecedents as an elder statesman further laid credence to the fact that his personal interest would never supersede the national interest.

“It is very conspicuous that President Buhari who would never allow his personal interest to be above that of the Nigerian masses.

“Significant percentage of Nigerians agreed with the decision of the NNPC to deregulate the sector.

“They also believe and trust President Buhari’s administration on using the savings from the removed subsidy to build our infrastructure.

The group, therefore, called on the NLC to rethink their position by adopting the opinions and interest of the larger society who have agreed to support the position of government.
It reiterated its determination to intensify their collective effort towards sensitising and propagating the economic policies and ideology of the President for overall development of the country.

The statement added that the NLC should support the current administration in its avowed commitment to creating growth through massive diversification of the economy.

Credit: Guardian

Fuel Price Hike: NLC, TUC, To Go Ahead With Strike Despite Court Order

Posted on May 17, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Despite an order of the National Industrial Court restraining the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress from going ahead with their planned strike to protest the hike in price of petrol, the strike will go ahead as planned on Wednesday, labour officials have said.

The General Secretary of the NLC, Peter Ozo-Eson, on Tuesday night told Premium Times that from all indications the strike would go on as planned.

On the meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, earlier convened to attempt to broker a last minute truce on the matter, Mr. Ozo-Eson said the meeting was yet to hold at about 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

“There was no resolution yet. We are just going for the meeting now. ,” the NLC scribe said on telephone interview. “We have been meeting on our own on matters that are important to us. It is clear the strike will go ahead as planned,” Mr. Ozo-Eson said on telephone on his way to the venue of the meeting.

He however assured that an official statement would be issued on the final position after what promises to be an all-night meeting.

The General Executive Secretary of Medical and Health Workers Union, north central, Richard Gbamwuan, in an interview with this newspaper, shortly after an emergency NEC meeting of the NLC held in Abuja on Tuesday, said that they were going ahead with the proposed strike.

“We have resolved to go ahead with the protest nationwide, as far as we are concerned, we are yet to be aware of any court injunction,” he said.

“And if there is any court injunction, we are just doing what federal government is fond of doing. The same Industrial court had stopped federal government from increasing electric tariff but till date federal government ignored us, they still went ahead, so we are embarking on the protest.”

Credit: PremiumTimes

Industrial Court Halts Proposed NLC Strike

Posted on May 17, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The National Industrial Court on Tuesday stopped ?the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress from embarking on their planned strike over the increase in fuel price by the federal Government.

The labour unions had threatened to commence a nationwide strike on Wednesday.

Justice Babatunde Adejumo gave the restraining order after the Attorney General of the Federation, and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, argued an ?ex parte application in which the prayer for the order was contained.

Justice Adejumo ruled, “The defendants are hereby restrained from carrying out the threat contained in their communique issued on May 14, 2016 pending the hearing and determination of the ?motion on notice filed on May 16.

“It is the order of this court that status quo be maintained as at May 17?.”

The order being an interim one will last for seven days, although it is subject to renewal.

The judge also ordered that the processes in the case be served on the respondents within 24 hours and that proof of service be filed in the court.

“It is the order of this court that none of the parties shall engage in any act, conduct, overtly, covertly on this matter pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice,” Justice Adejumo added.

The judge transferred the hearing of the substantive case to another judge of the court on the grounds that he would be engaged at the National Judicial Council when the matter would be deemed for hearing.

The judge said although he would preferred that the dispute be resolved amicably, he was constrained to issue the ex parte order because the respondents were not yet before him.

He also said that he granted the order to make sure that people were not subjected to avoidable hardship.

He said ,”I decided to take this case this morning because it is on an issue that will affect everybody. I don’t want people to be subjected to hardship. There will be scarcity of foods, people may die, students will engage in all sorts of activities. This is why I have to grant this order.”

Malami, while moving the ex parte application, said it was in the national interest to stop NLC from shutting down the nation over last week’s increase in price of fuel.

He cited Section 14 of the 1999 Constitution as amended to justify his application to stop the strike.

Malami argued that ?no amount of damages could serve as compensation if NLC was allowed to shut down the economy.

He further argued that the balance of convenient was in favour of the government.

Malami said that labour met on Saturday and issued a communique wherein it gave government a three-day ultimatum to reverse the decision increasing fuel price.

He further told the court that NLC had threatened to shut down the country if government failed to reverse the fuel price increase.

He told the court that the respondents had threatened to close down all government offices, seaport, airports and markets.

He contended that ordinary and law abiding citizens would be subjected to hardship if the respondents were allowed to go ahead with their threat.

Malami argued that the government was left with no alternative but to seek the intervention of the court.

He said that he got notice of the communique on Sunday and quickly filed an originating summons, together with motion on notice and an exparte application to determine whether NLC’s decision was justified in the circumstance.

Among other questions put before the court, Malami asked the court to determine, “Whether the respondents (NLC, Trade Union Congress) have complied with the laid down condition precedent for embarking on strike?.

“Whether indeed there exist in law and in fact the basis of which the respondents’ total closure of the economy can be justified.”

Credit: Punch

Kogi Workers To Resume Strike Over Non-Payment Of Salaries

Posted on April 26, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Organised labour in Kogi said on Monday in Lokoja that it would resume strike to impress it on the state government on the need to pay outstanding five-month salary arrears to workers.

This is contained in a communiqué issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) at the end of an emergency meeting.

The communiqué was jointly signed by Mr Onuh Edoka, the state NLC Chairman; Mr Ojo Ranti Matthew, Chairman of TUC and Mr Aaron Akeji, the Chairman of JNC.

The communiqué stated that previous promises by the state government to pay the salary arrears had not been kept.

It also condemned the payment of salary in piecemeal; adding that salaries for the months of October and November, 2015 were paid three months after each of the month was due.

The communiqué also decried the exclusion of workers employed between January and December, 2015 from receiving the November, 2015 salaries.

It urged the state government to pay those affected because they worked for the month.

According to the communiqué, “the state government is claiming that the employment of the concerned workers was irregular, since there was an embargo on employment in the state.’’

In a reaction, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, the Chief Press Secretary to Gov.Yahaya Bello, said it would be inappropriate for the workers to blame the government for the failure of the past administrations.

Fanwo said Bello’s administration was able to offset two months’ salary arrears within his 57 days in office.

“Labour was on an indefinite strike before the inauguration of the present administration, but the governor intervened to settle the industrial dispute”, he said.

He said the governor would undertake a holistic appraisal of the situation after the ongoing screening exercise with a view to addressing the salary issue once and for all.

Students Shut Down UNIPORT Over New Fees Policy

Posted on April 11, 2016 by Staff Reporter

UNIVERSITY of Port Harcourt students have grounded academic activities in the institution over a new school fees policy introduced by the management.

The protesting students said they would not accept the school’s new policy of no fee no examination, adding that it was a means of mistreating the students.

The students who started protesting around 4:30am had blocked the East-West Road, stopping vehicular and human traffic.

The students said they would continue protesting until they were addressed by the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Sunday Lale.

As of when this report was filed, no representative from the institution had come to address the protesters.

It was learnt that the school was supposed to commence examinations today.

More to follow…

Source – Punchng.com

Doctors To Commence Indefinite Strike April 25

Posted on April 5, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Others were the reversal of sacked members in some hospitals as well as appropriate funding of residency training programme. Askira noted that some of their members in states tertiary hospitals in Osun, Imo, Ekiti, Abia and Kogi, among others, had not been paid salaries ranging from three to eight months, adding that labourers deserved their wages. He described that of Osun State government as worrisome, noting that it had remained at ease in spite of the total collapse of the healthcare delivery in the state and its attendant loss of lives.

He said: “We note the undue sack of our members from some of the training institutions. Additionally, the delay in effecting the pension deductions of our members was regrettably noted. “Whereas a labour deserves his wages, we note that some of our members in some state owned tertiary hospitals have not been paid salaries ranging from three to eight months. “Most notable are LAUTECH, Ogbomoso in Osun State, IMSUTH, Orlu in Imo State, Kogi Specialist Hospital, ABSUT, Aba in Abia State and Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital.

“Most worrisome is the government of Osun State that remains unperturbed despite the total collapse of health care delivery in the state and its attendant loss of lives. “We note with dismay the inappropriate placement and remuneration of our members in states and federal tertiary hospitals across the nation. As such, most hospitals are paying our members only fractions. “Most hospitals are paying our members only fractions of their salaries, notably FETHA Abakiliki, FMC Umuahia, ABUTH Zaria, UNTH Enugu, among others, while in UCH Ibadan, UBTH Benin City, LUTH Idi-Araba, FMC Owerri, ISTH Irua, and NOH Dala November and December 2015 salaries are yet to be paid.” Askira, however, urged the government to adequately fund hospitals at all levels and upgrade existing facilities in public hospitals in line with international best practices.

“We implore government to adequately fund hospitals at all levels and upgrade existing facilities in our hospitals in line with international best practices which will go a long way to curb the menace of foreign medical tourism. “We urge governments at all levels to release and implement residency training guidelines with appropriate budgetary backing. “Our association will no longer tolerate the undue sack of resident doctors and demands immediate reversal of such.

We also urge government at all levels to strictly comply with pension deductions act as amended,” he said. Asked about the consequences of the association’s action following the “no work, no pay rule” by the Federal Government, Askira said such a threat did not bother the association, and that government had no moral justification for it. He said: “The issue of no work, no pay is a matter of law, and we are law abiding. But we are working for months without pay. We are ready for it. We are making demands that are primarily the responsibilities of government. Government can’t rule out strike when it fails to play its part. Doctors in some hospitals have not been paid since December.”

Credit: NationalMirror

LUTH ARD Remains Adamant On strike, Patients Decry Action

Posted on March 15, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Chapter, Idi-Araba, on Monday resolved to continue with its indefinite strike as patients decried the action.

The president of the association, Dr Akinwunmi Afolabi, stated this in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.

He said that the doctors would not suspend their action which commenced on Friday.

NAN Correspondents, who visited the hospital, report that only the resident doctors were not working, while other categories of health workers were seen rendering skeletal services.

Two patients who spoke to NAN, expressed their disappointment with the doctors’ action and urged them to resume work in order to save lives.

“The strike will continue until the management meets up the association’s demands.

“Our challenges include: epileptic power supply leading to cancellation of surgeries and procedures to the detriment of patients and extreme discomfort to the doctors and patients during consultations.

“Epileptic water supply with attendant risk of infection spreading in the hospital and poor working environment in most of our consulting rooms.

“Also, non-availability of medical consumables and working materials necessary for daily clinical activities.

“Poor state of call rooms and discriminatory taxation of our members should be addressed,’’ Afolabi said.

The president said that non-payment of December 2015 salary, outstanding arrears, relativity arrears, upgrade arrears and training sponsorship arrears to the doctors were some other demands.

“We are committed to the emergence of an efficient and sustainable health system for the benefit of all Nigerians,’’ he said.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of LUTH, Mr Kelechi Otuneme, told NAN that the management was trying all its best to address the demands of the striking resident doctors.

“The management is aware of the strike but everything is under control because we have met the doctors.

“Our patients are being attended to, the strike has not stopped medical activities in the hospital,’’ Otuneme said.

A cancer patient, who pleaded anonymity, appealed to the doctors to resume work in order to save her life.

“I started my chemotherapy last week and suppose to continue today but nobody attended to me.

“I am appealing to the hospital management to heed the demands of the doctors and prevent further delay of medical treatment of patients,’’ she said.

Another patient, Mr Saidi Ajayi, said that he visited the hospital to get a medical report.

Ajayi said he was surprised on getting to the hospital to learn that the doctors were on strike.

(NAN)

NUPENG, PENGASSAN Suspend Strike

Posted on March 10, 2016 by Staff Reporter

There is a big relief nationwide among citizens, following the suspension of national strike embarked upon by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG), and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

The PENGASSAN President, Comrade Johnson Francis told Channels Television on Thursday, that the action was taken after the intervention of the Presidency and the clarification made by the Petroleum Ministry.

PENGASSAN’s acting General Secretary Lumumba Okugbawa adds that the decision was taken after 10 hours of talk, ending at about 3am between the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu, NNPC Executives and union officials.

“Management agreed that there would be further collaboration … with a view to considering any suggested amendments. Our input would be taken into consideration,”

The unions have been directed to resume work and ensure that there is adequate supply of fuel.

Mr Johnson also called on Nigerians to bear with the unions, assuring that everything is under control to ensure the fuel crisis do not linger for long.

Credit: ChannelsTv

‘Why We Are Opposed To The Unbundling Of NNPC’ – Oil workers

Posted on March 9, 2016 by Staff Reporter

NNPC workers who started a national wide strike this morning over the unbundling of the national oil corporation, say they are opposed to the new policy because the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, did not consult with all parties involved in the before announcing the unbundling.

In an interview with Premium times, the Acting General Secretary of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, Lumumba Okugbawa, said PENGASSAN, and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, will not accept the unilateral restructuring

“We do not accept any unilateral and arbitrary restructuring. The minister cannot restructure NNPC without carrying all stakeholders along. The minister cannot run the industry as a private estate. He must carry all Nigerians along. With such a massive decision-making, a lot of things would be affected, particularly its implication on workers interest. We are unaware of what is happening. It is not fair that the workers are hearing about the restructuring in the media just like every other person. He is just creating unnecessary confusion in the polity. If the minister says he wants to restructure NNPC, has he repealed or amended the NNPC Act of 1977? What happens to the PIB (Petroleum Industry Bill), which has NNPC restructuring as one of its key objectives? Has it been jettisoned, or is there a new PIB? These are fundamental questions that the minister has to answer”he said

Sack Of 3,000 Workers: Labour Urges Imo Residents To Stockpile Foodstuff

Posted on February 9, 2016 by Staff Reporter

As the 14-day ultimatum given to the Imo State Government to recall 3000 sacked workers and clear months of salary arrears among others, expires, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has urged the residents of the state to stock-pile food stuff and prepare for a long battle to force the government to yield to labour demands.

Congress called on civil society allies, market women, elders and community leaders including students to join forces with in order to restore sanity to the state.

A statement by Mr. Igwe Achese, President of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, and a member of the six-man action committee on Imo set up by leaders of the two factions of NLC, insisted that the planned industrial action would not only cripple the government in Imo State, but would help it to understand and appreciate the principles of respect for the moral and legal rights of her workers and citizens.

According to the statement, “It is important to inform the Governor that the movement is united on this if he is consoling himself with current events in the Congress.

His disappointment should also increase if he knows that the Congress has set up a Joint Action Committee, JAC, to oversee our engagement with his government. We hope that this will send a clear message of our determination to get him to align with the sovereign will of the people and workers in Imo State.

“We know the capacity for chicanery which the government possesses. Perhaps that is what has emboldened the unlawful actions he is bent on foisting on the workers in the state but we assure the government that we are fully prepared. We have seen all manners of wicked behaviour directed against Nigerian workers in the past and fortunately, we have withered all of them and are still standing unbent.

We assure the government that after this struggle, we shall remain standing as this has always been the historical truth. The Police are also advised not to collude with the government to continue suppressing the people because it will only add to the battered image of the force and will not stop the people from expressing their desire for equity, justice and fairness.

“We call on our allies in the civil society movement, market women and men, businessmen, elders and community leaders including students to join forces with us as we prepare to restore sanity to Governance in Imo state.

We advise residents of Imo state especially those in Owerri to stockpile food and other necessities as we will go the entire hog to ensure that the government is made to subject itself to the sovereign will of the people.

We also warn those who use the roads that may lead in or out of Owerri to seek other routes as traffic in these areas will be seriously affected.”

Credit : Vanguard

Sack Of 3,000 Workers: Imo Govt Begs Labour To Shelve Strike

Posted on February 8, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Imo State Government has appealed to the state and national leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, to consider the long standing cordial relationship existing between them and drop their planned shutdown of the state.

Labour had threatened to shut down the state if Governor Rochas Okorocha failed to recall the over 3,000 workers of the 19 parastatals, agencies and departments, which he summarily sacked recently.

According to a press statement signed on behalf of the Governor by his Chief Press Secretary, CPS, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, government appealed to labour not to embark on any strike that would not benefit anyone.

“The national leadership of the NLC should be patriotic enough to advise the leadership of the NLC in the state to honour their invitations to participate in the high-powered 18 – member committee set up by the state governor to review the cases of the staff affected by the suspension in question, so that the matter can be resolved amicably in the spirit of no victor, no vanquished”, Okorocha pleaded.

While recalling that the inauguration of the committee could not take place last Tuesday, because the Labour Representatives did not come for the exercise, Okorocha equally recalled that the Committee has the state NLC Chairman, the Trade Union Congress, TUC Chairman, the State Chairman of Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, and the Chairman of National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, as members. Others chosen from labour unions are the Representative of Magistrates Association of Nigeria, Representative of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Imo State University, IMSU, Imo Polytechnic, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Chairman of Imo State branch of Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, and representative of the Judiciary Service Union of Nigeria, JUSUN.

Credit: Vanguard

SSANU Suspends Strike

Posted on February 5, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has suspended its one month old industrial action and directed its members to return to work on Monday.

The National President of the association, Mr Samson Ugwoke, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos of the developments on telephone on Friday.

Ugwoke told NAN that the resolution to suspend the strike was taken after the association met with officials of the Ministry of Labour and other concerned stakeholders on Feb. 2.

“We had a meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 2 with the Ministry of Labour and other concerned stakeholders.

“At that meeting, it was resolved that we suspend the action and call our members back to work.

“We want to give room for Labour and other people involved to sit over the matter.

“We shall be going back to work on Monday, based on the outcome of the meeting.

“That is why I am calling on our members to remain calm, go back to work as directed, while we leave the issue with the leadership of the association to handle the matter.

“As we speak, members are having congresses in their respective institutions to take stock of the strike while it lasted.

“They are also deliberating on the new development,” he said.

Ugwoke said that the association was equally expecting the National Universities Commission (NUC) to ask the Vice-Chancellors to stop further issuance of sack letters to workers of their staff schools and retrieve the ones already issued.

“I sincerely want to salute members for complying with the stay-at-home order.

“It created the necessary impact and made our position known and so far, I want to express deep satisfaction with the turnout of events,” he said.

NAN recalls that the association had, on Dec. 24, 2015, begun a total and indefinite strike over plans by government to retrench more than 2000 teachers of staff schools of public universities nationwide.

The association had described the planned retrenchment as an attempt to desecrate the sanctity of an agreement which the Federal Government signed with it in 2009.

It said the action by government, if carried out, would bring untold hardship to members of the association.

(NAN)

Water Corporation Workers Begin Indefinite Strike In Kwara

Posted on January 27, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Workers of Kwara State Water Corporation on Tuesday embarked on indefinite strike following the refusal of the management to pay their four months’ salary.

The workers under the aegis Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) accused the management of not paying September to December 2015 salaries.

Chairman of the union, Mr Murtala Kadir told newsmen that the workers would not return to their duty post until their four months salaries were fully paid. He also accused the management of not remitting deductions of workers cooperative dues from February to July 2O15, which he said totaled N40.2 million. “Also, three months outstanding arrears of N3, 000 salary increments of workers on grade level 07 and above amounting to N1.890 million were not paid,” Kadir said.

The chairman complained that workers due for promotion from 2013 to 2O15 were not promoted. He accused the management of not remitting deductions of union dues from November 2O14 to December 2015 to the account of the union. Kabir also accused the management of non-remittance of National Housing Fund (NHF) deducted from the workers’ salaries to the NHF office.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that workers converged at the entrance of the corporation as early as 6.45 am, locked the gate and chase workers out of the offices. The leadership of the union had earlier appealed to the management of the corporation to pay all their entitlements and effect the promotion of workers due for promotion.

The Commissioner for Water Resources Mr Rasak Akorede, pleaded with them to resume work and promised them that government would look into their plight.

UNIJOS ASUU Calls Off Strike After Three Months

Posted on January 21, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the University of Jos (UNIJOS) has suspended the three month old industrial action embarked upon to press home their demands from the school authority.

Rising from an emergency congress meeting of the association at the union’s secretariat in Jos, the Branch Chairman, Chris Piwun, expressed satisfaction with the agreement arrived between the union and the school as well as the conduct of the members which resulted in suspending the industrial action.

Students of UNIJOS have been at home for three months, following the strike embarked on by their lecturers over several issues affecting the academic staff of the university.

Issues in contention include payment of deductions from the academic staff union members, post graduate allowance, absorption of the staff of remedial science and Centre for Continuing Education into parent departments.

Credit: ChannelsTV

Medical Director Appeals To Health Workers To Call Off Strike

Posted on January 5, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Dr Peter Alabi, the Chief Medical Director, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), has appealed to members of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses to call off their warning strike.

The union on Monday embarked on a three-day warning strike to press home its demand for payment of one year teaching allowance to its members on grade levels 7 and 8.

Alabi told newsmen that negotiations to resolve the issue was ongoing and called on the union to suspend its action.

“It is true that we owe them only one year allowance, but only nine staffers are affected. Knowing that there is no money in circulation, we have been able to meet two out of the three demands they made.

We have made efforts before this strike to dialogue with the union, but we were not able to get a good representation from them,’’ he said.

Alabi appealed to the public to bear with the management of the hospital as efforts were being made to ensure that things were brought to normalcy.

According to the director, health is a team work, adding that doctors on ground had been doing their best to ensure that health services are rendered to patients.

He called on the union to consider the sufferings of the populace, especially patients, who could afford private hospital bills and end the strike.

(NAN)

Nigerian Army, Boko Haram In Fatal Gun Battle, Suicide Bombers Strike

Posted on December 27, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Gunmen believed to be members of the Boko Haram were on Sunday evening involved in a shoot-out with soldiers in Aladuwari village – about 2 km away from Maiduguri.

The attackers arrived the area at about 6 p.m. local time. Also at about 8 p.m., two suicide bombers, believed to be females, detonated explosives near FOMWAN school in Jiddari area of Maiduguri. The casualty figure from the explosions is yet to be ascertained.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Resident Doctors Threaten Strike In FCT

Posted on September 28, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Association of Resident Doctors, ARD, yesterday accused the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, of taking action capable of provoking doctors to resume their suspended strike by ignoring their demands.

In a press statement issued by president of the association, Dr. Isaac Akerele, the doctors said that they had “been doing everything possible to avert industrial action but the attitude of the government is disheartening to the association.”

Akerele described the actions and inactions of the FCTA as ‘‘deliberate to cause tension in the health sector.”

Read More: nationalmirroronline

Herdsmen Strike Again In Plateau State, Kill 20

Posted on September 18, 2015 by Staff Reporter

At least 20 people were killed and 30 houses razed in a fresh attack by gunmen who stormed a local community in Plateau State, residents said on Thursday.

Scores of people were also injured in the attack on Tuesday, said locals in Kadunung community, alleging that the attackers came from a nearby Barkin Ladi district of the state.

Plateau State police spokesperson Abu Emmanuel confirmed the incident to Xinhua, but declined to give actual figure of casualties.

Investigators have launched a probe into the attack, the police spokesperson said, adding the details would be made available to the public at due time.

“We received a report that unknown gunmen invaded Kadunung village around 1:00 pm (1200 GMT) and in the process about five people were killed and several houses burnt,” state police spokesman Emmanuel Abuh said.

Read More: dailytimes

Boko Haram Horsemen Strike Again, Kill 26

Posted on September 3, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Insurgents rode on horses to remote Kolori and Ba’ana Imam villages in Damboa Local Government Area where they opened fire on villagers, killing no fewer than 26 people.

One of the leaders of youth vigilance group; Civilian JTF in Biu told Daily Sun that many of the villagers fled to Biu on Tuesday, a day after the attack.

“The attack occurred on Monday evening. Some Boko Haram insurgents rode to Kolori on horses at about 5.35pm and were firing at residents and shooting into houses. Accounts from the people show 18 people were killed at Kolori and eight at Ba’ana Imam village. More than 12 people were injured,” he disclosed on telephone.

He said the insurgents reportedly carted away foodstuffs, livestocks and looted their houses of other essential needs.

Read More: sunnewsonline

Two Suicide Bombers Strike Maiduguri Checkpoint, Kill Soldier

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Two male suicide bombers creeping around a military checkpoint at about mid night Tuesday in Maiduguri, Borno state capital, set off the bombs they wore killing a soldier and injuring a young woman, security sources said.

The attack came after nearly four weeks of respite for the troubled city.

Speaking under the condition of anonymity, a witness, who is also commander of the youth vigilante, Civilian-JTF, in Ngomari Area of the city, told journalists that the two suicide bombers were killed instantly, alongside one of the airforce personnel on duty at the checkpoint.

“I was there on duty with the soldiers when the incident happened at about 11 p.m. At that time the curfew hours was getting serious and movements of both vehicles and pedestrians have begun to reduce,” said the Civilian-JTF Commander.

Read More: premiumtimesng

Prostitutes In Anambra Threaten To Go On Strike, Set Market Ablaze

Posted on August 19, 2015 by Staff Reporter

At least 2,000 prostitutes in southern Anambra state threatened to go on strike Wednesday after local government officials demolished their brothels where they lived next to a cattle market in the state capital Awka. The commercial sex workers accused the officials of destroying their business without notice.

The Anambra State Urban Development Board allegedly stormed the brothels Monday afternoon near the border community of Amansea with more than 50 armed police officers on the suspicion that the structures were being used as hideouts for kidnappers and other criminals. Shortly after authorities demolished their homes, the angry prostitutes set the cattle market ablaze.

“We are decent people. We do our business and go our way. We don’t harbor criminals. After all, most of the people that visit us are government officials. They want me to expose them?” the leader of the prostitutes, who gave her name as Rachel, said during an interview with Punch newspaper. “They destroyed our center and left behind other huts, kiosks and canteens that belong to the Hausa cattle traders. Is that justice? Don’t those one harbor kidnappers and criminals?”

Read More: sunnewsonline

Obasanjo persuaded us to call off strike – UCH Resident doctors

Posted on August 18, 2015 by Staff Reporter

After 105 days of strike, resident doctors of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, returned to work on Monday after former President Olusegun Obasanjo had intervened.

The President of the association in the UCH, Dr. Lukman Ogunjimi, who thanked the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes for also intervening in the crisis, said Obasanjo invited all major players in the crisis, including those from other affected teaching hospitals in the South-West, for a meeting on August 12, 2015 in Abeokuta, where it was decided that the strike should be suspended.

He said clinical services in the UCH had been hampered by infrastructural collapse, like non-working patients’ elevators, with attending negative health implications for members of staff. Other services, like lack of laboratory materials and disposables, he said, were also there.

He said, “The meeting was facilitated by the first Director of Administration in UCH, Doja Adewolu, who is an Egba High Chief. He was concerned that patients were suffering while the strike continued, just as we were concerned also. The President of the Association of Resident Doctors in the UCH; Lagos University Teaching Hospital; Yaba Psychiatric Hospital; Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta; Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria; medical elders and Chief Medical Directors in all the hospitals were present at the meeting. The former president played a fatherly role and persuaded us to return to work while negotiation continues with the hospitals’ managements.”

Ogunjimi said that at the meeting, the hospitals’ managements agreed that there was a letter from the Ministry of Health concerning skipping and that after expressing commitment to honour it in the next budget, the doctors were compelled to return to work.

“Our management has agreed to start working on our agitations locally while the 2016 budget would capture the monetary aspect. A statement of fact, which UCH management did not deny, is that there was an increase of N940m in the personnel subvention of the hospital. Our stand is that this can be used to pay skipping allowance since payment of salary from personnel subvention can never be referred to as misappropriation, more importantly now that the permanent secretary in the health ministry has expressly reiterated the directive for skipping,” he added.

Source : Punch

Tube Strike: London Commuters Deal With Queues And Delays

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Staff Reporter

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Commuters are dealing with long queues and delays as they try navigating London during a strike that has shut down the whole Tube network.

About 250 extra buses have been laid on but there are reports of 200 miles of tailbacks as commuters switch to cars.

The 24-hour strike by four unions began on Wednesday evening and there will be no Tube service until Friday.

Unions are unhappy at conditions offered to drivers on a new Night Tube service due to start next month.

A long-serving LU train driver, who wished to remain anonymous, told BBC News, “We get paid an amazing salary and the holidays are great too [43 days leave including eight bank holidays] but why should I be forced to work nights and more weekends when that is not what I signed up for? It’s about the principle of changing our working conditions without discussions.

“I hate striking but I will continue to do so until the company listens or they make it illegal to strike.

“I feel sorry for commuters but instead of complaining to staff, they should complain to TfL and stand up for their rights too.”

Commuters told the BBC they understood the reasons for the strike but they did not think “the impact on commuters was very fair”.

Traffic was heavier than usual on London’s roads at midday but extra buses have been laid on for the strike and there are hundreds of bicycles available for hire from £2 at a temporary cycle hub in Soho Square, BBC London Travel reports.

At 08:45 BST there were 428 separate traffic jams around the city causing a combined 197 miles (317km) of tailbacks, traffic analysts TomTom said.

That was double the congestion of the same time last week, but it was not as bad as during the previous Tube strike in July when there were 1,445 jams and 761 miles (1,224km) of delays.

The most congested roads were around Parliament Square, with delays of 48 minutes, and on the A40 from Wood Lane to Marylebone Road, with delays of about 30 minutes.

Green Routemaster — RayBanCat took this image of an old bus near Holborn Circus

Coffee shop — “May the odds be ever in your favour” as a coffee shop plays on the Hunger Games and sees the lighter side of the Tube strike

“With many Londoners away on holiday and no school runs, the roads were not as congested this morning as they were during the last strike four weeks ago,” a TomTom spokesman said.

Transport for London said it would have a total fleet of 8,200 buses operating at peak times during the strike with an extra 250 vehicles leased from companies around the country and old buses including Routemasters being brought back into service.

But even those aiming to beat the crowds and setting out on their journeys by 06:00 BST faced travel problems.

Alessandra Bonomolo tweeted: “6:20am. Couldn’t get on the first train – too crowded” while Roxy Baker said: “Not even 6:30 and you can barely get on the 205 at Bow Church… its first stop”.

Penny farthing commuter and travel ambassadors — One commuter on Battersea Bridge took to the penny farthing to get to work while TfL ‘travel ambassadors’ have helped others

Commuters cross the river Thames on the Millennium footbridge during rush hour

People are being encouraged to use alternative modes of transport to reach their destinations.

River bus service MBNA Thames Clippers tweeted: “Piers are very busy at present we’re doing everything we can to ensure passengers reach their destination, thank you for your patience

Source – www.bbc.co.uk

Salary: Osun Government, Workers Meeting Deadlocked, Strike Continues

Posted on July 13, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Moves aimed at ending the seven-week-old industrial action embarked upon by civil servants in Osun State over non-payment of their salaries failed to pay off over the weekend as meeting between the labour and government delegates ended in a stalemate.

Tribune Online gathered that the workers insisted that the only thing that could compel them to call off the strike is the payment of at least two months out of their seven months salaries.

Sources at the meeting held between the Chief of Staff to the governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola and the labour leaders under the leadership of Comrade Jacob Adekomi, who is the chairman of the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) at the weekend in Osogbo, the state capital, informed Tribune Online that the government prevailed on the workers to call off the strike while the labour leaders reportedly insisted that ‘no alert, no resumption.’

According to one of the sources at the meeting, “we could safely aver that the parley was deadlocked as no agreement could be reached between the labour and the government. The leadership of the union stood their ground that bank alert of salaries payment on their handsets of workers would determine when the strike would be called off.”

He further hinted that they told the government representative that if the workers received payment alert on their handsets on Monday, they would call the strike off and workers would resume on Tuesday and if otherwise, the strike continues.

“At Least, if two months could be paid by the government out of the accumulated seven months salaries owed, the strike will be called off for a while while pressure will be mounted to receive the remaining five months in no distant time,”the source added.

Credit – www.tribuneonlineng.com

Cooperate With Gov Aregbesola, APC Charges Osun Assembly

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed its absolute confidence that members of the recently inaugurated State House of Assembly will live up to expectations of the party and the people in contributing to a peaceful and agreeable resolution of all developmental issues that will be addressed by new parliament.
Urging members of the House of Assembly to re-invigorate their proactive legislative responsibilities in co-operation with government, APC charged the lawmakers to make Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s leadership even more spectacularly inventive than it had been in the last four years.
This was the message contained in the congratulatory statement issued by the APC Directorate of Publicity, Strategy & Research signed by its Chief Executive, Barr. Kunle Oyatomi to herald the new session of the House’s activities for the next four years.
The APC recalled that during the 5th Assembly tenure that ended recently, the House worked cohesively in partnership with the APC government to achieve a lot that was acknowledged by the world.
He said “It was this cohesive partnership that strengthened the government and helped the party to withstand the grueling attacks and sabotage which the state PDP and its federal government unsuccessfully launched against Osun in the attempt to snatch power.
“But this new parliament will all the same face daunting challenges that will test the integrity of their determination to serve the people

Strike Imminent In 18 States Over Unpaid Salaries

Posted on May 22, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Imminent strike is said to be looming in 18 states following the inability of some state government to pay their workforce for some months.

The General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, said that the strike has started in Plateau State, adding that a similar exercise will begin in Cross River State and others on Monday.

The states owing salaries or pensions are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Cross River, Ekiti, Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers and Zamfara states.

However, Adamawa, Anambra, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Edo, the FCT, Gombe, Kaduna, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Sokoto and Taraba are not indebted to their workers.

Read More: Punch

Bauchi Workers Threaten Strike Over Unpaid Salaries

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Bauchi State chapter of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), has given Governor Isa Yuguda six-day ultimatum to settle all unpaid salaries or face indefinite strike.

The state chairman of the NLC, Hashimu Gital, gave the ultimatum in a statement issued to newsmen on Thursday in Bauchi. The statement said the government owned workers two months’ salaries; March 2014 and April 2015.

It warned that if the government failed to meet its demand, labour would embark on indefinite strike. “The leadership of organised labour in Bauchi State met on May 6, 2015 and resolved to communicate to Bauchi State Government the following:

“That payment of outstanding salaries of March 2014 and April 2015 should be made on or before May 12, 2015.

“Failure to meet this demand will lead to withdrawal of services of workers indefinitely until the salaries are paid, the statement added”.

In his reaction, the state Head of Service, Abdon Gin, said that the workers were owed only April 2015 salary. He explained that government and organised labour had reached a compromise that the March 2014 salary would be paid in installment. He said that the government and labour were negotiating to resolve the issue before the May 12 deadline.

Credit: NAN

Petrol Scarcity: ?Road Transporters Owners Suspend Strike

Posted on May 2, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria on Friday ?have ?reached an agreement with the National Association of Road Transport Owners to suspend their strike, according to an official. MOMAN Executive Secretary, Femi Olawore, made this known while speaking with journalists on the ongoing impasse with the government over outstanding fuel subsidy payment.

According to him, the marketers are owing members of the transport association about N20 billion and their inability to offset the debt prompted the suspension of the lifting of products.

However, he said, following the release of N154 billion to marketers by the Federal Government as part payment of the subsidy, they had in turn offset part of the debt they owed the transporters. Mr. Olawore said ?the ?government had yet to pay the N200 billion it is owing the marketers as subsidy payment.

He said the the marketers, with the understanding of NARTO members, had given ?the ?government a grace of two weeks to settle the remaining payments. “We have scheduled to meet with the Coordinating Minister of the Economy on Monday, but if the meeting fails to address the issue we have tabled, then we will continue with the action?,?” he warned. According to him, some of their members have started receiving payment.

Workers Shut Down Akwa Ibom Assembly Complex

Posted on April 24, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Workers in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly on Thursday started a three-day warning strike. The strike followed the alleged refusal of the state government to honour the agreement it reached with the workers’ union on the payment and implementation of a new consolidated salary structure.

The aggrieved workers blocked the assembly gates with plantain leaves and other objects, preventing visitors from gaining access to the assembly complex.

The workers also chanted protest songs in front of the assembly complex.

Credit: punchng

PDP Workers On Strike For Non Payment Of Salary

Posted on April 10, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) workers at the party’s national secretariat, Abuja, have gone on strike following the non-payment of their salaries which they said are for three months.

Our Correspondent gathered that the workers, who are mostly youths working as cleaners and messengers, commenced the strike on Tuesday, after all other means to get their pay failed to yield positive results. The party’s national secretariat was very dirty when our reporter visited it as the striking workers refused to perform their duties.

Some of them who came to the secretariat were seen sitting idle, wearing sad look on their faces and complaining that they had been spending their monies on transportation to the secretariat for the past three months without payment.

Read More: www.naijaloaded.com.ng

Ebonyi Workers Embark on Indefinite Strike

Posted on March 10, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Ebonyi State workers have embarked on an indefinite strike with effect from today to press home their demand for payment of September 2011 salaries withheld by the government and the implementation of 2011 minimum wage.

The Chairman of Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC) in the state, Ikechukwu Nwafor, said the union had earlier on December 23, 2014 given the state government 21-day ultimatum after which it embarked on another three-day warning strike on January 21, 2015 to meet their demands but to no avail.

He said: “Following Ebonyi State Government’s unwillingness to meet with the demands of the organized labour with respect to implementation of the submitted report of the committee that revisited the table of the Ebonyi state Civil/Public Salary Structure and September 2011 withheld salaries, the organized labour in Ebonyi State hereby declares an indefinite strike effective from Tuesday, March 10, 2015.”

Read More: SunNewsOnline

Health Workers Commence Indefinite Strike Today; Blame Presidency, Chukwu

Posted on October 16, 2014 by Staff Reporter

Today will see Nigerian health workers under the auspices of Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals commence an indefinite strike. Their reason for the industrial action borders on unresolved leadership crisis in the health sector, non-commencement of residency training programme for health professionals, non-implementation of new call duty allowance and non-payment of arrears.

Disclosing this in Ibadan yesterday, National President of the Union, Felix Faniran said the body was formed to protect the interests of physiotherapists, medical laboratory scientists, pharmacists, occupational therapists, optometrists, dieticians, medical social workers, clinical psychologists, dental therapists and so on.

He accused the Presidency and the now-resigned Minister for Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, of being behind the crisis.

According to Faniran, “In May 2010, the unions in the health sector, under the auspices of Joint Health Sector Unions, presented a memorandum to the government containing some demands. A presidential panel, headed by Justice Abdullahi Gusau, was set up in August to look into the demands.

“This panel was inhibited from carrying out its duties by both the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the Minister of Health, by way of protests and criticisms on the part of NMA, while the minister obstructed the committee by starving it of funds and issuance of circulars to pre-empt the outcome of the panel.

Liberia Health Workers’ Monday Strike, Setback on Ebola Efforts

Posted on October 13, 2014 by Staff Reporter

Thousands of Liberian healthcare workers are set to begin an indefinite strike at midnight on Monday which could undermine the country’s effort to stop the spread of the deadly Ebola virus and leave several hundred patients without care.

Health workers in the West African nation threatened to abandon hundreds of patients in Ebola treatment units, clinics and hospitals if demands for better incentives, working conditions and protective equipment were not met.

A meeting to resolve their grievances on Oct. 10 ended in a deadlock with the government refusing the meet their demands, said George Williams, secretary general of the National Health Workers Association of Liberia.

“The government of Liberia has not changed their posture. They do not want to engage us so that we can talk,” Williams said. “Time is running out, by 1200 midnight on Monday morning, we will be starting the go-slow action.”

Liberia’s deputy health minister Matthew Flomo said the government was not aware of health workers planning to strike.

“What I do know is that the government has reached an agreement with health workers for their payment, which will be as of September, beginning Monday,” Flomo said.

But Williams denied the workers had reached any agreement with the government. He accused the administration of trying to divide the workers.

He, however, acknowledged that the strike would undermine the gains being made in the fight against Ebola in Liberia, but said they were confident the public would understand the reason behind their action.

“The problem is the government. The public should get angry with the government, not with us,” Williams said

“The public is aware that health workers are dying because they are not protected. Nobody is supposed to die while protecting lives, we have been calling on the government to give us protective gear but they are not doing so,” he said.