Tag: Nigeria Labour Congress

  • Labour to FG: Unemployment fuelling kidnapping, militancy

    Labour to FG: Unemployment fuelling kidnapping, militancy

    ABUJA — THE Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, said yesterday that militancy, kidnapping and other social vices in the country would drastically reduce if the federal and the sub-national governments create jobs for the citizenry.

    It also advised that the government create sustainable and not casual jobs, which pay would not sustain a worker for a month.

    This is as the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, said President Bola Tinubu was committed to fulfilling his administration’s promise to build a Nigeria where members of the workforce could attain their full potential.

    Speaking at the official launch of the Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme, LEEP, in Abuja, the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said employment remained the best way to cope with social crisis in the country.

    While noting that people meaningfully engaged would not think of indulging in social vices, Ajaero said: “I want to acknowledge the programme today (yesterday), we in the labour movement identify with any programme that enhances employment. And employment is the best way to cope with our social crisis.

    “People that are engaged, people that are working will not think of other social crises. The level of militancy, kidnapping will be reduced to the barest minimum if we create jobs. And that is why the labour movement identifies with this.

    “If this is properly implemented, Nigeria will be heaven of sort. And I want to say, at any stage where the input of the labour movement is required, where our assistance is required, we’ll be there because it will benefit the people of Nigeria.

    “In the same vein, I pray that it will be a programme that will bring sustainable jobs, not casual jobs, not jobs that the wages will not be able to take you home.”

    While launching the LEEP initiative, the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, said the administration was up-skilling and re-skilling the citizens to prepare them for both jobs that are available and those ahead.

    He noted that the national initiative “is designed to expand employment opportunities, equip Nigerians with critical skills, and drive economic empowerment through innovation and technology.

    “LEEP is the fulfilment of the promise made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to build a national ecosystem where every Nigerian worker can reach his full potential, and where technology enhances, not threatens our labour market.”

    Shettima observed that the government could not have boasted of investing in the citizens unless it was committed to building a system that helped and encouraged their search for work as well as equip them to grow on the job.
    He stated: “The future of work in Nigeria is one that must compel us to rethink the dynamics of a rapidly evolving world. Across continents, the very idea of what constitutes a job is being redefined. Machines are replacing hands. Artificial intelligence is challenging intellects.

    “Traditional employment structures are giving way to fluid, digital ecosystems. Yet, within this uncertainty lies a sea of opportunity, if only we are bold enough to sail it.”

    On what the administration intended to achieve with the LEEP, Shettima said: “The Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme, LEEP, is a well-considered response to a pressing national need. As jobs become increasingly vulnerable to technological disruption, our duty is not to lament but to prepare.

    “LEEP aims to provide comprehensive training that equips our people with the right skills to compete and contribute to today’s global economy.”

    Earlier in his remarks, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State pledged the support and commitment of governors to the successful implementation of the programme.

    He said if the scheme was religiously implemented, the economy would be significantly impacted through the reduction in unemployment and criminality and productive engagement of the citizenry.

    On her part, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mrs Onyejeocha, said the programme was aimed at expanding access to sustainable employment and stimulating vocational training, noting that the current unemployment statistics were a clear and imminent danger for the country’s future.

    She explained that while LEEP was an institutional shift targeted at enhancing training, upskilling and connecting Nigerians to sustainable jobs across different sectors, it would require the collaboration of all stakeholders for the scheme to be successful.

    In his goodwill message, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, said unemployment was among the severe social problems facing youths globally, either directly or remotely, with far-reaching consequences that had multi-faceted implications that could not be ignored. He said: “In Nigeria, this can be attributed to various reasons, which include economic instability due to recessions and depressions, inadequate quality education and training to match available jobs, as well as the difficult circumstances that businesses operate in, which are not conducive for creating new jobs.’’

    In his remarks, the Director General of the National Directorate of Employment, Mr Silas Agara, said LEEP was a bold step by the administration of President Tinubu to decisively address the challenge of unemployment in Nigeria and reposition employment in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration.

    He said LEEP was carefully articulated by the ministry of labour and employment, in collaboration with its parastatals, to, among other goals, equip young Nigerians with employability skills in the bid to create wealth and contribute to the economic development of the country by creating 2.5 million jobs in two years.

    The International Labour Organisation, ILO, Country Director for Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and ECOWAS Liaison Office, Ms. Vanessa Phala, described the programme as Nigeria’s commitment to shaping the lives of its youths.

    “This marks a turning point for our youths to contribute to the growth and development of this country,” she said.

  • NLC demands reversal of telecom tariff hike, threatens shutdown

    NLC demands reversal of telecom tariff hike, threatens shutdown

    The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has condemned the recent 50% tariff hike by telecommunications companies, calling for an immediate reversal to avoid severe consequences.

    Read Also: Subscribers react as MTN raises data prices to reflect 50% tariff hike

    Despite an agreement with the Federal Government and the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, telecom firms have proceeded with the increase, prompting NLC to issue a March 1 deadline for a total shutdown of their operations if the tariffs are not rolled back.

    To resist the hike, NLC has directed workers and citizens to:

    Boycott MTN, AIRTEL, and GLO services daily from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, starting Thursday, February 13, until the end of the month.
    Suspend data purchases from these companies.
    Mobilize and sensitize the public through NLC state councils and affiliate unions.

    In a communique signed by President Joe Ajaero and General Secretary Emma Ugboaja, the NLC accused telecom firms of betraying trust and disregarding due process by implementing the hike before the agreed-upon review was completed.

    The Congress also criticized the government for failing to protect citizens from corporate exploitation.

    Also, NLC reviewed the Tax Reform Bills, warning against policies that could further burden Nigerian workers.

    While acknowledging the need for fiscal reforms, the Congress vowed to push for fair and worker-friendly tax policies.

    If the tariff hike is not reversed by February 29, 2025, the NLC will commence a nationwide telecom shutdown from March 1. The Congress urged civil society groups and all Nigerians to join the protest against exploitative economic policies.

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  • Minimum Wage: Labour gives defaulters till March to implement

    Minimum Wage: Labour gives defaulters till March to implement

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said that stringent measures are in place to ensure that states and employers implement the national minimum wage and the consequential adjustment before the end of March.

    Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, President Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) said this at its one-day National Leadership Retreat organised for the union’s National Administrative Committee Members on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The theme of the retreat was, ” Leadership Challenges amongst Activists”.

    Ibrahim, who is also the National internal Auditor of the NLC, said that the measures were imperative due to the continuous delay by states and institutions to manipulate wage payments.

    According to him, one of the issues in the implementation of the minimum wage is that of insincerity.

    “The national minimum wage has been signed into law, and payments should have commenced nationwide.

    “But in most institutions and states, what they did was just to award a certain amount or a figure they are merely using to play with the intelligence of workers as minimum wage.

    “But I am happy that the NLC is not sleeping on this matter and we have been engaging.

    “But going forward, I can assure you that we are taking very stringent measures to ensure that between now and the end of this first quarter, that the minimum wage and consequential adjustment will be implemented.

    “Any state or employer of labour that refuses to implement the national minimum wage and the adjustment in workers’ salaries accordingly will face the consequences.

    “The labour laws are there and we have all that it takes to enforce our rights against those employers,” he said.

    Ibrahim, while speaking on the theme of the retreat, said that some members sabotaged strike actions, weakening the effectiveness of industrial actions.

    “Unfortunately, some of our own members work against our collective struggle. They engage in blackmail and underhand dealings to derail strike actions.

    “But this is not unique to SSANU; it happens in every sector. Part of why we are holding this retreat is to educate our members on the importance of unity and discipline within the union,” he said.

    Ibrahim also admitted that industrial actions had lost their effectiveness due to government indifference and worker fatigue.

    He noted that while strikes remained a last resort, the union would explore alternative negotiation strategies.

    He emphasised the need for continuous training of university staff and better funding of tertiary institutions.

    The SSANU president, however, said that universities must remain the centers of learning and innovation, requiring continuous capacity building for staff.

    “As leaders of this great union, we must ensure that our national executives are equipped with the latest global trends.

    ”SSANU is an affiliate of NLC, and we have benefited from international training programmes.

    “It is important that we bring this knowledge back home and share it at all levels,” he said.

    Those present at the retreat include the former NLC President Ayuba Wabba, former SSANU President Chief Promise Adeusi, and the Director-General of the Institute of Mentoring and Coaching, Mr Rotimi Mathew