Anambra State workers under the aegis of the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), on Monday shutdown offices of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Enugu Electricity Development Company (EEDC) in Awka to protest over the Band A, Band B, Band C and Band E tariff hike.
It was gathered that the Union leaders stormed the two offices with various placards with inscriptions such as; “we say no to Band A, B, C and E tariff, all Nigerians are equal, Nigerians demand immediate reversed of the electricity tariff, electricity tariff is an inhumane treatment and economic sabotage, let the poor breathe, NERC – enough is enough let Nigerians breathe, among others singing and calling for the reversal of the tariff.
In their separate interview with Journalists shortly after the picketing, the State Chairman of NLC, Comrade Humphrey Nwafor and his TUC counterpart, Comrade Chris Ogbonna, said the picketing is going on simultaneously nationwide to demand a better Nigeria.
According to them, “we are embarking on the protest to register our dissatisfaction and to informed the Federal Government to returned the electricity management back to the public domain as it is before.
“We strongly believe that the electricity challenges will be best managed in the hands of a public servant than private. Nigerians are seriously suffering of this. The consistent increased is adding too much pains to the masses.
“So we are calling on the President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to urgently do the needful by reversing the sector back to public servants to be in charge of, to avoid a total breakdown,” the bodies summited.
It was also gathered that the exercise also took place at Onitsha and Nnewi respectively.
Anambra State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has launched it maiden Anambra Labour Unity Football championship competition as part of a week-long activities to mark this year workers’s day celebration slated for May 1, 2024.
Addressing a press conference in Awka, on Monday, the State Chairman of NLC, Comrade Humphrey Nwafor, announced that all participating teams will enjoy fair treatment and promised that the organizers will not lower the standard from what is applicable to other international veterans football competition.
He stressed that the event will further promote peace and unity among members in the state.
He noted that the event was first of it kind in the state.
Speaking on the welfare of workers in the state and the South-East zone at large, Comrade Nwafor, expressed optimism of the payment of the proposed N540,000 Minimum Wage to workers in the zone from May 1.
Nwafor said the N540,000 Minimum Wage was proposed by the workforce during the South-East Zonal hearing organized by the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage in Enugu State.
He said the labour leaders in the zone were in constant talks with government over the matter.
“We are hopeful that a new minimum wage would be announced by the president on May 1. We in the South-East had proposed a minimum wage of N540,000. We are optimistic of something good.
Nwafor said the week-long activities would project the image of the Congress as well as unite the over 35 affiliate bodies.
He listed part of the activities to include novelty matches among the affiliate bodies, medical outreaches, healthy living lecture by the wife of the state governor, Dr Nonye Soludo.
He said, “On 25-26, we’ll be visiting the prisons and also engage the MD of ASHIA, Dr Simeon Onyemechi who will be taking us on health awareness and other medical outreach, including eye check.
“The wife of the governor will be delivering speech on healthy living to take place at NUT secretariat.
”On April 27th will be grand finale of the sport activities where the winners will be declared and trophies handed over to them.
“On 30th, we’ll visit Sabila and Lovebite facilities in Onitsha which will be culminated with Gala night for the workers to unwind.
Nwafor who is less than two years in office as the Anambra NLC Chairman, said the May 1 prelude activities were part of his campaign promises.
He said, ”During my campaigns, I promised to come up with programmes that will unite the workers and give them sense of belonging and make them see ourselves as those contributing to the development of the state.
“If we’re having interface with government, we’ll see ourselves as one, as there’s strength in unity. We want over 70,000 workers in the state to troop out en masse as I believe we have what it takes to place our demands on the table and they will listen us.
“We’re going to partner and corporate with the government to move the state forward. We’re the engine house that facilitates government activities,” the chairman concluded.
Anambra State Chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), has suspended the two-day hunger protest it embarked upon to press home its demand to Federal Government to ameliorate the sufferings of the common Nigerians.
The State Chairman of NLC, Comrade Humphrey Nwafor who briefed newsmen in Awka, on Wednesday, on the suspension of the protest, pointed out that the National Executive Committee of the Congress directed that the protest be suspended for three weeks.
Nwafor noted that the three weeks grace given to the federal government is a window grace within which the organised Labour would know if the government is serious to address not just the 14-point demand but also the yearnings of the work force in the state for improved welfare and conditions of service.
According to him, if the federal government fails to meet the demand of the workers, the NLC would be left with no other option than to invoke the measure of last resort to embark on a full-blown strike.
He revealed that the demands of the National Leadership of the Congress centre on such demands including mitigation of hardships in the country, ensuring food security, removal of collection of levies/fees and granting citizens easier access to convert their vehicles from PMS to CNG.
“The other demands, he noted, were removal of VAT on basic consumer items, speedy conclusion of National Minimum Wage Negotiation Exercise, directing all states to immediately pay all owed wages, wage awards, allowances, gratuities and pensions, composition of stakeholders to monitor and supervise intervention funds to ensure they reach the poor and vulnerable and cash transfers to the vulnerable with verifiable and inclusive social register to begin immediately.
The briefing was also attended by the State leadership of Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), leed by the state chairman, Comrade Chikwelu Adigwe.
Following the ongoing Nationwide protest organised by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC, against hardship and insecurity across the country, the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye has explain why the Police are involved in the protest.
CP Adeoye who address the Labour Union leaders at Alex Ekwueme Square junction Awka, during the rally, said involvement of the Police was to ensure a peaceful movement and to prevent the rally from being hijacked by suspected hoodlums in the state.
The CP noted that he has deployed many officers under his watched to protect the protesters and to prevent any potential breakdown of law and order before, during and after the rally in the state
According to him, “I have mobilized officers from the state Police command to accompany the workers during their protest rally, ensuring that hoodlums do not exploit the situation. We will also guarantee the safety of lives and property of the people of the state throughout the protest.”
The Commissioner described the protest as peaceful.
He was accompanied by his deputy in charge of operation, Mr. Ibrahim Ezekiel and other senior officers of the State Command.
The State Chairman of NLC, Comrade Humphrey Emeka Nwafor, on his part while speaking to Journalists shortly after the rally, said they were protesting over the high level of economic hardship in the country.
Nwafor commended members for coming out in large number to demand fairness, equity and good governance in Nigeria.
It was gathered that the protesters were seen carrying placards with inscriptions such as; Stop the hunger, lower food prices,stop robbing the poor tax, end naira devaluation, support local production, among others.
Comrade Anthony Idoko Odey has been elected as the Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW in Cross River State.
Odey was inaugurated alongside 12 other executives by the Returning Officer, Chief Ita Ayi after being elected and affirmed on Thursday (30th Nov. 2023) at the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC Solidarity Centre, Calabar, the state capital.
New Cross River State NURTW Executives
1. Anthony Idoko Odey – Chairman
2. Edet Edem Umo – Deputy Chairman
3. Emmanuel Eyo Etim – Vice Chairman
4. Sunday Arikpo – Vice Chairman
5. Victor B. Essien – Assistant Secretary
6. Apostle Ekpenyong Ayi – Organising Secretary
7. Mary Udofia – Treasurer
8. Obu Noah – DeputyTreasurer
9. Edim Oyongha – Financial Secretary
10. Gabriel Adah – Auditor
11. Chief Tete Williams – Auditor
12. Maurice Eyo – Trustee
13. Marshal Akabom Enene – Trustee
Chief Joseph Aluanya, former Vice President/Acting President of NURTW
Alhaji Aliyu Isa, Acting President of the NURTW, ably represented by Chief Joseph Aluanya, said he was pleased with the peaceful electoral process that elected Odey.
He urged the elected excos to “carry others along and run an open administration of equity, fairness and justice.”
The Acting President who was also the Presiding Office added that the “Conference is very important to the affairs of running this union, and I believe that after this, we will be our brothers’ keeper.”
He charged the elected excos that “Your performance and behaviour are known to the people you are leading and will lead to a higher position. I wish all of you the best.”
Barr. Clarkson Otu, Special Adviser on Labour Matters to Governor Bassey Otu
Earlier, the State Governor, Sen. Bassey Otu, represented by his Special Adviser on Labour Matters, Barr. Clarkson Otu, cheered the new leadership, saying that the NURTW is the key to the development of the nation and the state.
He said, “I want to first congratulate you for this conference, the purpose, apart from changing leadership is to plan for the coming year.
“I know your problems, I know your feelings and it is my intention to tackle these problems. You need to understand your importance to the economy of the nation and state. You are a key to the development of a nation and state. It is needed that you make safety your keyword, especially in this Ember month.”
A cross-section of NURTW National and State Excos and Stakeholders
On his part, the newly elected NURTW, Cross River State Council, Comrade Anthony Odey thanked the union for entrusting him with the mantle to lead them for the next four years (2023-2027).
He pledged that, “In my first 100 days in office, I will ensure we have a new secretariat,” adding that he will embark on a statewide sensitisation of members.
THE PARADISE NEWS reports that Odey led the union for two months in an acting capacity after the passing away of former Chairman, Barr. Efa Edem in 2022.
Cross-section of NURTW Members in Cross River State
THE PARADISE NEWS also reports that 50 delegates from 10 branches of NURTW partook in the process in the state.
A cross-section of NURTW National and State Excos and Stakeholders
Those present at the conference (who also issued their goodwill messages) are Hon. Simon Lalong, Minister of Labour and Employment (represented); Hon. Ekpeyong Cobham, State Commissioner for Transportation and Marine Services, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Donatus Ejemot Esu; Comrade Gregory Ulayi, State NLC Chairman; Comrade Monday Ogbodum, State TUC Chairman; Comrade Pastor John Ushie, former State NLC Chairman and former National Chairman of NUPRO WW; Corps Commander I. A. Ibrahim, State FRSC Sector Commander; Director of DSS; Comrade Dan Obo Jnr., State NYCN Chairman; Labour Veterans and several others.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have called off the ongoing nationwide strike, citing the “intervention” of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The National Executive Council of the NLC and the TUC on Wednesday night suspended the ongoing strike, after a meeting which commenced at a few minutes past 7 pm and lasted for close to one hour.
The unions held a joint extraordinary National Executive Council meeting at 7pm to decide on the ongoing nationwide strike. This followed the earlier meeting between the Federal Government and the organised labour over the ongoing nationwide strike that ended with no resolution.
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu had invited the labour leaders to his office in Abuja for a meeting in an effort to end the strike declared by the organised labour to protest against the attack and brutalisation of the NLC’s National President, Joe Ajaero in Owerri, Imo State capital, on November 1 by policemen and thugs.
The NSA had in a statement said that some Ajaero’s attackers had been arrested and that investigation on the matter is ongoing, which he said his office is coordinating.
Meanwhile, the National Deputy Vice-President of the TUC, Tommy Etim, at the leaders’ meeting announced the suspension of the strike in an interview with PUNCH in Abuja.
“The NEC of the NLC and the TUC have suspended the strike. We did this based on our trust for the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, who gave us his words,” he said.
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation will from next month start payment of twenty five thousand Naira (25,000) grants to the benefiting members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners captured in the expanded National Social Register of the Conditional Cash Transfer, (CCT) Scheme.
Minister For Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, announced this Wednesday when she met with the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC led by its President Joe Ajaero at the Labour House, Abuja.
The Minister explained that the decision to include vulnerable pensioners in the CCT scheme was President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to labour leaders which he will deliver on.
Edu told the NLC that “The President mentioned very clearly that vulnerable pensioners should be immediately captured on the National Social Register and benefit from the Conditional Cash Transfer, as part of the National Social Safety Net expansion and this was made clear in his speech on Independence Day where he committed 25,000 Naira for 15million household for three months.”
She appealed to the NLC to help fast-track the process of collating Data of would-be vulnerable pensioners beneficiaries so that they can start receiving CCT.
“I want us to fast-track this. If we can get this data and information within two weeks, we are sure that you will be beneficiaries immediately and you can start earning from next month which is November, that’s the main reason why I’m here”, Dr. Edu said.
She commended Ajaero for being a team player, saying the task of moving Nigeria forward was a collective one and urged him to continue to have faith in the federal government under President Tinubu.
Responding, Ajaero expressed delight at the various poverty alleviation schemes rolled out by the Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Ministry and the passion and commitment the Minister has for the job.
He was however of the view that getting to the root cause of poverty would go a long way in addressing the problem.
“Let’s look at not only how to solve this problem, but the cause of it, if we continue to treat the effects of poverty the problem will persist. Let us look at other social welfare interventions and job creation that will go a long way to support families.
The NLC boss urged the federal government to create more jobs by creating a productive economy where factories are functioning and employing workers.
He thanked the Minister for being the first member of the federal executive council to visit the labour house in President Tinubu’s Administration, saying “for finding time to visit the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, we will work with you to achieve success in this process and your impact will be felt.
President of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Godwin Abumisi, thanked President Tinubu and the Minister for finding the retirees worthy of the federal government benefits.
He said pensioners received as low as between five and ten thousand Naira a month, saying twenty five thousand is a big money to them. He thanked the Minister for the Exceptional performance so far urging her to keep up the speed.
