Workers under the auspices of the Joint Public Sector
Negotiating Council are getting set for a possible industrial
action as a meeting of the Federal government and the unions again
ended in a deadlock on Monday.
The negotiations on the consequential adjustment which was
earlier adjourned to September 4 to allow the government team brief
President Muhammadu Buhari was again rescheduled for September 16,
but suffered another setback as both parties failed to reach an
agreement despite minor adjustments in their separate
positions.
Our correspondent gathered that at Monday’s meeting which was
chaired by the Head of Service of the federation, Winifred Oyo-ita,
both government and the union leaders only made minor adjustment to
their earlier positions with the government moving from its earlier
position of 9.5 percent to 11 percent for grade levels seven to 14
and 6.5 percent from 5.5 percent for levels 15 to 17.
The workers have insisted that the government adjust salaries of
workers on grade levels 07 to 14 by 30 percent and those on levels
15 to 17 by 25 percent.
Chairman of the labour team and National Auditor of the Nigeria
Labour Congress (NLC) , Simon Anchaver said, workers stepped down
to 29 from 30 percent for grade levels 7 to 14 and 24 from 25
percent for levels 15 to 17.
According to him, the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council
have resolved to write to the Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC) and
the Trade Union Congress, (TUC) on their advice on a possible
industrial action
He accused the government of foot dragging on the process,
saying the action of the government is an open invitation for
industrial action, since workers are already engulfed in fear and
agitations whether their accumulated arrears will be paid when
talks are finally concluded
He however said that the meeting decided that the two positions
be presented to the President for further action.
Also, Secretary of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating
Council, Slade Lawal said organised labour will decide on a next
line of action towards the issue of the minimum wage, saying in due
time, Nigerians would be informed.
Lawal said: “the meeting is deadlocked; we found out that the
Federal Government officials are not serious about it at all, we
are suspecting fowl play or a hidden agenda somewhere. So, we have
decided to report the development to our principals, including the
Labour unions, Nigerians will be adequately briefed of our next
line of action very shortly.”
Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige had told
newsmen recently that the President has directed that the process
of negotiations be concluded as soon as possible to enable workers
begin to enjoy the new wages.
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Summit Speakers Chart Path for Kwara’s Economic
Development
Building a virile economy, either for a country or a state, is a
collective task.
While the government plays her own part, citizens are expected
to fulfil their l side of the bargain, by complementing the
efforts.
These were the unanimous views of participants at the maiden
Kwara State Economic and Poverty Alleviation Summit held in Kwara
Hotel Ilorin.
The auspicious event themed, “Role
of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Youth Participation in the
Economic Wellbeing of Kwara State,” was organized by Centre for
Hunger and Poverty Alleviation and Research (CHPAR).
The Executive Director of CHPAR, Alabidun Shuaib Abdulrahman
said the state is blessed with enormous potentials in human,
materials and natural resources capable of making it a global
‘economic hub’.
He therefore called on critical stakeholders with brilliant
ideas to address the issue of youth joblessness and perceived
socio-economic backwardness in the state.
“During our research, we noticed that there are profound
strategies which can be used to solve developmental challenges in
the State. We realized that we can all come together and brainstorm
on how to contribute our quota towards the socio-economic growth of
our Dear State. Hence, we decided to convene the Kwara State
Economic and Poverty Alleviation Summit,” he said.
Speaking on the same vein, the guest speaker, Mr. La-Kadri Yusuf
said the State once boasted of a thriving economy, however with
focus and concentration on white-collar jobs, most of the youths
abandoned artisanal business ventures, and opted for limited
skilled jobs.
He urged the State Government to invest massively in youths so
as to boost creativity and drive economic growth in various
productive sectors.
Another Speaker, Asiwaju Mashood
Shittu, maintained that if Kwara is desirous of building its local
economy, then it must identify, nurture and groom young
entrepreneurs.
He said: “The wellbeing of our youths should be paramount to all
of us. This is because the wellbeing of our youths play a vital
role in the wellbeing of our economy.”
Shittu, however advised the State Government to create an
enabling environment to enable creative minds and young
entrepreneurs to harness their creative talents.
The Speaker, Kwara State House of
Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Salihu Danladi, asserted that the summit
is coming at a time the State is steadily witnessing remarkable
transformation under the purposeful leadership of Governor
AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, disclosing that the State Assembly would
give accelerated hearing and passage to a bill establishing the
“Kwara State Social Investment Programme” which was recently
forwarded to them by the Governor.
The Speaker, who was represented by Hon. Olawoyin Magaji, the
House Majority Leader said: “I wish to assure the organizers of
this great and special summit, that our State Assembly will
support, partner and collaborate with you. Just like Centre for
Hunger and Poverty Alleviation and Research, the Kwara State of
House of Assembly desire to see our beloved State speedily attains
quantum socio-economic growth and human capital development, in no
distant future.