Gives minimum defaulters till March to implement it
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared plans to embark on a nationwide mass rally on Feb. 4 over the 50 per cent hike on telecom services by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC).
Mr Joe Ajaero, NLC President, said this in a communique issued at the end of the Congress’s National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting held on Wednesday – yesterday, January 29 – in Abuja.
He said the NAC-in-session totally rejected the 50 per cent telecom tariff hike as too harsh for the citizens.
The NLC’s position came against the backdrop of an earlier warning by the Congress that state governments which have not implemented the national minimum wage have until March this year to do so.
According to the NLC, 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.
Speaking to the tariff hike controversy, Ajaeo said, to express our collective opposition to this arbitrary tariff hike, the NLC will embark on a nationwide mass rally on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.
“The rally will serve as a warning on the dangers of imposing such an unfair increase on a struggling population earning a minimum wage of only N70,000.
“A population that has suffered an outrageous hike in the price of petrol, high cost of food, hike in electricity tariff and general rising inflation.
“All NLC affiliates and state councils are directed to begin full mobilisation in preparation for the February 4, 2025, nationwide protest rally. Willing civil society allies are also encouraged to join the preparation.
“The Congress calls on all Nigerian workers, the informal sector, and the general public to stand in solidarity against this unjust policy,” he said.
Ajaero, therefore, said that NAC-in-session called for the immediate suspension of the 50 per cent tariff hike.
He also called on the federal government, the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC and the National Assembly to engage in meaningful dialogue with critical stakeholders to review the proposed tariff adjustment.
He added it should be reviewed within the context of the economic realities facing Nigerians.
“Should these not be heeded, the Nigeria Labour Congress will escalate its actions, including the possibility of a nationwide boycott of telecommunication services.
“Others are further mass actions which may involve nationwide withdrawal of our service to resist policies that exacerbate poverty and inequality,”he said.
He added that the NLC remains committed to protecting the interests of Nigerian workers and citizens against exploitative economic policies.
“We will not relent in our struggle against policies that undermine the welfare and dignity of our people,”he said.
Labour gives minimum defaulters till March to implement it
Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, President Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) who disclosed the Congress’s position at the end of its one day National Leadership Retreat, organised for the union’s National Administrative Committee Members on Wednesday in Abuja, said the measures had become imperative due to the continuous delay by states and institutions to manipulate wage payments.
The theme of the retreat was, ” Leadership Challenges amongst Activists”.
According to Ibrahim, who is also the National internal Auditor of the NLC, one of the issues in the implementation of the minimum wage is 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 have lost their effectiveness due to government indifference and worker fatigue, noting that while strikes remain 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 included 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.(NAN)
