Onshore-Off Shore Dichotomy: Labour cautions against moves

Labour leaders from oil producing States in Nigeria has cautioned that the renewed agitation for the re-introduction of the on-shore off-shore dichotomy portends great danger for the unity of the country describing it as uncalled for and unnecessary diversion. The labour leaders stated their position in a communiqué issue at the end of the Joint Meeting of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) Oil Producing States Forum held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.

The six point resolution signed by the chairmen and secretaries of the NLC and TUC of the oil producing states posited that even the 13% oil derivation was inadequate and should be reviewed upward. The meeting tasked the Federal Government must be courageous enough to review out system of fiscal federalism such that states and local governments would be effectively motivated to grow their economies in their areas of comparative advantage rather than continue to depend on federal allocation.

The labour leaders blamed the poverty level, unemployment and insecurity in the country to many years of misrule and corruption and accordingly urged the Federal Government to demonstrate its determination, capacity and willingness to fight corruption being the bane of security in the country.

NUPENG: Nationwide strike on hold

The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers said it had put hold the nationwide strike the union members scheduled to commence on Thursday August 23, 2012. The President of the union, Mr. Achese Igwe, who made the announcement after a meeting with federal government, said the ongoing strike in Abuja would however continue.

The meeting between NUPENG, representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and government, took place in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

 Those present at the meeting included the SGF, Senator Pius Anyim; Minister of Labour, Mr. Emeka Wogu; Minister State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Mr. Tunji Olaopa; acting President of the NLC, Comrade Promise Adewusi; NLC Deputy President, Comrade Joe Ajaero; NUPENG President, Comrade Igwe Achese; Secretary General, TUC, Comrade John Kolawole; and some representatives of petroleum tank farms.

 At the meeting, the parties agreed that the status quo shall remain until negotiations are concluded. The implication is that fuel scarcity in Abuja would remain unresolved while the union would hold off halting supply of petroleum products to other parts of the country.

NUPENG had threatened to embark on a nationwide strike if the government refused to pay subsidy claims of marketers. The union had on Thursday last week started an industrial action in the Federal Capital Territory. The strike has led to fuel scarcity in the FCT.

PHCN: NLC to commence solidarity strike

The Nigeria Labour Congress said it has concluded arrangements to call workers in the country out on industrial action as solidarity with workers of the Power holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, who it said, were being unfairly treated by Ministry of Power over their stand that the right things be done before the planned privatization of the PHCN by the Federal Government.

It said it had set up strike mobilization committees across the country preparatory to the planned strike which it said, would commence immediately if there was deadlock in their meeting with the government on Wednesday, next week.

The NLC which addressed the press through its Acting President, Promise Adewumi and Acting General Secretary, Chris Uyot respectively, on the impasse in negotiation between the workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, and the Federal Government, accused the former of being insincere in settling the dispute.

The union said the Federal government reneged on its demand that soldiers should be called off from the PHCN facilities as well as immediate payment of July salary to all PHCN workers for genuine negotiation to commence, saying it was not ready to accept any excuse from the government if the next meeting billed for Wednesday does not address its demands immediately.

The labour also urged the Federal Government to create the enabling environment for a meaningful dialogue just as it asked the government to call the Minister of Power, Professor Barth Nnaji to order, saying the minister has resorted to negative utterances against the workers.