Goodluck Jonathan was conspicuously absent from the Workers Day celebration at The Eagle Square in Abuja.
Wabba organised parralell rallies in different locations where representatives of both leaders addressed workers.
In Abuja where Wabba addressed workers at The Eagle Square, many workers were disappointed following the failure of President Goodluck Jonathan to show up at the event.
It was the first time the President would miss a May Day rally since 2011.Although no reason was given for the President’s absense, but sources close to the Presidency revealed that the nation’s number one citizen’s absence was as a result of the crisis rocking the NLC.The President was represented by the Minister of Labour and Productivity,Senator Joel Ikenya.
The Minister’s presentation however showed that the President didn’t prepare any speech to be read on his behalf. The speech which the Minister read and earlier claimed to be on behalf of his principal was later withdrawn from journalists by his aides .
In Lagos, Ajaero and his supporters were locked out of the National Stadium by security operatives who told the bewildered labour leader and his supporters that they were acting on instructions from above.
Not deterred by the treatment meted to him, Ajaero moved outside the stadium where he later addressed his supporters whom he told that the struggle continues adding that he will neither retreat nor surrender in his quest to provide a dynamic leadership for the NLC.
Ajaero called on the President-elect ,General Muhammadu Buhari to consolidate on the positive labour market policies of President Gooodluck Jonathan and correct the negative measures.
He further enjoined workers to continue working hard at all levels to restore the belief and confidence of the working people in the Nigeria Labour Congress,NLC as the bastion of hope for the masses.
In his May Day message, Lagos State governor Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola said Nigerian wokers can save up to N500,OOO annually if there is regular electricity supply in the country.
However, while speaking at the Abuja rally, the Joint Chairman, 2015 May Day Committee of both the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Peters Adeyemi, said that labour does not believe government pays any subsidy on petroleum products. He warned that labour would not accept any increase in the price of petroleum products.
Adeyemi also said Congress has begun to compile necessary papers and information needed to justify demand for pay increment for workers.
In his speech, the factional NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba noted that the President’s presence at the event would have been a symbolic farewell to Nigerian workers.
Speaking on the significance of this year’s May Day, as the first he was celebrating as the NLC president, as well as the one that will usher in the new leadership, made possible by what he described as the demonstrable sportsmanship of President Goodluck Jonathan and the magnanimity of the President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, Ayuba charged all elected officers to live up to their ratings.
“Beginning from May 29, 2015, all elected political officers must sit up to their responsibilities of providing good governance as the lessons of March 28, 2015 have sufficiently educated all Nigerians that the era of impunity is over and that those with popular mandates to lead must exercise those mandates for the good of all or they will be voted out of office”, he warned.
In his address at the event , the Trade Union Congress,TUC President, Comrade Bobboi Baba Kaigama, said for the incoming government to succeed, it must reverse the present ratio between capital and recurrent expenditure, such that well over 60 percent of the total annual revenue projections would be dedicated to the enhancement of social infrastructure and human capital development.
In Ibadan,workers at the May Day rally protested the non-payment of their out-standing 3 months salaries by Oyo state government.They urged the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, to ensure the prompt payment of the salary arrears.
Chairman of NLC in the state, Mr. Waheed Olojede, made the disclosure yesterday in a chat with Saturday Sun during the May Day celebrations at the main bowl of Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan.
In Jos,the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Plateau State condemned the payment of half salary to its members by the state government.
Mr. Samson Mafuyai, NULGE President, Plateau branch, told the newsmen in a chat in Jos that “the government has not been fair to us. Our predicament began in January 2013 when we entered into an agreement with the state government to take 55 percent of the 18 percent minimum wage pending completion of a Biometric exercise.
He said the workers went on seven months strike before securing that agreement, which he said had been flawed by the government.
“The biometric exercise was meant to rectify the total number of LG workers under the government’s pay roll for the full implementation of the minimum wage was to last two months but for over a year now, we are still on half salary.
In Port-Harcourt,the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), in Rivers State, has called on the State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, to end the state judiciary crisis, which has been ongoing for about two years now.
Newly-elected Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Beatrice Itubo, made the appeal yesterday, during the Workers’ Day celebration, at the Isaac Boro Park, Port Harcourt.
Itubo further charged the state government to address issues of workers’ salary, training and retraining of staff, adequate recruitment of manpower, among others.
She said the call became important because the political crisis in the state had negatively affected both staff and litigants of the judiciary in the state.
In Awka, the Anambra State capital, the state chapter of Comrade Joe Ajaero-led faction of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) under the chairmanship of Comrade Ifeanyichukwu Nweke warned that the union would not tolerate late payment of workers salaries and wages for any reason. Nweke extolled the leadership of Comrade Ajaero at the national level, who he said had shown sense of objectivity,courage, wisdom and good vision in taking the right step to restore “the cherished traditions, values and principles of labour movement.”
At Asaba, the factional crisis rocking the Delta State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) came into the fore as Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan shunned the rally to mark this year’s Workers’ Day.
Saturday Sun gathered that the governor’s absence was as a result of alleged threat by a factional chairman of NLC in the state, Comrade Willie Akoreha to allegedly import thugs to disrupt the exercise.
In Abakiliki,The Deputy Governor of Ebonyi state and Governor-elect, Chief Dave Umahi yesterday told the workers in the state that he will not condone any act of indiscipline and will fight corruption to standstill in the state.
He stated this yesterday when he represented Governor Martin Elechi at Workers’ Day celebration held at Abakaliki township stadium, adding that workers will benefit under his administration.
He said he would keep to his promise to God not to steal one kobo of Ebonyi state money Umahi assured that he would step on toes by fighting corruption.
Workers in the employment of Ondo state government yesterday in Akure demanded for an improved welfare package with a promise to serve the state with all honesty and commitment to their duties.
Speaking at a rally to mark this year’s Workers’ Day, the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mrs Bosede Daramola urged the government to enhance the workers’ productivity through improved working condition.
She stressed the need for all categories of workers in the state to enjoy better welfare packages to increase their productivity.
Addressing the workers, Governor Olusegun Mimiko promised to continue to work in the interest of the workers and the entire people of the state.
In his message of solidarity to the workers, Senate President David Mark urged the workers to uphold the indomitable spirit and resilience that have propelled the nation to greatness.
He further urged them to sustain the hands that produced the wealth of the nation just as he told employers of labour to reciprocate through improved welfare.
Wabba organised parralell rallies in different locations where representatives of both leaders addressed workers.
In Abuja where Wabba addressed workers at The Eagle Square, many workers were disappointed following the failure of President Goodluck Jonathan to show up at the event.
It was the first time the President would miss a May Day rally since 2011.Although no reason was given for the President’s absense, but sources close to the Presidency revealed that the nation’s number one citizen’s absence was as a result of the crisis rocking the NLC.The President was represented by the Minister of Labour and Productivity,Senator Joel Ikenya.
The Minister’s presentation however showed that the President didn’t prepare any speech to be read on his behalf. The speech which the Minister read and earlier claimed to be on behalf of his principal was later withdrawn from journalists by his aides .
In Lagos, Ajaero and his supporters were locked out of the National Stadium by security operatives who told the bewildered labour leader and his supporters that they were acting on instructions from above.
Not deterred by the treatment meted to him, Ajaero moved outside the stadium where he later addressed his supporters whom he told that the struggle continues adding that he will neither retreat nor surrender in his quest to provide a dynamic leadership for the NLC.
Ajaero called on the President-elect ,General Muhammadu Buhari to consolidate on the positive labour market policies of President Gooodluck Jonathan and correct the negative measures.
He further enjoined workers to continue working hard at all levels to restore the belief and confidence of the working people in the Nigeria Labour Congress,NLC as the bastion of hope for the masses.
In his May Day message, Lagos State governor Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola said Nigerian wokers can save up to N500,OOO annually if there is regular electricity supply in the country.
However, while speaking at the Abuja rally, the Joint Chairman, 2015 May Day Committee of both the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Peters Adeyemi, said that labour does not believe government pays any subsidy on petroleum products. He warned that labour would not accept any increase in the price of petroleum products.
Adeyemi also said Congress has begun to compile necessary papers and information needed to justify demand for pay increment for workers.
In his speech, the factional NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba noted that the President’s presence at the event would have been a symbolic farewell to Nigerian workers.
Speaking on the significance of this year’s May Day, as the first he was celebrating as the NLC president, as well as the one that will usher in the new leadership, made possible by what he described as the demonstrable sportsmanship of President Goodluck Jonathan and the magnanimity of the President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, Ayuba charged all elected officers to live up to their ratings.
“Beginning from May 29, 2015, all elected political officers must sit up to their responsibilities of providing good governance as the lessons of March 28, 2015 have sufficiently educated all Nigerians that the era of impunity is over and that those with popular mandates to lead must exercise those mandates for the good of all or they will be voted out of office”, he warned.
In his address at the event , the Trade Union Congress,TUC President, Comrade Bobboi Baba Kaigama, said for the incoming government to succeed, it must reverse the present ratio between capital and recurrent expenditure, such that well over 60 percent of the total annual revenue projections would be dedicated to the enhancement of social infrastructure and human capital development.
In Ibadan,workers at the May Day rally protested the non-payment of their out-standing 3 months salaries by Oyo state government.They urged the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, to ensure the prompt payment of the salary arrears.
Chairman of NLC in the state, Mr. Waheed Olojede, made the disclosure yesterday in a chat with Saturday Sun during the May Day celebrations at the main bowl of Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan.
In Jos,the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Plateau State condemned the payment of half salary to its members by the state government.
Mr. Samson Mafuyai, NULGE President, Plateau branch, told the newsmen in a chat in Jos that “the government has not been fair to us. Our predicament began in January 2013 when we entered into an agreement with the state government to take 55 percent of the 18 percent minimum wage pending completion of a Biometric exercise.
He said the workers went on seven months strike before securing that agreement, which he said had been flawed by the government.
“The biometric exercise was meant to rectify the total number of LG workers under the government’s pay roll for the full implementation of the minimum wage was to last two months but for over a year now, we are still on half salary.
In Port-Harcourt,the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), in Rivers State, has called on the State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, to end the state judiciary crisis, which has been ongoing for about two years now.
Newly-elected Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Beatrice Itubo, made the appeal yesterday, during the Workers’ Day celebration, at the Isaac Boro Park, Port Harcourt.
Itubo further charged the state government to address issues of workers’ salary, training and retraining of staff, adequate recruitment of manpower, among others.
She said the call became important because the political crisis in the state had negatively affected both staff and litigants of the judiciary in the state.
In Awka, the Anambra State capital, the state chapter of Comrade Joe Ajaero-led faction of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) under the chairmanship of Comrade Ifeanyichukwu Nweke warned that the union would not tolerate late payment of workers salaries and wages for any reason. Nweke extolled the leadership of Comrade Ajaero at the national level, who he said had shown sense of objectivity,courage, wisdom and good vision in taking the right step to restore “the cherished traditions, values and principles of labour movement.”
At Asaba, the factional crisis rocking the Delta State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) came into the fore as Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan shunned the rally to mark this year’s Workers’ Day.
Saturday Sun gathered that the governor’s absence was as a result of alleged threat by a factional chairman of NLC in the state, Comrade Willie Akoreha to allegedly import thugs to disrupt the exercise.
In Abakiliki,The Deputy Governor of Ebonyi state and Governor-elect, Chief Dave Umahi yesterday told the workers in the state that he will not condone any act of indiscipline and will fight corruption to standstill in the state.
He stated this yesterday when he represented Governor Martin Elechi at Workers’ Day celebration held at Abakaliki township stadium, adding that workers will benefit under his administration.
He said he would keep to his promise to God not to steal one kobo of Ebonyi state money Umahi assured that he would step on toes by fighting corruption.
Workers in the employment of Ondo state government yesterday in Akure demanded for an improved welfare package with a promise to serve the state with all honesty and commitment to their duties.
Speaking at a rally to mark this year’s Workers’ Day, the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mrs Bosede Daramola urged the government to enhance the workers’ productivity through improved working condition.
She stressed the need for all categories of workers in the state to enjoy better welfare packages to increase their productivity.
Addressing the workers, Governor Olusegun Mimiko promised to continue to work in the interest of the workers and the entire people of the state.
In his message of solidarity to the workers, Senate President David Mark urged the workers to uphold the indomitable spirit and resilience that have propelled the nation to greatness.
He further urged them to sustain the hands that produced the wealth of the nation just as he told employers of labour to reciprocate through improved welfare.
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