COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE MEETING OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (NEC) OF THE TRADE UNION CONGRESS OF NIGERIA HELD ON FRIDAY, 25TH AUGUST, 2017, AT THE LAGOS AIRPORT HOTEL, IKEJA.
The National Executive Council of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) held its meeting on Friday, 25th August, 2017 at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja to deliberate on the state of the nation and resolves as follows:
1. President Buhari’s Return
The NEC- in session heartily welcomes President Muhammadu Buhari back to the country after over three months medical vacation in London. The NEC is grateful to God Almighty for the healing and journey mercies. We believe his arrival will boost the fight against terrorism, corruption and work for improvement in the economy of the nation.
2. Restructuring
The NEC- in session frowns on the ways and manners people are clamoring for restructuring. The NEC- in session affirms its commitment to Nigeria based on fairness, justice and equity. A fragmented Nigeria will serve no one any good. We have lived together for over 100 years and we should not be fooled by those calling for disunity. In one united Nigeria, NEC advocates restructuring that enhances efficiency of government business and creating a society where we have equal stake in the survival of the nation. The NEC-in-Session affirms and subscribes to unity of all Nigerians but oppose to politically motivated statements on restructuring.
3. Bailout Fund And Paris Fund
The NEC-in-Session observes that previous funds were not used for the purposes they were meant for. The bailout funds and the Paris funds have become the latest source of corruption among our political leaders. The NEC calls on the federal Government to direct the EFCC, ICPC to probe the use of the funds.
4. Revival of Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND)
The NEC- in session observes that government parastatals like Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND) whose activities could boost government’s economic diversification programmes, are not given adequate financial subventions as at when due. The NEC- in session therefore, strongly advises the federal government to urgently revive BOA and NERFUND through adequate funding to enable them extend appropriate finance for economic programmes particularly to farmers in the rural areas and small scale businesses.
5. Minimum Wage and Selective Implementation
The NEC- in session condemns the delay to constitute the 29 members committee for National Minimum Wage for the country. The House calls on the Federal Government not to task the patience of workers beyond limit as the current wage structure is no longer tenable when viewed against the economic reality on the ground.
The NEC- in session further condemns the suggestion by the Vice President that the minimum wage would be selectively implemented on Nigerian workers as retrogressive and therefore unacceptable. The NEC- in session kicks against it and demands that the minimum wage implementation should be holistic and not selective. Minimum wage is for all and remains and should remain in the exclusive list.
6. Establishment of Secondary Education Commission in Nigeria
The NEC- in session observes that unlike other tiers of education in the country, there is no commission in place to regulate the operations of secondary school education in Nigeria. This is in spite of the fact that the bill for the setting up of this commission was passed into law more than a decade ago.
We call on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency, put in place this commission so that the much desired changes can be seen in the operation of our secondary education in Nigeria.
7. LNG Act Amendment
NEC in session views with the greatest sense of responsibility the implication of the proposed amendment to the Nigerian Liquefied and National Gas Act (NLNG Act), such as;
• Deletion of Government’s undertaking to honor the Shareholder Agreement of the Company and other contemplated contracts.
• Deletion of Assurances by Government to retain agreed Fiscal and Security Regime of the investment.
• Extension to NLNG of 3% contribution of the total annual budget of the company, payable only by upstream companies to Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Therefore, the house condemns theamendment because it will damage the country’s image and harm the much needed foreign investment bearing in mind the implication for security and the attendant job loses with its effect on the citizenry.
8. Intervention in Food and Beverage sector
NEC-in- session observes that food security is not being taken seriously in the country. NEC further observes that there had been intervention in other sectors of the economy while food and beverage sector has been left out. This could pose danger for the country.
9. Export Expansion Grant (EEG)
On manufacturing in the country, the NEC-in session wants government to revisit the issue of Export Expansion Grant (EEG) that was stopped to the manufacturers that are into export of their products so as to encourage export and earn more foreign exchange to boost our GDP.
10. Labour Laws and Civil Service Rules
The NEC-in-session wants all concerned to see to the amendment of the Nigerian constitution, the Trade Unions Act, Trade Disputes Act, and other labour related laws as they are long overdue. Also the existing pre-retirement rules must be respected by the civil/public servants.
11. Absence of TUC in Government Boards
NEC-in-session also observes the conspicuous omission or non-inclusion of TUC in boards of parastatals and government agencies in matters that concern employees.
NEC-in-session also calls for review of all laws in which one labourcentre is named and the other left out so that representation will be fair and just to all workers.
12. Health Sector Public Private Partnership (PPP)
NEC-in session frowns at the PPP being implemented in the health sector which has deviated from the original prototype of blue print of 2004 working document as it appears that the critical sector is now being commercialized. The consequence is that common Nigerians will be derived of health care services. Also Government should respect several Collective Agreements reached.
13. Government Policy Summersaults
The NEC-in-session wonders why the government makes policies and refuses to follow through on them. Government had promised to revive ailing industries such as the Textiles, Automobile, and Paper, just to mention a few. The NEC-in-session is therefore imploring government to own up to its promises instead of shifting the goal post at will.
The NEC- in- section is also concerned with the lip service on patronage of made-in-Nigeria goods. It therefore condemns the use of foreign materials by our government agencies such as the military and paramilitaries, ministries, parastatals, schools, etc. This will not encourage the local manufacturers.
14. Casualization and Outsourcing
The NEC-in-session believes that the issue of casualization and outsourcing is becoming a serious problem because it is not properly regulated and monitored by government agencies. Outsourced and contract workers do not enjoy regular terms and conditions of employment particularly as they have been deprived of union membership.
15. Loans to DISCOS
The NEC- in session considers the pronouncement by the Hon. Minister of Power, Works and Housing in Kano that government would give loan to the Distribution Companies (DISCOs) to meet electricity meter supply and condemns it as a contradiction of privatization and therefore demands that government should not use public funds to fund private businesses or alternatively, reverse the privatization of the power sector as a failed policy.
16. Crisis in Nassarawa State
The NEC- in session condemns the action of Nassarawa State governor for destabilizing the Congress leadership in the state by appointing caretaker leaders. The NEC- in-session holds that no state governor can appoint a Union official as caretaker. The house therefore, condemns such situation as executive lawlessness.
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Comrade BobboiBalaKaigama Comrade (Barr.) Musa-LawalOzigi, mni
President, TUC
