Author: National Record

Unity is the cardinal principle of trade unionism. This has been a recurring theme in my written reflections on “Labour and Trade Unions” as well as active praxis in the past four decades. As the General Secretary of National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN); between March 10, 2000–March 30, 2020, I bear witness that a cohesive, indivisible movement is an indispensable precondition for the union’s acknowledged achievements in wage improvements, defense of workers’ rights and advocacy for industrial renewal over the past four decades.

The labour movement is presently at the lowest ebb of morality. Some people, who are in the position to advice Comrade Oyelekan also got illegal extension in their respective unions for one reason or another. Oyelekan boasted to us that no amount of petition to the ministry will jolt the officials into inviting us. Truly, we have written several petitions articulating our displeasure, but Ministry of Labour and Employment that is supposed to be regulating us has not seen the need to invite us. We are tempted to believe that what Oyelekan said about the ministry is right!

While the state radio station, Radio Benue Makurdi, earlier broke the news of the speakers covid-19 status during its 5pm news broadcast, it was officially confirmed in press releases from the House of Assembly and Speaker’s Chief Press Secretary at about 8:30pm on Sunday, all made available to National Record.

The SPN said a strong and united labour is desirable at this point against the backdrop of the fact that several interests of Nigeria’s working people are being trampled upon. The SPN said one of such interests in need of a common front for struggle is the new N30,000 national minimum wage which has remained unimplemented in a number of states over a year after it became law.

While the allegation of corruption remains a fundamental issue in the suspension, there are questions begging for answers from either the Minister or the Presidency since the Minister’s action on July 2.

This is in addition to the MoU creating four temporary positions to accommodate the leadership of the returning ULC members into the leadership structure of the NLC.

Hon. Nwajuiba, who directed school owners to prepare and comply with the guidelines, said schools are to undertake self-assessment and send feedback to State Ministries of Education not later than July 29, 2020 after which further consultations with relevant stakeholders will be held to review the situation before a decision on a specific date for reopening or otherwise would be arrived at.

The NLC, led by Comrade Ayuba Wabba, its President since April 2015 after its national delegates’ conference, and the ULC, led by Comrade Joe Ajaero, its President, and General Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), reconciled their differences at a joint NEC/CWC meeting, and held a joint press conference where the news of the re-unification was broken to the media.

The ULC broke away from the in 2015 following a divisive NLC Delegates’ Conference.

Hon. Jirgba described the conflict between the people of Konshisha and Oju LGA as a communal clash fomented out of “outright mischief.” He accused the media of biased reporting, as according to him, the publicity was one-sided at the expense of his people.