Ayuba Wabba – The Commerce Africa https://thecommerceafrica.com African Reneissance Sun, 27 Sep 2020 08:16:49 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.9 Group Condemns Planned NLC, TUC Strike https://thecommerceafrica.com/group-condemns-planned-nlc-tuc-strike/ https://thecommerceafrica.com/group-condemns-planned-nlc-tuc-strike/#respond Sun, 27 Sep 2020 08:16:48 +0000 http://thecommerceafrica.com/?p=2089 The No Alternative to Buhari – Osinbajo 2019 (NATBO 2019) has pleaded with labour unions to shelve their planned strike, stressing that shutting the nation’s economy now will be catastrophic for the nation.

Vincent Uba, National Coordinator, NATBO 2019, said in a statement that rather that protest, President Muhammadu Buhari deserved great commendation for his economic policies since 2015.

He stressed that Nigeria, like many other nations around the world, had suffered economically due to the COVID-19 pandemic and shutting the economy would further complicate issues.

“Nigeria, like all other countries of the world, is facing serious economic crises occasioned by the current COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the entire world.

“There is no nation on the globe that its economy is not in a turbulent state, and the citizens not crying over the excruciating hardships.

“Dealing with these economic crisis is the responsibility of every responsible government under the support and understanding of the patriotic citizens.

“Those who are economically informed know that Nigeria, under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, is doing what it must do to keep the country moving.

“The recent policies and actions of government are not punitive measures, but remedial in nature to prevent the country from collapsing economically and socially.

Uba argued that since the advent of this administration, there had been global unforeseen events that could only have been managed by prudent, disciplined and courageous leadership such as the one demonstrated by President Buhari.

He added that from 2015 till date, there had been a glut in crude oil price, coupled with the challenges of corruption and insecurity, which only a leader like Buhari could have been able to handle.

“Five years down the line, Nigeria is still existing as a nation, as against certain predictions before the 2015 general elections that the country would disintegrate and cease to exist as a nation.

“All thanks to the astute leadership qualities of President Muhammadu Buhari, despite the sustained unpatriotic activities of IPOB and its allies.

“When the price of crude oil, which is the mainstay of Nigeria economy, crashed globally from over $150 per barrel to below $30 in 2015 and plunged Nigeria into a recession, President Buhari and his team were able to manage the situation and steer the country out of recession.

“Should we not be applauding the president that we are no longer in such a dehumanising era of the past? Should we not also thank him that we are no longer in the era of epileptic power supply.” he queried.

Uba, while acknowledging that some areas still experienced problems, stressed that the government should be encouraged rather than chastised.

He noted that the ban on importation of rice had exposed how the so-called foreign rice was not as good as the local ones, adding that the new tax reforms had also improved the nation’s revenue generation.

“Even though we know some areas still experience problems of power but it is not the same compared to what we were used to in the past.

“We should encourage the president and his team to continue with result-oriented reforms that would turn around the Nigeria economy today for a better tomorrow?

“This president was courageous enough to ban the importation of foreign rice and close the land borders to check the smuggling of the product.

“Under the prevailing dwindling oil revenue and the current effect of COVID-19 on the economy, government has to embark on alternative sources of revenue.

“Tax reforms, removal of subsidy on fuel and electricity tariff increase have become imperative at this time.

“If government should listen to the organised labour and reverse these actions already taken for fear of labour going on strike to shut the economy, then the economy will eventually be shut and the same labour will turn around to blame the government for doing nothing,” Uba said.

He called on the Nigeria Labour Congress, its allies and the citizenry not to judge the government unfairly on these current economic remedial measures.

He stressed that all Nigerians must be patriotic and show understanding in the spirit of sacrifice and embrace the good policies of government geared towards laying a solid economic foundation. (NAN)

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Court Stops NLC, TUC’s Planned Strike, Protest https://thecommerceafrica.com/court-stops-nlc-tucs-planned-strike-protest/ https://thecommerceafrica.com/court-stops-nlc-tucs-planned-strike-protest/#respond Thu, 24 Sep 2020 18:09:09 +0000 http://thecommerceafrica.com/?p=2072 The National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Abuja has stopped the Nigerian Labour Congress(NLC) and the Trade Union Congress, (TUC) from holding protest and industrial strike as scheduled for September 28, 2020.

Recall that the two labour unions had fixed September 28 for the nationwide protest against the recent increases in the petrol pump price and electricity tariff in the country.

Subsequently, the Incorporated Trustees of Peace and Unity Ambassadors and one concerned citizen, Aliyu Audu, had on Thursday, September 24, approached the court seeking the halting of the planned protest.

The presiding judge, Justice Ibrahim Galadima, granted an interim injunction restraining the labour unions “from disrupting, restraining, picketing or preventing workers or ordinary Nigerians from accessing their offices to carry out their legitimate duties, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice”.

The court also granted an order compelling the Inspector-General of Police and the Director General, State Security Services, SSS, “to provide protection for workers engaged in their legitimate duties from any form of harassment, intimidation and bullying by the officers, agents or privies of the unions pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice”.

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Price Hikes: NLC Issues 14-day Ultimatum https://thecommerceafrica.com/price-hikes-nlc-issues-14-day-ultimatum/ https://thecommerceafrica.com/price-hikes-nlc-issues-14-day-ultimatum/#respond Thu, 17 Sep 2020 08:28:34 +0000 http://thecommerceafrica.com/?p=1960 The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has given the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum to reverse the recent hike in electricity tariff and fuel price or face a “total shutdown of the country’s economy”.

Mr Ayuba Wabba, NLC President, disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the end of the body’s Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said that workers and Nigerians were disappointment that government decided to increase the cost of both items.

“We are surprised that at a time other countries across the world are giving palliatives to their citizens to cushion the effect of COVID-19, Nigerians are asked to pay more for fuel and electricity,” he said.

He said that the CWC meeting focused on the two challenges and concluded that the COVID-19 situation had given Nigerians enough suffering.

“A hike, as announced by government, has reduced the purchasing power of Nigerians and Nigerian workers.

“It has also brought about a high cost of goods and services which has completely eroded the gains of the N30,000 minimum wage.

“The CWC and the National Executive Council (NEC) also took reports of the meeting that took place between the Federal Government and organised labour where NLC was represented by 14 of its leaders.

“After examining the outcome of the meeting, we resolved to issue a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to reverse the fuel price hike or face industrial action.

“In furtherance to this, the CWC also resolved to convene a meeting of the NEC in line with our constitution, on Sept. 22, 2020.

“This is to also give effect to the decision because the proposed action will commence on Monday, September 28, 2020 `if the issues are not addressed.”

Wabba said that the CWC would also mobilise its members, civil society allies and other social partners to try to resist the policies as it had driven many into poverty.

The NLC president said that the CWC members also shared their aims and experiences arising from the exploitative nature of the recent policies of government.

He added that the declining economic power was evident among many as the N30,000 minimum wage could not actually pay for electricity in many homes.

“The experience we have here is that somebody actually loaded a credit of N30,000 and it could not take him two weeks. That is the general experience all over the country.

“The hike is one decision that is biting every worker and every family. I think it is a decision that certainly requires reversion,” he said.

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Nigeria Labour Congress Rejects 6% Tenancy, Lease Stamp Duty Agreement https://thecommerceafrica.com/nigeria-labour-congress-rejects-6-tenancy-lease-stamp-duty-agreement/ https://thecommerceafrica.com/nigeria-labour-congress-rejects-6-tenancy-lease-stamp-duty-agreement/#respond Sat, 25 Jul 2020 14:15:07 +0000 http://thecommerceafrica.com/?p=1254 The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has urged the Federal Government to reversed the six per cent tenancy and lease stamp duty agreement in the country.

Ayuba Wabba, NLC president said this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

Mr Wabba said the congress noted with dismay the new policy by the Federal Government through the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, stipulating a six per cent stamp duty fee for every tenancy and lease agreement in Nigeria.

He said the Congress condemned the agreement as the new policy came at a time when the socio-economic pressure arising from COVID-19 dislocations was affecting many of Nigerians.

According to him, the NLC rejects this new stamp duty policy on rents and leases as it will worsen the situation faced by Nigerian workers most of whom, unfortunately, are tenants.

“It is also alarming that we are having hike in taxes and user access fees when other countries are offering palliatives to their citizens.

“We call on the Federal Government and the Federal Inland Revenue Service to rescind this harsh fiscal measure as it is boldly insensitive to the material condition of Nigerians which has been compounded by the Covid-19.

“Nobody would want to be a tenant if they had alternative. This means that tenants which this new policy targets are some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

“It would be illogical, insensitive and inhuman to churn out laws that make our poor go to bed at night with tears in their eyes,” he said.

Mr Wabba noted that the principle of public taxation especially progressive taxation all over the world was that the rich subsidizes for the poor and that every tax policy that would be enforceable must create a safety net for the poor.

“Accommodation is a fundamental right guaranteed by Nigeria’s constitution. It is unimaginable that tenants who are in the most vulnerable group would be expected to pay 6 per cent tax for accommodation when sales tax is 1.5 per cent.

“This is indeed a great injustice against the Nigerian poor. Government must take deliberate steps to avoid institutionalizing the widespread belief that it is a crime to be poor in Nigeria.

“We understand that the government needs money to run the business of governance especially at this time of economic challenges all over the world.

“But the answer is not in further exploiting the already exploited. There is no doubt that there are other painless ways of mobilizing funds to deal with the exigency of the times,” he said.

He therefore said that one of such ways of mobilising funds was to reduce official graft and corruption.

Mr Wabba said that it does not make sense to ask Nigerians to make sacrifices when they are daily regaled of putrid stories of how public officials are accused of swallowing money in billions and making a comic of ‘fainting’ afterwards.

“Second, there are thousands of unoccupied houses in different parts of the Federal Capital Territory and indeed many cities in Nigeria belonging to very affluent members of the society.

“As we have always demanded and canvassed, Government should tax such property in order to relieve Nigeria’s daunting housing deficits and to generate the needed funds to run government business.

“While we expect the reversal of the 6 per cent tenancy and lease stamp duty policy, we remind government that its highest responsibility is to ensure the security and welfare of every Nigerian,” he said.

NAN

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Nigeria Requires $37.8bn to Close Financing Gaps for Universal Social Protection—NLC says https://thecommerceafrica.com/nigeria-requires-37-8bn-to-close-financing-gaps-for-universal-social-protection-nlc-says/ https://thecommerceafrica.com/nigeria-requires-37-8bn-to-close-financing-gaps-for-universal-social-protection-nlc-says/#respond Wed, 15 Jul 2020 16:03:47 +0000 http://thecommerceafrica.com/?p=1087 The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says 37.8 billion dollars will be needed as Global Fund for Universal Social Protection for the first five years to close financing gaps.

Mr Ayuba Wabba, NLC President made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

Wabba said this during an International Labour Organisation Virtual Summit with the theme: “ COVID-19 and the World of Work Building a better Future of Work’’.

“There is now the urgent need to institutionalise a Global Fund for Universal Social Protection to enable the poorest nations to respond to the pandemic and to build resilience for future economic, health and climate shocks.

“Already, some 10 trillion dollars has been pledged by governments and international financial institutions for economic recovery.

“According to pre-crisis estimates, a Global Fund for Universal Social Protection will need some 37.8 billion dollars for the first five years to close the financing gaps.

“This represents a small fraction of the total global funding to build recovery and resilience; and combination of both comprehensive contributory social security schemes and non-contributory social security guarantees, ‘’ he said.

Wabba said that in Nigeria, over two billion workers were earning their livelihoods in the informal economy, which represented over 60 per cent of workers globally and 90 per cent of total employment in low-income countries.

According to him, ILO says 71 per cent of people globally have little or no access to social protection and COVID-19 has exposed the vulnerabilities of working people in every country in the world.

“Job losses, loss of income and livelihoods, lack of paid sick leave and lack of access to healthcare during the pandemic have resulted in whole communities being vulnerable.

“Also faced with lockdown measures, people are finding it very difficult to manage local and national uncertainties of health and socio-economic impacts, ‘’ he said.

He said that the ILO Convention 102 on Social Security and Recommendation 202 on Social Protection Floors were complementary and mutually reinforcing providing a framework for comprehensive social protection coverage.

Wabba also noted that other practical measures to bridge the massive vulnerability gap included conditional wage subsidies and the extension of unemployment benefits.

He described other measures as universal access to health care, payment of sick leave allowance to workers, including casual workers, the self-employed, platform workers and workers in the informal economy including migrant workers.

He however called on trade unions to connect with civil society allies nationally and globally to promote universal social protection.

He added that a network of government champions for universal social protection should be established.

He said formalising the informal economy and moving decisively towards universal social protection coverage ILO Recommendation 204 on formalising the Informal Economy provides a very good road map for formalizing the informal sector.

He said other measures were to accelerate formalisation of the informal economy, especially for workers in Medium and Small Enterprises (MSEs) as extending Legal Coverage to SMEs and Operators in Informal Sector, among others.

Wabba added that many workers had faced and continued to face the unacceptable choice between continuing to work at risk to their health or falling into destitution and even starvation.

“Therefore, Universal Social Protection is a necessary investment in human security, in building peace, in addressing gender and other inequalities.’’

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the summit discussed strategies for addressing the massive world-of-work vulnerabilities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. (NAN)

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