Labour
Workers Political Movement Passes “Vote of No Confidence” on Bayelsa LP Chairman.
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Political Commission of the Organized Labour comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) also known as the Workers Political Movement (WPM) has passed a “Vote of No Confidence” on the acting Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) in Bayelsa State, Mr.
Eneye Zidougha.The group made the resolution in a meeting held on Monday January 2nd, 2023 in Yenagoa, the State capital.
In a statement by the Chairman of WPM, Comrade John Angese and Secretary, Comrade David Emiebor,and made available to Daily Asset, the group accused the party chairman of running the affairs of the party like a personal empire without recourse to the party executive.
Other allegations include non disclosure of donations by individuals for programmes and projects and the questionable disbursement of funds that led to some unpleasant and embarrassing conducts before the party’s flag bearer at the Ox-Bow Lake Pavilion during the State rally.
WPM also viewed as insulting and undermining, the Party Chairman’s stance of not recognizing the group which represents the Organized Labour at the rally despite its numerous contributions maintaining that the Organized Labour remains a critical stakeholders in the Labour Party that cannot be wished away.
“This is evident in Mr. Zidougha’s refusal to appoint the Movement’s representative in the Campaign Council as done in all the States and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory”.
The statement further noted that the Chairman has continued to undermine the inputs of the Organized Labour while taking critical decisions unilaterally especially in the appointment of ward and Local Government officers whom some have displayed lack of wit for the task ahead.
Other allegations leveled against the party chairman include alleged trading with the party for pecuniary gains, creation of pseudo factions which has balkanized the various support groups in the State with the attendant lukewarm attitude witnessed at the State rally and high handedness in the discharge of his duties.
WPM has therefore appealed to the National leadership of the Party and the Organized Labour to take immediate action to replace the LP Acting Chairman and investigate the allegations of financial impropriety leveled against him to restore the confidence of party faithful who have toiled hard to grow the party in the State.
Labour
FG Approves Pay Rise for Civil Servants
By Tony Obiechina Abuja
The Federal Government has approved 25% and 35% salary increase for civil servants across various consolidated salary structures.
In a statement by the Head of Press, National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission, Emmanuel Njoku, the increases takes effect on January 1, 2024.
The statement added that the augmentation applies to the six remaining consolidated salary structures, namely the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure, Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure, Consolidated Police Salary Structure, Consolidated Para-military Salary Structure, Consolidated Intelligence Community Salary Structure, and Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure.
Also approved for augmentation is the pension of retirees enrolled in the Defined Benefits Scheme within the aforementioned consolidated salary structures.
Labour
Tribute to Chief Frank Kokori
By Joe Ajaero
We at the Nigeria Labour Congress are deeply saddened by the passing away of Chief Frank Kokori at 80. Our hearts are with his biological family and the NUPENG family where he was General Secretary. To them and other associates, we offer our condolences.
Chief Frank Kokori was Executive Secretary of OMPADEC which later metamorphosed into NDDC among other national appointments held by him.
He was announced as Chairman of the board of NSITF but denied that role by some of the powers that be. He instead chaired the board of Michael Imoudou National Institute of Labour Studies (MINILS) where he made his impact. This was his last national assignment.Chief Frank Kokori will be remembered for many things but top on that list was being among the Labour leaders that gave their all in order for our country to have democracy.
For his stoic and heroic struggle for the enthronement of democracy, he was arrested and detained by the military alongside other Labour leaders for spells of time under inhumane conditions.
Before his arrest and detention by the Abacha -government, Kokori was in the vanguard of Labour leaders who fashioned an alliance with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on the understanding that then Congress President, Comrade Pascal Bafyau (now of blessed memory) would be vice president to Chief Abiola. Although Chief Abiola (due to circumstances) beyond his control) did not keep that part of the bargain, organised labour gave him their generous and unflinching support. This, coupled with Chief Abiola’ s own credentials gave him coast to coast victory at the polls in the freest election in the history of the country.
Nigeria Labour Congress was similarly in the vanguard of national resistance when the military scuttled Chief Abiola’ s election or victory. It was in execution of that resistance that Chief Kokori among other Labour leaders was arrested and incarcerated while others were hounded out of the country. The “lucky” ones were only put on the security watch list and were routinely harassed at their homes, airports and at public functions considered by the State to be subversive. At the risk of sounding immodest, among those arrested and incarcerated at such functions at Ilorin were Comrades Joe Ajaero and Chris Uyot, Deputy General of Congress. There were several others who suffered differing indignities for fighting for democracy.
Even while some of its leaders were in detention with Chief Abiola, Labour leaders did not give up on their struggle for enthronement of popular democracy.
For their “obduracy”, the organised labour paid a heavy price. The Nigeria Labour Congress and NUPENG for instance, were illegally dissolved by the military and their assets seized. Sole Administrators were appointed to oversee their affairs until 1999!
It is in light of this that we find it a big irony that those who collaborated with the military yesterday while Labour was in the trenches would have the audacity to say today that Labour has no business in politics. It is a shame they are allowed to eat their cake and have it because quite a number of them through the roof or the back door are in government or positions of influence. And clearly, the dilemmna in which we have found ourselves as a people and as a nation cannot be divorced from this syndrome of opportunism and messiah complex…same faces, same cases, same places ( Akinola Aguda).
Chief Kokori, a dogged and fearless fighter has played his role and gone, history has the next chapter.
Meanwhile, while the wheel of history turns, we urge the federal government and the Government of Delta State to immortalise him, for what is good for the goose is good for the gander.
Comrade Joe Ajaero is President, Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC)
President
Aviation
Passengers Stranded as NLC Locks Down Abuja Airport
By Idris Umar Feta Abuja
Many air travellers were left stranded following the closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Thursday.
A combined team of NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) blocked both the entry and exit ways of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
The protest was part of the series of actions that the two labour unions say they would zero in on Imo, following the attack on the NLC president, Joe Ajaero.
The NLC and TUC had on Tuesday, declared a nationwide strike, which will commence on Tuesday, November 14, due to the face-off with the Imo State Government.