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Labour Lists Fresh Seven demands, Wants Creation Of State, LG Police

Published

1 year ago

April 21, 2024

The Nigeria Labour Congress has listed seven demands from the Federal Government ahead of the May 1, 2024 Workers’ Day.

Aside from demanding for a new minimum wage, the NLC is also asking for the creation of state and local government police to tackle insecurity in the country.

The congress also stressed that states and local governments, as well as the organised private sector, must pay the new minimum wage when it is eventually approved.

International Workers’ Day, also known as Labour Day in some countries and often called May Day, is a celebration of the working class, and is marked annually on May 1, or the first Monday in May.

The 2024 Workers Day is particularly being looked forward to as it is expected that President Bola Tinubu may unveil the newly proposed minimum wage for workers in the country on that day.

Earlier in the month, organised labour had pegged the new minimum wage at N615,000 per month tentatively.

A member of the National Executive Council of the Trade Union Congress had confided in The PUNCH that the decision was reached before the hike in electricity tariff by the Federal Government.

The source said, “We are going to have another round of serious conversations with the government. Mind you, the tariff increase is also very good for us, because they (the government) did it when the new minimum wage process had not been concluded. So, it is going to be a good ground for us to ask for more money.”

The N30,000 subsisting minimum wage expired three days ago, as its five-year lifespan ended on April 18.

Former President Muhammad Buhari had signed the N30,000 Minimum Wage Act into law on April 18, 2019.

The tripartite committee, comprising representatives of organised private sector, organised labour and government, for a national minimum wage negotiation, follows the International Labour Organisation Convention 131.

In January, the president, through his Vice President, Kashim Shettima, had, on January 30, set up a 37-member panel at the council chamber of the State House in Abuja.

With its membership cutting across federal and state governments, the private sector, and organised labour, the panel is to recommend a new national minimum wage for the country.

In his opening address, Shettima urged members to ‘speedily’ arrive at a resolution and submit their reports early.

Chairing the panel is a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Bukar Aji, who, at the inauguration ceremony, affirmed that its members would come up with a “fair, practical, implementable and sustainable” minimum wage.

The inauguration followed months of agitation from organised labour who expressed concerns over the FG’s failure to inaugurate the committee as promised during negotiations last October.

From the government’s side, members include the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, representing the Minister of Labour and Employment; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, who was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Lydia Jafiya; the Minister of Budget Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu; Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Yemi Esan; and Permanent Secretary, GSO/OSGF, Dr Nnamdi Mbaeri, amongst others.

Representing the Nigeria Governors Forum are Mohammed Bago of Niger State, representing the North Central; Senator Bala Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State- representing the North East; Umar Dikko Radda of Katsina State, representing the North West; Prof Charles Soludo of Anambra State, representing the South East; Senator Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, from South West; and Otu Bassey of Cross River State, representing the South-South.

From the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association are the Director-General of NECA, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde; Chuma Nwankwo; Thompson Akpabio; as well as members from the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture— Michael Olawale-Cole (National President); Ahmed Rabiu (National Vice President), and Chief Humphrey Ngonadi, National Life President.

From organised labour are the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and President of the TUC, Festus Osifo; his deputy, Tommy Etim Okon, among others.

Ajaero had announced N1m as the new minimum wage, owing to the rising inflation in the country which, according to him, had pushed many of the NLC’s members into poverty.

This led to several controversies, including experts saying that the suggested wage was unrealisable and unsustainable.

In February, Onyejeocha said the Federal Government had achieved about 90 per cent of the agreement it had with organised labour last October.

“We have done virtually everything in agreement. Ninety per cent of everything (is done),” Onyejeocha said on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

The statement came a few days before the NLC had said it would shut down the country in a nationwide protest over economic hardship.

Ajaero had told government representatives at a meeting that the protest was not about the government’s commitment to the October agreement, but inflation in the prices of food.

The minister said food security and economic prosperity were part of the priorities of the President Bola Tinubu administration.

She appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the new government as the administration was in its planting season with harvest on the horizon.

Onyejeocha said the Federal Government had ticked about 90 per cent of the 15-point memorandum of understanding it signed with organised labour on October 2, 202.

Some of the agreements include granting wage awards of N35,000 to workers, the inauguration of a minimum wage committee, and suspension of the collection of Value Added Tax on diesel for six months.

On the provision of high-capacity CNG buses for mass transit in the country, the minister said funds had been released for the purpose but “there are certain things you cannot control; you cannot control the number of days a shipment or a container will stay in the port”.

Nigeria is battling rising inflation, forex crisis, economic hardship and high cost of living occasioned by the removal of petrol subsidy, which attracted protests in parts of the country.

Speaking to The PUNCH correspondent in Abuja, the NLC’s National Treasurer, Hakeem Ambali, listed seven demands the congress had made from the federal and state governments.

He said, “First, we expect that there should be improved labour government industrial relations, full implementation of minimum wage across the board for the federal, state, local government and private sector workers.

“Settlement of pension arrears, the establishment of compressed natural gas conversion centers in all senatorial districts, fixing of Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries.

“Creation of state and local government police, granting of local government autonomy, granting of infrastructure support scheme to all local governments.”

Speaking further, Ambali noted that the Congress was still awaiting an invitation to the next meeting of the tripartite committee on minimum wage.

Ex-TUC president warns against arbitrary fixing of new minimum wage

Meanwhile, a former two-term president of the TUC and one-time president of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Peter Esele, had warned against the arbitrary fixing of a new minimum wage.

Speaking, Esele noted that the Federal Government and organised labour should agree on a new minimum wage before it is announced by the president on Workers’ Day to avoid another round of protests and strikes.

He said, “First, I will be surprised if organised labour says the Federal Government should announce the minimum wage. Probably the unions are hoping that by then, they will have concluded negotiations with the government. But for me, if the negotiation is not concluded by that time and the Federal Government goes ahead to announce the new national minimum wage, it is also possible that organised labour will dispute it. And what we are going to have is another round of protests and strikes.

“So my expectation for the labour unions is to put what they want on the table, while the Federal Government also puts theirs on the table. They should then both agree. But, suppose the Federal Government goes ahead and unilaterally announces a new national minimum wage, labour would oppose it, which, as I said, will lead to another round of industrial actions.

“It will be strange if the Federal Government announces the new minimum wage on Workers’ Day. However, I believe the governments are also smart enough not to make such a move unless they reach an informal agreement with the organised labour, and the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association”.

Esele also ruled out the possibility of problems arising if organised labour and the Federal Government fail to reach a concrete agreement on the new minimum wage by May Day.

He said, “The fact again remains that if both parties are still on the negotiation table by next month, it does not prevent the proposed new minimum wage from taking effect that month. What it simply implies is that whenever the agreement comes, the government will pay arrears.

“Even in the organised private sector, that is what we do. You can go on negotiation for even six months, but once an agreement is finally reached, and the last collective bargaining has expired, for whatever is agreed whether in six months or a year later, the arrears will be paid by the employers, which is the government in this case. So if the agreement is in place, it doesn’t matter whether they announce it on May 1 or not, the salary arrears must be paid.”

We’ll pay agreed minimum wage – MAN

Reacting, the Director General, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, stated that members of the association will pay the new minimum wage when eventually agreed to and approved.

He said, “We (the tripartite committee) are negotiating and the three groups are discussing. Whatever is agreed will be mandatory on all parties. So, the private sector is looking forward to arriving at a consensus of the committee and whatever the outcome, the private sector will oblige because we have been part of it.

“I don’t think in the history of the country, there has ever been a situation where it is the private sector that has failed to implement the minimum wage. We effectively implemented the minimum wage when it was N30,000, so there should be no apprehension whatsoever that the private sector will not pay the proposed new minimum wage. I think it is best to cross the river when one gets there.”

NLC wants creation of state, LG police

Meanwhile, the NLC is also demanding for the creation of state and local government police.

This demand is coming a few weeks after 16 state governors submitted reports expressing their support for establishing state police to the National Economic Council.

In the report, they also recommended changes to the constitution to allow for the creation of state police.

The reports were part of documentation received at the 140th NEC meeting presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Aso Rock Villa on Thursday, March 21.

Special Adviser to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed that in a statement titled, ‘NEC endorses take-off of $617M i-DICE programme across states.’

According to the statement, NEC is still awaiting reports from 20 states. It expressed confidence that others would support it.

Disclosing discussions at the NEC meeting, Nkwocha said, the “Secretary to NEC (Nebeolisa Anako) made a presentation on submissions by states on the state policing initiative. Reports have been received by 16 states on the establishment of state police. 20 states have yet to send in their reports. All states across the country expressed their support for the establishment of state police.

“States made presentations in support of the creation of state police. They also recommended changes in the constitution, and the current policing structure to enable the operationalisation of the initiative.”

This comes weeks after the federal and state governments, on February 16, 2024, resolved to develop modalities to create state police to tackle the country’s security crisis.

Meanwhile, speaking with The PUNCH, a retired Superintendent of Police, Adebayo Alugbin, said the NLC demand for local government police resonates greatly with the call for state police creation recently made by some elder statesmen in the country.

He said, “In a federation, it is expected that the state government will control everything under it. They will be the ones to establish the police formation for each of their states and local governments. What that means is that you want people who know an area to police the area.

“From my experience, ideal policing is when you are part of the people. That is what is obtainable in Britain, whose system we copied, but wrongly operate. A policeman has to have local knowledge of the area they are covering, and that cannot be achieved without local involvement.”
PUNCH

News

Remain Apolitical – NAF Warns Personnel

Published

13 hours ago

October 18, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has called on all personnel not to involve themselves in any political activities in the discharge of their professional responsibilities.

Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Usman Abdullahi, the Air Officer Commanding, Special Operations Command, Bauchi, made the call during the 2025 annual 10-kilometer walk and jog exercise organised by the Nigerian Air Force.

He also called on the personnel not to involve themselves in activity that is inimical to the calling of the military profession.

“You must remain apolitical. Don’t involve yourselves in any political activities and do not involve yourselves in activity that is inimical to the calling of our military profession.

“I urge you to remain loyal to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the President and the Commander in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

Abdullahi, who emphasised that the NAF pays serious attention to physical fitness for all its personnel, said that the exercise was to increase their cohesion, keep their mental fitness as well as for them to be on the alert at all times.

He commended the Bauchi state government for their cooperation and synergy as well as the creation of an enabling environment.

Also speaking shortly after the 10-kilometer walk and jog, governor Mohammed said the participants’ outstanding performances were the result of discipline, consistency and determination to succeed.

These qualities, he said, were central not only to physical fitness but also to succeed in every area of life, adding that they had demonstrated team work, endurance and commitment to the values that made the Nigerian Air Force a model institution.

Represented by his Deputy, Alh. Auwal Jatau, the governor, said the exercise was more than just a fitness exercise but a celebration of unity and shared purpose.

“Seeing officers comprising airmen, airwomen, sister security services, paramilitary agencies, and NYSC members come together in such a lively atmosphere reminds us that sports and fitness can be powerful tools for strengthening peace and solidarity.

“Here in Bauchi State, we take pride in the harmonious relationship between the government, the Nigerian Air Force and all security agencies operating within the State.

“The Special Operations Command and other military and paramilitary formations have played a vital role in maintaining the relative peace and security that our people enjoy today,” he said.

Nothing less than 32 people received different prizes for their outstanding performances during the exercise which included Airmen, Airwomen, Nigeria Immigration Service, Customs Service and civilians among others.

News

Edo: Real Estate Firm Unveils Renowned Media Personality, Okosun, As Brand Ambassador

Published

13 hours ago

October 18, 2025

Editor

It was an atmosphere of excitement blended with professional elegance at the University of Benin on Friday as renowned media personality, philanthropist, and influential leader, Dr. Sunny Duke Okosun, was made brand ambassador of UNILODGE Group of Companies.

Speaking at the event, Founder and Managing Director of the UNILODGE Group of Companies, Mr. Goodnews Obayuwana, said the act was not just a partnership, but to forge an alliance.

“An alliance between solid foundations and far-reaching influence; between brick-and-mortar and the power of human connection,” he added.

He described the brand ambassador —Okosun —as not just a familiar face in the media space, but a kindred spirit man whose “work ethic, integrity, and profound impact on this state mirror the very values upon which UNILODGE was built.”

“His accomplishments are not merely personal triumphs; they are testaments to his ability to mobilize, inspire, and get things done,” the CEO added.

In his acceptance speech, the brand ambassador —Okosun — expressed delight, said: “Thank you, Mr. Obayuwana, for those incredibly generous words, and for the immense trust you and the entire UNILODGE family have placed in me today,” Dr. Okosun commenced.

“When we first discussed this vision, I was struck not only by the robustness of the UNILODGE portfolio but by the authenticity of its mission. This is not just about selling properties; it is about curating homes, enabling legacies, and building communities,” he said.

News

Man Shares Journey Of Living As Female For 25 Years Before Transition

Published

15 hours ago

October 18, 2025

Editor

Tosin Odunlami, a Nigerian-born intersex advocate, has opened up about his journey of self-discovery, transition, and his ongoing fight to promote intersex visibility and inclusion in Nigeria.

In an interview released on Friday by The Podcast Network, Odunlami reflected on his childhood, his experience living 25 years as a female, and the challenges of navigating identity in a society that often misunderstands intersex persons.

Intersex is a term used to describe people who are born with physical or biological traits, such as chromosomes, hormones, or reproductive organs, that don’t fit the typical definitions of male or female bodies.

According to a landmark study by biologist Dr Anne Fausto-Sterling (2000) of Brown University, up to 1.7% of the global population is born with intersex traits.

However, later research by Dr Leonard Sax (2002) published in the Journal of Sex Research estimated a narrower range of about 0.018%, depending on which medical conditions are classified as intersex.

Despite these variations, both studies affirm that intersex variations are a natural part of human diversity, not disorders or abnormalities, a position also supported by the United Nations Free & Equal campaign (2019) and the World Health Organisation (WHO, 2022).

Tosin began by clarifying common misconceptions about gender identity. “Intersex persons are not transgender. Neither are they gay or lesbian,” he said. “Intersex means being born with biological variations, it could be internal, chromosomal, or genital.”

“It’s a privilege for me to speak about my experience. I discovered that I’m an intersex person at age 25. Basically, I lived all my life for 25 years as a female, and it wasn’t eas,” he said.

When asked whether he is medically capable of reproduction, Tosin confirmed that he can reproduce as a man, “Yes, because I’ve done some examinations.”

Born and raised in Nigeria, Odunlami recounted growing up under societal pressure to conform to the gender assigned at birth.

“You have to behave in the female way, And if you’re not doing all of that, the society and the community start looking at you in a certain way.”

He revealed that during puberty, he noticed bodily changes that made him question his identity, but fear and stigma kept him silent.

“I started seeing some changes in my body, and I was scared. I couldn’t talk to anyone because when you tell them this is what you’re seeing in your body, they decide to discriminate or tell you you’re taboo,” he said.

Odunlami shared how his mother discovered his condition and sought medical help. However, the doctors themselves were confused.

“The doctor did not even know who I am. They tried to confirm me to their ascribed gender and said they had to do surgery to cut off what they were seeing,” he recounted.

He described how his mother rejected the risky surgical option and instead turned to religious interventions.

“My mom took me to several churches; they gave me soaps and prayers, just to make me grow breasts,” he said, recalling years of internal struggle and isolation.

At university, he continued to live as a woman but in secrecy. “I lived with two females in the same room, and when we were dressing up, I shifted myself to the corner. I wore padded bras because I wanted to fit in,” he said.

Odunlami’s transition came after a medical consultation confirmed that his hormones were predominantly male.

“The doctor said my hormones are more male hormones. That was when I told the doctor, ‘Okay, I think I’m going to come to the male gender,’” he explained.

Speaking on how people reacted to his transition, he said, “Some were surprised, some were supportive, and some are still anxious about it. But I’m always open to share with them.”

On his sexual orientation, Odunlami said he is attracted to females. “I’m attracted to women, emotionally, mentally, and physically,” he said, clarifying that being intersex does not define his sexuality.

Speaking about his church community, he revealed how he came out to his pastor and congregation: “On a Sunday, he said I should come out and you know, it’s also a form of advocacy — educating people, mothers, adults, youths on all of this.”

He continued, “Although it was a shock to them, they were like, ‘No, Sister Esther?’ Because then I was ascribed a female gender, so my first name is Esther. They were saying, ‘What? Sister Esther? Are you a trans? Are you gay?’ They didn’t really understand the whole situation, even after I shared with them that this is me, I’m an intersex person.”

He added that although some members initially distanced themselves, others eventually accepted him.

“Some were like, ‘Don’t near my female daughter,’ and I was a children’s teacher, so I had to step back to see how they received the information. But later they were all open arms, they received me back, and I started teaching again.”

When asked whether being intersex makes one a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Tosin clarified that intersex persons form part of the wider group while maintaining their distinct identity.

“The ‘I’ in the LGBTQIA, that’s intersex,” Tosin explained. “We can stand alone, and as well we cannot stand alone. We are part of the community because we work together in different ways, for programming, advocacy, and education. Sometimes, Intersex Nura even educates the LGBT community. So we are a community of one.”

Tosin, however, noted that being intersex does not automatically determine sexual orientation, “An intersex person does not necessarily identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual,” they said. “All of that does not necessarily apply.”

Speaking further, Tosin said there is a growing intersex community in Nigeria that meets regularly for support and advocacy.

“We have intersex persons in different states across Nigeria. We hold monthly check-ins and community meetings. On October 26, we’ll celebrate Intersex Awareness Day, a day to celebrate our growth, resilience, and visibility,” Tosin added.

They also highlighted ongoing collaborations between Nigerian intersex advocates and global organisations, “There is international support,” Tosin noted.

“The Executive Director of Intersex Nigeria, Obioma, is part of the Intersex Alliance Movement globally, working to advance advocacy and programming. We also receive funding and support from international organisations for our work here in Nigeria.”

Reflecting on faith and acceptance, he described how his church community ultimately responded positively. “I had this peace, that I am living my full self,” he said.

Now an active intersex advocate, Odunlami continues to champion inclusion and awareness through public speaking and advocacy efforts. “It’s not a disability,” he affirmed again. “I’m a normal person like every other person.”
(PUNCH)