The State Executive Councils of Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and the Joint Public Service Negotiating Councils met on December 13, 2011 to deliberate on many pending industrial issues and other issues of urgent public importance and interest.
After heated and insightful debates, the session arrived at the following resolutions:
1. The fate of Primary School Teachers:
The session noted and emphasised the importance of primary education as the bed rock on which all other levels of education rest but regrets that Government negates this truism by consistently motivating primary school teachers negatively through late payment of salaries, allowances and release of promotions.
Consequently, Congress calls on the State and Local Government to priotize the payment of salaries and allowances to Primary School Teachers in the State to ensure that the free and compulsory education policy of the State Government rest on solid ground. The practice of payment of Primary School Teachers salary after other Public Servants in the State have been paid would no longer be tolerated in 2012.
2. The fate of workers in Aluminium Smelting Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) in Ikot Abasi:
The Sec-in-session noted with dismay the six (6) months old review of workers collective agreement between workers represented by SEWUN/MEPROSSAN and the Management of RUSAL ALSCON and agreed with the Unions that the company is not sincere in reaching an agreement on improved welfare package for workers of the company.
Congress regrets that the intervention by the State Government tended to worsen the matter and have given the Russians more impetus to trample on the rights of Nigerian workers in the company but commend the Nigerian Senate for recommending the revocation of the sale of ALSCON to RUSAL Company that has shown clear lack of capacity and experience to manage the company even when the company valued at $3.26b was donated to them at $120m to be paid within a period of 20 years.
Congress unanimously resolved to give the Company until the end of this year to resolve all issues in contention or labour would mobilize against its continued operation in Nigeria.
3. The Fate of Workers in our Tertiary Institutions:
The SEC-in-session is aware of the long agitation and prolonged negotiation to bring the salaries and allowances of these workers to be at par with what presently obtains in even less endowed States of Nigeria. Congress noted that her attempts to facilitate the signing of agreement on this new wage regime failed due to the insincerity of government.
Consequently, the session decided and condemned in the strongest terms the action of the State Government to stop the salaries of workers in our Tertiary Institutions and starve their children and dependants of basic need in the course of their legitimate agitation for improved conditions of work. Congress calls on the State Government to take full responsibility for this industrial unrest and therefore restore the salaries of these workers without further delay. If their dignity is not restored and agreement signed, Congress will have no option but to mobilize Akwa Ibom workers to show solidarity with workers who are presently victimized.
4. The Fate of Akwa Ibom workers – Minimum/Sectoral Wage Struggle:
The session appreciates the uncommon understanding and solidarity exhibited by the public service workers to the leadership of the Labour Movement during the 5 days sensitization and mobilization of workers on the minimum wage and sectoral wage issues and commend the leadership of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly for its intervention in the issue and the State Governor’s acceptance to review the minimum wage table in favour of the workers.
Congress however, expects that the upward review of Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS) and Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure (CONJUSS), and the implementation of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTEDISS), Consolidated Polytechnic/College of Education Salary Structure (CONPCASS) would be concluded by December 31, 2011 as workers have already been fully mobilized not to resume for work after the Christmas and new year holidays if agreements on upward review of CONPSS & CONJUSS and full implementation of CONHESS, CONTEDISS are not signed by December 31, 2011.
5. BUDGET 2012
Congress appreciates the State Government hurry to industrialize the State as vocally demonstrated in its 2012 budget proposals where over 83% of the total budget is allocated for capital expenditures while a paltry 17% is left for recurrent expenditures, a ratio not obtained anywhere in the world. When compared with the internationally acceptable ratio of 60:40 for a developing economy, the Akwa Ibom State Government has once again broken another record.
The budget further confirms labour position that this government is anti-people, as a greater proportion of the funds allocated for Capital Expenditure will find its way outside the State through multi-national companies while the greater number of the people remains in abject poverty.
Congress wishes to restate its position that good governance is not only about infrastructures, some of which are with doubtful returns on investment, but also include the empowerment of the people through improved wages, human capital development and deliberate policy of wealth re-distribution.
Session therefore called on the State House of Assembly to give the budget a human face as blocks and red roofs only do not constitute on an economy but people, institutions and physical infrastructures do.
6. IMPROVED SECURITY SITUATION IN THE STATE
SEC-in-session acknowledged the reduction in violence crimes in the State in recent times and traced it to the renewed vigour and better method of fighting crimes and criminals by the security agencies in the State which became evident with the arrival of the new Commissioner of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase in the State.
Congress also commended the State Government for providing logistic supports to the security agencies to carry out their jobs efficiently but warned against any attempt by criminal minded persons to bring back the era of violence crimes in the State through the alleged call for the transfer of the Commissioner of Police from the State. Congress therefore pass a vote of confidence on the State Commissioner of Police and call on him not to allow himself to be distracted by those who do not wish the State well.
7. REMOVAL OF FUEL SUBSIDY
Congress expressed dismay at the level of greed by our political office holders as demonstrated in their insistence in transferring the burden of importing and distributing refined petroleum products from the Federal, States and Local Government to the already impoverish ordinary Nigerian. Noting that the only reasons for the decision to remove the alleged fuel subsidy is to free more funds to be shared by the 3 tier of government and reiterated the avowed commitment of the labour and Civil Society organisations to oppose the planned increase in the price of petroleum product in the name of deregulation.
Congress call on Akwa Ibom workers, the Civil Society Organisations, Students and Youth Groups, the Artisans, Unemployed Associations, Market Associations and the entire Nigerian masses to be ready to pour out into the streets anytime any day prices of fuel is increased by any amount under any guise.
Comrade Unyime Usoro Comrade Ifreke Akpan
Chairperson, NLC Chairperson, TUC
19/12/2011 19/12/2011
,we are being reminded that AKPABIO has built ROADS(at over 1 billion naira per kilometer),flyovers located where there is no traffic congestion,TROPICANA which is yet to completed,and governor’s lodge .Some apologists think “structures” translate to “unprecedented achievement “ .
EMMANUEL IMOH EKEREUWEM,
“THE ETI AKWA-UTANG 1 OF AKWA IBOM”
Of
VANGUARD FOR SOCIAL CHANGE, ABUJA.
IS A MORAL PHILOSOPHER AND POLITICAL THINKER,
WRITING FROM THE HOUSE OF EXILE
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