THE 26TH PLENARY SESSION OF NATIONAL GOVERNING COUNCIL, (NGC) HELD IN IBADAN, OYO STATE ON THE 9TH – 10TH MAY, 2023 (DAMJAY HOTELS & SUITES IBADAN, OYO)
NEC: The National President and General Secretary, on behalf of National Executive Council (NEC), congratulated the Union for a successful 6th Quadrennial National Delegates’ Conference (NDC) which was held at Crispan Suites and Event Centre, Rayfield Road, Jos, Plateau State on Thursday 24th and Friday 25th March, 2022. In the same vein, all leaders who emerged at the Conference were congratulated.
The Theme of this NGC is: “The Role of the Working Class in Advancing Decent Work Agenda in A Democratic Setting”
A brief report of the last National Delegates’ Conference (NDC) was presented to members. That the Conference was well attended by Delegates from all the State Councils, NCCs and National Women Commission with a total of 381 delegates in attendance.
All documents needed for the Conference were presented to the Conference by the National Secretariat. The following officers were elected to manage the affairs of the Union to the next Conference:
It must be noted that a Vote of Confidence was also passed on the General Secretary and his Deputies.
National Water Resources Bill and Water Privatization matter was also on the table of discussion: The NGC-In-Session was informed that the National Secretariat released a very strong press statement shortly after the NDC, condemning and rejecting the reintroduction of the NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE BILL’’ for the third time without subjecting it to public hearing, which also got a boost from some members of the National Assembly and some State Governments as well. This has succeeded in halting the process at the National Assembly.
The NGC-In-Session touched on the Public Service Reform by noting that, the Federal Government did not heed to the call of the NDC instead, it has gone ahead to partially implement the recommendations of the STEPHEN ORONSANYE Committee recommendation on the merger of Federal Agencies, purporting to reduce the cost of governance which we believe will have serious negative effect on Nigerian workers.
On the violation of Workers and Trade Union Rights: A case of victimization has been reported in National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). The Management is desperate to destroy and proscribe AUPCTRE in the Agency by victimizing the leadership and other officials of our union.
NGC-In-Session is hereby informed that election to various offices in NEMA has now been conducted successfully.
Non-Implementation of Minimum Wage: The National Executive Council regrets to inform the NGC-In-Session that most of the States where minimum wage has not been paid have either implemented it partially to workers on Grade levels 01-06 without consequential adjustment for other workers on GL 07 and above or not implemented at all. Abia State Council had to go on strike to force the State Government to implement the Minimum Wage.
Newly Approved 40% Peculiar Allowance: Members were reminded that, the Federal Government of Nigeria has approved payment of 40% peculiar allowance to Civil Servant on Consolidate Public Service Salary Structure (CONPS) with the aim of bridging the gap between the salaries of the Core Civil Servants and the Parastatals. This payment takes effect from 1st January 2023.
Unnecessary Transfer of AUPCTRE Members in C.A.C: The NGC-In-Session to please note that the matter is still pending before the Court of Appeal; awaiting judgement as at the time of this report. The National Secretariat has written to remind Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) of the need to resume the suspended picketing of Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). The Union continues to appeal to our members in CAC to be resolute in the struggle noting that there is a long walk to victory.
The NEC informed the NGC-In-Session that the implementation of deduction of 3% monthly rebate accrue to National and State Councils for property development as resolved at NDC has been implemented.
Reviewed Constitution: The amended copy of the Union Constitution by the 6th National Delegates Conference has been approved by the Registrar of Trade Unions and also gazetted. The National Executive Council (NEC) has approved that copies be printed for distribution to members across the Nation.
Conditions and Schemes of Service for Sports Commission: The Committee on Conditions and Schemes of Service for Sports Commission has made a copy of its report available to the National Secretariat.
The National President and the General Secretary attended the National Sports Festival held in Asaba, Delta State where they presented the proposed Conditions and Schemes of Service for Sports Commission to all Directors of Sports of each State of the Federation for onward forwarding to various Sports Commissions/Councils and State Governments for consideration.
The Aviation Industry: (a) Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA): The Agency’s Conditions of Service was approved by the Presidential Technical Committee on Salaries Harmonization with improvements on some previous items, but nine (9) years after the approval, the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission and the Federal Ministry of Aviation have failed to transmit the COS to the Agency for implementation.
However, AUPCTRE in collaboration with other sister Unions in the Agency mounted sustained agitation for the implementation of the COS through series of meetings with the Ministry of Aviation, Ministry of Labour and Employment as well as National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission which eventually led to the release of the COS for implementation.
(b) Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET): The workers of NIMET are the least paid amongst the Aviation Agencies, partly because they are funded from Treasury but largely due to the non-implementation of 2019 National Minimum Wage and the consequential adjustment, promotion arrears and other allowances. However, just as in the case of NAMA, AUPCTRE and the other Unions in the sector embarked on a successful two-day warning strike to press for the release and implementation of all the aforementioned.
Again, meeting is ongoing now with relevant Ministries and Agencies where some of the issues raised will be discussed. As it stands now, the 10% consequential adjustment approved for the Agency which took effect in April 2019 will only be paid in April 2023 with arrears of January, February and March living an outstanding of 45 months’ arrears i.e. from April 2019 to April 2023 unpaid. It should be noted that the consequential adjustment excluded officers of Grade Level 15 and above on the issue of COS. The Establishment related issues have already been implemented while the financial aspect is left in abeyance.
While all these were being addressed, the issue of the Aviation Act 2022 came up where some obnoxious provisions aimed at proscribing Unionism in the Aviation Sector were discovered to have been smuggled into the Act by some yet to be identified persons. This sparked off a nationwide outrage by the Aviation workers, which led to the staging of a one day Nationwide protest by all the Unions in the Sector, AUPCTRE inclusive to demand for the removal of the offensive clause (s) from the Act.
Our action got a boost from the then President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba who personally signed a strong worded protest letter to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, demanding that the offensive clause(s) be removed and the perpetrators be identified and punished in accordance with the law.
The struggle still continues, and the National Secretariat will not relent until all the contending issues are resolved in NIMET and NAMA.
Water Sector Crisis: NEC also reminded the NGC-In-Session to note that the water sector crisis has become intractable, ranging from deliberate attempt by some State Governments to privatize water supply in their States, prominent amongst them are: Lagos, Ekiti Plateau etc. This is in addition to the concerted attempt by the Federal Government to control the use of the nation’s water resources through the National Water Resources Bill 2020. AUPCTRE, in collaboration with Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) and Public Services International (PSI) have over the years been at the forefront of the campaign against water privatization in States and the Federal Government Water Resources Bill which outrightly negates provisions of the land Use Act, 1978.
This sustained campaign by AUPCTRE and our Allies paid off by slowing down the process of water privatization programmes in many States of the Federation and most importantly, it led to the rejection of the National Water Resource Bill for three (3) consecutive times on the floor of the National Assembly.
The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has joined our Union to collaborate with PSI and CAPPA in the fight against privatization, this is a welcome development in the interest of workers and the public at large. The Union will continue to sustain this struggle to protect our members in the sector and as well safeguard the provision of safe, affordable and clean water to the populace.
Conduct of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) 13th National Delegates Conference
The 13th National Delegates Conference of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) was held on 7th and 8th February 2023 at International Conference Centre, Abuja. At the Conference, our Union through Comrade Benjamin Anthony, the National President, contested for the position of Vice President and was elected unopposed. The Union congratulate our National President for this great feat.
Conduct of NLC State Delegates Conferences
The State Delegates Conference of Nigeria Labour Congress was held nationwide except where there are hitches on 7th March 2023. AUPCTRE members contested and were elected in the following positions in the States:
- Plateau State – Chairperson-
- Abia State – Vice Chairperson
- Anambra State – Treasurer
- Rivers State – Internal Auditor
- Lagos State – Internal Auditor
- Delta State – Internal Auditor
- Niger State – Internal Auditor
- Kano State – Internal Auditor
- Katsina State – Internal Auditor
- Jigawa State – Ex-Officio
- Sokoto State – Ex-Officio
- Zamfara State – Ex-Officio
- Ekiti State – Ex-Officio
- Ogun State – Ex-Officio
- Taraba State – Ex-Officio
- Bauchi State – Ex-Officio
The Union therefore, congratulates all our members in various States who were elected into various offices and call on them to strategically position themselves for future endeavor.
STAFF MATTERS
Employment of Additional Staff.
The National Executive Council approved the employment of additional new staff to fill some vacant positions to enhance the capacity of the Union in rendering quality services to its members.
Five (5) staff were employed as Organizing Secretaries on and posted to Delta, Zamfara, Ondo, Lagos, Plateau States, ICT Officer to National Secretariat, a Contract Staff assigned to Anambra State Council.
Above employment is hereby presented to NGC for information.
PROPERTY ACQUISITION
Purchase of Official Car
The National Executive Council has directed that befitting vehicle be purchased, each for the office of the General Secretary and National President.
Arising from the above, the Union has purchased a Toyota Highlander 2010 Model for the Office of the General Secretary and as well procured a Lexus 460 SUV for Office of the National President. This NEC decision is for the ratification of NGC-In-Session.
Challenge of Office Space
The Office space at the National Secretariat is inadequate to accommodate the staff conveniently. The National Executive Council has approved the proposal of the National Secretariat to expand the National Secretariat office by adding a floor on top of the boys’ quarter. This approval is for the ratification of the NGC-In-Session.
National Youths Commission (NYC)
The National Youths Commission (NYC) was inaugurated on Thursday 18th August, 2022 at Green Minds Hotel, Utako, Abuja. The National Board of Trustees (NBOT), Head of Departments (HODs) and some Veterans were in attendance.
At the Conference, the following National Youths Executive were elected unopposed:
- Comrade Okoje Innocent Omozien – National Chairperson
- Comrade Godsday P. Udoette – Vice Chairperson
- Comrade Abdullahi Umar Faruk – National Secretary
- Comrade Abdullahi Muhammed K. – National Treasurer
- Comrade Anyanwumelu Charles C. – National Asst. Secretary
- Comrade Densley Kefas – National Financial Secretary
- Comrade Aisha Zakari Muhammed – National Auditor
3RD NATIONAL WOMEN COMMISSION DELEGATES CONFERENCE
The 3rd Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of National Women Commission was held on Wednesday 16th November, 2022 where new National officers of the Commission were elected to run the affairs of the Commission for the next four (4) years. The following officers were elected during the Conference:
- Comrade Comfort Onah Otobo – Chairperson
- Comrade Rose Uranta – Vice Chairperson
- Comrade Rakiyat Mustapha – Vice Chairperson
- Comrade Afolabi Ige Temidayo – National Treasurer
- Comrade Tita Elizabeth – National Secretary Finance
- Comrade Lois J. Ladan – National Assistant Secretary
- Comrade Christiana Onyia –
ELECTION OF STATE WOMEN COMMITTEE AND ZONAL YOUTHS CHAIRPERSONS AND SECRETARIES
The National Secretariat has directed elections to hold in Zonal and State Councils to elect Zonal Youths Committee Chairpersons and Zonal Youths Committee Secretaries. The State Councils have also been directed to conduct Elections into State Women Committee to elect their State Women Committee officers.
These Elections are supposed to have been conducted before the end of the first quarter of the year and results forwarded to the National Secretariat. It is pertinent to note that, only few States and Zones have complied. The NGC-In-Session is to discuss the level of compliance to this directive.
TRAINING FOR WOMEN AND YOUTHS
Training and retraining is one of the cardinal ideals of AUPCTRE to ensure that all leadership at various levels are trained in line with the scope of unionism. It is in line with this that training is been planned for the newly elected National Youths Commission Officers to acquaint them with the knowledge of fundamental ideals of the Union and industrial relations matters. It is also the opinion of the National Secretariat that such training be extended to Zonal and State Council’s Youths Committee Officers.
The Department of Women and Youths in Collaboration with the National Secretariat have therefore outlined various Training Programmes for Women and Youths which hopefully, will be implemented before the year runs out.
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT)
The Union now has a functional Information and Communication Technology Unit that handles all on-line communication and presence. AUPCTRE Website address is (www.aupctre.org.ng). it is loaded with useful information and has a wide coverage of Organs activities and press conferences of the Union.
The Union has just employed an ICT Officer to handle all information and communication activities of the Union and report directly to the General Secretary.
The Union also has a Library where industrial relations books and some publications are kept for research purposes. You can avail yourself this opportunity to make use of our Library.
EDUCATION AND INTERNATIONAL
The Union has organized various Workshops that cut across the major three levels of the Union i.e National, Zones and States where a sizeable numbers of members in the above mentioned levels participated and benefited immensely.
Despite lean resources and the challenges associated with appropriating the resources, the Union was able to collaborate with Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Public Services International (PSI), Organization of Trade Union in West Africa (OTUWA), and other partners to organize the following Workshops/Seminars/Retreats:
- NLC National Schools – Rain, Harmattan and State Level Schools.
- Training on food security and nutrition for Trade Unions and Civil Society Organizations in West Africa.
- National Workshop on Migrants Recruitment Advisor to build the capacity of stakeholders.
- Workshop with Amilcar Cabral School, Ghana
- Workshop on Social Protection and Security on Political debate.
- DGB-PSI Programme on Water and Electricity Projects.
- Post-Election Evaluation and Governance Retreat Organized by Campaign for Transformative Governance. Eleven Participants from three State Councils and National Secretariat attended the Retreat.
The National Secretariat in collaboration with North West Zonal Council organized workshop for all the State Councils in the Zone. The Workshop was held in each of the State Council.
REPORT OF ZONAL WORKSHOP
The NEC wishes to report to NGC-In-Session the latest development on Zonal Workshop as follows:
North East Zone
North East Zonal Council as at November 2023 has held Workshop in Four (4) States Council. Taraba and Bauchi are outstanding.
Central Zone
Three out of the Six (6) States have completed the Zonal Workshop, while the remaining three (3) States is Pending.
Eastern Zone
Zonal Workshop has been conducted in Anambra State Council.
South South Zone
Bayelsa and Akwa-Ibom have done Zonal Workshop while Delta, Edo,Rivers and Cross River are yet to benefit from Zonal Workshop.
Western Zone
Ekiti and Ogun State Council are yet to benefit from Western Zonal Council Workshop.
Federal Zone
The Zonal Council Workshop was conducted in the University of Ibadan by Facilitators from Michael Imoudu Institute for Labour Studies, Ilorin, Kwara State.
North West Zone
The Zonal Council in collaboration with the National Secretariat has completed her Zonal Workshop in all the six (6) States Council in the Zone.
The National Executive Council wishes to appreciate the National Governing Council for its support to the Union on the various successful Education programme carried out by the Union.
PROPOSED EDUCATION PROGRAMME FOR 2023.
In order to engender a smooth educational programme for this year, the National Executive Council (NEC) propose the following activities, workshops and programmes for 2023 for the consideration of NGC:
- Continuation of the monthly socialism ideological class holding at the National Secretariat to awake our members consciousness on Trade Union activities to fight against Capitalism and operation of the ruling class.
- Educational Workshops to address the challenges of indecent work, Casualization, Victimization, Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining, Out-Sourcing, Contract Employment, Decent Work Environment, Wage Determination and Gender Issues. These are expected to be done on quarterly basis.
- To organized leadership, retreat for NEC members and State Executive Council while State Councils organize same for their Local branch committees.
- To develop a comprehensive Education programme in collaboration with Friendrich Elbert Stifung (FES), American Centre for International Labour Solidarity (ACILS), Organization of Trade Union in West Africa (OTUWA), Amilcar Cabral School, Ghana and the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS) Ilorin, Kwara State.
- To bring together the leadership to a Retreat to brainstorm and update AUPCTRE MISSIONS AND VISIONS developed in Ghana and Togo in the year 2014.
- International Conferences thus – ILO and PSI Conferences holding this year.
CONCLUSION
While it is not the intention of the National Executive Council (NEC) to weigh you down on the challenges confronting the Union, it is however important to remind ourselves that the tasks ahead are enormous and must be confronted headlong with a view to remain relevant to our members and in the comity of Labour Movement Nationally and Internationally.
I thank you very much for your attention and your continuous believe in the leadership of the Union. I wish you all journey mercy back to your various destinations.
The General Secretary’s Speech-Setting the Direction for 26th NGC at Ibadan 2023
The President’s Speech at the 26th Plenary Session of the NGC Ibadan 2023