Abuja, Nigeria – E don dey hot as Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) don throw down juju for Federal Government. Dem don give dem seven days to return billions wey dem alleged say dem take from workers’ insurance contributions. If dem no respond, NLC go make everywhere scatter with nationwide strike. Na wa!
According to NLC, dem dey vex say Federal Government don siphon 40% of money wey workers dey contribute for Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF). Dis fund na wetin suppose help workers if them get job loss or injury matter. But the National Pension Commission (PenCom) dey argue say everything dey okay, and money dey secure. Na who you go believe, sef? (Headache don start already!)
Joe Ajero, NLC President, no dey carry last for this matter as e talk say the government don dey violate laws wey suppose protect workers’ rights for pension. E make am clear say pension money no be for government wahala, na deferred wages. E warn say if dem touch the matter again, wahala go start. Make dem no come say dem no see am coming, o!
As dis drama dey unfold, we con dey see how pension management dey cause palava up and down. Just last month, some unions for Ogun State don give state officials 72 hours to stop their own contributory pension scheme rollout, stating say dem get N82bn unpaid contributions wey don dey pile up for 17 years. Dem dey demand make dem either return back to the old system or hold on till dem clear the arrears.
NLC no dey play as dem don command NSITF make dem refund all di diverted funds in seven working days. Dem also want PenCom to report back on the status of pension funds and urgently form dem governing board. Dem wan make e clear say if dem no meet all dis demands, no peace for the industry again—hence, ready for strikes!
In response, PenCom spokesperson, Ibrahim Buwal, no wan take blame as e talk say di appointment of di Governing Board na Federal Government matter. “We no fit talk about that one,” e add, insisting say pension funds dey safe. But how come we dey hear different stories on top the matter? (Na who dey lie pass?)
And no forget make we talk about Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) wey don also urge the government to form PenCom board, saying e dey important, make e happen. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, NECA Director-General, don yarn say if na dem two parties wey dey contribute wey get right, na dem be di real stakeholders in the game, no be joke!
Meanwhile, NSITF don remain silent for di seven-day ultimatum wey NLC don drop. Emmanuel Ulayi, wey dey represent di Fund, don confirm say dem never get official response. As of now, di Head of Corporate Affairs, Alexandra Mede, no dey reachable. E be like say serious wahala dey for pipeline as NLC no wan take any excuses from anybody!
For social issues, NLC don clean up di Edo State Council leadership for serious unethical behavior and anti-union conduct. Dem don set caretaker committee to run tins standard till fresh elections drop. Dem dey also talk about how government policies don dey make life make sense no more, inflation dey rise like no tomorrow, job don dey vanish, and hunger dey waka freely for streets.
Dem dey urge government to go back to di drawing board make dem pick strategic sectors wey suppose belong to di people and fix everything for better living wages and for di protection of workers wey dey wear shoe on ground. Ajero don also dey vex say di government dey claim ownership of NLC National Headquarters, wey na workers’ contributions buy. Na wah, dem no fit thief what belong to di people!
