Business

NARD Violated Trade Dispute Act -Ngige

Published

7 years ago

September 13, 2017

The Federal Government says the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has violated Section 18 of the Trade Dispute Act of the Federation of 2004 by embarking on strike.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, said this at a conciliation meeting with the leadership of NARD on Wednesday in Abuja.
“I do not want to be legalistic about it, because you have breached section 18 of the Trade Dispute Act, but all these are the sacrifices we have to make,” he said.
It would be recalled that on August 31, a Memorandum of Understanding was reached between the minister and the Executives of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA)/NARD.
Others are Ministry of Health, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Budget Office of the Federation and National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission.
It would also be recalled that NARD had begun strike on Septemter 4, after reaching a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Ministry of Health on its six-point demand.
“We all signed that agreement which was like a collective bargaining agreement. One of the clauses there was that NARD should revert back to their National Executive Committee (NEC).
“They should present the agreement which was a CBA with a view to shelving the strike that they had proposed.
“We then adjourned the meeting to November 2 within which period we expected the implementation of the items on the agreement.
“We were surprised that at the NEC meeting, the CBA that was entered into was repudiated and the association embarked on strike.
“So, by section 18 of the Trade Dispute Act of the Federation, T8, T9, 2004, conciliation starts by the Minister.
“No party is allowed to stage a lock out either for employees or embark on strike against the employers.
“In this ministry, we act as conciliators and in such situation. Even though I am a government minister I am a Chief Conciliator. If the government is wrong, I will tell them that they are wrong.
“If the employee is wrong, I will say so and at the end of the day, we will find a way to conciliate and make for an equitable industrial relations”,he said.
He said that as a chief conciliator, it was imperative to reconvene the meeting and look at the CBA, if there were issues that the association felt that their interest were not properly captured.
He noted that NARD would have written to the ministry, adding that the alternative would not have been to embark on a proposed strike, adding “that is not industrial relations.
“I want to commend the President of NMA for making out time to come and all areas of dispute would be resolved in this meeting so that the doctors can go back to their patients.
“For me, any other strike can be handled in a way that you do not care about the little time you lose.
“But in essential services, especially in medical service, we can’t replace lives that were lost.
“That is why we had to reconvene this meeting few hours after you started your strike and we hope that this meeting will resolve the rough edges in the CBA if there are any.
“I assure you even before we start this meeting that we have had a government side meeting and reviewed the agreement and I want to say that within 48 hours, everybody has started implementation of this CBA,” he said.

Business

CBN Unveils NTNIA, NRNOA Accounts For Diaspora Nigerians’ Investment

Published

22 hours ago

January 15, 2025

The Tide

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has introduced two accounts: Non-Resident Nigerian Investment Account (NRNIA) and Non-Resident Nigerian Ordinary Account (NRNOA), to manage funds (both in foreign and local currencies) from Nigerians abroad.

In a circular signed by its Acting Director, Trade amd Exchange Department, W. J. Kanya, the apex bank said with the NRNOA, Non-Resident Nigerians (NRNs) will be able to remit their foreign earnings to Nigeria and manage funds in both foreign and local currencies.

“The NRNOA enables Non-Resident Nigerians (NRNs) to remit their foreign earnings to Nigeria and manage funds in both foreign and local currencies, while the (NRNIA) enables Non-Resident Nigerians (NRNs) to invest in assets in Nigeria in either foreign currency (FCY) or local currency (Naira)”, the statement read.

It continued rhat “Account holders may maintain both a foreign currency (FCY) account and/or a local currency (Naira) account to facilitate transactions and participate in diverse investment opportunities”.

CBN also explained that NRNs can use their NRNIA to participate in Nigeria’s Diaspora Bond and other debt instruments issued locally specifically targeted at the Nigerian diaspora or available to the investing public.

The account is also to serve as a conduit for NRNs to manage their funds directly in a safe and secure environment, and reduce the reliance on third parties in meeting local commitments and obligations.

According to the bank, effective January 1st 2025, eligible NRNs shall have the opportunity to own any of the non- resident Nigerian accounts, subject to meeting KYC requirements which will be made available in FAQs to be released soon.

The CBN added that “This policy is without prejudice to Memorandum 17 of the CBN Foreign Exchange Manual (2018)”.

Business

Diesel Price Hike: Manufacturers Opt For Gas

Published

22 hours ago

January 15, 2025

The Tide

Manufacturers in Nigeria are gradually opting for natural gas as a solution to increasing diesel and petrol prices which have negatively impacted on production expenses.

Recall that following the removal of fuel subsidies by President Bola Tinubu in his inaugural address on May 29, 2023, the prices of diesel and petrol have skyrocketed, further worsening the cost-of-living crisis for people.

Recognising the potential of its vast natural gas reserves, which is over 200 trillion cubic feet, has initiated a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) programme aimed at reducing transportation costs by nearly 50 per cent.

The initiative encourages the conversion of vehicles to CNG and aims to introduce CNG buses across major cities.

Additionally, the recent commencement of diesel sales by Dangote Refinery has led to a notable decrease in diesel prices, dropping from approximately N1,700 to N1,350 per litre. This reduction is expected to alleviate some financial pressure on manufacturers’ reliance on diesel for operations.

Industry leaders emphasise that transitioning to natural gas not only addresses immediate cost concerns, but also aligns with global sustainability goals.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has, therefore, urged businesses to adopt sustainable energy practices, as energy costs constitute 30-40 per cent of production expenses.

Commenting on the development, Managing Director of Tiget Business International Limited, Zheng Wei, said some Nigerian manufacturers are leveraging improved gas supply around Lagos to boost production despite recurring grid collapses.

Wei, who oversees one of the country’s largest footwear manufacturers, described this shift as vital to sustaining operations amid Nigeria’s power crisis.

Wei noted that while manufacturers face challenges like inflation, currency instability, and regulatory hurdles, power remains the most critical issue.

According to the MAN, energy costs make up nearly 40 per cent of manufacturers’ expenses, with limited and unstable grid supply disrupting production and reducing output.

To address this, Tiget partnered Clarke Energy to install a 6.6 megawatt Jenbacher gas power plant, sourcing gas from a supplier along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The project included assessments, engineering designs, and maintenance services, enabling Tiget to transition to cleaner, more efficient, and cost-effective energy.

Wei said, “The gas plant is producing cleaner electricity and saving us significant operational costs compared to diesel. It has addressed efficiency issues, making our operations more sustainable”.

On hos part, the Managing Director of Clarke Energy for sub-Saharan Africa, Yiannnis Tsantilas, emphasised that adopting resilient and cost-effective energy solutions is key to sustainable productivity for manufacturers.

He commended Tiget’s leadership for enhancing Nigeria’s economy by improving local market access to quality footwear, reducing unemployment, and increasing investment.

Tiget, incorporated in Nigeria in 2020 and based in Sagamu, imports polyvinyl chloride as a key raw material for its footwear products.

The company plans to expand its operations through backward integration and establish offices across Nigeria and Africa.

Wei expressed confidence in Nigeria’s potential as a regional economic hub, citing its young, talented population and vibrant local market.

He, however, acknowledged the challenges of high fuel costs on logistics and competitiveness, and called for investments in refineries to provide feedstock for plastic industries and a stable gas supply to support manufacturers, arguing that these measures would drive industrial growth and enhance Nigeria’s economic stability.

With a population exceeding 220 million, Nigeria’s dynamic market presents significant opportunities.

Tiget, Wei said, aims to contribute by producing high-quality footwear that aligns with Nigeria’s rich cultural identity and evolving fashion industry.

Business

TCN Debunks Grid Collapse, Says Lines Tripped

Published

22 hours ago

January 15, 2025

The Tide

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has debunked last week’s declaration of grid collapse due to power disruption, saying it was due to the tripping of the Benin-Omotosho Line, not a national grid collapse.

Recall that the media widely reported last week that the national grid had experienced its first collapse in 2025.

TCN spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah, said the report was a misinformation.

“The TCN, hereby states that the nation’s grid did not experience any collapse today, contrary to the widely published misinformation in the media.

“Earlier today, at about 13:41 Hrs, the Osogbo–Ihovour line tripped, followed by the tripping of the Benin–Omotosho line. These consequently affected bulk supply to only the Lagos axis alone”, Mbah explained.

She also clarified that at about 13:00 pm, just before the tripping, total generation on the grid was 4,335.63MW, amd that after the trippings, generation was 2,573.23MW, showing clearly that the grid did not experience a collapse.

She noted that the transmission line tripping affected Egbin, Olorunsogo, Omotoso, Geregu, and Paras, but these have all been restored except for the Benin-Omotoso 330kV line whose restoration is ongoing.

“As TCN continues to work hard to put in place a robust transmission grid, in spite of prevailing challenges. It is imperative that we understand the negative impact of deliberately misinforming the public and the value of disseminating true and verifiable facts”, Mbah said.