Business

ILO Tasks Stakeholders On Common Position At 106th ILC

Published

9 years ago

May 17, 2017

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has urged the organised labour movement in Nigeria to articulate a common position on labour issues at the forthcoming 106th International Labour Conference in Geneva.
ILO Country Director to Nigeria, Mr. Dennis Zulu said this at a two-day Interactive Session for Nigeria Delegation to the International Labour Conference (ILC) yesterday.
The two-day interactive session was organised in Abuja by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in collaboration with the ILO.
The Tide source reports that the 106th Session of the ILC which holds in Geneva will start from June 5th to June 16, 2017.
Zulu said that the meeting, which was organised for government, employers and workers, was imperative for them to deliberate on issues that are germane for the peace and development of the country.
“The interactive meeting calls for speaking and listening, disagreeing and agreeing, exchange of knowledge and information, sharing of suggestions and experiences.
“This is all for the purpose of reaching common and acceptable objectives that will be beneficial to all parties, if we have respect for one another views and operates within agreed guiding rules.
“There are issues that are of concern to employers just as there are issues that are of concern to workers as well as government.
“In spite of these differences it will be most delighted to see all partners take common position on issues that would benefit Nigeria at the ILC,” he said.
The ILO country director called on the constituents to see the meeting as an opportunity to carry out self appraisal with a view to repositioning Nigeria to face the challenge of the time.
He noted that some of the key issues to be discussed include Labour Migration, Employment and decent work for peace and resilience, review of the strategic objective of fundamental principles and rights at work.
He also said that the report of the Committee of Experts on Application of Conventions and Recommendations would be submitted at the meeting.
Zulu, however, said that the ILC would offer countries the opportunity to tell members how they are fairing and the way forward.
“I have no doubts that following this interactive meeting that Nigeria will make solid contributions to the success of the ILC.
“Let me remind all, that this meeting is a preparatory meeting for the ILC.
“So, it is not just an important subject but a priority for Nigeria to be able to work together in unity for the implementation of Decent Work Country Programme in the country,” he added.
Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, said the time has come for Nigeria to harness its potential toward developing a common position at the ILC in the interest of the Nigerian people.
Ngige, who was represented by Mr Abiola Bawa, Acting Permanent Secretary, said the country has enjoyed the support of ILO and as partners in progress, saying the country is seeking better ways to implement ILO conventions.
He said the ILO has provided both technical and financial support to the Ministry to ensure that the country’s social obligations are met to the various stakeholders.
“Since the last ILC in 2016, a lot has been achieved on the home front by the various stakeholders.
“Various guidelines and policies have also been made, it is therefore the time to harness the positive energy and efforts and contributions made in this direction.
“So, we must articulate a robust position for Nigeria to showcase at the 106th session of the ILC, Ngige said.

Business

Boat Mishap Kills Pastor, Wife And Church Members In Brass Water

Published

1 day ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

A boat accident in Bayelsa state has killed a serving Pastor, Wife and other church members along Brass waterways

The sad incident happened at Odioama in Brass local government area of Bayelsa State when the Pastor, wife and members of his church were in a programme.

?Tide confirmed that the lifeless body of the Pastor’s wife has been found and deposited in a mortuary while the remains of her husband ,the Pastor is yet to be recovered

as search party are still ongoing.

Although the real cause of the boat Mishap is not yet known as at the time of this report, our Correspondent gathered that the identities of the Pastor, wife and church members were not disclosed to the public.

The mishap, Tide gathered occurred on Friday morning when the church members were on a boat transit

The Bayelsa State government and the state police command are yet to issue official statement’s on the sad accident

By: CHINEDU WOSU

Business

Rivers Workers Seek Scrapping Of Contributory Pension Scheme

Published

1 day ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Council of Nigeria Civil Service Union has called on the State Government to urgently scrap the contributory pension scheme, describing it as unfavourable to long-serving civil servants in the state.

Chairman of the union, Chukwuka Osuma, said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt, recently.

Osuma said the current pension structure has continued to worsen post-retirement hardship for workers.

He noted that the contributory pension scheme had failed to provide adequate retirement security for workers who had spent many years in service, especially those approaching retirement age.

According to him, civil servants who had served for more than 20 years were among the worst affected under the scheme, insisting that many retirees could no longer cope with prevailing economic realities.

He also informed that the Union has made moves to showcase their concerns, pleading with Governor Siminalayi Fubara to abolish the pension policy and introduce a more favourable arrangement for affected workers.

“The union was not opposed to pension reforms, the contributory scheme should only apply to newly employed workers or those with fewer years in service”, he said.

Osuma explained that workers who had already spent decades in the civil service ought to remain under a more secure pension structure capable of guaranteeing stability after retirement.

The labour leader further noted that inflation and the rising cost of living had continued to erode the value of retirement savings, thereby increasing the suffering of pensioners across the country.

He also appealed to the state government to consider extending the years of service in the civil service from 35 to 40 years and the retirement age from 60 to 65 years.

Osuma argued that such adjustment had become necessary in view of present-day economic realities and changing conditions in the workplace.

The unionist also reviewed that similar policies had already been adopted in some sectors and jurisdictions, expressing optimism that the State could also implement the reforms for the benefit of workers.

He however, commended Governor Fubara for approving an N85,000 minimum wage for workers in the state, noting that the amount was above the national benchmark of N70,000.

Osuma also acknowledged the government’s efforts in the area of workers’ promotions and bonuses, but insisted that pension reforms and extension of years of service remained critical to the long-term welfare and stability of civil servants in Rivers State.

By: King Onunwor

Business

FG Begins South-West Tour To Promote New Cooperative Bank

Published

6 days ago

May 13, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government has launched the South-West zonal engagement and ministerial advocacy tour on the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria share capital mobilisation, sensitisation and cooperative sector digitalisation.

Reports say the initiative was launched through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

According to reports, the advocacy tour, organised by the ministry’s Federal Department of Cooperatives, began on Monday in Lagos.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security and Supervising Minister of Cooperative Affairs, Dr Aliyu Abdullahi, said the initiative was part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Abdullahi described the exercise as a strategic effort to reposition the cooperative sector as a key driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity.

“Today represents a defining moment in our collective determination to reposition the cooperative sector as a major driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity,” he said.

The minister noted the modern cooperative movement in Nigeria originated in the South-West following the 1934 Strickland Report, which led to the enactment of the Cooperative Societies Ordinance of 1935.

According to him, the decision to commence the sensitisation and share capital mobilisation tour in the region is symbolic, as it marks a return to the roots of cooperative development in the country.

Abdullahi said the advocacy tour was a direct outcome of resolutions reached at the 8th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Cooperative Affairs held in Abuja in March 2026.

He said the council approved the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme, a comprehensive framework designed to strengthen the cooperative sector and align it with the administration’s goal of building a one-trillion-dollar economy.

“The reform programme focuses on seven strategic pillars, including governance reforms, cooperative financing and the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria, digitalisation, capacity building, value chain development, inclusion of youths, women and persons with disabilities, and strategic partnerships,” he said.

He said the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria and the digitalisation of the cooperative sector were the two major transformational initiatives under the programme.

“The Cooperative Bank of Nigeria is aimed at rebuilding a strong cooperative financial system capable of supporting cooperators, farmers, artisans, traders, SMEs, youths, women and persons with disabilities with accessible and affordable financial services,” he said.

Abdullahi emphasised that the proposed bank would be government-enabled but not government-funded.

“Government is not establishing the bank as an owner, nor will it rely on Treasury Single Account funds.

“The role of government through the FMAFS is to provide policy support, stakeholder coordination, regulatory facilitation and an enabling environment under the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme,” he said.

Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to cooperative sector transformation.

She described cooperatives as critical tools for promoting inclusive growth, grassroots productivity, food security, financial inclusion and community wealth creation.

Ambrose-Medebem said Lagos State would continue to support reforms and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (2025–2030).

“Together, let us build a cooperative ecosystem that is modern, transparent, digitally enabled, financially inclusive and globally competitive.

“Let us build cooperatives that not only mobilise savings, but also mobilise prosperity,” she said.