Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: Labour

  • Industrial court restrains resident doctors from strike as labour tensions rise

    Industrial court restrains resident doctors from strike as labour tensions rise

    According to The Guardian Nigeria, the National Industrial Court has restrained resident doctors from embarking on strike action, as negotiations and tensions around health-sector conditions continue.

    Labour analysts say such orders can buy time for talks, but lasting solutions typically require clear timelines on welfare commitments, funding and accountability for agreements.

    Patients and hospital administrators are often caught in the middle, with service disruptions risking preventable morbidity and eroding trust in public health systems.

    Stakeholders will watch for renewed negotiations and whether government and unions can reach enforceable terms to avoid recurring strike cycles.

    Echotitbits take: Court orders are not healthcare policy. Watch for a credible implementation roadmap on salaries, training, and hospital funding—otherwise the crisis returns.

    Source: The Punch – https://punchng.com/industrial-court-stops-resident-doctors-from-embarking-on-strike/ 10 January 2026

    The Punch 2026-01-10

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • Osun Payroll Audit Flags 8,452 ‘Ghost Workers’ as State Tightens Wage Controls

    Osun Payroll Audit Flags 8,452 ‘Ghost Workers’ as State Tightens Wage Controls

    Reporting by The Punch indicates a payroll audit uncovered 8,452 alleged ghost workers in Osun State, raising fresh questions about payroll controls and wage leakages.

    The report suggests the finding emerged from a verification process aimed at tightening wage administration in a period of fiscal pressure.

    If the clean-up is sustained, it could free funds for public services, though disputes may follow over wrongful deletions and labour politics.

    Premium Times also reported the “8,452 ghost workers” figure, while The Guardian similarly described the discovery within a payroll clean-up narrative for the state.

    Echotitbits take: The real test is enforcement—publishing an audit trail, recovering funds where possible, and sanctioning those who enabled payroll fraud.

    Source: The Punch – https://punchng.com/consultant-uncovers-8452-ghost-workers-in-osun/ January 10, 2026

    The Punch 2026-01-10

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • Eritrea’s workers’ confederation reviews 2025 performance and sets a 2026 action plan

    Eritrea’s workers’ confederation reviews 2025 performance and sets a 2026 action plan

    Eritrea’s workers’ confederation reviews 2025 performance and sets a 2026 action plan

    Figures shared via Shabait and republished through Africa Newsroom indicate Eritrea’s National Confederation of Eritrean Workers (NCEW) held an executive meeting to assess 2025 activities and outline a 2026 plan.

    The update says discussions covered labour relations, external relations, administration and finance, human resources development, and programmes focused on women and youth workers.

    Labour bodies can be early indicators of policy emphasis—especially around productivity, training, dispute resolution, and workforce mobilisation across sectors.

    Shabait said the committee held “extensive discussions” on the plan and priority areas. A Ministry-linked post echoed the same focus areas, including “human resources development” and organisational strengthening.

    Echotitbits take:
    The key is whether targets become measurable. Watch for published benchmarks—training numbers, dispute-resolution metrics, sector programmes, and any link to national productivity or employment campaigns.

    Source: Shabait — January 2, 2026 — https://shabait.com/amp/2026/01/02/ncew-meeting-on-action-plan-for-2026/
    Shabait 2026-01-02

    Photo Credit: Shabait

  • Insecurity: Labour unions plan nationwide street protest for Dec. 17

    Insecurity: Labour unions plan nationwide street protest for Dec. 17

    File photo: Troops — Punch Newspapers
    2025-12-13

    According to The Punch, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it will stage a nationwide protest on December 17 to demand stronger action on insecurity and to push for better protection of lives and livelihoods.

    The union leadership argues that persistent attacks, kidnappings and community violence are undermining economic activity and deepening hardship, and it wants government to treat security as an urgent national emergency.

    Separate reports by Vanguard and TheCable also described the planned action and quoted labour leaders framing the protest as a pressure tool to compel a firmer security response, with Vanguard noting it was intended to be nationwide.

    Organised labour urged citizens to support peaceful mobilisation while calling on authorities to avoid heavy-handed responses that could inflame tensions.

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: If labour follows through, the protest will be a real test of how the government is reading public frustration about insecurity. Watch for: (1) whether state chapters mobilise beyond major cities, (2) whether government announces fresh security measures ahead of the date, and (3) whether the protest expands into broader economic demands.

    Source: The Punch — 13 Dec 2025 (https://punchng.com/nlc-to-hold-nationwide-protest-over-insecurity-december-17/?amp)

  • Misconduct: President Buhari suspends NSITF Director, 11 top officials

    Misconduct: President Buhari suspends NSITF Director, 11 top officials

    President Muhammadu Buhari has suspended indefinitely the Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Mr Adebayo Somefun.

    The decision of the President was contained in a statement on Thursday from the Head of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Charles Akpan.

    Other 11 top officials of the agency affected include Jasper Azuatalam (Executive Director, Finance and Investment), Olukemi Nelson (Executive Director, Operations), and Tijani Sulaiman (Executive Director, Administration).

    Others are Olusegun Bashorun (General Manager, Administration/Human Resources/Maintenance), Lawan Tahir (General Manager, Finance), Chris Esedebe (General Manager, Claims and Compensation), Olodotun Adegbite (Deputy General Manager, Investment and Treasury Management), and Emmanuel Sike (Deputy General Manager, Finance and Accounts).

    Also affected by the suspension are Olutoyin Arokoyo (Deputy General Manager/Acting Head, Legal), Dorathy Tukura (Deputy General Manager, Administration), and Victoria Ayantuga (Assistant General Manager, Internal Audit).

    According to the statement, their suspension from office arose from the preliminarily established prima facie infractions on the extant Financial Regulations and Procurement Act, and other acts of gross misconduct.

    It said, “During the period of their suspension, the suspended officers are to face a Joint Board and Audit Investigative Panel that has been set up to look into the financial and procurement breaches, as well as gross misconduct in the NSITF for periods of 2016 to date, which have invariably put the Contributions of stakeholders in a perilous state.

    “The affected officers have also been directed to hand over to the most senior officers in their respective departments.

    “The Executive Directors are, therefore, to hand over to the most senior general managers, while the managing director will hand over to the most senior officer in the Fund.”

    Thereafter, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, directed the Regional General Manager in charge of the Ibadan Region, Temitope Akinwale, to take charge as General Manager in charge of Finance and to concurrently oversee the Office of the Executive Director of Finance and Investment as the acting Executive Director.

    He also asked the Regional General Manager in charge of Port Harcourt Region, Maureen Allagoa, to move to NSITF Headquarters as General Manager in charge of Administration, Human Resources and Maintenance, and to concurrently oversee the Office of the Executive Director of Administration as acting Executive Director.

    Ngige also directed the General Manager of Administration and Maintenance, Baba Kabir, to move to the Enforcement Department while concurrently overseeing the office of the Executive Director of Operations in an acting capacity.

    He asked the General Manager of the Health, Safety and Environment Department, Dr Kelly Nwagha, to assume the position of acting Managing Director/Chief Executive, as the most senior General Manager in the Fund.

    “All the appointments are with effect from Monday, July 6, 2020, and will last until further notice.

    “The Honourable Minister has also charged the Chairman of the Board, Mr Austin Isire, FCA; FCII; to take charge, in order to ensure that the Investigative Panel commences work as soon as possible and for the Board to facilitate the smooth running of the Fund by creating the enabling environment and all the necessary staff adjustments and movements, in order to guarantee that services by staff to the Contributors do not in any way suffer,” the statement added.

  • Lagos inspires innovation, pays over N16 billion pension in one year

    Lagos inspires innovation, pays over N16 billion pension in one year

    The Lagos State Government has initiated an interactive knowledge sharing platform to tap into the wisdom of its pool of civil-servant-staff for novel ideas that will aid the development of the state.

    The platform known as SHIFT Talks, was disclosed Wednesday by the state’s Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Ajibola Ponnle at the Ministerial Press Briefing to mark the one year in office anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu held at the JJT park in the Alausa area of Ikeja, Lagos State.

    In her remark to journalists at the event, Ponnle described the initiative as one that will help the State “at harvesting the collective wisdom inherent within the service, showcasing innovation by staff and networking to bridge the inter-ministerial gap”

    Giving further explanation on how the initiative will also celebrate members of the Lagos State Government staff who distinguish themselves by following through on creative ideas, the Commissioner recognised some civil servants who had come up with ideas that aligned with the intent of the initiative in its first edition.

    “Knowledge SHIFTer, like Mrs. Tope George, a lawyer from the Ministry of Justice shared nuggets from a book she authored while Innovation SHIFTer, Seun Ogunmolu, who launched an App he developed, was recognised by Mr. Governor for an excellent performance. It should be worthy of note that Mr. Ogunmolu was advanced to GL 10 as a result of his innovative drive”.

    Giving performance account of her ministry and agencies under her supervision in the last one year, Ponnle noted that the Public Service Staff Development Centre (PSSDC) had by the end of March 2020, designed and implemented a total of 44 Learning and Development programmes for a total of 2,164 Public Service staff to enhance job performance.

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    Among others, She listed the organisation of In-Plant, Tailor-Made Workshops and Seminars, sponsorship of officers for Local and foreign training and approval for Study Leave as programmes implemented to boost the morale of employees.

    Reiterating the commitment of the Sanwo-Olu led government to boost service excellence, the Commissioner noted that: “We have trained a total of 4,210 staff during the year in-class sessions, representing 30% of the cumulative number trained in the previous four years, apart from the over 11,000 participants online”.

    She averred that in order to ensure a safe, conflict-free and productive workplace, the Ministry provided strategic and expert advice on industrial relations and also played an important role in the successful negotiation of the new minimum wage plus consequential adjustments, noting that three months arrears, as agreed, had already been paid to employees between February and April 2020 during the lockdown.

    Ponnle also emphasised that “the Lagos State Government pays more than the Federal recommended minimum wage, which shows the magnanimity of Governor Sanwo-Olu in ensuring that the ‘take-home’ of staff truly take them home”.

    In the area of Pension payments, she affirmed that the State Government has consistently distinguished itself as the leading State in the payment of contributory payment scheme, its management, implementation and administration in Nigeria, while also leading the pack in the full implementation of an increase in employers’ contribution from 7.5% to 10% and employees contribution from 7.5% to 8%.

    She submitted that a total of 4,104 retirees had their accrued pension rights of N16,759,441,707.75 credited into their RSAs between May 2019 to April 2020, saying that the government also approved the release of N13.75billion to fund the Redemption Bond Account, thereby increasing the additional funding rate from 5% to 10% of total annual staff emoluments in order to fully clear the backlog of arrears from the old defined benefit scheme era of pension management by the State.

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    Ponnle stated further that the Lagos State Pension Commission, LASPEC, has commenced the issuance of pensioners ID cards to retirees while additional benefits that will accrue to civil service retirees, who hold ID cards, will be unveiled in due course.

    She reaffirmed the commitment of the Ministry to developing initiatives that will ensure the mandate of a 21st Century-compliant workforce is achieved.

  • Revealed! Real reasons Buhari sacked Usman Mohammed as TCN Managing Director

    Revealed! Real reasons Buhari sacked Usman Mohammed as TCN Managing Director

    By Idowu Sowunmi

    The real reasons President Muhammadu Buhari approved the sack of Usman Gur Mohammed as the Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, through the Minister of Power, Sale Mamman, have been uncovered.

    Mohammed, according to various sources at the TCN office, was removed because of his alleged high-handedness and his inglorious role in the termination of the appointment of a labour leader, Chris Okonkwo, who was TCN General Manager, Special Duties.

    It would be recalled that Okonkwo was sacked on April 24, 2020 and this generated negative reactions from the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC), saying the labour leader was sacked by Mohammed without due process.

    TUC immediately wrote to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, describing the sack of Okonkwo who is also the incumbent SSAEAC President General as an exercise in futility because it’s only the Minister of Power that could exercise such authority in the extant laws.

    “The crisis in Transmission Company of Nigeria has been severally reported to your office, despite your intervention which is ongoing, the Managing Director of the company has issued a sack letter.

    “This is an exercise in futility because it is beyond the power of the Managing Director; only the minister can exercise such power in the extant laws.

    “It is also an attempt to dare labour and an embarrassment to labour community for sacking a sitting president when a matter is already before an arbiter and has not been concluded.

    “This is a declaration of war and we are prepared for him; as law abiding citizens, we have brought the matter for urgent intervention,” TUC wrote in a letter of protest to Ngige.

    The festering development led to the presidential approval for the dismissal of Mohammed on Tuesday.

    Mamman, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Aaron Artimas, titled: “Reorganisation/New Appointments at the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN” announced Mohammed’s sack and appointed Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz as TCN Managing Director in acting capacity.

    “As part of continuing measures to reposition and improve the performance of the power sector in the country, the Honourable Minister of Power Engr. Sale Mamman, hereby announces major changes at the Transmission Company of Nigeria.

    “Accordingly, the Managing Director of the TCN, Usman Gur Mohammed, has been removed from office with immediate effect. He is being replaced with Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, as Managing Director, in acting capacity.

    “The Honorable Minister has also confirmed the appointment of four directors who have been on acting position in the company for some time.

    “They are; Engr. Victor G. Adewumi, Executive Director, Transmission Services Provider; Engr. M. J. Lawal, Executive Director, Independent Systems Operator; Ahmed Isa-Dutse, Executive Director, Finance and Accounts and Justin I. Dodo, Executive Director, Human Resources and Corporate Services.

    “All the changes/appointments have been approved by President Muhammadu Buhari,” the statement said.