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Oshiomhole to Ajaero, Osifo: strike is misplaced priority
The ongoing nationwide strike declared by organised labour is a misplaced priority, Senator Adams Oshiomhole declared yesterday.
According to him, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) should take up issues on workers’ welfare rather than what will portray them as partisan.
Oshiomhole, who shot into the limelight as a labour activist, crowning his career as president of the NLC, wondered why the labour centres would not take on state governments that are not paying the N30,000 minimum wage but would embark on industrial action simply because its leader was assaulted.
The former Edo State governor spoke at Aso Villa yesterday after a meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The NLC and TUC called the strike yesterday to protest last week’s physical attack on NLC President Joe Ajaero in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
Ajaero flew into Owerri to protest the non-payment of outstanding salary arrears to workers.
Despite the workers’ leadership rejection of his intervention, NLC vowed to “occupy Imo State”.
During his picketing at the airport on arrival, he was beaten up and the police took him into “protective custody”.
He was not seen in public for days. On his return, he claimed that the police arrested him and handed him over to hoodlums who assaulted him.
Although the police denied involvement, Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun redeployed Imo State Commission of Police Mohammed Barde and ordered an investigation.
TUC President Festus Osifo announced the industrial action on Monday, saying it will be indefinite.
But Oshiomhole said: “Unfortunately, this strike is not about those issues.
“And I think we have to be careful not to mix our political opinion with our responsibilities because the issues confronting workers are so many that they should become the priority.”
Oshiomhole urged the NLC to prioritise holding state governments accountable to the N30,000 minimum wage agreement, which covers both local government and state workers.
He wondered why the NLC was not mobilising workers against states still failing to implement the approved minimum wage while targeting the Federal Government.
Advising union leaders to engage vigorously on issues like unpaid salaries, he cautioned against actions perceived as overtly partisan.
He said: “The Federal Government had granted N35,000 increase. And those discussions were supposed to be for and on behalf of not only the Federal Government but on behalf of all workers in Nigeria, including those employed by local governments and state governments.
“Additional revenue accruing from the withdrawal of subsidy should trickle down to the states and the local government areas.
“I would have wished that somebody in the NLC recognises that the hunger in the stomach of federal employees is not any worse than the hunger in the stomach of those state employees, nor local government employees.
“If these are the issues on the table, even as a senator, I will publicly support action against any government that thinks that we should lament away our hunger while the people do what they do.
“Labour cannot be apolitical because politics is about the people. And I have argued when I was in NLC that nobody has a right to be partisan much more than those who turn the will of our industrial progress.
“You have to be careful not to be seen to be doing the bidding of a particular candidate or a particular political party. As President of the NLC, I made no friends with any politicians.”
He reiterated his stance against brutality against any Nigerian while stressing that addressing the hierarchy of workers’ needs should be NLC’s focus.
“But, let me be clear. I do not support the brutalisation of any Nigerian. I emphasise, any Nigerian, including a journalist, including the unemployed. Of course, including a Labour leader,” he added.
The strike got the support of affiliate unions.
Oil, bank and electricity workers, as well as a section of university teachers, joined the industrial action in compliance with their unions’ directive.
Among Labour’s demands are the redeployment and investigation of the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command; arrest, prosecution and dismissal of all police officers involved in the incident; and arrest of all thugs who partook in beating Ajaero and other workers.
Labour also demanded the arrest and prosecution of Mr Chinasa Nwaneri, Uzodimma’s aide on special duties who allegedly supervised the terror on workers and “bestial brutality” meted out to Ajaero.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) and the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) asked their members to join the industrial action.
The Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) and the National Union of Banks Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) joined the strike.
Federal workers were also asked to join the action.
General Secretary of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, Joshua Apebo, directed federal workers to withdraw services nationwide.
But some federal workers showed up for work yesterday.
At the Federal Ministry of Education, offices were opened as workers went about their business.
In the education sector, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics asked their members to stay off work.
Labour unions in the maritime and health sectors asked their members to comply with the directive.
The health sector is not left out as the nurses’ union asked their members to down tools.
Acting General Secretary of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, Salihu Abubakar, said they would stay home.
The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives also asked its members to comply strictly with the directive.
The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) asked its members to shut the courts.
However, the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) said it would not join the action because it was not yet an official TUC affiliate.
Its National President, Dr Niyi Sunmonu, said: “The position of CONUA is not to join the strike for the fact that we are yet to be an official affiliate of TUC even though our application is before them.
“TUC with whom CONUA submitted an affiliation request has not communicated this position on strike action to it.
“Distinguished comrades should therefore note that CONUA cannot be part of the strike action that is not communicated to it.
“In addition, the affiliation process with the TUC has not been officially established.”
SSANU and NASU joined the nationwide strike.
NASU Chairman, University of Lagos (UNILAG) branch, Abiodun Olayinka, told The Nation that the national body had directed all branches to join the strike.
Other affiliates who joined the action are the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NURW), Nigeria Union of Food and Beverage Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), among others.
But, unions in the aviation industry did not comply fully as there were no flight disruptions yesterday.
Aviation unions affiliated with the labour movement were yet to meet on how to implement the directive by their parent bodies.
Secretary General, Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), Comrade Abdulrazak Saidu said that was why there were seamless aerospace operations.
All scheduled flights operated without hitches, while activities at the local and international airports in Lagos went on as usual.
The strike went on despite Friday’s interim injunction granted by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) president, Justice Benedict Kanyip.
He ruled on an ex-parte application brought by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) on behalf of the Federal Government.
The presidency and AGF Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) had reminded Labour that the restraining order was still in force.
NLC to Presidency: we won’t be cowed
Labour faulted the statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy Bayo Onanuga, saying contrary to the presidency’s position, the issues were beyond Ajaero.
NLC Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah, said Ajaero does not work in Imo and is not owed salary but is fighting for civil servants that are owed.
The Congress insisted the strike was far from personal.
The union said: “Nigerians and indeed, the world to know that the joint national strike by the NLC and TUC is not about ego tripping move intended to blackmail the government as Bayo Onanuga mischievously describes it.
“If Onanuga were not suffering from selective amnesia, Onanuga ought to have known that this government should remain grateful to the Organised Labour for its uncommon patience with a government that was not prepared for the consequences of its fundamentalist market policies.
“The massive currency devaluation and subsidy removal which imposed on Nigerians social violence, upheaval, dislocation, displacement or punishment they never experienced.
“Onanuga ought to have known that the Organised Labour, by not opting for a strike as a first option, acted as a bulwark against the rage of Nigerians thereby saving this government from itself.
“Ajaero is not a member of any union in or outside Imo State nor is he owed a salary or pension payment arrears, but in his capacity as president of the NLC, he has oversight over all the unions affiliated to the congress including the civil servants and pensioners who have been owed in varying degrees of arrears.
“We want Bayo Onanuga and those who sent him and the police much earlier to know that we shall not be cowed by anybody or force no matter the resources at that person’s disposal.
“No government can be bigger than the people over which it presides.”
- INJUNCTION AND STAY OF EXECUTION
- CARGO REMAINS UNDER ARREST
In a surprising twist of events, its decision delivered today, the Federal High Court in a surprising shift from the true nature of FirstBank ’s claim held that the matter is not a maritime claim but rather, a simple case of debt recovery. This is quite surprising considering the fact that the order sought is to prevent further fraudulent sale of crude on the FPSO.
Shockingly, the court also held that the Arrest Order against the cargo, because it was exparte in nature, expired by effluxion of time within 14 days of its issuance.
Aggrieved by the decision, FirstBank lodged an appeal against the decision of the FHC. Also, FirstBank filed an application for an injunction of the court against GHL, pending the determination of the appeal. The Cargoes of Crude Oil on the FPSO TAMARA TOKONI remain arrested.
While FirstBank has great respect for the courts, it strongly disagrees with the ruling, which, in our view, constitutes a miscarriage of justice.
FirstBank remains committed to protecting and securing the interest of its members and will relentlessly pursue justice against mischievous debtors seeking to use the machinery of the law to perpetuate mischief and evade their responsibility to offset outstanding obligations.
About FirstBank
First Bank of Nigeria Limited “FirstBank”, established in 1894, is the premier bank in West Africa, a leading financial inclusion services provider in Africa, and a digital banking giant.
FirstBank’s international footprints cut across three continents ─ Africa, Europe and Asia, with FirstBank UK Limited in London and Paris; FirstBank in The Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, The Gambia, Guinea and Sierra Leone; FBNBank in Senegal; and a FirstBank Representative Office in Beijing, China. All the subsidiary banks are fully registered by their respective Central Banks to provide full banking services.
Besides providing domestic banking services, the subsidiaries also engage in international cross-border transactions with FirstBank’s non-Nigerian subsidiaries, and the representative offices in Paris and China facilitate trade flows from Asia and Europe into Nigeria and other African countries.
For 130 years, FirstBank has built an outstanding reputation for solid relationships, good corporate governance, and a strong liquidity position, and has been at the forefront of promoting digital payment in the country with over 13 million cards issued to customers (the first bank to achieve such a milestone in Nigeria). FirstBank has continued to make significant investments in technology, innovation and transformation, and its cashless transaction drive has been steadily accentuated with virtually 23 million active FirstBank customers signed up on digital channels including the USSD Quick Banking service through the nationally renowned *894# Banking code.
With over 42 million customer accounts (including digital wallets) spread across Nigeria, UK and sub-Saharan Africa, the Bank provides a comprehensive range of retail and wholesale financial services through more than 820 business offices and over 233,500 agent locations spread across 772 out of the 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria.
In addition to banking solutions and services, FirstBank provides pension fund custody services in Nigeria through First Pension Custodian Nigeria Limited and nominee and associated services through First Nominees Nigeria Limited.
FirstBank’s commitment to Diversity is shown in its policies, partnerships and initiatives such as its employees’ ratio of female to male (about 39%:61%; and 32% women in management) as well as the FirstBank Women Network, an initiative that seeks to address the gender gap and increase the participation of women at all levels within the organisation. In addition, the Bank’s membership of the UN Women is an affirmation of a deliberate policy that is consistent with UN Women’s Women Empowerment’s Principles (WEPs) ─ Equal Opportunity, Inclusion, and Nondiscrimination.
For six consecutive years (2011 – 2016), FirstBank was named “Most Valuable Bank Brand in Nigeria” by the globally renowned The Banker Magazine of the Financial Times Group and “Best Retail Bank in Nigeria” eight times in a row, 2011 – 2018, by the Asian Banker International Excellence in Retail Financial Services Awards.
In 2022, the Top 100 African Bank rankings released by The Banker Magazine ranked FirstBank as number one in Nigeria in terms of Overall Performance, Profitability, Efficiency and Return on Risk. Also in 2022, the Bank received the “Most Innovative Retail Banking Product in Nigeria (FastTrack ATM)” and “Best Retail Bank in Nigeria” awards from International Finance Magazine. FirstBank was also awarded “Best Corporate Banking Western Africa, 2022” and “Best CSR Bank Western Africa, 2022’’ by Global Banking and Finance Magazine.
Other notable awards in FirstBank coffers include: “Best Bank in Nigeria” by Global Finance magazine – fifteen times in a row; “Best Private Bank in Nigeria-2021” awarded by Global Finance magazine; “Best Internet Banking Nigeria” and ‘’Best CSR Bank Africa’’ by International Business Magazine.
In 2023, FirstBank received notable awards including “Best Private Bank for Sustainable Investing in Africa 2023” by Global Finance Awards; “Best Sustainable Bank in Nigeria 2023” by International Investors Awards; “Best Bespoke Banking Services in Nigeria 2023” by International Investors Awards; “Best Financial Inclusion Service Provider in Nigeria 2023” by Digital Banker Africa; and “African Bank of the Year” by African Leadership Magazine; ’’Best Corporate Bank in Nigeria 2023’’ by Euromoney Awards and ‘’Most Innovative Banking Brand – Nigeria 2023’’ by Global Brands Award.
Other laudable feats in 2023 include FirstBank’s international recognitions on major indices by Euromoney Market Leaders, an independent global assessment of the leading financial service providers where FirstBank was crowned:
Market Leader: (tier-1 recognition) in Corporate Banking,
Market Leader: (tier -1 recognition) in Digital Solutions,
Highly Regarded: Corporate and Social Responsibility (CSR),
Highly Regarded: Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Notable: in SME Banking.
Significantly, FirstBank’s Global Credit Rating was A+ with a positive outlook while ratings by Fitch and Standard & Poor’s were A (nga) and ngBBB+ respectively both with Stable outlooks as at September 2023. FirstBank maintained the same level of international credit ratings as the sovereign; a milestone that was achieved in 2022 for the first time since 2015.
Our vision is ‘To be Africa’s Bank of first choice’ and our mission is ‘To remain true to our name by providing the best financial services possible. This commitment is anchored on our core values of EPIC – Entrepreneurship, Professionalism, Innovation and Customer-Centricity. Our strategic ambition is ‘To deliver accelerated growth in profitability through customer-led innovation and disciplined execution and our brand promise is always to deliver the ultimate “gold standard” of value and excellence to position You First in every respect.
Olayinka Ijabiyi
Ag. Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications
First Bank of Nigeria Limited
FirstBank of Nigeria Limited, West Africa’s premier bank and a key player in financial inclusion, will today (Wednesday) host the groundbreaking ceremony for its new, green-certified headquarters in Eko Atlantic City, Lagos.
The 40-storey building, set to become the tallest structure in Nigeria, promises to be a technological and environmental marvel, with advanced, eco-friendly construction designed to set new benchmarks in Africa’s financial services sector.
A statement on Wednesday signed by Olayinka Ijabiyi, Ag. Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, First Bank said the ceremony marks the beginning of a transformative journey that highlights commitment to innovation, excellence, and customer satisfaction.
“The new headquarters will feature a sustainable, green-certified design aimed at reducing operational costs while positioning FirstBank as a leader in sustainable banking practices,” it said.
Olusegun Alebiosu, CEO of FirstBank Group, stated, “We are thrilled to reach this important milestone in our pursuit of excellence. Our new head office will be a world-class structure that reflects our dedication to innovation, sustainability, and customer satisfaction. We believe this development will play a key role in driving economic growth and long-term value for all our stakeholders across Africa.”
With a legacy of over 130 years, FirstBank has consistently been a trailblazer in innovation, customer service, and sustainable business practices. The bank operates across nine countries on three continents, reinforcing its international presence.
Femi Otedola, Chairman of FirstHoldCo, remarked, “Today’s ceremony underscores the importance of collaboration and the unwavering support from various sectors in realizing our vision for the new headquarters. We are deeply grateful for the continued support from our customers and stakeholders as we bring this vision to life.”
The groundbreaking event will be attended by distinguished guests, including the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, as well as senators, lawmakers, state governors, federal ministers, and key figures from various industries. This event marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in FirstBank’s rich history, cementing its position as a leader in Africa’s financial landscape.
1.54m bopd production figure (quoted by THISDAY for October) is for September, not October,’ What NUPRC boss told highest body of petroleum explorationists and stakeholders in Lagos.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) confirmed the 1.8 million barrels of per day (bopd) production figures earlier released by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Limited) at the conference organised by the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) in Lagos.
This newspaper, which reported the Commission boss, Gbenga Komolafe, to have said this to stakeholders, maintained that the development is contrary to a report making the round that the NUPRC contradicted the NNPC Ltd figures.
Speaking at the 42nd Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists Annual International Conference & Exhibition in Lagos, Komolafe said that Nigeria’s crude oil output, including condensate, increased by 16.56 per cent to 1.8 million barrels per day, bpd in October 2024, from 1.54 million bpd in September 2024.
He said that as a result of this feat, Nigeria has exceeded the 1.5 million bpd quota of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC.”This represents an increase of 253,710,bpd to reach 1.8 million bpd in October, up from 1.54 million bpd in September 2024, representing 16.56 per cent month-on-month rise,” he said.
Represented by Enorense Amadasu, Executive Commissioner for Development and Production at NUPRC, the NUPRC boss declared that efforts were underway to further increase oil output to two million bpd by December 2024.
Highlighting the theme of the conference, “Resolving the Nigerian Energy Trilemma: Energy Security, Sustainable Growth and Affordability”, Komolafe, said the organization is committed to expanding Nigeria’s oil production capacity.
Checks by this newspaper showed that this is the same position of the NNPC Ltd, which said it and its partners have revved up crude oil and gas production to 1.8 million barrels per day (mbpd) and 7.4billion standard cubic feet (bscf) per day.
The company announced this at a press briefing, maintaining that the feat was achieved in compliance with the mandate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.This newspaper gathered that these figures are, contrary to misconstrued report, the same with the ones announced by the NUPRC.
Disparity Where There Is None A THISDAY review of the delayed October production figures by the NUPRC, which is the oil and gas sector upstream regulator, claimed that Nigeria produced 1.538 million bpd of crude oil and condensate.
The three-month low production data released by the NUPRC, the report claimed, contradicted the report announced by the national oil company and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Oil), which specifically put production at 1.808 million bpd.
Looking Beyond 1.8m bopd, Speaking on the development, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mele Kyari, who reiterated that the Company revved up oroduction to 1.8 m bopd, declared the target to even increase the production to 2 million bopd.
Kyari congratulated the Production War Room Team that anchored the production recovery process.“The team has done a great job in driving this project of not just production recovery but also escalating production to expected levels that are in the short and long terms acceptable to our shareholders based on the mandates that we have from the President, the Honourable Minister, and the Board,” Kyari explained. Giving details of the efforts of the Production War Room, the Chief War Room Coordinator, and Senior Business Adviser to the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Lawal Musa disclosed that the feat was achieved through the collaborative efforts of Joint Venture and Production Sharing Contract partners, the Office of the National Security Adviser, as well as government and private security agencies.
He said the interventions led to the recovery of production cut across every segment of the production chain with security agencies closely monitoring the pipelines. He stressed that when the Production War Room team was inaugurated on the 25th June 2024, production was at 1.430mbpd, but the team swung into action, culminating into it sustaining the production recovery to 1.7mbpd in August and hitting the current 1.808mbpd in November.
“We are confident that with this same momentum and with the active collaboration of all stakeholders, especially on the security front, we can see the possibility of getting to 2mbpd by the end of the year,” he stated.
Also speaking on the development, Chairman of the NNPC Ltd Board of Directors, Chief Pius Akinyelure, who also congratulated the team, said he was happy to be part of the production recovery process, adding: “today, I will leave this place with my heart full of joy”.
He charged the Company’s Management to come up with a cashflow projection based on the new production figures to facilitate planning, stressing that he was looking forward to further production increase to 3mbpd.
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