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Respect provisions of ILO convention, NECA tells govts
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has urged government at all levels to respect the provisions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 087 to maintain peaceful industrial harmony in the country.
The Director-General, Mr Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, made the call in a letter to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr Simon Lalong, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday.
Oyerinde said that the letter was neceseitated by the trend of recent events in the industry.
He said that the trend portended danger for the country’s industrial relations system and could adversely affect its position in the international labour community.
According to him, some state governments are interfering with the running of the unions.
“As a respectable nation in the ILO, with Nigeria being the current chairman of the ILO Governing Body, it is worrisome that government, both at the Federal and State levels will violate the provisions of Convention 087 of the ILO.
“It guarantees the freedom of association and protection of the rights to organise for workers and employers; this is equally guaranteed and enshrined in our laws: section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
“Your Excellency, we count on your experience and goodwill to address this anomaly that could plunge the nation into ridicule at the international community, cause disruption in our industrial relations practice, among others, “ he said.
The director general, in the letter, said it was no longer news that a social partner and another constituent of the ILO, Nigeria Labour Congress continued to face different onslaughts by some state governments and their agents.
He said: “May we affirm, most respectably, that the articles of convention 087, especially articles 1, 2, 3 and 4 among others, explicitly guarantees the rights of workers and employers to exercise these rights without interference from government.
“This position was also strongly affirmed at the last National Labour Advisory Council meeting held from July 12 to 14, 2023 at Uyo, Akwa Ibom.”
Prince Harry and his team visited the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna to interact with wounded soldiers who are receiving treatment.
The Duke of Sussex is in Nigeria with his wife to champion the Invictus Games, which Harry founded to aid the rehabilitation of wounded and sick servicemembers and veterans.
Nigeria joined the Invictus Community of Nations in 2022 becoming the first African country to join.
Prince Harry’s visit to Kaduna came 68 years after his late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II visited the state during the time of the late Premier of Northern Region Sir Ahmadu Bello.
Senate on Thursday, May 9, approved the death penalty for those convicted on the charge of drug trafficking in the country.
The punishment prescribed in the extant NDLEA Act is a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The resolution of the Senate followed its consideration of a report of the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters and Drugs and Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
The Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters presented the report during plenary, Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno North).
The bill, which passed its third reading, aims to update the list of dangerous drugs, strengthen the operations of the NDLEA, review penalties, and empower the establishment of laboratories.
Section 11 of the current act prescribes that “any person who, without lawful authority; imports, manufactures, produces, processes, plants or grows the drugs popularly known as cocaine, LSD, heroin or any other similar drugs shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to be sentenced to imprisonment for life” was amended to reflect a stiffer penalty of death.
Although the report did not recommend a death penalty for the offence, during consideration, Senator Ali Ndume moved that the life sentence should be upgraded to the death penalty.
During a clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, put the amendment on the death penalty to a voice vote and ruled that the “ayes” had it.
But Senator Adams Oshiomhole objected to the ruling, saying that the “nays” had it.
He argued that matters of life and death should not be treated hurriedly, but Barau said it was too late, as he failed to call for division immediately after his ruling.
The bill was subsequently read for the third time and passed by the Senate.
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