NLC, TUC wade into population commission crisis

THE National Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have waded into the crisis bedevilling the National Population Commission (NpopC).

Some weeks back, workers in the commission went on an indefinite strike action to protest the reappointment of its Director General, Dr Ghaji Bello, who they accused of gross misconduct, corruption, impunity and deliberate staggering of the Enumeration Area Demarcation EAD exercise during his first four -year term.

They said his reappointment, despite these allegations, was not in line with the anti-corruption campaign and whistleblowing policy of the current administration.

Addressing workers on Monday at the commission’s headquarters, the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said they met with the Joint Action Committee of the commission to discuss on the ongoing crisis adding that; “ Now we have a different insight as to the entire issue. What we thought before is that the workers are challenging the President’s appointment.”

He stated that although, the workers had a case the mode in which it was handled was not right.

As a result, he said that a meeting would be held with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF on Tuesday saying the issue can only be addressed via social dialogue.

He also sought for proper documentation of the allegations against the DG, backed up with evidence.

According to him, these would be used as the basis for their intervention at the meeting with the SGF.

“Meeting would be held with the SGF we will dialogue with him you have a case but the way you presented it was wrong. What we need now from you is a real documentation of the allegation with evidence so that we can take up the issues.

“ Issues should be well documented with evidence. So we can use that at our Interface meeting with stakeholders by 3 pm tomorrow. The issues can be addressed with social dialogue. We will urge you to suspend all hostility, we will take up an issue because an injury to one is an injury to all.

“The only level this could be given appropriate attention is at the level it started from. You have a case and should be well followed up,” he said.

To this end, he urged workers to suspend all strike actions and return to work, assuring that the issue would be addressed.

On his part, the TUC President, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama added that the this would be handled without sentiments and politicisation.

“We want to assure you that now that we have taken up the issue, it will be devoid of sentiments, politicisation. Bring out the fact so as to use them as the basis to intervene tomorrow. We are law-abiding citizens, we have a right but these rights ends where other people’s own starts we need your support to help solve the issue,” he added.

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Meanwhile, the ex-officio of the Association of Senior Civil Servants and Deputy Director, Human Resources (NpopC), Hussein Ishiaku who spoke with journalists after the event, stressed that Workers were not questioning President, Muhammadu Buhari’s powers to reappoint the DG, but that Dr Bello’s conducts during his first term was questionable.

“We are able to tell them that we are not confronting the President to appoint whoever he wants. What we are after is those characteristics that Dr Ghaji Bello exhibited during his four years is what we are against and it is against the cardinal principles of this administration,” he explained.

He noted that although Workers were brazened for any show of force from policemen deployed to the commission to enforce the resumption of the DG, the situation was put under control with the intervention of the NLC and TUC.

“Honestly speaking, this morning when we came, we anticipated more numbers of Policemen, possibly the government may have had a change of heart. The Presidents of TUC and NLC agreed on Saturday to come and address us and I think that is the reason why the government had a changed game not to bring security or to further cause more commotion.

“But all in all, the discussion with them was fruitful, they were frank and sincere. They redirected us so that we will not go outside the rule of the game. We have a good case but we have to go in accordance with the rules and regulations. And after briefing them they were convinced and that they are going to look at our reports to Mr President and make amend and they agreed that we are going to meet with the SGF tomorrow where we will re-present our matter to him. They will be there and we will be there,” he stated.

However, he said no decision has been reached on the issue but the only resolution made was for workers to return to work.

“There is no decision taken apart from suspending the strike and opening the gate. The issue of whether Ghaji would come or would not come was not discussed. Maybe that will come up at the meeting tomorrow.

“So we are going to look at our report and fine-tune it for every item we mention we will support it with documents.

“In essence, the NLC came in to intervene and are now taking over the matter from us and after presentation tomorrow, the matter will no longer be ours. It is going to be handled by NLC and TUC but what we are saying is that they allow us to meet with our staff m. Ours is that if they want us to come to work without Ghaji Bello, we are prepared to come. Our bone of contention is for Ghaji Bello to come,” Ishiaku added.