NLC Gives FG Seven Days To Address NSITF, PenCom Crisis

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the federal government to resolve bottlenecks in the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and fill the governance vacuum in the National Pension Commission (PenCom).

Ajaero gave the ultimatum while addressing the leadership crisis in the Edo State Council of the NLC during the Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting of the NLC on Wednesday.

At the meeting, the CWC expressed outrage over the federal government’s diversion of 40 per cent of workers’ contributions to the national coffers as “revenue,” describing it as an assault on workers’ social protection rights.

Ajaero described the diversion as a “flagrant violation” of the statutes establishing the NSITF.

He also condemned the federal government’s claim of ownership of the NLC National Headquarters, stating that the property belongs to Nigerian workers.

He further accused the government of resorting to “Cyber and media-bullying of the trade unions and leadership coupled with covert moves to amend the NSITF Act in a manner that would disenfranchise workers and give government full control over the funds,” adding that such actions would not be tolerated.

“The CWC warns that these actions represent a direct attack on workers’ rights, hard-earned resources, and the principle of tripartite governance enshrined in international labour standards.

“The Congress affirms that the NSITF belongs to the Nigerian working class and will mobilise all legitimate means to ensure workers’ interests are protected,” he said.

The CWC also decried the non-constitution of the Governing Board of the PENCOM in contravention of its Act and other statutes.

Ajaero alleged that the “unlawful vacuum” has allowed the government to solely superintend over the pension funds contributed by workers and employers, “stripping away the statutory tripartite oversight and increasing the risk of mismanagement and political interference.”

“Pension funds are deferred wages, not state revenue, and demands the immediate constitution of the Board in full compliance with the law.

“The deepening economic crisis marked by runaway inflation, joblessness, hunger, insecurity, and the collapse of public services, all aggravated by anti-people neoliberal policies.”

Meanwhile, reviewing the situation in the Edo State Council, the CWC ratified the decision to dissolve the State Administrative Council over alleged unethical behaviour, anti-union conduct, and violations of the NLC Constitution.

The meeting approved the constitution of a Caretaker Committee to run the affairs of the Council until fresh elections are conducted.

To this end, the CWC resolved to: “Enforce strict compliance with the NLC Constitution in all State Councils, with zero tolerance for indiscipline.

“Ratify the dissolution of the State Administrative Council of NLC in Edo state and the setting up of a Caretaker Committee.

“Mobilise workers across the country to defend workers’ contributions in the NSITF and pension funds from government expropriation.

“Demand the immediate constitution of the PENCOM Governing Board in line with the law.”

“The NSITF must account for and return all diverted funds within seven working days from today.

“The PENCOM Board must be properly constituted in full compliance with the law within seven working days from today.

“The Pension Commission to submit to the NLC full status report of the funds within this same period.

“If at the end of this Seven working days, nothing is done, NLC will no longer guarantee Industrial peace in the Sector.”

NLC Gives FG Seven Days To Address NSITF, PenCom Crisis is first published on The Whistler Newspaper