The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) picketed the office of TrustFund Pensions Limited in Abuja on Tuesday, in protest over the recent sack of 45 staff members, the casualization of workers, and other alleged unfair labor practices by the organization.
NLC members barricaded the TrustFund pensions office located at the Labour House as early as 7 am, preventing staff members from accessing the premises. They carried placards with messages such as "Stop casual and contract employment," "Pay fair wages," and "Union membership is a fundamental right."
Addressing journalists, the NLC Deputy General Secretary, Comrade Ismail Bello, said the Congress could no longer ignore the labor standard violations being committed by TrustFund. He stated that the demonstration was necessary because the organization's management had failed to cooperate in dialogue.
Bello explained that TrustFund, as a Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) in which the NLC has a stake, should have engaged in a process of dialogue to resolve the issues. However, the management had not shown good faith in discussing labor issues, such as the sack of 45 workers, the use of casual and contract employment, and the unfair treatment of this category of workers.
An affiliate of the NLC, the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE), also stated that the TrustFund management has been reluctant to reply to their correspondences and has been violating established labor laws, including not allowing the unionization of workers.
The NLC said it cannot close its eyes to the level of labor standard violations being perpetrated and called for respect for union rights, better working conditions for casual and contract workers, and fair disengagement entitlements for the sacked employees.
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