TUC tackles states over nonremittance of workers’ check off dues to unions

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has tackled states for not remitting their unions’ check-off dues deducted from workers’ salaries monthly.

National President, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Quadri Olaleye, disclosed this during the union’s sixth triennial delegates’ conference of the Abia State chapter.

Olaleye, who was represented by Secretary General, TUC, Musa-Lawal Ozigi, said that in view of the overwhelming challenges bordering on good governance at national and state levels, issues of welfare as they affect states, should be taken up by their unions to resolve the various problems associated with emoluments.

Olaleye explained that where such internal dialogue fails to yield the desired results, the state should draw the attention of the national secretariat.

Chairman, Abia State TUC, Nwaganga Onwuma, in his address before he handed over to his successor, Ihechi Enogwe at the congress, accused the state government of violating the Trade Union Amendment Act.

Onwuma said that the Act mandated that employers shall deduct workers’ monthly subscription and pay the same to their registered unions.

He urged the state government to release the workers’ past six months deducted check-off dues to their unions.

Onwuma, also faulted governments in the country and their agencies for not implementing duly approved budget provisions, adding that this had portrayed Nigeria as a nation, where budgets are ritualistic that never impact on the citizenry.

In his acceptance speech, the new state TUC chairman, Enogwe who is an employee of the state’s Federal Ministry of Works, pledged to take the congress to greater heights.

However, other officers that served under Onwuma were returned unopposed.