Lest We Forget
Daily Times
Saturday, Oct 29, 1979
Army govt was not fair to us - union
In spite of the biting inflation, the last army regime rendered the pay packets of Nigerian workers worthless by the imposition of wage freeze and curtail- ment of fringe benefits.This is the opinion of the Senior Stall Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-owned companies in a statement issued in Lagos recently. It was signed by the association's presi- dent, Mr J. O. Ifelaja.
Although workers of this nation had and were still contributing to the economic and social development of Nigeria, the association said they suffered in silence under the military regime.
The association said that this situation led to numerous malpractices and other problems such as the non- availability of essential commodities to the general public. "Few people are now performing their various office duties just for the interest of their jobs. Many others do so because they have no alternative", the association said.
It hinted that many workers who left their jobs were now contractors receiving various contracts at fantastic rates on the jobs which they had rejected. This, the association said, was very unfortunate.
The association congratulated President Shehu Shagari on his victory at the presidential elections and prayed for the success of his administration.
The statement appealed to the presi- dent to consult the association and the Nigerian Labour Congress on labour matters and policies whenever the need arose with regard to his earlier pronouncements on labour.
It promised that its members would give their unbiased opinions whenever they were consulted by the president.
Statutory Corporations and Government-owned Companies caters for the interest of all senior staff in the National Electric Power Authority, (NEPA) Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Post and Tele-Communicaions (P&T) Federal Radio Corpora- tion of Nigeria (FRCN) Nigeria Airways and a host of others.
Between the lines...
MAY, 1985: Counterfraud in Countertrade
COTIA INC is a Brazilian company that recently hit the headlines in Nigeria among those in the corri- dors of power, that is. This is because COTIA is one of those engaged in a bilateral trade agreement, otherwise known as countertrade or trade by barter, with Nigeria. Under this agreement, according to Mr Da Fanseca, COTIA's representative, COTIA was given an exclusive franchise by the ruling military junta in Lagos to supply importers with a variety of goods for which there is a shortage in Nigeria, and then receive payment in crude oil for any such supplies. Attached to this is a "Special Fund" allocation whereby a determin- ed quantity of import licenses is specifically issued for the importation of goods to be supplied only from and by COTIA. No question of percentages, no kickbacks and no drawbacks. A fine deal, Mr Da Fanseca and COTIA reasoned. Until recently.COTIA's first shipment arrived on the shores of Lagos last May. To the The Senior Staff Association of dismay of COTIA, its own share of the bargain the crude oil - was taking very long to materialise. But it did not take long for COTIA representatives to get this chilly message from proponents of countertrade Buhari, Idiagbon, Soleye, Adigun, Marinho, et al "If you (COTIA) think you will get Nigeria's oil for your damn cheap and perishable commodities, then you must be joking..." The message was clear. In Nigeria, nothing happens without percentages and kickbacks and drawbacks.
COTIA has long since learnt its lesson and as a result their business is moving again. Yes, counterfraud and countertrade - a game of semantics?
