Press statement
The management of National Emergency Management Agency has insisted that there is no justification for the current strike action embarked on by the staff as most of their demands have either been addressed or currently being addressed.
In the agreement reached in September last year between the Management of NEMA and the Staff Union, witnessed by Ministry of Labour and Employment which includes settlement of outstanding Overtime Allowance which predated the appointment of the present DG, had been settled. As for the payment of DTAs and other claims, which have accrued (since 2015) are being settled in batches, and considerable progress have been made.
The staff annual training for 2017 have been concluded successfully. The 2018 training schedule have been approved by the management and implementation has since commenced. Many staff have so far completed their 2018 annual training.
On the issue of staff promotion, the Department of Human Resources Management has concluded preparations, briefs and other related cases, such as conversion, upgrading, confirmation, etc. To this end the management has been intimated on the criteria and process of the exercise. Approval of the cost implication for the needed accreditation of eligible officers has been given and will commence in earnest. This will follow immediately with the fixing of the examination date.
The Renewal of Group Life Insurance which is at the centre of the present disagreement have been approved after going through rigorous due process (Seeking of “No objection” from BPP, Advert, prequalification, technical and financial tendering, Evaluation and Approval).
However, the commitment of government was invigorated by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, where a meeting was convened between the NEMA management and the Union’s officials and all addressed of the government efforts to providing better condition of service for NEMA staff. At the end of the meeting, a resolution was reached that the Vehicular barricade should be removed and another meeting rescheduled to Tuesday, 19th June, 2018.
The government, however, recognises and respect the Constitutional provision for the freedom of association of the citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and enjoys the Local Unit of the NEMA ASCSN to equally respect the sanctity of the Law of the Federal Republic on Nigeria. The management therefore call on all the staff, in consideration of the rule of Law, to immediately resume to work, and more importantly, the Situation Room, the Mission Control Centre, the Medical Team and Search and Rescue Staff.
To this end, the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria once again would like to emphasis its’ commitment to the Welfare of the NEMA Staff.
Sani Datti
Head Media and Public Relations
17th June 2018
