ATGWU

Workers Demonstration

JOINT NOTU/ COFTU DEMONSTRATION AGAINST NSSF BAD GOVERNANCE, MISMANAGEMENT AND CORRUPTION

Workers organised under the umbrella of National Organisation of Trade Union (NOTU) and Central Organisation of Free Trade Unions (COFTU) in conjunction with Workers’ MPs have organised nationwide demonstrations, which take place on Monday 29^th September 2008.

A grand demonstration in Kampala will start at 09:00 am from CentenaryPark, proceeding to Parliament building where they will hand in a petition to the Speaker.  From parliament the demonstrators shall proceed to the Ministry of Finance headquarters demanding the Minister to dissolve the entire NSSF Board of Directors and suspend its management so as to allow investigations by the Parliamentary probe committee and Criminal Investigation Department and also for a Forensic audit to be carried out without interference by the suspects. 

The Regional demonstrations will start from Regional National Social Security Fund (NSSF) offices and end at the Offices of the Resident District Commissioners (RDC) where the Labour Union leaders and coordinators will hand over the petition to the RDCs.

All NSSF contributors are hereby called upon join the Kampala Grand Demonstration by assembling at the Centenary Park on Jinja road at 0900am and to give the demonstration maximum enthusiastic support and participation it deserves.

Police permission has been granted and all are requested to cooperate.

OUR CONCERN ARE;

The non participation and involvement of workers in the management and administration of the NSSF over the years, is of great concerned to workers. This in our view has been characterised by impropriety, misappropriation and wrong choices of projects and decisions e.g. Nsimbe and Temangalo projects, construction of the pension house, the decision to pay ALCON, and the intended payment to Kampala Associated Advocates among others.

OUR DEMANDS TO THE MINISTER OF FINANCE FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION ARE;

• That the current Board of Directors is dissolved and top management of NSSF be suspend with immediate effect pending investigations.
• That all transactions/dealings of NSSF save for those with adverse legal implications be immediately halted pending investigations and/or appointment of new Board of Directors.
• Fast track the NSSF reforms that will streamline corporate and democratic governance and administration by 31^st December 2008.
• That a mechanism be put in place to immediately review and implement the recommendations of Social Sector Transition Group (STG) report.
• That the placement of NSSF be reviewed in a manner that will ensure the protection of the fund and prudent social protection under the ministry responsible for Labour and social development.
• To ensure that workers as the actual owners of the funds have the majority representation on the new NSSF Board of Directors.

For that noble cause therefore, we call up on all workers to personally sacrifice their resources including time and effort, to mobilise members to give the demonstration the enthusiastic support it deserves.

Furthermore all workers and employers are reminded to remain in touch with their labour union leaders and the media all the time to get the latest on matters pertaining to the demands of the workers and the planned demonstration.