Issues of unemployment, insecurity, devaluation of the Naira and epileptic power supply among others, were the dominant issues raised yesterday at the opening ceremony of the 11th Quadrennial delegates conference of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, held in Abuja with labour taking politicians to task on these issues.
This came as the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, used the occasion to woo workers to support their parties with each promising a better life for the working class.
President Goodluck Jonathan in a message to the conference, said his government had been addressing the issue of insecurity in the country, promising that “Very soon the issue of Boko Haram will be a thing of the past.”
Speaking earlier, the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) lamented that about $32.88 billions had been budgeted for defence in the last five years, yet security situation in the country was alarming.
According to him, what Nigeria needed was “a group of competent leaders that have the capacity to solve the problems and APC is the answer.”
On his part, out going NLC president, Comrade Abudulwaheed Omar, lamented that of over 20,000 victims of the insurgents, “60% are workers”.
He said this was apart from the growing number of widows and orphans that the insurgency had created.
In his message, a former president of the NLC and Governor of Edo State, Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole, warned of a bleak future for workers pension as a result of the devaluation of the Naira.
In his words, “you save in good currency and you are paid back in worthless currency”.
President Jonathan who spoke through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, assured that “the 2015 general election will be better than the 2011 election” which he said was adjudged free, Fair and credible.
Governor Oshiomhole told the NLC to insist that the election held on March 28, saying “ As we approach the national elections NLC’s voice must be loud and clear on issues.”
He recalled that two weeks ago, the Service Chiefs told the nation that they were ready for election, but suddenly they said they were no longer ready.
According to him, “What did they see now that they did not see then. We cannot accept a situation where Service Chiefs will dictate when we are to have elections.”
On unemployment, the supervising minister for Labour, Mr. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, said the federal government had created 1.8 million jobs annually.
In his words, “Even if you hate our government, the records are there”.
But Oshiomhole who recalled that in the past, government policies were designed to create job opportunities , said, “It if there is no power, we cannot create jobs in this economy.”
The Governor lamented that that Governments had failed to build new refineries and repair existing ones refineries that could create job opportunities.
General Buhari on his part, promised that APC government would create jobs, adding “An APC government will treat labour as a partner in moving the country forward. We will respect the right to Collective Bargaining, promote new skills but we need your support.”
NLC president, Abdulwaheed Omar noted that workers were the first victims of the devaluation of the Naira, “not just that the value wages went down, prices have gone up’.
He noted “Government is the major culprit when it comes to failure to implement agreements reached.”
Still on the economy, Governor Oshiomhole said “We cannot accept as organized labour that 16 years in a democracy, we cannot build refineries and the existing ones are not working, who is benefiting from import of refined petroleum products. We must build new refineries, Nigeria must export refined products”.
The opening ceremony was attended by past officers of the NLC, diplomats and government officials among others
NECA commends, cautions NLC
The Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, NECA, a major partner of NIGERIA Labour Congress, NLC, in labour relations has commended NLC for its existence of over 45 years even as it cautioned on the conduct of some of the NLC’s state councils.
In his message to the conference, the Director-General of NECA, Mr. Olusegun Osinowo, said, “the fact must not be lost on all and sundry that the NLC has now become one of key national institutions whose views and actions are key to the promotion of National development”.
Mr. Osinowo said, “In fact, the NLC could proudly present itself as one of the oldest democratic institutions in contemporary Nigeria. We however hope that the movement would be wary of seeming discordant views by some affiliated unions and certain independent actions by its state councils on national policies and issues which often run counter to the position of the national body and fly in the face of basic principles of industrial relations.
This tendency, he continued “has the potentials of casting the movement in bad light and potraying it as a promoter of lawlessness and illegality”.
He recalled that NLC and NECA have collaborated as partners on the Boards of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, and the National Pension Commission.
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung tasks Labour on Democracy
The Friedrich Ebert Foundation , an international Non Governmental Organization which has been supportive of Nigeria labour Congress, NLC, took the Labour Centre to task on its role in a democratic dispensation.
Its resident representative, Dr. Kalus – Peter Treydte asked “What is the role of labour in all these daunting challenges confronting the nation?
He asked “how can labour become more than ever before, a strong, articulate and effective voice for the downtrodden at the threshold of history. How can the Nigerian trade unions re-invent themselves to play very key and strategic roles at this defining moment in history?
The FES representative asked workers and their leaders, “How can we as a constituent ensure that elections are free, fair and non-violent? What can labour do also to ensure that credible politicians get elected to political offices and that such elected representatives are accountable to the people”.
The organization which has been engaged in workers education and promotion of trade union rights for over a decade in Nigeria asked “How can labour better push for the enactment of anti-poor policies even with the challenges of globalization staring us in the face, join the fight against corruption and ensure that that good governance is promoted in the country”.
Concluding, she said, “These and more are some of the expectations of the common man on the street from the leadership that will emerge after this delegates’ conference.
It is our hope that, at this conference labour will uphold its long tradition of conducting free , fair and credible elections. Winners we hope will be magnanimous while losers will respect the wishes of delegates”.
Vibrant labour movement essential for responsive govt —AFL-CIO
American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial Organisation, AFL-CIO, yesterday said that a vibrant labour movement is essential to ensure that government is responsive to the voices of working families.
President of AFL-CIO Richard Trumk who stated this yesterday in a goodwill message at the Nigeria Labour of Congress, NLC, Delegates Conference, 2015, in Abuja, said that workers will continue to fight irrespective of their background to exercise their fundamental labour rights.
He said, “A vibrant labour movement is essential to ensure that government is responsive to the voices of working families. We must continue to fight so that all workers, regardless of their background can exercise their fundamental labour rights of freedom of association and collective bargaining.
“We need to ensure that our youths have the same work and education opportunities as prior generations. Through solidarity and strong coordinated actions, Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the global community can help build a better tomorrow. Your work in the coming days is essential toward this goal.”
Elections not a do-or-die affair —TUC
Also delivering a goodwill message at the delegates conference, the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, said “ It is only in the labour movement as this delegates conference will show, that elections are not a do or die affair. Yes we go to the polls with varied and variegated opinions on who should do what, but in the end , when the people have spoken , we become Comrades again without rancor”.(Vanguard)
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