Government warns against casualisation of workers

As NUFBTE commissions second phase of union’s hotel

Federal Government has warned that it would no longer ‎tolerate casualisation of workers at the commissioning of the second phase of the Food Union Hotel and Suites, a project of the National Union of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE), the Minister of Labour and Employment, ‎Senator. Chris Ngige, said it is workers, rights to belong to a union of their choice and no employer should deny them that. “Protecting employers /employees relationship is our job, and workers rights is well stipulated in our constitution as well as backed by International Labour Convention. So to ensure that organised labour can organise their members without any threat or intimidation we will back them up with appropriate regulations,” he said.

He argued that some employers who indulge in the act of casualisation out of ignorance, stating that ignorance of the law, however, is not an excuse.

The Minister noted that employers are better off with unions, equally cautioned against manipulation and imposition of stooges among union officers by some employers.

Ngige, who commended the leadership of NUFBTE for diversifying into entrepreneurship, building hotels, water production as well as some other ventures, such a feat would make the union to be stronger.

“It is when a union is independent that it can become strong physically and financially. You’ve been able to move from union of employees to a union of employers.

However the reward of good work is more work, so we are looking forward to commissioning more of this in other states and Abuja,”he said.

Also speaking, the National President of NUFBTE, Lateef Oyelekan, said the union’s diversification was borne out of the need to provide alternative sources of funds to finance the union’s programmes and activities.

Oyelekan urged the federal government to address the issue of importation of beverages, and confectionery killing the local industries, adding that the local industry has the capability to meet local needs.

“We also want to tell the Minister that our water factory is ready to produce a customised water for the October 1 Independence celebration, so we want the honourable minister to take the message to Mr. President,” he said.

The Labour leader also condemned the abuse of expatriate quotas by most of the foreign companies operating in the country, most especially the Chinese and the Indians, which have seen most jobs meant for Nigerians taken over by the less competent foreigners.

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, tasked other industrial unions in the Congress to key into such entrepreneurial venture, which NUFBTE has been able to exemplify through the construction of the hotels and other projects.

“It is an opportunity for us to show the world that even as a working class, we can show the way, show union powers if we are able to be independent.

It is only an independent union hat can provide better protection for members,” he said.

The Managing Director of the Nigeria Bottling Company (NBC), George Polymenakos, in his contribution said the feat by the union, is a testimony of what a great vision can achieve, adding that the company would continue to partner with the ‎union to achieve more.