Workers lists expectations for new year<em

NO doubt, members of the organised labour will play crucial roles in the nation’s unfolding 2016 economic and political activities.

From the controversial removal of fuel subsidy, debate over minimum wage, the proposed plan by the Federal Government to generate thounsands of jobs coupled with implementation of ‘non-oil budget’, expectations are generally high on the part of labour.

Indeed, labour leaders are following all the issues closely and in some cases identifying with events in the interest of their members.

The debate over reported removal of fuel subsidy and alleged inability of some states to sustain payment of the N18,000 minimum wage is expected to occupy the centre stage for the better part of the year.

Already, the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba has described the previous year as an “eventful and challenging year for Nigerian workers in particular and Nigerians in general due to a number of developments in our polity, which tested our resilience as a people”.

According to the NLC, the falling crude oil price compounded by alleged corruption and maladministration on the part of the former regime at all levels and across political parties, had further incapacitate workers and the masses.

Explaining further, Wabba said: “The governors had so recklessly plundered state resources that by the May 29, 2015 handover date; a number of them could not perform the ceremonial handing over, a number of them left unpaid workers’ salaries ranging from three (3) to nine (9) months.

“Our economic crisis was further deepened with the free fall of the naira, which has lost over 30% of its value since the price of crude oil began to crumble”, said the NLC President.

Meanwhile, it was a mix bag for the labour sub-sector in 2015, as the country did not witness any national industrial unrest.

But, the events that trailed the 11th delegates’ conference of the NLC threw up a disturbing trend on power struggle in the labour movement, which was hitherto located within the political arena.

The conduct of two delegates’ conferences between March and April of 2015 indeed thrown labour movement into an unfamiliar terrain. More worrisome was also the conduct of parallel conference in Lagos by those who disagreed with the proceedings of the Abuja conference was a development that the NLC was not prepared for.

With the stabilising factor played by the Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, who is considered the most successful NLC President, the crisis that rocked the central labour movement may have abate at least for now.

Indeed, events leading to the fiercely contested conference had Oshiomhole’s influence silently loud with candidates claiming to have the backing of the labour colossus.

Even when his name was also associated with the attempt at forming a parallel labour body, which wrongfully thought would force government into appointing a sole administrator for the troubled NLC, Oshiomhole remained convinced that his desire was noble.

In a show of openness and what his desires are for the NLC, in an open letter he personally signed to the new President of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba, Oshiomhole chronicled his line of the thought in a ‘stream of consciousness manner’.

In a hold-no-back style, Oshiomhole declared that NLC under Wabba must seek to re-assert labour independence, re-connect with the forgotten rural majority and position itself as a major player in shaping Nigeria’s polity, economy and society consistent with the true traditions of the Congress and the interests of the Nigerian working families.

While affirming the fact that the process that brought Wabba was transparent at the just-concluded 11th delegates’ conference of the

NLC, the Edo governor stressed that Wabba’s victory reflects recognition of his leadership capabilities, sound trade union antecedents, loyalty and commitment to the Nigerian labour movement.

In a grimaced tone, noted that the once-vibrant Congress has lost a significant amount of prestige and influence in the eyes of the Nigerian working people and the Nigerian public at large.

Oshiomhole stressed that there is no other time that is apt than now to begin to work assiduously to reposition the Congress and brace up to the challenge of revolution of expectations of the affiliates of the Congress and Nigerians as a whole, while also providing a focused and dynamic leadership that will chart a new course for the Nigerian labour movement as vanguard in the struggle for good governance, democratic consultation and social justice.

Oshiomhole also moved swiftly to condemned fanning embers of discord on the altar of personal gain, saying, “I am aware of some persons who are not happy about the outcome of the election. That is the way democracy works. The only way you can avoid defeat in a democracy is not to participate in an election in which there are more than one contestant. Once you submit to an electoral process in which there is more than one contestant, the electorates have only one candidate to choose from those contesting. I will stand by the truth anytime, any day because the truth does not require supporters club.”

The electoral disagreement also culminated into the holding of parallel May Day celebrations in Abuja as well as Lagos.

The Wabba Ayuba leadership who is in full control of the secretariat of the NLC held its rally in Abuja while Joe Ajaero group headed to Lagos for its own May Day.

With the wrangling going on and individuals holding to their position, Oshiomhole sensed that such would not spell wellness of the NLC. So, he also masterminded another meeting at which the National Executive Councils (NECs) of the two contending forces met in Abuja. At this meeting, the Edo State governor stressed the need for the two parties to come together to build a virile labour movement.

With the hope of stability returning to the NLC almost achieved, the mechanism was effectively set for the struggle for the economic betterment of the working people in place, entered Dr Chris Ngige and James Ocholi as the Minister of Labour and Employment and Minister of State respectively.

On assuming office, Dr Ngige said he would prioritize the introduction of policies that would aim at reducing massive unemployment in the country.

Speaking while assuming duty as the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Ngige said his Ministry would be at the forefront of the battle against the menace of unemployment in Nigeria.

He said: “We will be at the fore-front of the battle to stop the scourge of unemployment in the country. We must as a people put on our thinking caps so that we can chart the way forward for employment generation.”

While emphasizing that government alone cannot provide all Nigerians decent employment, he was quick to add that government would strive to create enabling environment for all other sectors to strive. He added that the ministry is part of the engineering that will pave ways for the private sector to generate jobs through developmental focused labour laws among others

Speaking further, the Minister affirmed zero tolerance for leakages and corrupt practices in any form.

“We are the catalyst, the change agent of the change era; if we block leakages in our systems the country will be better for it as resources will be made available for economic growth of the nation,” he said.

Also speaking, the Minister of State, James Ocholi, expressed confidence in the expertise of management and staff of the Ministry, which he said is in line with the change mantra of the present administration.

During the year also, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), two affiliates of the NLC held their delegates conferences in Abuja.

The most unique feature of these associations’ delegate’s conferences was the adoption of consensus candidates.

And the possibility of beginning the year with industrial action may not be ruled out as the perennial battle with removal of subsidy on petroleum products is here again.

The introduction of ‘price modulation’ for petrol as against nomenclatures such as removal of subsidy and deregulation used before now may draw the ire of the labour movement in the New Year.

Though the age-long practice of upward movement of petrol price has been supplanted by a 50Kobo price reduction, the labour said it would reject the new pricing mechanism introduced by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).

Wabba insisted that the labour movement is not impressed by the price reduction. He explained that the labour movement is against price modulation as a policy in its entirety.

He added: “What we are against is the IMF-inspired fuel price deregulation. The current 50 kobo reduction in fuel price is obviously a gimmick. The pathway of international financial institutions, which the current fuel subsidy removal act is taking will lead to increases in fuel pump price and attendant worsening of the hardships of poor working people.”

With the NLC scheduling its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting for the next few weeks and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) likely to fix its meeting very soon to examine the new pricing mechanism, the probability of beginning the year on the note of an industrial dispute is silently building up.
Pointing the way forward in 2016, Wabba said the NLC is giving its full support to President Muhammadu Buhari in his resolve to fight and defeat corruption.

Wabba said: “We believe that one of the fundamental problems of our country presently is endemic corruption. This has permeated all facets of our society and it manifests in varying dimensions with the greatest casualties being the average Nigerian who are in perpetual economic bondage, lack of basic infrastructure and violence and general insecurity of lives and property.

“The recent exposure of the massive corruption scam superintended over by Col. Sambo Dasuki (Rtd), is one sordid example that graphically illustrates how bad things went under the last dispensation”, said NLC.
In its report titled “Tougher 2016 will only toughen labour”, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria explained that minimum wage review is due this year, adding that every labourer shall be entitled to his wages, ”fair ones at that. We find it laughable that some leaders are canvassing for reduction in minimum wages. We are ready for them”.

President of TUC, Bobboi Bala Kaigama and Secretary General, Musa Lawal said “170 million people struggle for mere 4,000 Megawatts of power with incessant increases in tariff.

“We had thought that privatisation was a solution to the challenges in the power sector. Same with oil. It is not good news that we are the sixth oil producing country in the world yet almost on yearly basis we face serious crisis in the sector.

“The same old sermon. It is unfortunate! For us, we believe the problem of the sector will continue unless the existing refineries are made to work and new ones built. Government should also step up the fight against oil theft no matter the people involved.

“Today, the Naira is near worthless. Companies are winding up.

Unemployment on the increase. We commend government effort in this area. Though we desire a peaceful industrial atmosphere in 2016 but the organised labour alone cannot work it out.

“Everyone has a contribution to make. Truly we envision a tougher 2016, in the area of agitations against employers who sack workers without engaging the umbrella unions to negotiate their entitlement; against employers who refuse unionisation; against employers who bring in expatriate for jobs Nigerians can handle efficiently and effectively; against those who illegally recruit in the public services and all forms of nepotism, against corruption in high places, among others.

Also in its projection for 2016, Rivers State chapter of TUC said the group intend to continue intensifying actions to defend and advance the interest of workers and the ordinary people in Rivers State and Nigeria through social dialogue, advocacy programmes and improvement in relationship with the Rivers State Government and other stakeholders.

The chapter identified the group as Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers State, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Security agencies, employers of labour and other stakeholders in the production chain and civil society groups.

State Chairman, TUC Rivers State, Hyginus Chika Onuegbu Said: “We would take steps aimed at providing the enabling environment that will assist our affiliates organise more corporate entities as well as carry out programmes and activities to re-awaken the health and safety consciousness of Nigerian workers”.

He added: “As the umbrella body of the Senior Staff Associations in Nigeria we are not unmindful of the great expectations on us that we provide direction for the labour movement and accordingly, we would continue to improve on the capacity of our State council and affiliates to proactively meet rising industrial relations challenges.