Kicks against privatisation
Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government over the deplorable working conditions of the National Theatre workers, urging the government to immediately return the workers to the recently rehabilitated facility.
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammed Dingyadi, the NLC Lagos Council Chairman, Funmi Sessi, lamented the “deeply degrading and unacceptable working conditions by which members of staff of the National Theatre, Lagos have been forced to operate for an extended period.”
She said that despite written letters without any reply to improve the working conditions of the workers, and the renovation of the Theatre that had been completed by the Bankers’ Committee, workers still work under the trees.
Sessi threatened that members are prepared to deploy every lawful tool at their disposal, including full mobilisation, protests, and industrial action.
She said the NLC demands a public and transparent resolution of the crisis, and stands with the workers of the National Theatre in defending the future of the iconic edifice.
The state NLC chairman, while calling for transparency in the management of the facility, and inclusive stakeholders’ engagement regarding the use and administration of the structure, vowed that the Labour would not allow it to be quietly handed over under the guise of Corporate Social Responsibility or any other veiled privatisation tactics.
She demanded that the government must protect all jobs and keep the commitment made by former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who assured no job losses post-rehabilitation.
She recalled that the recent global media coverage of the matter had forced the Federal Government to appoint a new Board Chairman, Disun Holloway, presumably to address the longstanding issues.
Regrettably, she said over three months after his appointment, Holloway has yet to engage directly with members of staff or address their welfare; rather, she alleged his tenure had been marked by “secrecy, exclusion, and complete disregard for the plight of workers, who are left to operate in open-air conditions – literally- under trees.
The actions, Sessi said, constitute a clear violation of both international and national labour standards, including the ILO Convention No. 190.
