Textile workers demand implementation of NLC committee report
The National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) yesterday demanded for the immediate implementation of the report of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) reconciliation committee, headed by veteran former labour leader, Alhaji Hassan Sunmonu in order to create unity of purpose in the fight for the welfare of Nigerian workers.
The members of the union workers while reacting to the fallout of this year May Day celebration, said that the officials of NLC were still working at cross purposes, pointing out that there was need to immediately implement the recommendation of Sunmonu’s committee set up to end the crisis among the labour leaders after last year’s 11th delegates conference in Abuja.
Addressing a press conference in Kaduna, the Secretary General of the NUTGTWN, Issa Aremu called on NLC to critically use the occasion of May Day to get united for a vibrant labour movement, adding, “we regret that as we point two accusing fingers at bad governors and bad employers, the remaining three fingers point at us too who are unacceptably divided against ourselves rather than united against a common class enemy.”
According to him, “the current assault on the work force such as delayed payments of salaries, diversion of bail out funds are made possible because comrades are not united in mass actions against bad employers and bad governors.”
The labour leader commended both the governors of Cross River and Edo states, Ben Ayade and Adams Oshiomhole respectively for their distinguished pronouncements in restoring the dignity of labour during the 2016 May Day celebrations nationwide.
He said: “At a period when not less than 22 states default in payment of salaries of the workers, Ayade announced the payment of May salaries of workers in the employment of the state government, while Oshiomhole on Sunday announced the increment of the National Minimum Wage from N18, 000 to N25, 000 with immediate effect, for employees in the state public service.”
He condemned the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari at the May Day celebration saying, “We expect President Buhari to offer leadership in this regard. There is no reason whatsoever to justify the conspicuous absence of President Muhammadu Buhari at the maiden May Day rally a year after he assumed duty as President of Nigeria. We recall the participation of the President as the candidate of APC at the NLC 11th delegates conference last year.”
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
0 Comments
We will review and take appropriate action.