Labour and sectional representation

Sir: The problems Nigerians continue to face over the years is not unconnected with the erroneous belief that the Nigeria Labour Congress represents everybody’s interest. Each time strike is called, no one bothers to find out who actually benefits from such strikes at the end of the day.
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The citizens just join in sheepishly in the thought that Labour is fighting on behalf of everybody. But later when the issue is resolved, only those in the government’s payroll benefit as they get increased wages as a result of which inflation in the country would rise astronomically. Those in the private sectors, the casual workers and the unemployed whose interests are neither considered nor taken care begin to bear the brunt alone.

No one has ever deemed it necessary to sit down to calculate and ascertain the percentage of those under the government’s payroll in Nigeria. Are they likely up to five per cent or even less? But they definitely cannot be up to 10 per cent. So, if their percentage is so infinitesimal compared with the general population, why must they be the ones to determine what affects a larger majority?

These are pertinent issues for Nigerians to ponder on.  It is completely irrational and highly preposterous for a very tiny minority in any society to determine and dictate what affects the greater majority
Jide Oyewusi, the coordinator of Ethics Watch International, Lagos.
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