Why FG should meet workers demands to avoid strikes
The need to meet workers demand has become pertinent to prevent strikes that lead to loss to the economy and the country, Nigeria.
The government must be proactive in seeing that workers are satisfied performing their duties most of the time.
It will be recalled that the Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, threatened to stop loading petroleum of products, including aviation fuel during the latest strike called by the United Labour Congress of Nigeria, ULC.
During the period, the electricity workers, on the platform of National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, NAAPE, and National Union of Railway Workers, also asked members to down tools and join the strike.
Leaders of the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Employees, NUBIFIE, said members would also join the strike.
On its own part, the Presidency, through the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, however stated that the Presidency stood by the Labour Minister’s position that the ULC was not recognised by the Federal Government.
But leaders of Steel and Engineering Workers of Nigeria, SEWUN, Iron and Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ISSSAN, National Union of Lottery Agents and Employees, Nigerian Union of Mine Workers, Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Metal Product Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Fitters Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, National Union of Shop and Distributive Employees and Academic Staff Union of Research Institute, among others, said their members would fully comply with the strike directive by the national leadership of ULC.
Lagos State Chairman of ULC and Lagos zonal chairman of NUPENG, Tokunbo Korodo, said there will be total shut down of all loading activities by members. “What that means is that we are not going to load products across the country, including aviation fuel, from today until there is counter directive from the national leaders of our umbrella body, the ULC,’’ he said. Similarly General Secretary of NAAPE, Ocheme Aba, said members will fully comply with the strike, noting that that the strike would be handled strategically. “We are not going to confront anybody, but I can assure you that you will definitely feel the impact of the action,” he said.
In the same vein, Delta State Council of ULC has directed all affiliates in the state to immediately commence total withdrawal of services in compliance with the resolutions of national leadership of the labour centre. Chairman of the council, Comrade Williams Akporeha, said : “We are not deterred but only very worried to hear this sort of comment from respected government officials who allowed undemocratic forces to corrupt and cripple the NLC. “On behalf of the national leadership of congress, all our members in Delta (immediate effect without fear of intimidation and harassment. “We shall continue to monitor compliance and effectiveness until the Federal Government meets our demands already sent to the appropriate agents of government.”
No joining issues with Labour minister — ULC boss Meanwhile, dismissing comments attributed to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, that ULC has not been registered and is therefore an illegal body, President of ULC, Joe Ajaero, said: “ULC does not have any intention of joining issues seriously with the Minister or any other persons but the only thing we can tell them is that they should wait till when the strike commences, for action speaks louder than words. “He (the minister) has unfortunately not realised that we have to save him and his Ministry which he has allowed to be rubbished by interest groups averse to honest engagements in the sector and the freedom of Nigerian workers by this action. “We are sure that the minister must have been misquoted.
We are not surprised. Let it be placed on record that the laws of our land – the Constitution and the Trade Union Act are on our side and fortunately, Ngige holds no judicial powers which he pretends to wield and cannot pontificate on the legality of ULC. “He cannot be the person saying this because he knows what the law says on this. Nigerians should remember that TUC operated without certificate for 27 years and that was within the ambit of the law and Ngige knows this, unless he is saying this tongue-in-cheek. We, therefore, pronounce his comments as not only unfortunate but also illegal and should be ignored by all Nigerians. “This strike on Monday must, therefore, go on, no matter their shenanigans. We must join hands to make it compelling!
Don’t allow the ATMs to work, let the banks be closed and let us demonstrate the collective strength of Nigerian workers. “Let us show once and for all that we can neither be intimidated nor purchased! Let us show them that it is only by meeting our demands that we can back down.” It will be recalled that the ULC had earlier issued a 14-day ultimatum and and another seven-day notice to the Federal Government over an 11-point demand, threatening a nationwide strike should government fail to address the demands. The seven-day strike notice which was termed “Final Notice”, expired last Friday.
The group is demanding, among others, ‘’that the Federal Government bans the stationing of the soldiers and Policemen in our workplaces and factory premises. “This will stop employers who are now colluding with the Army and other security agencies from setting up garrisons in our factories for the purposes of intimidating and harassing workers in order to deny them their rights and privileges.
The withholding of registration certificate of the ULC be stopped and the certificate released forthwith so that the nation’s industrial relations clime will be made more inclusive and robust. “The immediate inclusion of all representatives of labour in the various committees, agencies and directorates of government and not singling out just one centre for these purposes, negating the tenets of the nation’s laws. Any of such appointments that have been done contrary to this, we demand an immediate reversal. “The immediate inauguration of the national minimum wage negotiating committee in line with the above so that it can commence sitting instantly.’’ ULC is illegal, says NLC, TUC Reacting, General Secretary of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, said NLC had made its position known on Friday, adding that its position in asking Nigerians to ignore it as an illegal union subsisted. The Trade Union Congress, TUC, reacted in a similar manner. It will be recalled that at a joint briefing in Abuja last Friday, President of NLC and its TUC counterpart, Ayuba Wabba and Bobboi Kaigama respectively, had contended that ULC and its affiliates are fake unions that had not been registered, and will not be registered since all their areas have effective union coverage that were currently affiliates of the NLC and TUC. They claimed the promoters of ULC are “trying to take advantage of the unstable security and industrial relations situation in the country to increase the tension and give a bad name to trade unionism.”
“The issues include that the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment should set up a task force immediately to carry out factory inspection; that government should review the privatization of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, and that the Army and Police should withdraw their men in different work places where they are currently stationed as they intimidate and harass workers in such establishments. “Also the ULC demands the immediate release of her “registration certificate”. Our immediate reaction is to remind the promoters of this association that they are not yet a Federal Government-recognized Federation of Trade Unions and cannot speak on behalf of any trade union. “The Trade Unions Act, CAP 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004, is explicitly clear on how a group of trade unions can coalesce to form a Federation of Trade Unions. Section 35(1)(b) states inter alia: “A Federation of Trade Unions may be registered by the Registrar if … it is made up of 12 or more Trade Unions, none of which SHALL have been a member of another registered Federation of Trade Unions.” The government should address these issues to enhance its relationship with labour.
Simon Ugwu
