May Day: ‎Our struggle will reduce workers’ poverty rate – NLC, TUC

.Workers, lifeblood of our nation, says Saraki

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have blamed various government policies aimed at favouring employers for causing‎ the increasing poverty rate amongst the working class in the country, saying the struggle by for improved conditions will reduce poverty rate among workers.

This is even as Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has described Nigerian workers as the life-‘blood and driving force of the nation’s development in view of their invaluable contributions.

NLC president, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and TUC president, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, stated this at the 2017 Pre- May Day Lecture entitled “Labour Relations in Economic Recession: As Appraisal” jointly organised by both unions.

Comrade Wabba said: “Today is a day of reflection and a day that we must recognise that no employer of Labour will be so generous to award us what we are demanding for. We have to get it through struggle and this is what we need to reflect on.

“No politician seek office to actually better the lot of the people because they see politics as an investment. So is the issue of businesses around the world which is to make profit and so, we must continue as watchdog of the society continue to represent the interest of our members and the larger people.

Furthermore, Wabba said: “No policy will be made that will serve our interest. That is why our duty has always been policy contestation. Policies must be made to address our developmental challenges and address issues of inequality which has continued to be on the increase despite the fact that in the last one decade, global wealth has continue to increase. We create the wealth of every society, but what has been our bargain.

“Poverty among working class has continued to increase. This year’s May Day calls for us to rededicate ourselves both as members and leaders to our collective struggle and continue to agitate for what is right to our society. There is no way the issue for insecurity will be addressed without addressing the twin issue from poverty and unemployment.”

President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, in his remark, said during this year’s May Day (today), the organized labour intend to show the Nigerian government at all levels their displeasure, lamenting that in the midst of recession, devaluation of the naira and the high cost of everything, the wage of the Nigerian worker is very constant.

Comrade Kaigama said: “We know that globally, countries go through tough times and that is when concerted efforts is made by the government to rejig the economy in such a way that workers are made the priority of the state. But in this country, the reverse is the case. As creators of wealth, we are seen as slaves to our slave masters.

“We must remember that all the 36 states of the federation, except for the first generation states, all other states that followed through memos made it as their number one guarantee that they can pay workers’ salaries from their internally generated revenue. But the same states are the one reneging in the payment of salaries.

“We will not stop calling on the governors that their states cannot pay workers’ salaries to resign because we strongly believe that no state in this country that cannot generate revenue internally to pay salaries except the governor is not serious. We are so lazy that we just sit down and wait for federal allocation while making our internally generated revenue our weekend fund.

Meanwhile, Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has described Nigerian workers as the life-‘blood and driving force of the nation’s development in view of their invaluable contributions.

In a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, to mark the 2017 Workers’ Day celebration, Saraki lauded the resilience and commitment of workers in both the formal and informal sector, describing their contribution to the nation and the economy as priceless.

“From the SMEs that contribute over 47 percent to our GDP, to the civil servants who are the driving force behind our government, all the way to the unregistered business owners who work to make a living for themselves and their families, every Nigerian worker in both the formal and informal sectors makes a priceless contribution to the sustainability of our nation,” the Senate President said.

“As we mark this year’s Workers’ Day, all Nigerian workers should be proud that their significant contributions keep this nation moving forward — as they are the lifeblood of our country, an integral part of the fabric that makes up our society,” he said.

Saraki also stated that the Senate will continue to work to establish and enhance all legislation that will guarantee the safety and well-being of Nigerian workers, while also emphasizing on the need for governments across all levels and participants in the private sector to work towards ensuring that our workers receive their salaries and pensions as at when due while necessary periodic training should be availed them to make workers competitive in a changing world.

“As a result of globalization, the Nigerian workforce is no longer competing with itself, we are now competing with our counterparts from both developing and developed nations,” the Senate President said, “With this in mind, it is necessary that all employers — those in the public and private sectors — work to continuously invest in the development of their employees.

“On our part, the Nigerian Senate will continue to partner with Nigerian workers to enact legislation that will guarantee that they get their dues at the appropriate time, that their safety and well-being in the workplace are reassured. All these are necessary because when our workers are well taken care of, our businesses thrive, our economy grows, and our nation continues to succeed,” he stated.