The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in a latest message authored by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, harped on some burning points that may make or mar the commercial peace in Nigeria in 2024. CHRISTIAN APPOLOS, brings excerpt:
Tittled ‘We may be higher if…,’ NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero emphatically within the 2024 message requested the Federal Authorities to stop industrial disharmony within the nation by making certain implementation of many agreements reached with the organised labour.
The message started by saying: “As we bid farewell to the challenges and triumphs of the previous yr, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) extends heat needs to you and your family members. The yr 2023 has undoubtedly been a check of our collective energy and resilience. We’ve confronted uncertainties, overcome obstacles and witnessed moments that will have left us feeling disheartened.
“In 2023, we witnessed two main agreements signed between the Federal Authorities and NLC and TUC. The June 5 and October 2 agreements. Whether or not these have been faithfully carried out or not is open for each discerning Nigerian to see.
“Nigerians will choose that by our actions up to now, we’ve got demonstrated huge endurance with this authorities and has been accused and labelled as having been settled by the federal government however we recognise that that is a part of the burden of management which we’re ready to bear to make sure that we don’t solely take the correct actions however that they yield the anticipated outcomes, holding our nation surviving as an entity and avoiding fifth columnists from benefiting from the scenario to destroy our nation. In all of those, this authorities has proven huge unfaithfulness in holding to agreements; the N35,000 wage award has not been faithfully carried out, the PH refinery has not come on stream as projected, whereas the Nationwide Minimal Wage Negotiation Council has not been inaugurated as agreed, the CNG has been distorted by brokers of presidency for the good thing about a number of.”
Ajaero additional mentioned; “Divisions alongside our varied primordial fault strains reasonably than heal grew to become exacerbated this yr primarily on account of the unlucky actions of politicians who performed them up of their bid to win elections. Our nation has, due to this fact, turn into extra divided than ever with rising suspicion and rising belief deficits alongside these strains. Residents’ confidence within the authorities is due to this fact deeply wounded inflicting additional disconnect between the folks and governments as authorities continues with insurance policies that negate the welfare of residents. We observe solely few pockets of progress in governance in some states however largely, the devices of governance are primarily deployed for the only advantages of those that imagine they’ve captured the devices of governance and thus use them for his or her sole profit.
“2023 can be a yr the place we’ve got seen the rising use of violence and unequalled propaganda as instruments of engagement within the nation’s industrial relations sphere. The boundary between the instruments utilized in electioneering and in precise governance appears to have been ruptured as the identical senseless violence and crudity witnessed over the past election cycle is now being utilized by these in authorities as a weapon in managing office relations in Nigeria. We’ve witnessed authorities’s interference within the inner affairs of commerce unions all in a bid to seize the levers of energy in these unions and use them to hunt to carry the civic house in our nation hostage and thwart residents efforts at holding the federal government accountable.
“It’s in furtherance of those efforts by the federal government that the November 1 bestial abduction and brutalisation of the President of Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero and others by the federal government and the police in Owerri Imo State occurred. NLC is stunned if there may be an uncanny hyperlink between the assault on the president of the congress and the stoppage of the implementation of the wage award as agreed within the October. MOU between the Federal Authorities and Organised Labour. Such coincidence is ominous and raises a variety of questions in our hearts, additional justifying strongly our perception that the conspiracies to mete out violence in opposition to commerce union leaders, together with the president of congress in Owerri, goes to the very prime.
“We imagine that Nigerians must be reminded that Imo State authorities beneath Hope Uzodimma stays an ongoing haven for the abuse and violation of the rights and pursuits of employees. Many employees are nonetheless being owed years in arrears of salaries, Gratuities are in arrears, Pension are in arrears, 1000’s of employees are nonetheless being declared as ghost employees whereas the NLC secretariat vandalised and stripped by the state authorities stays desolate. A few of these hitherto declared ghost employees whose names had been re-inserted into the payroll as at November 2023 in an effort by the state authorities to cowl its sins are nonetheless being owed big arrears in salaries.
“It was in our effort at liberating the employees within the state from the pernicious palms of the state that the Nationwide Govt Council (NEC) of our congress determined that we converge on Owerri to demand that the federal government obeys agreements it reached with us in an engagement that began from 2021 and continued in the beginning of this yr till November. As ordinary, the propaganda equipment of the federal government, oiled by the hijack of our collective sources, was deployed in attempting to hoodwink and mislead members of the general public as to the explanation for the Imo State protest. Fortunately, Nigerians refused to be misled.
“We, due to this fact, whereas as soon as once more condemning in robust phrases that cowardly and brutal motion by the police and Imo State authorities, admire all Nigerian employees and much together with our civil society allies who trooped out of their numbers throughout the nation to participate within the ensuing nationwide strike that shut down the nation to protest the primitive use of violence and brigandage by the federal government in opposition to mass-based organisations and their management. The success of that strike demonstrated the willpower of Nigerians and employees to proceed to behave collectively to carry authorities accountable always. We’re inspired and salute you all and guarantee you that we stay dedicated to our pledge to work for a greater Nigeria the place the pursuits of Nigerians, particularly the workforce can be projected and guarded all the time.
“Typically, it has been a turbulent yr each for employees and Nigerian folks because the unfavorable financial insurance policies of presidency start to chew more durable on poor Nigerians as predicted. Staff proceed to grapple with the worst types of deprivations thus unable to fulfill their primary wants whereas transportation to work continues to be a nightmare. Nigerian plenty have skilled the worst kind or angst and struggling as entry to primary diet has turn into harder whereas Training and primary social utilities have turn into the only purview of the wealthy. This yr’s festive season has been made so tough for the plenty that the same old pleasure related to the season was changed with worries and nervousness everywhere in the nation.
“Authorities’s half-hearted makes an attempt at offering succour was largely mere propaganda and by no means had any influence on the excessive value of transportation throughout the nation. Our Naira continues in its free fall in all markets whereas governments, each federal and states, proceed of their reckless borrowing and spending within the identify of governance. We’re fearful on the haste with which these in authorities rush to eat the way forward for Nigerians by borrowing and frittering them away placing the way forward for our unborn era in jeopardy. Because it stands as we speak, Nigeria wants about 12 p.c greater than our annual income to service our debt inventory which means that we’ve got to borrow to ever be capable of service our money owed. One other debt entice has been unleashed on the inhabitants. Governments ought to act extra responsibly in its debt actions.
“We’re witnessing as soon as once more, money shortage in our financial system. This time, the CBN tells us that it’s as a result of we’re hoarding money – very unhappy excuse. We all know that with our meagre incomes, we don’t have any leftover money to hoard and so, if by any stretch of creativeness CBN’s excuse is actual, we all know those that are hoarding money. Nonetheless, we don’t see any wise one who will hoard the Naira as a retailer of worth at the moment when the Naira is receiving its best bashing. The CBN ought to instantly inject money into the financial system to cease the exploitation of Nigerian plenty thus cut back the hardship. If CBN doesn’t realise it, Nigerians because it stands as we speak pay a minimum of 5 p.c of their cash to free their cash which it has held hostage.
“The wanton destruction of lives and properties continues unabated in 2023. The latest killings in Plateau and Taraba states through the Yuletide is coronary heart rending and mindboggling. That the blood of Nigerians flowed within the streets with none outrage throughout the nation reveals that we could have misplaced our collective feeling of revulsion. That our leaders selected this event to clink glasses and junket to pay homages as a substitute of being in sober temper to replicate on the diploma of their failure to guard the lives of those that elected them into places of work is totally repugnant and smacks of the very best degree of insensitivity. We’re aghast at whether or not our leaders perceive what their tasks are in any respect?
“It’s these mixed forces of unfavorable authorities insurance policies which have created the worst type of social anomie in our nation. Nigerians have turn into extra terrified of the long run now greater than ever earlier than and are actually having their expectations dashed and their hopes betrayed by the ruling elite. It’s on this dire temper that we ended the yr 2023 and on this situation that we transfer into the brand new yr 2024.
“Nonetheless, within the face of those adversities, it’s essential to recognise that it could have appeared hopeless at occasions, however we firmly imagine that collectively, we are able to make 2024 higher. The spirit of unity and solidarity that defines our nice nation has seen us by quite a few trials up to now, and it’ll undoubtedly information us in direction of a brighter future.
“That future can solely include our resolve to behave collectively as we reposition ourselves to behave higher and extra creatively to grapple with the forces which are holding our nations down in a cesspool of underdevelopment and distress. The Nigeria Labour Congress is dedicated to offering the required management as we transfer into the brand new yr to make sure that we responsibly maintain the federal government accountable and nudge it in direction of working for the good thing about the bulk.
“To this finish, NLC can be dedicated in 2024 in direction of making certain {that a} dwelling wage turns into doable for all Nigerian employees by working with others to safe a nationwide minimal wage that approximates to the dictates of the assorted parameters that make incomes humane and grants entry to primary requirements of life for the common employee.
“We’ll recommit to constructing workplaces that ensures the rights and privileges of employees whereas constructing the idea for steady wealth creation for our nation. All actions that may due to this fact be certain that respectable work gaps are lowered to their barest minimal can be inspired. We’ll due to this fact strengthen our collaboration with the federal ministry of Labour, NECA and the TUC utilizing the tripartite course of to manage the commercial relations house and be certain that the reviewed labour administration legal guidelines are forwarded to the Nationwide Meeting for passage into Legislation.”
“From each indication, 2024 can be an attention-grabbing yr. Fascinating as a result of it’s going to witness a interval the place all that has been taken away from employees can be restored. Any Personal sector employer or Company of Authorities that’s due to this fact owing any Nigerian employee wherever needs to be able to pay up in 2024.
“We’ll work in collaboration with our civil society companions to generate frameworks that may construct stronger and extra strong civic house which ensures that our voices are heard always and used to examine and help the federal government to take the correct actions that may make governance more practical and helpful for almost all of the citizenry.
“NLC will search to work with companions and patriots all over the place to pursue the creation of more practical constructions to guard the establishments of democracy in Nigeria. We will to this finish be part of palms with different prepared forces to start work at strengthening our management recruitment processes particularly the electoral framework in Nigeria. It’s our collective accountability to make sure that credibility is restored to our elections which is the muse for enthroning a extra responsive and accountable authorities that is still accountable thus completely anchored on the folks.
“Rather more, we’ll interact Authorities to make sure that the settlement it reached with us in our final negotiations particularly the October 2nd Settlement are carried out.
“It’s extremely insensitive of the federal authorities to permit its residents to go hungry throughout this Yuletide season by denying them the good thing about their hard-earned December, 2023 wage. Nigerians are watching the chest thumping and visitations as if in triumphalism in opposition to the collective will the place meals and drinks had been lavished by public officers whereas employees will not be paid and are left in hunger over one spurious cause or the opposite. We urge the Federal Authorities to indicate extra compassion in its dealings with Nigerians and Nigerian employees particularly within the face of the excruciating poverty which its insurance policies have foisted on hapless Nigerians.
“It’s due to this fact necessary that as we stand on the threshold of a brand new yr, allow us to embrace the teachings realized and the knowledge gained from our experiences in 2023. Challenges could persist, however our collective resolve to construct a stronger, extra affluent Nigeria stays unwavering. The Nigeria Labour Congress stays dedicated to advocating for the rights and well-being of employees throughout the nation, and we encourage all Nigerians to affix palms within the pursuit of a greater tomorrow.
“Within the coming yr, allow us to foster a tradition of inclusivity, understanding, and collaboration. By working collectively, we are able to deal with the problems that have an effect on us all and pave the way in which for optimistic change. Our nation is wealthy in variety, and it’s this variety that may be our best energy when harnessed for the widespread good.
“Might the daybreak of 2024 deliver with it the sort of hope that we wish, alternatives for progress, and the energy to beat any challenges that will come our manner. Allow us to method the brand new yr with optimism and a shared dedication to constructing a Nigeria that we are able to all be pleased with.
“On behalf of the Nigeria Labour Congress, we prolong our deepest gratitude to each Nigerian on your exhausting work, dedication, and resilience. Collectively, allow us to make 2024 a yr of progress, unity, and prosperity. Good issues they are saying don’t simply occur. They’re labored out! We urge Nigerians to work collectively as a folks to create a coalition of the folks and refuse to be cowed into submission by the identical forces of distress and backwardness.
“As soon as once more, we need to salute all Nigerians and employees for his or her demonstration and outpouring of assist and solidarity which led to the general success of the final nationwide strike. Your actions have despatched a robust sign to these in authorities of our collective readiness to guard our nation and ourselves always.
“We urge that the identical spirit needs to be multiplied in all of us as we transfer into 2024 as a result of we’re positive that it is going to be wanted as we wrestle in opposition to the anticipated rising imposition and adoption of stifling neo-liberal financial insurance policies by the federal government. We should resist and repudiate all World Financial institution and IMF’s insurance policies as they enhance their onslaught in opposition to our nation in search of to mount additional tollgates throughout all aspects of our nation with which they search to use our nation for the advantages of worldwide capital and their comprador bourgeoises inside our nation.
“We’re the sovereign and it is just once we understand that certainly, we maintain the ability that we are able to act expeditiously to make use of it to make our nation higher. We prolong our palms throughout the nation! We prolong our palms throughout the political divides and throughout the areas beckoning on all Nigerians to return, allow us to construct our nation. Standing helplessly and wringing in our palms in despair is not going to assist us and our expensive nation however producing new concepts and taking optimistic actions collectively is the one method to reclaim our nation and enthrone our collective pursuits and aspirations within the coronary heart of the nation’s governance.”
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