NLC, TUC demand improved worker-friendly policies, review of electricity sector, as ILO harps on social justice

Organised Labour Unions in the country have called for worker-friendly policies, just as they urged the various levels of government to stop any programme threatening to inflict any form of suffering on its citizens and workers.

This is also as the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has called on Nigeria, and other governments across the world to prioritise social justice, as workers across the globe celebrate 2023 Workers Day.

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) made the call in Abuja, Monday, as workers commemorated the 2023 International Workers’ Day.

Speaking on behave of the labour centres, their Presidents, Joe Ajaero and Festus Osifo of NLC, TUC, respectively, in their addresses, said that Nigerian workers are more resolute now in their preparedness to resist every action of the government to inflict suffering n Nigerians and the masses.

According to them, “Our nation must lead with a job-led growth. When jobs grow, income increases and the economy is revved higher but we need to protect those that work in these jobs. To protect them, we must ensure that the right legal environment is created and frameworks for compliance with laws are established”.

To achieve this, the labour groups called for the deepening of the engagements at the National Labour Administrative Council (NLAC), expanding the periodicity of meetings, the establishment of constant tripartite workplace audits, encouraging the registration of more unions to cover the unorganized sectors as well as speeding up the trade dispute resolution mechanism.

Addressing the gathering, TUC President, Festus Osifor, lamented what he called the rising wave of “Impunity in our workplaces and the actions of Public sector employers…,” saying that labour will soon commence

“Actions against State governments that are yet to fully implement the 2019 national minimum wage law and owes arrears or Salaries, Pensions and allowances and actions against private companies nationwide that have turned their workplaces into platforms for lawlessness and the dehumanization of workers.”

Listing their demands from the government, Osifo called the review of the privatisation of the electricity sector in favour of Nigeria.

“That the resumption and ramping up of the activities of kidnappers and bandits since after the election should be quickly addressed.

“That the Judiciary should purge itself and redeem our democracy by its handling of the various election petitions before it.

“The setting up of an independent panel to investigate the INEC Chairman and his team in their conduct of the last general election” and “Investigate the spending of N12b by the Aviation Ministry to buy 10 fire trucks among others.”

On his part, President of the NLC Joe Ajaero, said celebrating Workers Day is not borne out of the fact that workers have all their needs to address their welfare, neither is it based on the fact that labour in all climes get their demands on a platter of gold with any struggle, but the fact they fact that fight and live to fight another day was worthy of celebration.

“It is not that we are comfortable that we celebrate! It is not that we are not exploited neither is it that we are not emasculated! It is not that we are not denied, pauperized and afflicted! Our celebration is a recognition of our fundamental role in breathing life into our societies.

“It is borne out of our recognition of the near-divine and pristine duty to global sustainability; an understanding shaped by the fact that workers remain the only key to life. We may have gone unappreciated but we realize that without us, Nigeria and all the nations of the world will become dysfunctional. No wheel can turn anywhere in the world without us”, Ajaero said.

Speaking on the theme of this year’s May Day, “Workers’ Rights and Socio-economic Justice,” the NLC President said, “You cannot continue treating us poorly and expect a miracle from us. We are shaped by how we are treated as anything that happens to us in the world of work impacts us positively or negatively causing us to either withdraw or commit more to work.

“It is therefore very simple, if our social partners want more from us, if they want to increase productivity which is the basis for national development then, they must be prepared to treat us better. They must be prepared to treat us first as humans then, as major contributors to wealth creation”.

Remarking, President Muhammadu Buhari represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, said the present administration in a bid to create jobs and get Nigerians engaged, launched several initiatives and programmes, including the National Enterprise Development Programme, the Youth Entrepreneurship Support Programme, the Nigerian Social Investment Fund, and the National Technology Development Programme.

“These programmes were designed to create jobs, provide training and skills development, and support small and medium-sized enterprises.

“These landmark programmes and achievements are worthy of note,” Buhari said, as he called on the incoming administration to continue to engage the organised labour positive to entrenche industrial harmony in the country.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, in his address, said President Muhammadu Buhari  in 2016, launched the National Social Investment Programme, which he stressed is currently the largest of such programmes in Africa and one of the largest in the world adding that the National Social Register of Poor and Vulnerable Nigerians (NSR) now has 32.6 million persons from more than 7 million poor and vulnerable households, identified across 708 Local Government areas, 8,723 wards and 86,610 communities across the 36 States of the country and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

 “From this number, 1.6 million poor and vulnerable households (comprising more than 8 million individuals in 45,744 communities from 5,483 Wards of 557 LGAs in 35 States and the FCT are currently benefiting from the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program, which pays a bimonthly stipend of N10,000 per household.

“Not forgetting the Housing Sector, The Family Homes Fund Limited (FHFL), incorporated by the Federal Government of Nigeria in September 2016, is the implementing agency for the Buhari Administration’s National Social Housing scheme.

“More than two thousand (2,000) hectares of land with titled documents have been given by 24 States under the Buhari administration’s Social Housing programme, which can accommodate about 65,000 new homes.

“Under the National Social Housing programme, Nigerians will be given at least 15 years with a monthly payment at a 6 per cent interest rate to pay for each housing unit. The Central Bank of Nigeria provides a N200 Billion financing facility, guaranteed by the FGN.

“States like Enugu, Nassarawa Delta Asaba, Kano have benefitted their workers from the scheme,” he said.

There was the usual march pass by labour Unions bringing the 2023 May Day celebration to a colourful end.

Meanwhile, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has called on governments to prioritise social justice, as workers across the globe celebrate 2023 Workers Day.

The ILO Director-General, Mr Gilbert Houngbo, made the call in a statement to mark the International Workers Day, on Monday in Abuja.

He said: “This is a moment for pride, celebration and hope. After three years of the COVID-19 crisis followed by inflation, conflict, and food and fuel supply shocks, we badly need this.

“But the promises of renewal made during the pandemic, of ‘building back better,’ have so far not been delivered for the great majority of workers worldwide.

“Globally, real wages have fallen, poverty is rising, and inequality seems more entrenched than ever.

“Enterprises have been hard-hit. Many could not cope with the cumulative effects of recent unexpected events. Small and micro-enterprises were particularly affected, and many have ceased operations,” he said.

Houngbo said that people felt that the sacrifices they made to get through COVID-19 had not been recognised and rewarded.

“Their voices are not being heard enough. This, combined with a perceived lack of opportunities, has created a disturbing level of mistrust.

“It doesn’t have to be like this. We are still the masters of our fate, but if we are to shape a new, more stable and equitable world, we must choose a different path – one that prioritises social justice,” he said.

The ILO boss said that social justice was not only achievable but also essential for a sustainable future.

According to Houngbo, this means focusing on equality, poverty alleviation and core social protection, adding that the most effective way to do this would be by providing quality jobs – decent jobs for all – so that people could support themselves and build their future.

“It means realistically addressing the long-term structural transformations of our time; ensuring that new technology creates and supports employment; pro-actively facing the challenges of climate change and ensuring we offer the jobs, and skills training.

“Others are transition support necessary for workers and businesses to benefit from the new low-carbon era; treating demographic changes as a ‘dividend’ rather than a problem.

“This is with supporting action on skills, migration and social protection to create more cohesive and resilient societies.

“We also need to reassess and re-fashion the architecture of our social and economic systems so that they support this change of course towards social justice rather than continuing to channel us into a policy ‘doom loop’ of inequality and instability,’’ he said.

He urged that all should reinvigorate labour institutions and organisations for social dialogue to be effective and vigorous.