Don Urges Dialogue To Resolve Labour Disputes

A university teacher, Prof. Femi Ajayi, wants organised labour to devise new strategies to resolve disputes with the government instead of using strike as a weapon.

The Head of Political Science and Public Administration Department, Babcock University, Ogun, Ajayi who spoke with newsmen on Saturday in Lagos, said that it was imperative for organised labour to employ constructive dialogue and not strikes.

“It is time labour devised other methods of making the government to listen to its demands instead of rushing to embark on strike.

“Dialogue, for instance, is one of the options for the labour movement in their struggles for improved welfare for workers and Nigerians.’’

The don noted that the ordinary Nigerians that labour sought to protect were usually exposed to untold hardship during strikes.

According to him, the majority of the population is usually denied access to essential social services when labour embarks on work-to-rule.

He advised labour to sponsor bills at all levels of government to ensure the desired changes in the country.

“Nigerians are good in complaining without offering useful suggestions on how to correct the anomalies in the society.

“Labour should start directing its attention to those who share the nation’s resources and also ensure equitable use for the common good of the people.’’

He said that poor implementation of people-oriented policies and projects had forced private and corporate organisations to intervene in education, health and infrastructure.

Ajayi urged a review of the nation’s revenue sharing formula to give more money to the states and local governments.

However, he urged the elected representatives of the people to be more responsive to their needs.

“This is the only way the people who voted them into power can enjoy the dividends of democracy; otherwise they will start regretting for voting them into power.’’