2011: Perspective On Organised Labour

The year 2011 has come and gone but the memories and landmark events that shaped the year linger on in the minds of Nigerians on the activities of the organised labour.

The organised labour is the umbrella body of the labour out to champion better welfare packages for workers both in the private and public sectors.

The organised labour always present the posture of militancy in the struggle for the protection of workers rights where the authorities concerned become evasive and objectionable to the plight of the workers.

The purpose of every trade union therefore is to provide a forum for concerted action to fight as a team for those things that are commonly desired by the entire working population and to aid members in times of crisis.

The rise of modern trade unionism in Nigeria was the formation of the Nigerian Civil Service Union in 1912 basically to promote the welfare and interest of the local members of the union.

The organised labour comprising of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) with their affiliate Unions are today an advocacy institution for workers welfare, good governance, increase wages and better conditions of service.

Passage Of Minimum Wage Bill.

The year under review witnessed the passage of the minimum wage bill and the organised labour insistence for its implementation prior to the passage of the Minimum Wage Bill, of N18,000. Salary of the least worker in Nigeria was N7,500 as compaed to other countries and International labour Organization (ILO) standards.

Labour fought for increase in wages of workers to comply with the international standard and graciously, before the Sixth National Assembly wound up plenary session in May 2011, the Senate and House of Representatives respectively ratified the National Minimum Wage Bill

The Bill makes it mandatory for every employer of labour in the country to pay a wage that is not less than N18,000 per month to every worker in their establishment.

The Bill was given expeditious passage in the two chambers and promptly signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan. The new minimum wage bill essentially jacked up the old minimum wage from N7,500.

The State Chairman Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chief (Comrade) Chris Oruge said, “This is a major achievement in 2011 on the part of the labour for the workers, certainly we are awaiting the effective implementation of this new minimum wage as some state Governors have failed to implement extant law”.

The labour Leader added that Nigerians should discountenance the agitation of the state Governors for fuel subsidy removal before the minimum wage implementation.

Interestingly, the act also covered the private sector employees as it stipulates in section 2 (1) that “as from the commencement of this Act it shall be the duty of every employer to pay a wage not less than the National Minimum Wage of N18,000 per month to  workers under their establishment.

The bill equally provides for a revised national minimum wage while stipulating a realistic penalty regime for violation of its provisions.

On the part of the state Governors, for the new national minimum wage to be implemented effectively and states pay accordingly the fuel subsidy must be removed, and revenues save from such subsidy removal distributed and shared to the states in order for the states to effectively implement the new minimum wage of N18,000.

Obviously, this is part of the reason of the present Labour/Government state for imbroglio in the country.

NLC Election

The Nigeria Labour Congress both at the National/State levels conducted its election for the national officers and state officers.

Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar was re-elected the National President of NLC and other officials. In the state, Comrade Chris Oruge was re-elected the state Chairman of NLC for another term of four years.

The elections threw new challenges of leadership at the organised labour especially the NLC in the preceding year.

Shortly after the national delegates conference, president Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Omar sacked the then NLC Secretary – General Comrade John Odah.

The sacking of Comrade John Odah opens new frontier of leadership challenge within the organised labour-NLC.

A nascent group called the “Integrity Group”, withdrawn its support for the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress.

The Acting Secretary General of NLC Comrade Owei Lakemfa  and Trade Union Congress President Comrade Peter Esele, had accused members of the integrity group of being government agents.

The integrity group felt Comrade John Odah’s removal was an injustice done to him. As a result, the labour house is divided with the integrity group confronting the Nigeria Labour Congress leadership on topical national issues.

The Integrity Group demonstrated this internal crisis within the  movement by faulting the NLC’s leadership on their opposition to subsidy removal.

The group asked Nigerians to demand explanation from the organized labour leadership of what has happened to the Labour struggle “that NLC steeled in the furnace of that struggle in the last quarter of a century, is today a footnote in that struggle and campaign for subsidy removal”.

However, the organised labour in the preceding year has remained streadfast, courageous, outspoken and aggressive in protection of the welfare of the workers and the downtrodden over government policies considered unilaterally and unfriendly to the welfare of the people.

The organised labour under the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, and Trade Union Congress (TUC) Comrade Peter Esele must stand up to defend the rights of Nigerians on good governance, transparency, accountability, join other anti-corruption agencies to fight corruption, engaged in meaningful dialogue with the government, respect constituted authorities and seek ways for the sustenance of the economy with the government.

Philip Okparaji