NLC Accuses Govts Of Undermining Organised Labour Movement

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has reiterated its accusation against the various tiers of government of undermining the collective struggles of the organised labour movement in the country.

The National President of the NLC, Comrade Omar Abdulwahed disclosed this while speaking to newsmen recently.

Comrade Omar said successive governments in the country have always made attempts to weaken the collective unity of the organised labour movement in order to achieve their selfish ends. He noted that the organised labour movement has always triumphed over all those attempts and had remained focused, resolute and principled on issues affecting the workers welfare.

He said “Luckily Nigeria workers have been able to rise up for their rights” stressing that government has been unable to break the might and unity of the organised labour movement.

Comrade Omar said, “in Nigeria successive governments be it military regime or civilian administration have always seen the organised labour movement as a threat so they always fight back with obnoxious policies to undermine the labour movement without success”.

He predicted that the day Nigeria’s government will settle down to work for the collective welfare of Nigerians where the rights of its citizens are respected, that is the day the labour struggle will end.

On the issue of the national minimum wage, the NLC boss said the leadership of the central labour organisation and the trade union congress TUC planned to enlighten the workers and member of the National Assembly about what constitutes minimum wage.

He described some state governors’ stand on the implementation of the minimum wage as very selfish and discouraging.

The labour leader emphasised that the labour movement in Nigeria has been a unifying factor in the fight against oppression and injustice and therefore the struggle continues.

Meanwhile, the NLC will organise a security summit on September 18 in Abuja.

The NLC President, Comrade Omar Abdulwaheed said the peace summit is titled “Labour for Unity Peace and Development”. The essence of the summit is to find workable solutions to security challenges facing the country in view of the deteriorating security situation, he said.

He said the major problems in Nigeria are insecurity, selfishness and then inability of the country’s leaders to serve the people.