Improving industrial relations in 2014

More caution by parties will avert the harm industrial actions do on the country’s economy.  For instance, the ASUU strike grounded academic and research activities for five months. Many student and lecturers were rendered idle and prone to crimes and social vices while the strike lasted. The strike, as usual, reduced the quality of knowledge […]

More caution by parties will avert the harm industrial actions do on the country’s economy.  For instance, the ASUU strike grounded academic and research activities for five months. Many student and lecturers were rendered idle and prone to crimes and social vices while the strike lasted. The strike, as usual, reduced the quality of knowledge in the schools because some of what had been taught fizzled from the students during this idle time. Businesses such as shops, ICT, stationeries, restaurants, consultants and transportation firms operating on campuses and servicing institutions nationwide were grounded during the strike.
When the NMA on December 18, 2013, also announced a five-day nationwide sympathy strike, the effects reverberated across the land. Several emergency patients died while others spent exorbitant fees in private hospitals, and to consultants and specialists.  Several persons travelled abroad for treatment at high foreign exchange for the country.
Also, the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) on two occasions in January and December, 2013 threatened to embark on strike. This led to panic buying and hoarding of petroleum products which would have marred the yuletide.
The oil workers hinged their threat on the planned sale of the country’s four refineries in the first quarter of 2014, allegedly announced by the Minister of Petroleum Diezani Allison-Madueke. Protest over this proposal would be the sore point in labour relations this year – with almost all the labour unions likely to resist it. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said the sales should be in the agenda of the proposed National Conference.
ASUU’s July 1, 2013 strike, which lasted till December, followed federal government’s failure to implement a 1999 agreement reached with the union on revitalization of the universities in the country to world class institutions of learning and research. The new agreement with the union will see the government sink N200 billion in universities annually for five years.
ASUU’s strike was followed by warning strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Polythenics (ASUP) and Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT). These were also trailed by threats of strike from the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU); the Non Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASUU) and the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU).
On what caused its strike, NMA said it had demanded from government a revitalization of the health sector with facilities and training to halt the medical tourism which has cost the country billions of naira.
The doctors’ associaition is also demanding the establishment of Hospital Development and Intervention Fund (HDIF), which they believe will bridge the six percent medicare coverage of Nigerians.
It is remarkable that the federal government managed to mitigate the impact of these industrial disputes in 2013 through deft management of labour relations. The government has also assured it will sustain the effort by proactive engagement of stakeholders in 2014 to arrest further industrial disputes.
In this direction, the Minister of Labour and Productivity Emeka Wogu explained that by “espousing democratic participation, we have been able to resolve very many industrial relations challenges before they degenerate to disruptive levels.”
He announced government’s intention this year to advance the country’s labour statutes and the labour administration system in line with international best practices.
Hopes that 2014 will witness less industrial disputes were first raised by the President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria, Bala Kaigama on Thursday December 12, 2013 when he said the union and the NLC are collaborating to resolve issues before they degenerate into strikes among their affiliates in the New Year.
He however advised the federal government and other employers of labour in the country to honour agreements reached with workers in their employ, adding that it is the only way to check industrial disputes.
Also the NLC in its New Year message jointly signed by its president Abdulwaheed Omar and Acting General Secretary Chris Antigha Uyota, urged government to invest in developing robust and sustainable industrial relations machinery capable of apprehending and resolving industrial disputes in a timely manner. The statement also warns that “government must develop the courage to honour all agreements with labour.”
There is unanimity among stakeholders for new labour laws and systems that will address the plight of workers in both private and public sectors. Also government is expected to leverage on the projected better economic prospects this year and create the enabling environment to unlock opportunities for the unemployed. Overall, Nigerians are anticipating fresh policy options that will enhance industrial harmony in 2014.