May Day: Workers’ welfare takes center stage

May Day, or Labour Day, is a day off for workers in many countries and as such the Federal Government declared today May 1 as work free day for Nigerian workers to mark the day.  The day has its origin in the historical struggles of workers and trade unions in their efforts to win fair […]

May Day, or Labour Day, is a day off for workers in many countries and as such the Federal Government declared today May 1 as work free day for Nigerian workers to mark the day.  The day has its origin in the historical struggles of workers and trade unions in their efforts to win fair employment standards and establish a culture of human and workers’ rights. 

Expectedly, Nigerian workers would today join millions of workers all over the world to mark  the 131st  anniversary of May Day. 

In the face of this year`s celebration are the challenges facing an average worker in Nigeria bordering on issues of  dwindling economy that has triggered uncertainty of jobs and unemployment. Similarly issues of indecent work conditions and environment, poor salaries and  wages and violations of workers’ rights as guaranteed by local and international labour instruments.

Despite these challenges, thousands of workers will be at several venues for rallies organized by Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and  its  Trade Union Congress (TUC)  counterparts. 

The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, told the Daily Trust that this year’s rallies would take into focus the issue of minimum wage as inflation has taken away the gains of the present   N18,000 minimum wage. He said that  workers are now living at the mercy of the bourgeoisie.

Wabba said, “Workers have high expectations on the issue of the review of minimum wage and we expect a positive pronouncement from the Federal Government. And possibly have a timeline when this thing  can be concluded. Also, the  government  have  been saying we would soon get out of recession, it is something that the  workers are looking out to so that there would be security of employment, because for now most of the private sector establishment because of the challenges of the economy; there is daily threat to job losses. So those are the two issues that are topmost in our agenda.” 

 Wabba stressed that for  the workers to continue to contribute to  national development there should be a favourable economy environment that would allow them do so.

The NLC president said that the congress had engaged governments on  workers welfare  issues.

“At the state level where salaries were not paid, we have taken decision that any state where they owe three months liabilities they should no longer render their services. We have made formal demands to the  Federal Government  and we have been very consistent that those issues must be resolved. We have also  demanded from the  National Assembly- the issue of whistle blower Act and issue of specialized court to expedite corruption cases to try those guilty of corruption cases so that the looted money that  are still hanging can be put into use,” he said.

Wabba denied any split in the congres as it mobilized workers for May Day rallies across the nation saying “We don’t have any faction of NLC. It is NLC and TUC. Since the others are not registered.”

He recalled that the day is  to recognize the contributions of workers to the development of the country and 2017 celebration is  themed  ‘Labour Relation in Economic Recession and Appraisal.’

He enjoined workers to continue to be  resolute, saluting their resilience despite the current economic  challenges.

“They kept faith and continue to contribute their quota  to national development because certainly the workers  have been at the receiving end because of the way the economy has been going down;  some have lost their jobs, some could not get regular pay and a lot of challenges. So, they should also be aware that nothing that workers have gotten have come on a platter of gold.  It has been through struggles from 1886- for eight hours working days,  it has been all through collective struggle because capitalists are aiming for profits so we must continue to work together and canvass for all these things,” said Wabba.

In his  May Day message to Nigerian workers, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige,  saluted the resilience of the Nigerian workers and hoped for a better future in the face of the current economic challenges facing the country. 

“The Federal Government is not unaware of the economic challenges facing Nigerian workers in the public, the private and informal sector of the economy. We appreciate your resilience and hope for better days ahead,” he said.

While acknowledging the contributions of the Nigerian workers to national development, Ngige emphasised the commitment of the present administration to the enhancement of workers’ welfare.

 “May I use this occasion to appreciate Nigerian workers for their contributions to national development, unequivocal solidarity to the Change Agenda and the fight against corruption of the present administration under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari,”  he said.    

He added that, “Mr. President is committed to the enhancement of workers’ welfare, through programmes like the Federal Integrated Staff Housing Scheme (FISH), creation of enabling environment to stimulate the economy with the aim of improving the social-economic wellbeing of Nigeria in all sectors of the economy.”  

National Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Dr  Abel Afolayan,  told the DailyTrust  yesterday  on phone  that the issue of minimum pension would be their major demand at the May Day rallies.

Afolayan bemoaned the situation where   some pensioners are still collecting as little as N4,000  to  N5,000 pension as of today.  He said, “There should be minimum pension and pension should be prioritized . The states that are not doing well in pension should begin to do so. States like Imo, Nasarawa and  Kogi  are not doing well in the area of paying pension to pensioners, when they are not ready to pay pension they will start pensioners verification and they don’t need to verify anybody  because any pensioner with the  Bank Verification Number (BVN)  they know is  a qualifier.” 

However, some are not impressed by the  thrills of May Day celebration.  A worker,  Saliu Adio, said of the rallies, “Unfortunately, May Day celebration is more like a jamboree. It should be better   organized  against the inimical policies of the neo-liberal policies of privatization, deregulation, casualisation, and  contract staffing and  serves as a sober reflection of the appalling and worsening condition of the working class.”

He chided the labour union over its internal wrangling and power struggle, saying labour should be committed to provide leadership for full industrialization drive that could ensure massive employment and expansion of infrastructure.