Time to reinvent Labour Unity

Precisely because yours comradely is involved, I bear witness that lack of unity and coherence within the labour movement has inadvertently undermined its collective response to the recent fuel price increase. It’s time we reinvented labour unity to the benefit of working men and women. More than ever before the maturity and sincerity of purpose […]

Precisely because yours comradely is involved, I bear witness that lack of unity and coherence within the labour movement has inadvertently undermined its collective response to the recent fuel price increase. It’s time we reinvented labour unity to the benefit of working men and women. More than ever before the maturity and sincerity of purpose of the trade union leaders is under test. It is self-evident that if unionists operate separately, they will be defeated separately by any employer or government.
Conversely, if unionists operate in unity, they will triumph as one. The recent 70 per cent fuel increase is indiscriminate in its negative impact on transport cost and cost of living in general. This fact was also well acknowledged by the government that announced the price increase necessitating official palliatives. Legitimately the public expected that the response of organized labour must be inclusive and uniform, not disjointed as we recently witnessed. The worsening poverty, rising inflation, job losses and bad governance must task our imaginations as labour leaders to work as one instead of seeking positions for recognitions from governments and employers that do not deliver tangible results for the working men and women. It is commendable and reassuring that Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, says government had no intention of factionalizing the labour movement.
Therefore we call on the Minister of labour and the Secretary to the government of the Federation to initiate another round of all inclusive engagement with NLC and TUC on the recent fuel price increase. Nigeria and indeed this administration is better off with inherited united NLC if it must win the fight against corruption, diversify the economy and enthrone  social and physical security. The challenge is for all industrial unions affiliated to NLC and TUC to work as comrades and not as class enemies for the interest of the working men and women.
Regrettably, as we point two accusing fingers at bad governance and bad employers, the remaining three fingers point at us too who are unacceptably divided against ourselves rather than united against common class enemy. It’s time we closed ranks to ensure we have a labour movement that “commands the confidence of workers, be trusted by the public, respected by the government and employers.”
To this extent in particular, NLC leaders at all levels to must immediately implement the report of the NLC Reconciliation Committee under the Chairmanship of Alhaji Hassan Sunmonu aimed at resolving the avoidable crisis arising from 11th Delegates Conference last year. It is unacceptably that two years running, NLC could not organize a joint May Day inspite of the joint resolutions of all the parties to put the past behind. 
The resolution of the problems confronting Nigerian workers and people should be given top priority by the NLC and its leaders, among others. Nigeria needs a united NLC to fight the issue of unpaid salaries, ensure new improved minimum wage, revive the industries and create mass decent employment among others.
We commend Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Alhaji Hassan Sunmonu, Comrades Ayuba Wabba and Joe Ajaero for the signed resolutions.  It is however time we all implemented these resolutions with sincerity of purpose and avoid the recent divisions in the ongoing struggle over the fuel price increase.
Some of the resolutions are already open knowledge. They include the following; one, there is unanimity of opinion that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) should remain united and indivisible; two, that the NLC Elections of March 12-14, 2015 should, in the interest of unity be accepted by all.  The interest of Nigerian workers and NLC should supersede any other interest; three, in future elections, after the adoption of the Credential Committee Report, there should be no opening for new candidatures, even by the Conference-in-Session; four, those who have retired from service or are about to retire should not be presented by their unions for election into the NAC as stipulated in the Election Guidelines that will be approved by the NEC; five, current members of the NLC NAC, who have retired from service should automatically lose their membership of NAC.  The National Executive Council of the NLC should, on behalf of the National Delegates Conference, fill those positions; six, in future, any violation of the ethics and values of the Trade union Movement should be automatically sanctioned by both CWC and NEC of the Congress; seven, all the cases in court arising from the 11th National Delegates Conference should be unconditionally withdrawn; eight, the Process of appointing the current General Secretary of the NLC did not conform with the criteria laid down by the NLC.  The NLC should therefore correct this anomaly; nine, a small, inclusive committee should be set up by the CWC to resolve the division at the State Council of the NLC to engender unity and inclusiveness; and ten, the speedy resolution of the problems confronting Nigerian workers and people should be given top priority by the NLC and its leaders.