May Day: NLC seeks peace, improved security, good governance

IBRAHIM QUADRI and ufumba Uzuegbu

 

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for peace, stability, security and good governance as workers mark this year’s International Workers Day on May 1.

 

The NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, told Journalists on Saturday in Abuja, that peace, stability, security and good governance were the constitutional responsibility of the government.

 

“The constitutional responsibility of every government is about ensuring the peace and security of every citizen. This is what is supposed to occupy our political elite today and it is not about the next circle of elections.

 

“It should be on how we can ensure that there is peace, stability, security in every facet. I mean in every locality in Nigeria and that has not been the case.

 

“Therefore, it is a very serious challenge that is why we have to look at the theme of the May Day, to encapsulate all of these challenges that needed answers.

 

“Importantly, it will require a political solution, with the best of strike and best of protest; you can see that the problems have remained the same,’’ he said.

 

Wabba announced the 2022 May Day theme as: “Labour, Politics, the Quest for Good Governance and National Development’’.

 

The NLC president said this would be the focus of this year’s May Day celebration.

 

He also said that the theme was not all about the forthcoming general elections, rather it should be about the people, good governance and the government that would respond to issues effectively.

 

Wabba added, clearly speaking, we are still not out of the wood yet, the situation have become even more complicated, there are many challenges in the security spheres and other social vices in the country.

 

According to him, killings, abduction and kidnapping should be a matter of concern to everybody but right now, all we can only think of is elections, when there are challenges in the peace and stability of the nation.

 

“In all of these, workers have been on the receiving end, in spite of the insecurity, some of our workers have to frontally engage in the issue of insecurity, such as the police, military and para-military, health workers,‘’ he said.

 

He added that, in spite of these challenges, their salaries wouldn’t take them home, but yet they are still on the front line.

 

“The essence of the May Day or international Workers Day, is actually a day set aside for workers to be recognised and appreciated for the fact that they create wealth.

 

“It is the celebration of workers that create wealth, ensure stability and also provide all the services that we need to keep our economy growing and the system going.

 

“That is from the ordinary farmer to the armed forces, and to the highest of all of them, that are workers,” he said.

 

Wabba also explained that the day was set aside to create awareness on the lack of security and sacrifices of workers and for the political elites to be reminded of what to be done to be able to secure Nigeria.

 

He said workers through their unions, have made a lot of struggles for social justices in the system and in some climes, they must be recognised and appreciated for their contributions in creating wealth in Nigeria.

 

He, therefore, said the theme of the 2022 May Day, tried to capture the mood of the moment with the theme: “Labour, Politics, the Quest for Good Governance and Development’’.

 

According to him, this is to capture the mood of the moment, whereas there is a lot of challenges, including the security challenge, confronting Nigerians today from different facets.

 

“But above all, it is for us to recongise our contributions in creating wealth in Nigeria,” the labour leader stressed.

 

Also, in a statement, the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) felicitated Nigerian workers and people on the commemoration of the 2022 International Workers Day.

This is contained in a statement jointly signed by Mr Ayuba Wabba, the NLC President, and Mr Quadri Olaleye, the TUC President.

According to the statement, the national celebration of this year’s May Day will take place on May 1, by 10 a.m,  at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

 

”The celebration will also hold across all the states of the federation.

”Given the imminence of the Eid-El-Fitr Sallah celebration, the national

May Day commemoration will only be shifted to May 2, if the moon is sighted today, being April 30

This is to allow our Muslim brothers and sisters to observe the Eid prayer,” he said.

It said that the time for the May Day celebration would remain the same.

“We will communicate with workers, our invited guests and the general public once there is a postponement.

meanwhile,

Issues of unemployment, insecurity, declining living standard of average Nigerians, galloping inflation and high costs of foodstuffs, among others, will rank top on the agenda as Nigerian workers join their counterparts across the world today,to mark this year’s Workers’Day celebration.
As usual, the workers would be converging at the Eagle’s Square, Abuja, well as the 36 state capitals to reflect on the condition of work and the way forward.
This year’s celebration is coming at a time the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU) is currently on strike and against the backdrop of worsening insecurity in the country.
International Workers’ Day is the commemoration of the of the 1886 Haymarket affair in Chicago. the U.S.

According to reports, the Police was trying to disperse a public assembly during a general strike for the eight-hour workday when an unidentified person threw a bomb at them.
The police reacted by firing on the workers, killing dozens of demonstrators and several of their own officers.

In 1889, the first Congress of the international meeting in Paris, France, for the centennial of the French Revolution and the Exposition Universelle , following a proposal by Raymond Lavigne, called for international demonstrations on the 1890 anniversary of the
Chicago protests.

May Day was formally recognized as an annual event at the International’s second Congress in 1891.The first Workers’ Day in Nigeria was celebrated in Kano state in 1980 where the then governor, Alhaji Abubakar Rimini declared a public holiday.

But in 1981,Federal Government May 1, the Workers’Day. Since that period, Nigeria started celebrating the May Day. Today, the May Day serves as a veritable platform for both employers of labour and organized for stock taking.

Respondents in a Daily Champion survey, maintained that there is nothing for average Nigerians to celebrate on the occasion of this year’s Workers’ Day apart from being alive.

They agreed also that millions of Nigerians can no longer live a decent live on their income, particularly those earning less than the minimum wage even as they called on government to address insecurity in the country. Excerpts :Vincent Ebirim (Teacher ) said the average Nigerian has nothing to celebrate on the occasion of this year’s May Day.
The purported take-home pay cannot take anyone home.It is obvious that the minimum wage per se,if implemented,can not pay bills, rent, among others.
An average Nigerian that earns N30,000 per month is like a working corpse.
He pays transport fare to go to work; pays school fees of his children, pays rent ,feeds his family, pays electricity bills, hospital bills ,among other sundry expenses, all put together leaves him with nothing and in absolute penury.

A nuclear family of father mother and two children can barely survive on N1000 per day which is less $1 US dollar.What has the average worker have to celebrate? Nothing.But we are human beings, so we have to observe and not celebrate the Workers’Day.Thank God, we are employed.
State governments that are yet to implement the minimum wage,should expedite action on the matter and even do more by providing incentives, enhanced allowances, transportation and accommodation to their workers.

I am a teacher. I earn N30,000 monthly in the private sector. I spend close to N10,000 monthly on transportation alone, besides my physical and mental input as a worker. So,I practically go home with N30,000 per month with a wife and children, including extended family members who also depend on me.

Government should address squarely insecurity in the country, hunger, galloping inflation and rising cost of food items, without which, bribery, corruption and nepotism will continue to escalate.

The average Nigerian worker is groaning under the yoke of penury. Any worker who subjects himself to N30,000 minimum wage alone, can not live as a human being.
The Labour force is the engine of the society and any economy. It is the proverbial golden goose that lays the golden eggs. While it groans under the sweat and burden of building the nation, the politicians seat on the finances of the nation and swim in affluence ,in total negligence of the well-being of the workforce.

The Nigeria Labour Congress, Lagos chapter has given the State Governor,.Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu the assurance of their support in his quest to get the second term in office.

The assurance was given on behalf of the workers by the Chairman of NLC in the State, Comrade Agnes Sessi who addressed hundreds of workers on Sunday to mark the May Day celebration.

The event which took place at Mobolaji Johnson Arena (Onikan Stadium) was attended by members of the NLC and TUC.

The theme for the year 2022 Workers’ Day is titled, “Labour Politics and New Quest for Good Governance and Development in Nigeria.”

Sessi said, “This year’s workers day is a unique one as it coincides.with Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

She however said, “We commend Mr Governor on minimum wage, Lagos was the first to implement minimum wage but the economic conditions have already eroded the euphoria of N30 or 35 thousand minimum wage.

She added, “Transportation fares are skyrocketing,.prices of food have increased, land lords have increased rents. We will like to have a.parley with you on the ways to cushion the adverse effects.of the economic situations who are unable to meet up with their daily obligations.”

 

While commenting on the 2023 election, NLC Chairman said, “On behalf of the workers in Lagos who represent more than 50 percent of the voting population.

 

“The reason why we are supporting you is that during COVID-19 pandemic, you didn’t sack workers and you give palliatives. Even after the pandemic, you are still employing workers. This is not like that in order states. Anywhere you go, we shall stand with you.

 

“Mr Governor, you are the hope for the masses. Workers in Lagos stand with you.”

 

Also speaking, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairman in the State, Comrade Olugbenga Ekundayo said as the elections are drawing near, the union would not sit back but fully involved.

 

According to him, “The day of reckoy is cing, we shall be involved and unveil those who we will be supporting.”

 

He however commended the Governor for his welfarism for workers, saying “We must rededicate ourselves in the Nigeria project.”

 

However, Ms Funmi Adeogun, a Lawyer,  on Sunday urged  states to ensure implementation of a memorandum on financial autonomy for the Judiciary

 

Adeogun, who is the Treasurer of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL),   on financial autonomy for the judiciary made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), following the celebration of workers’ day.

 

NAN recalls that workers’ day is an international day set aside every May 1, to commemorate the achievements of labour movements.

 

It is also tagged May Day or Labour Day and is observed as a public holiday.

 

According to Adeogun,  it is important for all states of the Federation to ensure an implementation of financial autonomy for the Judiciary, noting that this was the major reason for the industrial action by Judiciary workers in 2021.

 

NAN recalls  that the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN)  on April 6, 2021, embarked on a strike to press home its demand for implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary.

 

The union, however, called off the strike on June 9, after a Memorandum of Action was signed on May 20, 2021 by parties, including the Nigeria Governors Forum,  agreeing to a 45 days window of implementation.

 

“While I celebrate with the entire work force in Nigeria on this special day set aside globally to recognise the contributions of our labour force, it is important that employers of labour evolve ways of enhancing the welfare of workers.

 

“As a lawyer, I recall the two months  industrial action in 2021, by JUSUN,  pursuant to its quest for implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary.