Sitting down and pondering all the day long about so many issues as regard this country, the life of average Nigerian, their suffering, predicament, slavery going on work place and exploitation Nigerians are subjected to by foreigners who are employers of labour.
One of my friends on social media who had gone through my tutelage as a students in the past called my attention to the same subject of exploitation of Nigerians both by Nigerian and foreign employers of labour sometimes ago. He narrated a very bleak, horrible, pathetic and unbecoming pictures that can make any sensible human being cry.
The experience of many Nigerian Workers are not different from what our ancestors experienced during slavery and colonialism. It is a sorry case, abuse of human right and derogation of human dignity for any one in this country to still be going through the kind of suffering Nigerians are still going through in workplace in 21st century.
As a researcher, I have to find out the mission of Nigeria Labour Congress, the largest and the umbrella body for all Nigerian workers. To my surprise, what I found out was not what Labour Congress was doing in reality.
The mission of the Nigeria Labour Congress is to organise, unionise and educate all categories of Nigerian workers; defend and advance the political, economic, social and cultural rights of Nigerian workers; emancipate and unite Nigerian workers and people from all forms of exploitation and discrimination; achieve gender justice in the work place and in NLC; strengthen and deepen the ties and connections between Nigerian workers and the mutual/natural allies in and outside Nigeria and; lead the struggle for the transformation of Nigeria into a just, humane and democratic society.
If truly Nigeria Labour Congress has the above mission in its constitution, it is high time this organized labour rise up and live up its mission and expectations of Nigerians and workers.
If one of the mission of NLC is to emancipate and unite Nigerian workers and people from all forms of exploitation and discrimination; achieve gender justice in the work place and in NLC; strengthen and deepen the ties and connections between Nigerian workers and the mutual/natural allies in and outside Nigeria and; lead the struggle for the transformation of Nigeria into a just, humane and democratic society. Then NLC need to do more by sending spies to most companies and industries and see for themselves the kind of working conditions workers are exposed and subjected to. It is alarming, appalling and pathetic.
The N18,000 minimum wage is five years old. In view of the fact that we have a five- yearly minimum wage review arrangement, we believe a new minimum wage is legally due. But more compelling than this is the fact that a combination of progressive inflation and the massive devaluation of the Naira have undermined every conceivable benefit of the N18,000.
Today most Nigerian workers don't earn up to N18,000 per month. Come to Ota and Agbara Industrial estates some are paid N200, N500, etc per day. After working for 30 days, to collect their wages is another difficult venture. Most of these companies won't pay until the first and second week of a new month. Can someone tell me if any one can survive with is kind of pay and working conditions.
Labour Union is asking for more money, N56,000 by one faction of NLC and N96,000 by another faction of the same once upon a time, most vibrant and biggest Union in Nigeria is unrealistic and unhealthy for the economic situation of Nigeria currently. For me that is a misplaced priority, if that that amount is paid today, the value will still be diminished and will not lift the flight of workers. Labour Union should stop making unrealistic demands and face the reality of the moment.
What Labour Union need to canvas for is stronger naira against dollar, more efficient and high productive country. Collaborating with government to end unemployment and creating enabling environment. Labour need to use all the apparatus at their to address so many critical issue affecting the country. They need to engage the criminal elements and busybodies in the National Assembly, especially the senate.
NLC need to engage the the indigenous companies and multinational to stop Nigerian workers being used as casual workers and contract staff.
Common sense tutorial should be coming from labour Union, instead of allowing the busybody and twitter senator with corrupted sense embarrassing the nation with his useless propaganda.
Labour need to wake up and fight for better welfare for workers and not this unrealistic demands NLC is putting on the table now, join government in fight corruption to standstill. Motor park touts are becoming a torn in the flesh of the drivers and this Labour Union did not blink over this and do not bother to ensure workers have a better conditions to work with.
Emancipation of Nigerian workers and people from all forms of exploitation and discrimination, achievement of gender justice in the work place should be brought to table of urgent discussion and in NLC; they need to right away, instead of going on useless and unnecessary strike over minimum wage alone, they should lead the struggle for the transformation of Nigeria into a just, humane and democratic society.
It was also noted particularly that payment of pensions at workplace is another challenge the labour Union must look into.
Salaries and pensions are inalienable rights of workers and retirees and not privileges. Workers must not be denied of this privileges.
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