Ime Akpan
Nigeria joined the rest of the world to celebrate Workers’ Day or May Day yesterday. Usually marked with a public holiday in over 80 countries across the world, May Day, according to Nigeria’s labour history, was first declared a public holiday by the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) government of Kano State in 1980 and became a national holiday on May 1, 1981.
The day is most commonly associated as a commemoration of the achievements of the labour movement.
Speaking at a rally held at Eagle Square, Abuja, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) said Nigerian workers, nay, Nigerian citizens were going through excruciating hardship.
In a joint statement signed by the NLC and TUC presidents, Messrs Joe Ajaero and Festus Osifo, the unions said they were prepared to join forces with the Nigerian masses and workers across the board to resist every government policy that tends to inflict pain and suffering on Nigerians.
The two labour unions also said they and the civil society organisations had forged a formidable partnership and were willing to work with the government in the project of a progressive and harmonious country and also to reject or hold government accountable as the case may be, using every legal means.
“It is important that we understand that no society can make progress by excluding its major stakeholders; the workers and masses from having an equitable share of the nation’s resources. If we are serious about increasing productivity and making progress as a nation then, we must seek ways of ensuring that the rights and privileges of workers are not only protected but that they are granted unfettered access to socioeconomic justice.
“We suggest deliberate actions by the government to expand and strengthen the nation’s existing Social Security framework. The Social Investment Programme (SIP) ought to be given legal backing by speeding up the legislative processes towards codifying it in our laws. This will deepen engagement in those areas and provide stronger backing to our quest for socioeconomic justice to all Nigerians.
“We also call on the federal government to begin the process of ratifying conventions 102 of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on Social protection. This is central to the actualisation of Social justice and inclusiveness. It provides appropriate guarantees for workers rights to survival during and after work life and also guarantees access to decent life for many Nigerians,” they said.
They also made a case for worker’s rights and charged the government to fashion its policies on the growth of jobs and better living condition for workers and the entire Nigerians.
“It is important that Nigerian leaders understand that without guaranteeing the rights of workers, without allowing workers to win, Nigerians and Nigeria will not win. We are Nigerians; when we win, our nation wins and makes sustainable progress. It is the duty of government to provide the right environment for this to happen.
“Our nation must lead with job-led growth. When jobs grow, income increases and the economy is revved higher but we need to protect those that work in these jobs. To protect them, we must ensure that the right legal environment is created and frameworks for compliance with laws are established,” they added.
Earlier in a separate speech, Ajaero had asked for a fresh retirement age for civil servants in the country.
He also called for a general review of core civil servants’ salaries to narrow the gap between other civil servants’ emoluments and those in other segments of the public service.
He said the extension of years of service should go around, as it had been done in other sectors of the public service in the country.
“We are, therefore, demanding that the age of retirement and length of service in the entire public service, including the civil service, be reviewed upward to 65 years of age and 40 years of service,” he said.
Over the years, Ajaero said the NLC had demanded for salary review but had yet to receive federal government’s attention.
“It is necessary to recall that we have continued over the years to demand that the salaries of core civil servants be beefed up to narrow the gap between their emoluments and those in other segments of the public service.
“They all possess the same educational qualifications and cognate experience on the job. So why the disparity?” he queried.
On the payment of gratuity, Ajaero said: “As you are all aware, the concept of gratuity payment to employees is predicated on the fact that those who have laboured for public institutions or private enterprises are entitled to the proverbial golden handshake from their employers.
“Gratuity is a monetary benefit given by an employer to his/her employee at the time of retirement without the worker making any financial contribution whatsoever to the fund,” he said.
He explained that such a lump sum is meant to enable the retiree to finance any post-retirement endeavour of their choice.
“The Pension Act did not abolish gratuity payment and we demand its restoration in many public sectors where it has been stopped,” he added.
In Cross River State, the two labour unions accused the state governor, Prof Ben Ayade of reneging on the memorandum of understanding he signed with the NLC and TUC.
Speaking at a rally held and the U.J Esuene Stadium in Calabar, the state TUC chairman, Mr. Monday Ogbodum, said the civil service would be almost empty by the end of 2023 and condemned the non-implementation of workers’ promotions since 2016.
Addressing the governor who was represented by the secretary to the state government, Ms Tina Agbor, the TUC chairman said the service “is almost empty because the majority of the workforce is retired and more will, before the end of 2023.”
“What has happened to the recruitment of men into the Civil Service and Public Service of Cross River State, which thousands of Cross Riverians, were seen running from pillar to post borrowing resources, to procuring the process? What has happened to that recruitment process?” he asked.
Responding, the governor urged the workers to “extend the same support you have given to our administration to the incoming administration” and “put in your best and uphold the high standards of the civil service.”
Non-implementation of the N30, 000 minimum wage for the local government workers in Gombe State was the focus of the celebration.
Addressing workers at Pantami Stadium, Gombe, the state chairmen of the NLC, Mr. Yusuf Bello, pleaded with the state government to implement the N30, 000 minimum wage for the local government workers.
It was gathered that the state implemented the minimum wage for only state government workers due to dearth of funds.
“Since the minimum wage committee is a standing committee, we are appealing that the committee should reconvene with immediate effect to look into the implementation of the minimum wage to local government employees, the outstanding balance to some ministries in the state service and other issues associated with the implementation of the minimum wage across board in the state,” he said.
He also called on the government to pay the outstanding gratuity to the workers.
“Gratuity is the last hope of a civil servant; we appeal to you (the governor) to continue the good work you are been doing for pensioners in the state by releasing more funds to settle the outstanding arrears of gratuity in the state and local government,” Bello added.
Besides, the labour leader appealed to the government to resolve the outstanding issues at the state university to enhance productivity.
Dodging the issues raised, the state governor, Mr. Muhammad Yahaya who was represented by his deputy, Dr Manassah Jatau, talked about the friendly disposition of the state workers.
He described the state’s first position in the ease of doing business and the recent award by the TUC for the pro-labour outstanding prize as legendary.
In Oyo State, the workers asked for a new wage structure for the workers in line with the current economic challenges in the country.
The state chairman of the NLC Mr. Kayode Martins, who addressed worker at the Lekan Salami stadium in Ibadan, said the N30, 000 minimum wage had not been reviewed over the years and called on the government to look into it and make the necessary amendments.
However, he applauded the government for prompt payment of salaries and other allowances and called on the government to engage workers on burning issues instead of taking unilateral decisions.
In his speech, the TUC chairman, Mr. Bosun Olabiyi, charged the government to provide also appealed to the government to provide a favourable environment for workers.
He also urged the government to look into the issue of casualisation of workers in the state.
In his goodwill message to the workers, the governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde said his government would take the issue of aggressive global investment drive seriously.
“Our message to the world is simple, come and invest in the state in agribusiness, renewable energy, solid minerals, and tourism. The state is open for business. We will also look inwards and tackle those issues that will make our local entrepreneurs evolve and expand their operations.
“At the same time, we ask that you, the good people of the state, support us on this drive. Continue to be diligent in whatever role you play in the private or public sector, and make the state a welcoming place for investors and visitors. We restate that by the grace of God, we will continue to maintain the GSM date for paying civil servants’ salaries under Omituntun 2.0. And for our entrepreneurs and investors, we will continue to play our part to make the state economic environment a place where the private sector will thrive,” he said in a statement.
In Abuja, the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI) and Civil Society Coalition for Research Funding appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the National Research and Innovation Council (NRIC) Bill before he hands over to a new administration on May 29.
The general secretary of the union, Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku who addressed workers at Eagles Square, said: “Research is the bedrock of scientific and technological development, it is worthy of note that developed nations embrace and fund research adequately,” he said.
He remarked that the neglect of research by successive administrations in Nigeria is responsible for the comatose state of the nation’s mandate research and development institutes and the present socio-economic woes such as massive unemployment, leading to insurgency, kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery and other numerous overwhelming vices.
“We are appealing most fervently therefore that Mr. President writes his name in gold by signing the NRIC Bill into law before relinquishing power constitutionally on May 29, 2023,” he added.
