From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has accused the President Bola Tinubu’s administration of showing “enormous unfaithfulness” in keeping to agreements it entered with workers.
In its new year message signed by its President, Joe Ajaero, the congress said the government’s ‘half-hearted’ attempts at providing succour was largely mere propaganda and never had any impact on the high cost of transportation across the nation.
According to the Labour centre, some of the agreements entered with the Federal Government, such as the N35,000 wage award has not been faithfully implemented, the Port Harcourt refinery has not come on stream as projected while the National Minimum Wage Negotiation Council has not been inaugurated as agreed.
It also alleged that the compressed natural gas (CNG) programme had been distorted by agents of the government for the benefit of a few.
The congress further said 2023 was also a year where it saw the increasing use of violence and unrivalled propaganda as tools of engagement in the nation’s industrial relations sphere.
NLC said 2023 had undoubtedly been a test of its collective strength and resilience.
It encouraged Nigerians to, in the new year, foster a culture of inclusivity, understanding, and collaboration. by working together, to address the issues that affect all citizens and pave the way for positive change.
NLC said it would among other things, be committing itself in 2024 towards ensuring a living wage becomes possible for all Nigerian workers by working with others to secure a national minimum wage that approximates to the dictates of the various parameters that make incomes humane and grants access to basic necessities of life for the average worker.
“We have faced uncertainties, overcome obstacles, and witnessed moments that may have left us feeling disheartened.
“In 2023, we witnessed two major agreements signed between the Federal Government and NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC). The June 5 and October 2 agreements. Whether these have been faithfully implemented or not is open for every discerning Nigerian to see.
“Nigerians will judge that by our actions thus far, we have demonstrated enormous patience with this government and have been accused and labelled as having been settled by the government but we recognise that this is part of the burden of leadership which we are prepared to bear to ensure we do not only take the right actions but that they yield the expected results keeping our nation surviving as an entity and avoiding fifth columnists from taking advantage of the situation to destroy our nation.
“In all of these, this government has shown enormous unfaithfulness in keeping to agreements; divisions along our various primordial fault lines rather than heal became exacerbated this year mainly as a result of the unfortunate activities of politicians who played them up in their bid to win elections. Our nation has, therefore, become more divided than ever with growing suspicion and increasing trust deficits along those lines. Citizens’ confidence in the government is, therefore, deeply wounded causing further disconnect between the people and governments as the government continues with policies that negate the welfare of citizens. We observe only few pockets of progress in governance in some states but largely, the instruments of governance are mainly deployed for the sole benefits of those who believe they have captured the instruments of governance and thus use them for their sole benefit.
“The boundary between the tools used in electioneering and in actual governance seems to have been ruptured as the same mindless violence and crudity witnessed during the last election cycle is now being used by those in government as a weapon in managing workplace relations in Nigeria. We have witnessed government’s interference in the internal affairs of trade unions all in a bid to capture the levers of power in these unions and use them to seek to hold the civic space in our nation hostage and thwart citizens’ efforts at holding the government accountable.
“Generally, it has been a turbulent year both for workers and Nigerian people as the negative economic policies of the government begin to bite harder on poor Nigerians as predicted. Workers continue to grapple with the worst forms of deprivations thus unable to meet their basic needs while transportation to work continues to be a nightmare.
The Nigerian masses have experienced the worst form of angst and suffering as access to basic nutrition has become more difficult while education and basic social utilities have become the sole purview of the rich. This year’s festive season has been made so difficult for the masses that the usual joy associated with the season was replaced with worries and anxiety all over the nation.
“Our naira continues in its free fall in all markets while governments both federal and states continue in their reckless borrowing and spending in the name of governance. We are worried at the haste with which those in government rush to eat the future of Nigerians by borrowing and frittering them away putting the future of our unborn generation in jeopardy. As it stands today, Nigeria needs about 12 per cent more than our annual revenue to service our debt stock meaning that we have to borrow to ever be able to service our debts. Another debt trap has been unleashed on the population. Governments should act more responsibly in their debt activities.
“We are witnessing once again, cash scarcity in our economy. This time, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) tells us it is because we are hoarding cash – a very sad excuse. We know with our meagre incomes, we don’t have any leftover cash to hoard and so, if by any stretch of imagination, CBN’s excuse is real, we know those who are hoarding cash. However, we do not see any sensible person who will hoard the naira as a store of value at this time when the naira is receiving its greatest bashing. The CBN should immediately inject cash into the economy to stop the exploitation of Nigerian masses thus reducing the hardship. If CBN does not realise it, Nigerians as it stands today pay at least five per cent of their money to free their money held hostage,” NLC said in the statement.
NLC lamented that the wanton destruction of lives and properties continues unabated in 2023, noting that the recent killings in Plateau and Taraba states during the yuletide was heart-rending and mind-boggling.
It said: “In the face of these adversities, it was crucial to recognise that it may have seemed hopeless at times, but that together, Nigerians can make 2024 better.
“The spirit of unity and solidarity that defines our great nation has seen us through numerous trials in the past, and it will undoubtedly guide us towards a brighter future.
“That future can only come with our resolve to act together as we reposition ourselves to act better and more creatively to grapple with the forces that are holding our nation’s down in a cesspool of underdevelopment and misery. The Nigeria Labour Congress is committed to providing the necessary leadership as we move into the new year to ensure we responsibly hold the government accountable and nudge it towards working for the benefit of the majority.
“We will recommit to building workplaces that guarantee the rights and privileges of workers while building the basis for continuous wealth creation for our nation. All actions that will ensure decent work gaps are reduced to their barest minimum will be encouraged. We will strengthen our collaboration with the federal ministry of labour, National Electrical Contractors Association and the TUC using the tripartite process to regulate the industrial relations space and ensure the reviewed labour administration laws are forwarded to the National Assembly for passage into Law.
“From every indication, 2024 will be an interesting year. Interesting because it will witness a period where all that has been taken away from workers will be restored. Any private sector employer or agency of government that is owing any Nigerian worker anywhere should be ready to pay up in 2024.
“We will work in collaboration with our civil society partners to generate frameworks that will build stronger and more robust civic space which ensures our voices are heard at all times and used to check and assist the government to take the right actions that will make governance more effective and beneficial for the majority of the citizenry.
“NLC will seek to work with partners and patriots everywhere to pursue the creation of more effective structures to protect the institutions of democracy in Nigeria. We shall, to this end, join hands with other willing forces to begin work at strengthening our leadership recruitment processes, especially the electoral framework in Nigeria. It is our collective responsibility to ensure credibility is restored to our elections which is the foundation for enthroning a more responsive and responsible government that remains accountable thus totally anchored on the people.
“Much more, we will engage the government to ensure the agreement it reached with us in our last negotiations, especially the October 2 agreement, is implemented.
“It is highly insensitive of the Federal Government to allow its citizens to go hungry during this yuletide season by denying them the benefit of their hard-earned December 2023 salary. Nigerians are watching the chest thumping and visitations as if in triumphalism against the collective will where food and drinks were lavished by public officials while workers are not paid and are left in starvation over one spurious reason or the other. We urge the Federal Government to show more compassion in its dealings with Nigerians and Nigerian workers, especially in the face of the excruciating poverty which its policies have foisted on hapless Nigerians.
“It is important that as we stand at the threshold of a new year, let us embrace the lessons learned and the wisdom gained from our experiences in 2023. Challenges may persist, but our collective resolve to build a stronger, more prosperous Nigeria remains unwavering. The Nigeria Labour Congress remains committed to advocating the rights and well-being of workers across the nation, and we encourage all Nigerians to join hands in the pursuit of a better tomorrow.”
The NLC applauded Nigerians and workers for their demonstration and outpouring of support and solidarity which led to the overall success of the last nationwide strike, while urging that the same spirit be multiplied in everyone as they move into 2024, as it will be needed as the congress struggles against the expected increasing imposition and adoption of stifling neo-liberal economic policies by the government.
“We must resist and repudiate all World Bank and International Monetary Fund ’s policies as they increase their onslaught against our nation seeking to mount further tollgates across all facets of our nation with which they seek to exploit our nation for the benefits of global capital and their comprador bourgeoises within our nation,” It said.