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Bimbola Oyesola, [email protected]
Workers in the chemical and allied sectors of the economy has tasked Federal Government to implement public policies that will scale up performance and inclusive growth of their industry in the economy.
The President of the Chemical and Non Metallic Products Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (CANMPSSAN), Segun David, in his address at the union’s annual National Management/Industrial Relations seminar held last week in Abeokuta, Ogun State, said government would have to give maximum support to the sector for it to continue to play a leading role in developing the economy.
“We contribute immensely to the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) of the country, particularly slipping Nigeria out of economic recession and still making the country more economically vibrant”, he said.
Speaking at the 24th annual seminar themed “An Overview of the Nigeria Corporate Survival and Industrial Relations Practices in the face of economic challenges-Chemical and Non-Metallic Products experience”, the CANMPSSAN President noted that Chemical and Non Metallic Products sector is more diverse than virtually any other industry in Nigeria, adding that the sector drive the economy of the country.
He lamented that the Nigeria’s business environment in which the Chemical and Non Metallic Products sector is operating is faced with various challenges characterised by lingering structural bottle necks pervaded by comatose infrastructure, low capacity utilisation, unemployment, import dependence, poor regulatory environment, insecurity, inadequate long term financing hindering real sector growth, multiple taxation, unfavorable interest rate and low corporate governance practices.
He said, “It’s unfortunate that we have companies like we have in Nigeria and government cannot provide the facilities and enabling environment needed for them to thrive as we have in the developed economy.
“Government should look into these factors if they really want the manufacturing sector to be the driving force of economic growth in the country.”
Segun added that the sector also have to contend with various internal factors ranging from the issues of gratuity, downsizing, victimization, outsourcing, contract staffing and other anti-labour activities.
He reasoned that the challenges coupled with the international best practices on Industrial relations matters to make the union proactive in any industrial relation issues inform the packaging of the seminar.
On border closure, the CANMPSSAN boss said the effect will strengthen the policy of diversification, grow domestic industries and boost the nation’s economic growth.
He stated, “As Nigerians, we need to focus on the growth and development of the domestic economy by boosting local production. No country develop by consuming from other country goods and we are not capable of making any at all.
“The value of domestic production create jobs, appreciate naira value at the exchange market, and also make domestic economy vibrant. I therefore charge Nigerians to at this time embrace the policies and programmes of the government, so that Nigeria can become a producing country amongst her committee of nations.
The immediate past president of the union, Abdul Gafar Mohammed charged the workers to think of retirement while still active at work, bearing in mind that there’s no job security in the country.
He said, “I want us to avoid the lamentation of Jeremiah. I have seen situations where people collect huge sum of money after retirement but couldn’t use it well. Ignorance is the biggest disease, whereas knowledge is the only key that opens door to opportunities, the more reason why this seminar is very vital.”
