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By Chukwuma Umeorah
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed optimism that the Nigerian economy will fare better in 2024, just as it called for collective action to overcome the challenges faced by the nation.
The National President of the Congress, Joe Ajaero, in a statement, reflected on the trials and triumphs of the past year and outlined key areas of focus for the labour union in 2024.
The message acknowledged the difficulties experienced by Nigerians in 2023, highlighting economic hardships, rising violence, insensitivity to workers welfare and a growing trust deficit between the citizens and the government.
According to the statement, “These combined forces of negative government policies created the worst form of social anomie in our nation. Nigerians have become more fearful of the future now more than ever before and are truly having their expectations dashed and their hopes betrayed by the ruling elite.”
However, in his optimism for a better year, Ajaero stated, “May the dawn of 2024 bring with it the kind of hope that we want, opportunities for growth, and the strength to overcome any challenges that may come our way. Let us approach the new year with optimism and a shared commitment to building a Nigeria that we can all be proud of.”
He acknowledged that moving the nation and economy forward was not the exclusive responsibility of one institution alone but that all important stakeholders must work in unison. In respect to this, he declared, “We will therefore strengthen our collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Labour, Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) using the tripartite process to regulate the Industrial Relations space and ensure that the reviewed labour administration laws are forwarded to the National Assembly for passage into Law.
“We will work in collaboration with our civil society partners to generate frameworks that will build stronger and more robust civic space which ensures that 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 that credibility is restored in 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 Government to ensure that the agreement it reached with us in our last negotiations especially the October 2nd Agreement are implemented.”
Ajaero further emphasized the commitment of the Congress to providing the necessary leadership as we move into the new year to ensure that government is held accountable and nudge it towards working for the benefit of the majority.
“To this end, NLC will be committed in 2024 towards ensuring that 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 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 therefore ensure that decent work gaps are reduced to their barest minimum will be encouraged.”
