By VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

ORGANISED Labour in the nation’s Food and Beverage industry has threatened to shut down the entire industry over unfair labour practices by some employers in the sector.

Under the umbrella of the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees, NUFBTE, named Dangote group and Summar group of companies as major culprits.

At its 10th National Delegates Conference, NDC, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, President of the union, Comrade Lateef Oyelekan also tasked the Federal Government on unfavourable business environment in the country and called on government at all levels to provide conducive business environment for manufacturing companies and other businesses to operate.

According to him, “A lingering challenge facing us as a union is unonisation. In this regard, Dangote group has been our greatest headache. Although the issue is being addressed by Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Federal Ministry of Labour, but we need to put members and Nigerians on notice in case you are called upon for an industrial action. Similarly, since 1978 that we have been relating with our employers’ body, this is the first we have issue with the implementation of an agreement.”

“It is sad and disappointing that an agreement signed with the employers on Pension and Gratuity in line with the procedural agreement Appendix “N”, Summar group of companies, has refused to honour it by victimizing our branch officer. We have reported the matter to the employers’ body. We are using this occasion to call on the employers’ body to call Summar group to order and avert a confrontation with our union.

“This is not the only branch we have and we are hesitating to shut down the sector because of the offence of one group. But we may be forced to do so if the employers’ federation does not address the matter as soon as possible because an injury to one is an injury to all.”

On the industry’s National Joint Negotiating Council, NJIC, He said “We want appeal to leaders of the employers’ body to ensure that the incoming NJIC is done with utmost sincerity and maturity to be the guiding principle so that it will not halt the peace and cordial relationship existing between us. We want to use this occasion to alert members of our great union about the latest antics by our employers’ body. They have said they want to henceforth, base negotiation on performance.”

Oyelekan said though the leadership of the union had rejected the proposal and communicated so to the employers’ federation over the matter, it was also necessary to restate that the union would not accept such proposal under any circumstances.

Speaking on the state of the nation, NUFBTE’s President said “The conditions of Nigerians are getting worse since the general elections. While few elected officials have shown signs of good governance, many others especially at the central level where policies such as the January hike in the pump price of petrol, have worsened the living conditions of Nigerians. The level of insecurity and poverty has been on rise, unemployment crisis has remained alarming, retrenchments and redundancies are still very high in the country.

Public sector corruption is being on the increase and the anti-graft agencies appear to have given up while politicians and government officers display stolen wealth without fear.” Our road networks have completely collapsed and the infrastructures have totally gone worse.

In the manufacturing sector, there is no doubt that our industry like other sectors of the economy is finding the environment very harsh to operate.  We want to call on both the federal and the state governments to provide conducive environments for business to operate. The issue of power has remained a big problem and once again, we appeal to the government to do more on power situation because electricity is the key to any sustainable industrial growth.