By Victor Ahiuma-Young

THE three Labour  Centres in the country; theNigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, and United Labour Congress of Nigeria, ULC, in their new year messages to workers and the general masses, were unanimous that 2016 was very difficult for workers and indeed, ordinary Nigerians. They equally agreed that there are no or little signs that 2017 will be better either.

The trio are however seeking for improved living conditions for workers and other Nigerians, while promising to engage government where necessary to lessen the pains and suffering of workers and other Nigerians in the New Year.

 NL C

Perhaps, the issue of ensuring improved pay package for workers in the form of a New National Minimum Wage, NNMW, in 2017 will be a litmus test of Labour movement, not just NLC.

According to Ayuba Wabba, President of NLC: “Since we submitted a written request for a new National Minimum Wage of N52,000 per month last year, the purchasing power of Nigerian workers has so depreciated that it is pure miracle that individuals on the existing minimum wage of N18000 are able to make ends meet in 30 days. At the beginning of 2016, with the Naira at N197 to $1, the minimum wage was equivalent of $91.3. At N495 to $1 this has in 12 months depreciated to $36.3. The May 2016 huge increase in price of fuel from N86 a litre to N145 a litre, and the attendant inflationary pressures, should have trigged an automatic increase in the minimum wage.

“With the erosion in the living standard of workers occasioned by the free fall of Naira, and the rising cost of living, we insist that we will not allow ourselves to be made the sacrificial lamb of the recession. We will in the New Year redouble our efforts, using all available means at our disposal to get the Federal Government to constitute the tripartite panel to renegotiate a new minimum wage, which must be a living wage.”

Wabba

Massive devaluation

of the naira: Among others, while recalling congress battle against unpaid salaries and pensions by governments, Wabba said: “In the New Year, with states earning more revenue from sales of crude oil, and more naira as a result of the massive devaluation of the naira, the NLC will continue its campaign to ensure that the incidence of non-payment of salaries as when due, is no longer a feature of our national life.”

On out-sourcing, the NLC President said “In the New Year, we shall work with the relevant arms and agencies of government to checkmate and halt the practices of multinational corporations especially in the Telecommunication and Oil and Gas Sectors, who are adding to the economic crisis in the country by their new habit of out-scouring of jobs Nigerians do to new destinations in Asia – especially Dubai and India.

National campaigns

We will work with the relevant committees of the National Assembly, ministries and agencies to protect our national interest, by leading national campaigns against these practices in the Telecom and Oil and Gas sectors in the New Year. These Multinationals must be made to understand that they will not be allowed uninhibited access to making millions of dollars in Nigeria as a nation without contributing to creating jobs.

There must be costs to every multinational decision to take the livelihood of Nigerian workers to other shores, and we need the understanding, support and cooperation of government and its agencies in this fight to keep these jobs in the country.

 TUC

On its part, TUC, through its President and Secretary General, Bobboi Kaigama, said: “What we expect from government at all levels is to put its acts together to avoid industrial crisis this year. Truth is, we are not going to close our eyes to job losses, non-payment of salaries and allowance, etc. Our position is any governor who cannot pay salaries as at when due should not earn his, let alone pay his aides. We are going to work tirelessly in conjunction with our state councils to actualize that.

In the light of the prevailing realities and how it has affected workers take home, we call for an upward review of wages of workers. The devaluation of the naira and other unfriendly economic measures are taking tolls on the workers and Nigerians generally.

The usual excuse of no money because of the activities of the Niger Delta militants and fall in the price of oil does not subsist here. Our suggestion is; see to the demands of the Niger Delta militants, pass the petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into law, diversify the economy, reduce cost of running government, jail looters of our treasury and there would be money to do much more than Nigerians are yearning for. We hope governments at all levels listen to the voice of reason.

ULC

Similarly, ULC through its President, Mr. Joe Ajaero said among other things, in the days ahead, the assembly will take on anti-labour employers in the banks and other financial institutions as well as telecommunications sectors.

According to him: “The Assembly (ULC) is focused on working with the federal Government through the federal Ministry of Labour to put in place various regulations and working with the NASS to make appropriate laws that would address the diverse lawlessness of both foreign and local employers in our workplaces. Unilateral sacks and illegal retrenchments will be tackled head – on while the use of casual and contract work will be seriously tackled to create a Nigerian workplace that is compliant with the Decent work Agenda.

Declining inflation and low cost of living: “The ULC shall work assiduously with the federal Government for an upward review of the national minimum wage to N96,000 per month which has been long overdue. We shall seek greater coverage of the minimum wage to include all Nigerian workers whether working in the formal or informal sectors. In this light, we shall work towards designing a wage floor that would be automatically self-adjusting just like it is done in other advanced nations of the world bearing in mind that in the US, just yesterday, the minimum wage automatically went upwards from U$8:00 per hour to U$11:00 per hour.

Declining inflation

This is a national increase of about 37.5% in a nation with declining inflation and low cost of living.”

Ajaero said: “ULC assures all Nigerian workers to have an increased hope in the labour movement as we are poised and are truly committed to offering a better and more robust representation of all Nigerian workers and our various affiliates. We will not waver in this direction and therefore calls upon our various social partners especially the employers to be more committed to ensuring greater obedience to our laws especially those dealing with employment relations in Nigeria.

“We also assure the masses that we shall be forever focused on protecting their interests  and determined to continuously engage the Government to ensure a fair and equitable distribution of national resources.”