By Victor Ahiuma-Young
“Industry and Labour @ 50: Democracy, Good Governance and Industrial Development”, was the thrust of a three-day education conference organised by National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN in conjunction with the Nigeria Textile Garment and Tailoring Employers Association, NTGTEA.

The  22nd  annual education conference which was took place on the eve of nation’s golden independence anniversary, between 28 and 30 the September, afforded participants opportunity to examine the socio-economic and political developments of the pre and post-independence Nigeria and proffered solutions for better Nigeria.

Labour and independence

Speaking, General Secretary of the union, Comrade Issa Aremu, pointed out that Nigeria’s independence in 1960, was preceded by mass resistance, strikes and protests, enormous sacrifices, arising from the struggles led by Nigerian workers, their trade unions and labour movement in general.

According to him: “The first generation of workers emerged from the nascent colonial economic and administrative structures. The colonial exploitative order prompted the emergence of early working class movement in Nigeria organized in Civil service union (1912) National Union of Teachers (1931) and National Union of Railwaymen (1932).
In between the two world wars, for instance, (from 1919 and 1945) the intensified colonial exploitation through direct increased taxation, retrenchment of the workforce, wage cuts, casualisation and hourly payments led to the radicalization of the country’s labour movement.

At 50, we are also celebrating the struggle of the sacrifices of labour’s founding fathers that included noble, dedicated, determined and selfless efforts of Rev. Ransome Kuti (the first President of NUT) and Mr. E.E. Esua, Secretary, Michael Imoudu, President NUR, and S.O. Adenekan, Secretary.  Other pioneer leaders of the trade unions included Babington Macaulay, Enitan Brown, S.I. Bosah, Solanke Onasanya, L. Agonsu, Luke Emejulu, J.M. Osindero and S.O. Oduleye, Adio Moses, Whabi Goodluck. Prominent among the early leaders of the first Civil service association were T. Elias, J. Babatunde Tnorpe and S.O. Adebo, L.A. Onajobi, C.O. Odugbesan and A.O. Oresanya and many others.”

Nigerian elder statesmen on the queue during Pension verification exercise.

“These nationalists started as proud great unionists. They combined the struggle for decent work under colonialism with struggle for total liberation of Nigeria. Some paid heavy prices. We recall the poor defenceless 22 workers who were killed by colonial police force at the Enugu coal mines (Iva Valley massacre) in 1949. The late Pa Michael Imoudu was banished to Auchi prison for two and half years without trial for daring to ask for better pay for the railway workers.  Labour and Industry at 50 years. Labour patriotically joined other nationalist to fight for independence. We therefore have the legitimate right to ask about the journey to nationhood so far.”

Nigeria before independence

Comrade Aremu who is also a Vice President of NLC, posited that to effectively to assess Labour and Industry at 50, question such as; what was the state of Nigeria’s Labour and Industry 50 or 100 years before independence in 1960?

He noted that “Nigeria today prides itself with a tested and robust labour movement led by two labour Federations namely  NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC). Of the two labour federations, NLC is the oldest. In 1978 under a controversial circumstance the military regime of Murtala/Obasanjo moved to restructure the labour unions. This means NLC is effectively 32 years old. Labour not only fought for independence, but its robust reality today also shows that organized labour is a product of independent Nigeria..”

“Today, NLC is a mega labour centre in Africa with over four million members organized in 36 industrial unions across the public and private sectors of the economy.  NLC is a key player in International Labour Organization (ILO) which Nigeria joins as far back as 1960 after independence.  We celebrate independence precisely independence fostered labour development while colonialism and dependency underdeveloped labour and industry.

As we match towards another 50 years and towards new elections, our politicians are advised to keep religion out of politics. Let  the electorate too keep politics out of religion. Let us keep ethnicity out of politics. Let us keep politics out of tribalism and parochialism. Regardless of their religions and ethnic backgrounds, the country’s founding fathers were united in their resolve to get independence for Nigeria 50 years ago.

Our politicians must resolve today to address critical governance issues of nation-building such as reindustrialization, democracy, infrastructural development, education and health instead of playing up divisive primordial issues that could tear us apart.” Welcoming participants, President of NUTGTWN, Comrade Reginald Agulanna, said  the theme was chosen to critically reflect on Nigeria’s industrial development and the implication for labour and economic growth.

He lamented the pathetic state of Nigerian textile industry especially from 1987 and noted however that “the new N500 billion deal for the revival of the Nigeria manufacturing sector and the power sector with the textile sector as a major beneficiary is worthy of commendation.  This is the result of the relentless effort and continued struggle of the union and all stakeholders on the issue of re-industrialisation”.