By Victor Ahiuma-Young

THE 6th National Labour Relations Summit organised by Michael Imodu National Institute of Labour Studies, MINILS, held few days ago at the ancient city of Ilorin, Kwara State, with the theme “ Nigeria at 50: Appraising the Role of Labour in Nation Building”,  would not have come at a more critical time in the history of Nigeria when no labour leader, dead or alive was in the  list of 50 Nigerians honoured by President Jonathan for their roles in the socio-economic and political development of Nigeria as part of the nation’s golden independence anniversary.

Though Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara State, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Chukwuemeka Wogu, Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Labour, Mr. Ado Oogo Audu and other speakers, acknowledged and praised the role of workers and labour leaders in nation’s building in the past 50 years, President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, faulted the non-recognition of the role of labour in the fight for independence and the socio-economic and political developments of the nation since she gained independence.

Addressing Participants, Minister of Labour, Chief Wogu, said: “ I feel very confident, as a student of Nigerian history to state that the role of labour in nation building has been a commendable one.  As we celebrate the achievements of labour in the nation building process in the last fifty years, we must not be unmindful of areas of weakness.”

Labour’s role transcend welfare, class liberation

Speaking, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Labour and Productivity, Mr. Audu, said, the greatest asset in moving any nation forward was her human capital and that there could be no strong economy without a virile labour.

According to him: “Nigeria labour has been in’ the forefront in all national issues right in the colonial times, at independence, during the military era and the present democratic dispensation.  Labour and indeed the trade unions in Nigeria have come to assume roles that transcend the traditional role of protecting workers welfare and class liberation.

For example, the Trade Unions fought against colonial rule and exploitation of the Nigeria state and became more militant during military dictatorships of the late 1980’s and the 1990’s against repression and anti-people economic policies, which hastened the return to democratic rule that we practice and enjoy today.  Mention must be made of late chief Michael Imuodu, Labour Leader Number one who single-handed led the Railway workers Union in 1948 against the exploitative policies of the colonial government.

Welcoming stakeholders to the summit earlier, Director-General/Chief Executive of MINILS, Dr. John Olarewaju, said he was proud to note the contributions of the Nigeria labour movement, particularly as it concerns the struggle for independence and post-independence efforts at social transformation and entrenchment of constitutional rule.

According to him: “I have no doubt that the current democratic dispensation has enlarged the political space for participation of major stakeholders like labour, and therefore look to their greater involvement in the events that should define the future of Nigeria.

He said the institute was “committed to the commission of building the capacity of workers in order to ensure that they remain pivotal elements in the nation building process. ”
NLC faults  non-recognition

On his part,  President of NLC, Comrade Omar, faulted non-recognition of the role of Labour leaders  and Nigerian workers in the struggle for and eventual independence of Nigeria and lamented that the non-recognition of labour leaders like late Michael Imoudu and others was very unfortunate, arguing that their only crime was the constituency they came from (Labour).

According to him: “ The nucleus of those who struggled for the independence of this country was certainly found by the first  organized protest walk by railway workers in 1942 and was led by Pa Michael Imoudu. Another general strike of 1945 was also led by pa Michael Imoudu by Nigeria workers which took about 44 days but could not be call off completely until 45 or 46 days due to lack of communication then. Again, in 1949 the ever valley massacre of 21 cold miners in Enugu show the kind of sacrifice Nigeria workers has to do in the struggle for the self determination.”

“Now all these are there and even pa Michael Imoudu also led foundation for political process in this country because he has strong link with the formation of NCNC. He also joined a party for the farmers and the founding fathers of Nigeria Labour Party then. My lamentation is that at the end of the celebration, 50 most prominent Nigerians were selected and awarded by Federal Republic but pa Michael Imoudu and others like him were  absent from that list.

These are people who put their lives on the line and it is on the basis of these struggles by the Labour movement that nationalists built upon and the politicians capitalized on  but when it comes to celebrating who did what, we feels some of the people are not qualified. I know the list of the 50 most prominent Nigerians ranges from those who got medals in sport to those who merely hand over powers from one government to another. But those who put their lives on the line were not recognized. Their only crime is the constituency they came from.