By Victor Ahiuma-Young
THE upsurge in unfair labour practices such as casualisation of workers, contract staffing and refusal to allow workers to join unions especially in the petroleum, telecom and banking sectors, were identified as major concerns by labour leaders and activists in Nigeria as well as Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, FES.

At the launch of the book, The State of Workers’ Rights in Nigeria: An Examination of the Banking, Oil and Gas and Telecommunication Sectors, a research work done by Professor Funmi Adewumi and Dr. Adebimpe Adenuga on behalf of FES, speakers including General Secretary of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade John Odah; President of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, Comrade Babatunde Ogun; and President of Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions, ASSBIFI, Comrade Adeshina Sanni, blamed government for the spate of unfair labour practices in the Nigeria.

Speaking, at the event, Resident Representative of FES, Mr. Thomas Mattig, noted that workers’ rights are human rights and that violation of workers’ rights is violation of human rights.

He called on unions and workers to stand up and fight for their rights.
Comrade Odah in his remarks, said the three sectors in focus represent the most notorious segments on the issue of violation of workers’ rights.

He called for a united force between the NLC, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, and at the industrial unions and associations, to confront the growing intolerance for unionism and increasing casualisation of workers and contract staffing.

Comrade Ogun said that the book was released at a most auspicious time.
than now that this very enriching book is being released to stir up the challenges confronting workers in these sectors the release of the book was timely: “Most of the nation’s investment flows and economic activities revolve around these three sectors.

Hence, there is no auspicious time than now that this very enriching book is being released to stir up the challenges confronting workers in these sectors. I believe that the opportunity of this book will enable all the industrial relations’ players across the three sectors to consider the nagging issues of imbalance and lack of affirmative policy on dignifying forms of employment, career growth, capacity building, empowerment and succession plan that the national employees are being unfairly denied.”

“Common phenomenon in these prime sectors is the growing spate of precarious employment systems under the guises of outsourcing, agency labour, casualisation, and other forms of dehumanization employment contract that fall short of being employed for the pride of career growth and development.

The over_assertive tendency of employers under the whims of management prerogatives, over_exploitation for profit and the drive for cost minimization should not be at the detriment of labour. Managements’ approaches, attitudes and responses to intimidate employees on the issue of Workers’ Rights and Decent Work must be discouraged in all its ramifications.”