BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG
ON Tuesday, March, 2011, at the floor of the Senate Nigerians watched in total shock another assault against Nigerian workers and its peoples through the anti-workers’ Bill sponsored by Senator Heinekken Lokpobiri, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator from Bayelsa State seeking to make it unlawful for the trade unions in Nigeria to embark on any strike without obtaining thepermission of the different organs of the union through a ballot.

Obviously the Bill was a product of voice Jacob, but the hand of Esau.

Among others who spoke in favour of the Bill, that of Senator Ayogu Eze, was a pointer to where the Bill came from.

Senator Eze while supporting the Bill said the bill was meant to ensure that the unions did not mix labour dispute with politics.

Other proponents of the Bill are Solomon Etta Enang, James Manager, Odion Ogbesia and Tompson Sekibo.

However, the Bill met a spontaneous outrage and condemnation from the progressive forces in the Senate led by Senator Chris Ngige who argued that the Bill was not only anti-labour, anti-people, anti-Senate but also anti-Nigeria.

One of the senators .... Etta-Enang

Outside the Senate, concerned Nigerians and groups like Conference of Nigerian Political Party, CNPP, civil society organisations and organised labour,  described the Bill as obnoxious, evil, undemocratic and among others, against international conventions of which Nigeria is a part.

According to Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, in a joint statement, “We regret that this is coming at a time when there are more serious issues confronting Nigeria as a nation.

It is mind boggling that Mr Heinekken Lokpobiri who receives about N56million approximately every month and just took delivery of brand new choicecars from tax payers’ money would decide to waste the peoples’ time in pursuit of frivolous constructs to muzzle the various signposts of the peoples’ conscience.

This is an expression of complete intolerance to democratic expressions and an attempt to reduce the space available to Nigerians to freely express their opinions on issues germane to national survival. The arguments canvassed in support of the proposed amendments to the act are not only laughable but shows serious lack of understanding of not only the relevant Laws of the countrybut also the operations of the Trade Unions in Nigeria.”

For the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, “It is a tragedy of our so-called democracy that we have people today holding the reins of power who not only lack a sense of history but indeed lack basic knowledge of governance.

May we inform the ‘distinguished’ senator that the appropriate legislation dealing with strikes and other forms of industrial action or disputes is the Trade Disputes Act (Cap T8 LFN,
2004) and not the Trade Union Act.”

Chairman of Rivers State Council of TUC, Comrade Chika Onuegbu, while faulting the bill, said May we also inform Lokpobori that his proposed amendment would actually achieve theopposite of what he and his cohorts intend to achieve- ensure that workers are denied the right to strike.

This is because if a strike is called through balloting by all members, it wouldonly be suspended through balloting by all members. This would definitely lead to protracted industrial actions and perhaps revolution.

It is therefore very unfortunate that when thecountry is grappling with corruption, poverty, unemployment and insecurity, that “Distinguished” Senator Lokpobiri and his friends are more concerned about annihilating the Nigerian Labour Movement and the Nigerian People.”