By Victor Ahiuma-Young

*Resuscitates picketing c’ttee, compiles affected employer’s names

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed the resuscitation of the Picketing Committee—an ad hoc body tasked with unionising workers and confronting perceived unfair labour practices, including casualisation and opposition to unionism.

Sources told  Vanguard  that the names of employers considered to be notorious and persistent violators of workers’ rights are currently being compiled, particularly in Lagos and Ogun states, where some of the worst offenders are believed to operate.

This development follows the recent Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting held in Ogun State.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the CWC stated: “The CWC notes with grave concern the persistent and growing trend whereby certain employers are willfully violating the Trade Union Act 2005. The Act, in clear and unequivocal terms, upholds the principle of voluntarism as a cardinal pillar of trade unionism in Nigeria, guaranteeing every worker the unfettered right to freely join any trade union of their choice without coercion, intimidation, or interference.

“It is utterly unacceptable that, despite the express provisions of the law, some employers continue to dictate, compel, or otherwise manipulate workers to belong to specific unions, often citing spurious reasons relating to job classification, grade levels, or other self-serving justifications.

“This practice constitutes a direct assault on workers’ fundamental rights, an affront to Nigeria’s international obligations under ILO Conventions, and an egregious abuse of authority.

“The CWC consequentially calls on all such employers to immediately desist from these unlawful and anti-worker practices. Furthermore, the CWC directs all affiliate unions so affected to not only reject and resist any attempt to impose union membership on workers but also to mobilise and proceed to picket any employer engaging in such illegal actions, in line with the NLC’s commitment to defending the rights and dignity of Nigerian workers.

“The Nigeria Labour Congress assures its affiliates of its readiness to support their actions in protecting their members from such employers’ impunity and abuse.”

Earlier, in his address to members, NLC President Joe Ajaero lamented that some employers have developed the habit of using security agencies, including soldiers, to prevent workers from unionising.

According to him: “They have gone to the extent of constructing hostels to camp workers, preventing the workers from accessing the outside world, including their families.”

He added: “This type of employment relationship is unacceptable.  Immediately after this meeting, comrades in Ogun and Lagos states, and all the concerned unions should form a picketing committee. We will follow them one after the other until we get the companies to respect workers’ rights to decent working conditions.

“Second is the collaboration of workers and management in such areas. Management will now tell you who should be members of the union or which union to belong to. The management will tell you these workers from this level to that level cannot be your members. That is a clear violation of the principles of the Trade Union Amendment Act 2004 (as amended). 

“This is equally contained in Section 40 of the Constitution, which states that every Nigerian has a right to belong to any association of his choice, and every union, religion, or political party of your choice. Nobody has a right to tell you to be a member of this or that. If there are four or five unions within an industry, the unions should go for a membership drive.”

 It is not for a manager or employer to tell you to belong to this union or that. The employers or their managers are not our zonal secretary or national secretary. Therefore, they cannot do the job of our officials. It is important we understand this clearly.”