ITUC, NLC join forces to end workers exploitation, organise campaign in Abuja

The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have joined forces together to end exploitation of workers by employers of labour; especially the multinational enterprises

The two bodies commenced a campaign in Abuja, Nigeria›s Federal Capital Territory with a theme: “Taming corporate power in supply chains,” which is aimed at ending corporate greed.

The ITUC is a confederation that represents 180 million workers in 162 countries and territories, with 333 national affiliates of which the NLC is one. In Nigeria for the campaign are the ITUC General Secretary, Sharam Burrow who is visiting Nigeria for the first time, General Secretary, ITUC Africa, Kwesi Amankawa, the ILO Director and Country Representative, Mr. Dennis Zulu, the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, the General Secretary, NLC Comrade Peter Ozo-Eson and the Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, who was a former president of NLC.

In his speech, Comrade Wabba assured his international guests that Abuja and Nigeria is very safe, saying that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has given security a top most priority.

The NLC president emphasized on the ills and inequalities of multinational.

“On the issue of fighting to halt and ultimately end corporate greed, we are all witnesses to the ills and inequalities of multinational enterprises.

“From 2007-08 when corporate greed and market rascality plunged the world into a financial and, later, harrowing economic crisis, working men and women, pensioners and communities suffered immense losses.

“Till date, the miseries and hardship caused by their reckless and greedy actions have left scars on people, households, communities and economies.”

Comrade Wabba while lamenting over the situation that has glooming effect on the citizens, also blame politicians for offensive concessions to businesses and providing them tax havens.

“Shockingly, rather than side with their people, constituents and constituencies, politicians and governments have continued to make obscene and offensive concessions to businesses and the elites providing them tax havens to hide their criminal and corrupt wealth and loot; by so doing avoiding and dodging taxes.

“For the poor and citizens, they have rewarded them with damning, hard and biting austerity measures. Thus, living and working conditions stagnant and getting worse – the poor getting poorer, whilst the rich richer at the expense and damnation of the poor,” he said.

According to Wabba, “the rank of the working poor, these days is expanding as the phenomenon of exploitation is crossing even to public sector where workers are owed and denied their wages for months, especially in States and Local Government Areas.”