May Day: Labour minister backs strikes for workers to pursue aspiration

 

THE Minister of Labour, Sen. Chris Ngige at the celebration of May Day on Tuesday in Abuja gave a tactical support for workers to go on strike to pursue socio-economic goals and their aspirations.

 

Apparently speaking from the perspective of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention and the Nigeria extant Labour Law, the minister said the workers can uphold the principle of the use of strike for their aspirations.

But, Ngige said that such strike should be used as a last resort. Addressing the workers, he said: “I use this occasion of May Day to encourage workers to always imbibe the culture of communication and uphold the principle of the use of strike as a last resort in the pursuit of socio-economic goals and aspirations.

“Let us endeavour to conserve our man days productively. I promise you that our doors will always be opened to engage your leadership towards a consensual end in all relevant matters of interest to you all.”

While explaining his position further, he pointed out that in recognition of the importance of the Labour movement in Nigeria, great recognition and importance is accorded to freedom of association and the right of workers to bargain collectively in Nigeria constitution.

This, according to him, “contributes to national development based on the fact that collectively bargained terms and condition of work tend to raise the bar on the standard of living of workers which enhances the nation’s progressive step towards eschewing decent deficit and actualising a higher social protection floor that would reduce poverty.

“The same reasoning applied to all the core Labour Conventions as propagated and entrenched by the International Labour Organisation’s Fundamental Principles and Right at Work. As you all know, Nigeria has ratified and domesticated all eight conventions.”

Also speaking on the issue, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) said the oppression by the employers has taken a new dimension by suppressing and denying workers their Constitutional Right to Freedom of Association and lawful Assembly.

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President of PENGASSAN, Comrade Francis Olabode Johnson‎ said the employers are undermining workers’ right to Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) as spelt out in the extant labour laws and international treaties of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

He lamented that ‎workers are therefore confronted with employment, economic, social, environmental and political challenges that impact on their welfare and lives.

Johnson further stressed that employers’ approach requires industrial grievances and dispute resolution system to ensure industry best practices and guarantee good workplace ethics and improved welfare system for the workers.

He said: “More worrisome is the attitude of indigenous employers, who ought to be defending the nation’s constitution but instead prefer otherwise by enslaving their fellow countrymen and women by preventing them from joining the union of their choice and thereby denying them the privileges of fair welfare packages and good work environment.

“Instead of embracing a globally accepted industrial relations system of resolving the industrial crisis, they result in the excessive use of force by Security Agencies against armless members embarking on legitimate industrial actions.”