Workers’ Day, that is May Day celebration took off in 1890 in a handful of countries on a low key, four years after the 1886 massacre is today being embraced the world over as much more than a memorial carnival for some slain foreign workers. May 1 has therefore been set aside as a day that both employers and employees recognize and acknowledge the right of workers to a fair deal in our modern, industrial society.
In view of the benefits derived by the Australian workers; the Americans in 1886 decided that May should be the day of universal work stoppage. On this day, 200,000 of them left their work and demanded the eight-hour day. Later, police and legal harassment prevented the workers for many years from repeating this demonstration. In 1888, they renewed their decision and resolved that the next celebration would be May 1, 1890.
It is appropriate to say that workers’ had it tough in the early years of the American Industrial Revolution (AIR) is widely taught in schools. Sixteen-hour work days in dangerous conditions, child labour, exploitation, and accidents were common; then, magically everything became better in a civilized twentieth century way. The forces behind the change are left ambiguous at best and the radical labour movement isn’t discussed; too difficult for young minds, perhaps. Consequently, the vision of masses of militant workers’ parading through the streets of cities, towns and villages on May Day is lost in the revision of history.
From records available, celebration of Workers’ Day in Nigeria commenced during the Shagari’s democratic administration, that is, on May 1, 1981. This, I think and believe was in recognition of Shehu Shagari’s administration significant contributions, which Nigerian workers’ have achieved and will continue to make the economic progress of our beloved country.
One can say that Nigerian workers’ have also had their fair share of the struggle for enthronement of workers’ rights as well as enhanced package for workers’. In spite of these, it is true to say the road to the current situation of workers in Nigeria has been long, rough and tortuous. Thanks to President Jonathan’s administration for the recent increase of minimum wage to N18,000.00 in the civil/public service. Nigerians do hope that the percentage increase should be worked out for other sectors whether serving or retired. That is, those not in the unified salary structure.
The most interesting thing is that Unions have vast power and the right to strike has been one of organized labour’s strongest weapons in achieving that power. Once a union wins a bonafide election, the recognition of that union as a bargaining agent for workers’ is guaranteed under the law. In Nigeria, many trade unions and workers association like Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), the Congress for Free Trade Union (CFTU), Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG). Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) among others will hold their celebration rallies at different locations.
Writing on the workers’ dilemma in The Pointer newspaper of May 4, 2009 p.8, its Chairman, Editorial Board, Mr. Godfrey Ubaka pointed out that the Nigerian workers even fared reasonably well under the colonial authorities when the shelter was part of his condition of service, his remuneration was sure and he had the right to express his opinion on the unfolding matter of the day. Continuing, he said that the fortune of the Nigerian workers’ actually plummeted rather sharply in the long years of military mal-administration of the Nigerian state. The military, he went on, recognized the centrality of professionalism in the public service and the private sector. Finally, Mr. Ubaka summarized by advising that the Nigerian workers should get more organized politically and be ready to play a key role in the determination of their future and destiny. He must insist on genuine electoral reforms. The path is usually full of challenges as already shown by the experiences of Obama, Mimiko, Oshiomole and the few other progressive committed to the rewriting of the political history of Nigeria.
It is abundantly clear that Nigerian workers’ need each other to achieving more for this country especially the civil/public service which is the engine room of any democratic structure. The Organized Private Sector (OPS) are also not left out in this regard. Whatever the case may be, Nigerian workers need to be empowered economically and their promotions especially in the public sector should follow approved guidelines not by looking at faces especially on tribal grounds or listen to damaging statements which have no foundation in reality.
Delivering a paper entitled “Industrial Harmony: A panacea for job security at the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) Industrial Relations Workshop in Benin City, Edo State on the 2nd of April 2001, the third substantive principal/chief executive of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun in Delta State, Dr. Samuel Ebika Ovuru, an engineer, administrator and academic from the ivory tower stated and I quote “Today, it seems that the workforce in most cases are not interested in the growth of the organization rather efforts are mainly directed at improving welfare benefits. There is need at this time for management and workers to clearly understand the mission statements of their organizations. I believe the Unions must play a major role in this direction so that the workforce and management could have mutual understanding of the organization’s objectives”. In the same paper the Bayelsa-state born double qualified engineer, stated that the Nigeria’s industrial climate has been frequently disturbed by series of agitation and protest from both management and workers. No year passes without a major strike or threat of strikes. If protest marches are not organized, there is always a sit down strike that does not benefit any person in this great country of ours. The resultant effect, he disclosed, had always been scarcity of goods, services and increase in the cost of living to the ordinary person.
As we celebrate 2012 May Day in Nigeria, we should always think of our pensioners (retirees) who may be properly, genuinely, respectfully and humbly described as senior citizens and elder statesmen of the nation. A situation where the senior citizens stay for years without their monthly stipends having successfully and judiciously served the nation for years is not only frustrating but killing. It is on record that many of them reached their early graves as a result of the inability of the various establishments to pay their stipends as and when due. Many could not receive their gratuities either before their death. In fact many retirees in Nigeria today are walking corpses begging for death to come for no fault of theirs in our streets due to poor and corrupt poor management style and lack of leadership skills in many establishments.
I know that Nigerians were flabbergasted when the Nigerian Compass newspaper in its front page of Sunday, March 6, 2011 carried on “N12bn fraud in pension office, Director General, deputy arrested”. What about the latest as published in National Mirror newspaper front page, permanent secretary, five others remanded in prison custody over N32.8bn police pension fund. This is also surprising because most retirees who would have benefited from such funds were out rightly denied because of the massive corruption of designated desk officers. Where do we go from here? One can boldly say that it is top civil/public servants that are frustrating retirees and they need to be disciplined administratively and legally to serve as deterrent to any officer who will engage in such act in future.
It is crystal clear that Nigerian workers have been faced with series of problems, many of which arose from the oppressive and obnoxious policies of previous administrations. Happily, the current democratic administration under the leadership of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, GCFR popularly known as “GEJ” has looked into the welfare of both serving and retired workers with the increase in minimum wage, regular monthly salaries of serving and retired officers. Whatever the case may be, workers are expected to reciprocate and support the government to ensure sustainable development.
Available records show that workers are still fighting against unprogressive practices in both the public and private sectors. Nigerian workers have had to struggle against casualization, exploitative contract employment especially for expatriates and out-sourcing for jobs even when competent hands are available within. There are some organization’s where employers deny employees their right to belong to trade unions, they work under sub-human conditions and eventually they are paid starvation rather than living wages and often, they receive such wages irregularly.
There is no argument to the fact that the largest employer of labour in Nigeria is the government, that is, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Based on this, the government has a lot of responsibility to promote as well as protect and project the dignity of labour by enhancing workers welfare. In order to effectively achieve this, it seems to me that professionalism and excellence as well as relevant qualifications should be taken into consideration and avoid “godfatherism and godmotherism” including tribalism, nepotism, favouritism, among others in employments and postings. This is to say that postings and deployments to various departments, ministries, parastatals should take into consideration once area of specialization in order to at least maintain minimum standard and work ethics. In applying this, it would help to boost corporate image of an organization and Nigeria in general, locally, nationally, and internationally. There should be short and long term courses/programmes occasionally to make such employees relevant and update his or her knowledge to enable an organization grow faster. Some organizations have fizzled out or remain redundant in the past as well as perform abysmally low because of engaging non technocrat to manage the affairs of such specialized establishments. There is the need to address the issue of professionalism and technocracy in the management of Nigeria’s organizations. This should be urgently addressed by the current democratic structure under President Jonathan to avoid waste of scarce resources both human and capital, in other words poor tax payers’ money. I am happy that the President recently said no more godfather in appointments and that top vacancies in the public service should be filled through competitive examinations to be conducted by management consultant. This is a welcome development to avoid inefficiency and ineffectiveness at the top hierarchy.
The truth is that as we celebrate this year’s May Day, workers and other Nigerians need to smile because the three tiers of government need to massively concentrate on improving the standard of living of Nigerians. Part of this should be immediate solutions to teeming millions of unemployed youths and those compulsorily and prematurely retired by former administrations need to be properly paid their entitlements including severance package based on the agreement reached. There is no need for some of these organizations to renege that is putting in oblivion the said agreement. It is not good enough for industrial harmony.
The only way out of these is for government and all those who are engaged in policy formulation to take the opportunity of the Workers’ Day to reflect on the real plight of Nigerian workers’. The Nigerian Labour Movement (NLM) must reciprocate the good intention of the government. It is only when labour is backed with commensurate returns that the doctrine of dignity of labour can become fully realized. In this connection, Nigerian workers’ will have hope and future. For the hope and future to be sustained, Nigerian workers should be truthful in the execution of their assignments and avoid inimical dealings. A situation where people in authority want to thwart the efforts of government is not good enough. For example, the head of the Delta State anti-kidnap squad, CSP Dickson Adeyemi was recently arrested and taken to Abuja for his alleged complicity in abduction saga in Delta State. What about CP Zakari Biu and the Boko Haram saga? Recall that of DSP Iyamu (who was the commander in thief) and the notorious Lawrence Anini in the defunct Bendel State. There are many others too numerous to mention. Our failures to apply the principle of checks and balances the way it should and the resort to building capacities through self-aggrandizement have incapacitated many organizations. We should not lack that moral authority to ask such leaders to tread the path of sanity.
Furthermore, the working class and employers of labour must diligently and diplomatically pursue their official transactions, obligations, and civil responsibilities assiduously within the confines of our precise laws or statutes. Remaining committed, diligent, transparent and accommodating to excel and satisfy the relevant publics.
Finally, it is appropriate for Nigerian workers’ to prepare and rededicate themselves towards national reconstruction and growth, which current attitudes of graft, corruption, lack of loyalty to employers and willful sabotage of their responsibilities do not encourage. It implies that workers must be partners in the task of creating wealth. This, no doubt, will usher in an era of industrial peace and harmony, improved work ethics and higher productivity on the part of Nigerian workers.
Charles Ikedikwa Soeze, fhnr, fcida, fcai, cpae, son, emba, ksq is a
Mass Communications scholar/professional public relations
Practitioner and Head, Academic and Physical Planning (A&PP) of the
Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State, Nigeria.
(08036724193) charlessoeze@yahoo.ca
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