Labour leaders want NLC to reduce, fast track battle against precarious jobs, indecent workplaces

By allcitynews.ng

The swearing-in might have come and gone, but part of his message during his acceptance speech has continued to ring bell in minds of captains of industry.

Thus, as President of Nigeria Labour Congress [NLC], Comrade Joe Ajaero, vowed to prioritise his focus on ensuring decent work across the country and by his call on stakeholders, especially civil societies and those in labour sector for collective efforts in tackling precarious work and in reduce indecent workplaces incidents, he apparently reminded everyone that the task to rescue, reposition and restore peace is a collective task, that must be done by all well-meaning Nigerians.

Ajaero also reiterated this call during his one-week tour of some labour unions in Lagos between February 28 and March 5, 2023.

Likewise, some labour leaders have called on him and his team to mobilise Nigerian workers against the renewed insecurity which has risen few hours after 2023 general elections.

While commending his coming on board as NLC leaders, they also gave their support on his planned mobilisation against both federal, state govenments and private employers of labour over indecent works few hours after taking over as the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

Even while receiving the mantle of leadership from the immediate past president, Comrade Ayuba Wabba recently, Ajaero also reiterated the readiness of his administration to tackle all precarious employers, indecent workplaces and bring more Nigerian workers into trade unionism.

He equally said that his executive is dedicated to prioritising the needs and desires of the workforce and Nigerians in general.

Pledging fight for upward review of the minimum wage, he however solicited the cooperation of all stakeholders, noting that his goals can only be achieved with the united forces of civil societies and other stakeholders. He noted that current national minimum wage of N30,000 has been made worthless by current economic situation in the country.

They similarly reminded him that his taking over the mantle of leadership of the labour centre at this period this, when most employers of labour, hiding under high rate of unemployment and using such as licence to exploit Nigerian workers, they reminded him that they are solidly behind him.

On his part, the President, Precision Electrical and Related Equipment Senior Staff Association (PERESSA), Comrade Rufus Olusesan commended the emergence of Comrade Joe Ajaero.

Olusesan said, “Thank God , NLC can now take its rightful position beyond being a toothless organisation.”

On his part, the General Secretary of Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NUR), Comrade Segun Esan described the coming of Comrade Joe Ajaero as a welcome development.

According to Esan, Comrade Joe Ajaero  before now has been a General Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and he has paid his dues as a trade unionist of great repute. He has been associated with so many successes. He is highly intelligent and too bold and daring to be ignored.

“His emergence as the President of NLC at this critical time of our national life and as Nigerian workers cannot be overemphasised. Nigerian workers need who can look power in the face and say the truth to it. Nigerian workers need someone who is a great thinker and who is a master strategist. Nigerian workers need a voice that can be heard and obeyed. Joe Ajaero is a round peg in a round hole. And I make bold to say that Nigerian workers will not regret ever voting for Ajaero as the  president,” said by Esan.

On his part, the General Secretary of Joint Action Front (JAF), Comrade Abiodun Aremu, commended the coming on board of Comrade Joe Ajaero as NLC President at a period like this.

The Nigerian activist, Aremu said, “We expect Comrade Joe Ajaero to bring drastic change that will better the lots of Nigerian workers and the generality of the masses. We expect Ajaero to live to the aspirations and expectations of all Nigerians, given his anticedent as General Secretary of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Ajaero has been in the forefront of fighting for the reversal of neoliberalism and privatisation which have inflicted pains on the masses in the last eight years, we expect him to deal with anti-masses policies. In fact, he should fight and win the fundamental wastages of the economy, restore the lost glory of educational system, health sector, all sectors that will lead to good standard of living.”

It would be recalled that since Comrade Joe Ajaero and his executive team was sworn-in as the seventh Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President on February 8, 2023 in International Conference Centre, Abuja, his has taken some drastic steps.

Although his leadership as the NLC helmsman was confirmed on Monday February 20, 2023 when the immediate NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba gave him handover note which symbolised his confirmation as NLC president.

The immediate President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba was first elected in 2015 and then re-elected in 2019. He stepped down officially from the NLC’s leadership after he  commissioned Guest house project, named Comrade Hassan  Sunmonu, named after Comrade Hassan Sunmonu, the pioneer President of NLC.

Before he was made the president of the labour movement by a unanimous decision, Ajaero’s journey into  NLC presidency had hiccup when in the March 2015 that brought in Comrade Ayuba Wabba. Ajaero-led protesters accused the electoral committee of rigging in favour Wabba.

Shortly before the announcement of the results, Ajaero and some other members of the Restoration Group had alleged that the process was not free and fair and was marred by rigging through manipulation of the Delegate lists and other irregularities.

Ajaero accused the former past President, Comrade Abdulwahed Omar, and the Chairman of the NLC Credentials Committee, Comrade Isah Fagge, and Comrade Dangiwa of supervising a troubled process.

He declared that the sorting of the result by Omar was unacceptable to him and his group, as it could not be said to be transparent.

As attempts to reconcile the disagreement hit the brickwalls then, about 25 industrial unions not only cut off from the main stream of NLC, but formed a new labour centre,  United Labour Congress, (ULC) in 18 December 2016. That ULC which was then described as a mega Labour Centre unanimously elected the General Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Comrade Joe Ajaero as its maiden President, while the then President of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, (NUPENG), Comrade Igwe Achese, was elected its Deputy President.

However, Wabba led NLC working tirelessly round the clock with reconciliatory approach, made ULC to rejoin the NLC in July 2020,. That end of the cold war made ULC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero to become Vice-President of the NLC. Thus the collapsing of ULC into NLC paved way for Ajaero to become the next NLC president as consensus candidate at the just concluded 13th NLC  National Delegates Conference which took place between Feburary 6 with commissioning of Comrade Hassan Dunmonu Court and the main conference, February 7 and 8 2023 in International Conference Centre, Abuja.

During his acceptance speech, Ajaero declaring war against anti-masses policies by Federal, State Government and other employers of labour on Tuesday, February 21 2023 stormed Rivers State and unlocked the NLC Secretariat which was sealed and locked up for years by the state government.

Reiterating that his plan for engagement of workers, is a task that must be done, Ajaero promised that his administration would work vigorously to ensure that more workers are saved from unjust indecent employers and workplaces, he added that his leadership will bring formal and informal sectors into the fold of unionism, as a step to end casualisation and bring collective bargaining agreement.

He said: “Every Nigerian worker has the right to be liberated from uncanny, treacherous and inhuman labour. It becomes our responsibility to liberate these people from such evil situation by organising them into trade unions.”

Similarly, Ajaero also pledged that the labour movement would fight casualisation policy in public and private establishments to a logical conclusion, contending that extant labour laws pertaining to casualisation must be observed.

“We must as a matter of necessity, vigorously engage in anti-casualisation drive until every worker enjoys regular appointment and begins to exhibit the much-desired dignity in labour.”

The new NLC executive is made up of Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, deputy national president; Comrade Audu Amber, 2nd deputy national president; Comrade Kabiru Sani, also a national deputy president. Comrade Ambali Olatunji, national treasurer; Comrade Benjamin Anthony, vice president; Comrade Steve Okoro, vice president; Comrade Michael Nnachi, vice president; Comrade Olawole Sunday, vice president; Comrade Marwan Adamu, financial secretary.

Others are, Comrade Williams Akporeha, national trustee; and three internal auditors, Comrade Babatunde Olatunji, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim and Comrade Haruna Ibrahim; as well as two ex-officio members.

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