LABOUR UNITY
The National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) hereby calls on labour unions affiliated to Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to critically use the occasion of May Day to get united for a vibrant labour movement. We regret that as we point two accusing fingers at bad governors and bad employers, the remaining three fingers point at us too who are unacceptably divided against ourselves rather than united against common class enemy.

The current assault on the work force such as delayed payments of salaries, diversion of bail-out funds are made possible because comrades are not united in mass actions against bad employers and bad governors. Its time we closed ranks to ensure we have “an NLC that commands the confidence of workers, be trusted by the public, respected by the government and employers.”

To this extent our union calls on NLC leaders at all levels to immediately implement the report of the NLC Reconciliation Committee under the Chairmanship of Alhaji Hassan Sunmonu aimed at resolving the avoidable crisis arising from 11th Delegates Conference last year.

Textile Union is not happy that NLC could not have a common May Day inspite of the joint resolutions of all the parties to put the past behind. We commend Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Alhaji Hassan Sunmonu, Comrades Ayuba Wabba and Joe Ajaero for the signed resolutions. It is however time we all implemented these resolutions with sincerity of purpose. They include;

•That current members of the NLC National Administrative Council (NAC), who have retired from service should automatically lose their membership of NAC. The National Executive Council of the NLC should, on behalf of the National Delegates Conference, fill those positions.

•All the cases in court arising from the 11th National Delegates Conference should be unconditionally withdrawn based on these resolutions;

•That the Process of appointing the current General Secretary of the NLC which did not conform with the criteria laid down by the NLC be corrected; and

•The speedy resolution of the problems confronting Nigerian workers and people should be given top priority by the NLC and its leaders, among others.

We need a united NLC to fight the issue of unpaid salaries, the struggle for improved minimum wage, the war against corruption, revival of industries and creation of mass decent employment among others. If we operate separately, we will be defeated separately but if we are united we shall overcome. We must stop “comrades-on comrades” quarrels.

HAIL GOVERNORS BEN AYADE OF CROSS RIVER STATE AND ADAMS OSHIOMHOLE OF EDO STATE

We commend both the Governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade and Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo for their distinguished pronouncements in restoring the dignity of labour during the 2016 May-Day celebrations nationwide.

At a period when not less than 22 states default in payment of salaries of the workers, Ben Ayade of Cross Rivers state announced the payment of May salaries of workers in the employment of the state government while Edo governor, Adams Oshiomhole on Sunday announced the increment of the National Minimum Wage from N18,000 to N25, 000 with immediate effect, for employees in the State Public Service.

The two governors have by their pronouncements demonstrated that the crisis of non-payments of salaries in most states is contrived, artificial, self serving on the part of the defaulting governors. It is not the lack of means and resources to pay their workers, but sheer lack of willingness to abide by the spirit and content of 1999 constitution which says that the primary function of the government is the security and welfare of the citizens. It is a class war the defaulting governors are waging against their workers through denial of wages. In a decent country, there is always enough for the needs of all, including workers, but not enough for the greed of rulers, some governors inclusive.

We commend both Governors of Edo and Cross River for breaking ranks with the gang of some insensitive greedy governors who assign little resources to labour as critical factor of development, but throw scarce resources to phoney projects by ghost contractors in the garb of infrastructural Development. With respect to Edo, Comrade governor has also shown that wage payment is not just a function of ability to pay but willingness to muster the ability to motivate the work force for productivity and development.

In 2010 the Governors forum under the chairmanship of Governor Rotimi Amechi was vehemently opposed to the signing of the 18,000 minimum wage even when crude oil sold for $83 per barrel, and states were wastefully sharing excess crude. Only the comrade governor supported the struggle of labour for wage increase showing that the refusal of most governors to pay is more of ideological reasons and the low value they assign to human resources than any fiscal reason. If excess crude did not translate into adequate living wage for the workers in recent years of oil boom, it is clear that the current fiscal challenge is just a subterfuge to deny workers their legitimate right to pay, some even criminally diverted bail outs funds given to them by President Muhammadu Buhari.

LEADERS SHOULD RESPECT LABOUR
We also commend all Governors who honored May Day rallies. Those who did not attend are absentee governors who have lost all moral authority to demand for discipline on the part of their workers after May-Day. As number one workers in their respective states, by boycotting the May Day manifestations and represented by proxies, these governors were not on duty to dignify their work-force, which is unacceptable.

We expect President Buhari to offer leadership in this regard. There is no reason whatsoever to justify the conspicuous absence of President Muhammadu Buhari at the maiden May Day rally a year after he assumed duty as President of Nigeria. We recall the participation of the President as the candidate of APC at the NLC 11th delegates conference last year. President Buhari should not give an impression that he only sees workers as voting cows. Workers are the source of national wealth that must be motivated, encouraged and dignified at all times, especially during May Day manifestations with presidential presence. Inspite of the crisis of division in the Congress of South Africa Trade Unions (COSATU), President Zuma of South Africa favours was a star Guest at COSATU May Day rally in South Africa. What is good for South African workers, is good for Nigerian workers.

John Adaji Issa Aremu, mni
PRESIDENT GENERAL SECRETARY
&
CHAIRPERSON, IndustriALL Sub Sahara Africa