Organised labour has lamented that Nigerian workers have been at the receiving end of the nation’s economic crisis.
According to workers’ umbrella body, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the productive arm of the economy could support the resuscitation of the depressed economy only when the workers were paid promptly.
Representing NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, at the 10th Quadrennial Delegates’ Conference of the National Union of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE), the General-Secretary, Peter Ozo Eson, reinterated that Nigeria’s only way out of the present economic quagmire is a well remunerated workforce.
He said: “It is unfortunate that workers are being made to suffer the effects of which they were not the cause. Owing workers or depressing them will not be the way out of recession, to get out of recession salary should be paid as at when due.”
He maintained that only when workers spend their salaries that the manufacturing and other service sectors going through various challenges could get a respite.
According to Ozo Eson, the organised labour was ready to ensure that no employer, be it federal, state or private employers, owe workers while equally pushing for the renegotiation of the existing minimum wage.
“After a year that we have submitted proposal, government is yet to initiate the tripartite committee that will deliberate on it, but we want to let the government know that if this is not done before the year runs out, then they must be in delusion if they think we will keep mute as we enter the new year,” he warned.
He, however, commended members of NUFBTE for the confidence and support given to its leadership, which made them to achieve so much within a short period.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Dr. Clement Illoh, said the union has demonstrated ingenuity in the way to manage resources, built two hotels, a bottled water factory and other ventures.
He commended the role the union played on the issue of foreign exchange restriction to their employers, which he said, was getting attention from the Federal Government.
NUFBTE leader, Lateef Oyelekan, who won a second term along with majority of his officers, said due diligence and foresight have helped the union to move to the billionaire club.
He noted that the achievement was possible in spite of the recession. Nigerians irrespective of status and position, he said, must be ready to make sacrifices to turn the economy around.
“Until we all make sacrifices, that is when Nigeria can be great. The National Assembly should be committed and make sacrifices through their allowances,” he said, frowning at the National Assembly undue request.
Oyelekan also berated employees capitalising on the recession to undermine the interest of workers, while charging government to look inward in the procurement of uniforms and other items used by the agencies and parastatals.
