By Bimbola Oyesola
•President Tinubu
It is another May Day and Nigerian workers today will join the rest of the world to celebrate the day also known as Workers Day. The celebration this year definitely would not be with fanfare judging by the economic situation in the country.
• Ajaero
In Nigeria, workers experience daily reconnect to the struggle that birthed the celebration in far away Chicago, in the United States of America.
Workers at the last year’s May Day with the theme “Workers’ Rights and Socio-Economic Justice” had looked forward to a more prosperous nation with the new government expected to be ushered in later in the month.
Comrade. Osifo
The reason for the theme then was not far fetched with what Nigerian workers have passed through in the penultimate year, hyper-inflation, stagnated salary, insecurity, collapsed infrastructure and the host of others. That the workers hope was dashed was an understatement as the new government from inception on May 29, 2023 exposed the vulnerability of the workers and Nigeria masses with the removal of the fuel subsidy.
Putting people first
The action by the new government led by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu was considered insensitive, moreso as he did not take any input from stakeholders. The theme for this year’s May Day “People First” had resonated then as Organised Labour led by its two centres, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) called for a nationwide protest on the government action. Labour though was not against the removal, but considered the timing as wrong.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) then has called for a probe into the fuel subsidy regime in Nigeria.
The President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero,
had criticised what he described as the unilateral decision reached by President Bola Tinubu on the removal of fuel subsidy without consulting the mass of the Nigerian people.
He reiterated the stance of the Labour on the move, saying the decision is not in the favour of the people.
The NLC then has proposed a wage award to the Federal Government to cushion the effects of petrol subsidy removal on workers and Nigerians.
“We have proposed to them a wage award, which could be implemented immediately without waiting for the statutory period for the minimum wage law or for it to expire,” he has said.
The TUC President, Festus Osifo reflecting on workers experience since the removal of the subsidy said
“It has been relatively tough for not just the workers but the entire Nigerian masses.”
He said, “After the last May Day, the new government came in with different policies like the removal of fuel subsidy, floatation of Naira that saw it devalued by over 300 per cent. And Nigeria being an import-dependent nation, the cost of goods in the market went haywire. And this affected the disposable income of Nigerian workers being that the minimum wage has not been reviewed.”
Osifo noted that there has been rising cost of goods and services but the wage is relatively constant.
“That clearly shows that the cost of living has increased and the Nigerian worker has not been able to meet up with the current reality”, he said.
Workers plight
The condition of Nigerians workers have not seen any improvement since the celebration of the last year’s May Day
Rather labour leaders said the condition of the workers has nose dived begging for serious intervention. Due to inflation, workers have had to contend with high cost of daily essentials like foods, electricity bills, skyrocketing price of Petroleum products and the rest without any commensurate increase in wage.
The TUC President acknowledged the fact that workers condition has been pathetic, “It has been tough and that is why on our part, we have been trying to push and see how fast the minimum wage committee would conclude their work and make a recommendation that would be sent to the National Assembly and we can have a new minimum wage that would help in mitigating some of these effects.
“Not just the minimum wage, but it would also consequential effect on the salaries of each level/grade of workers. That is actually the push from us as at today.”
President of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Tommy Okon also noted that it has been very turbulent for Nigerian workers. “Turbulent in the sense that they have been denied their right of belonging to the society,” he said.
He explained that since workers do not have what it takes, to combat the economic challenges, especially with the removal of the fuel subsidy.
“That fuel subsidy removal is the problem, and because of that, it has affected the workers, and because it has affected the workers, it has also affected their purchasing power. It has also affected them psychologically. So, within the last one year, it has been a very turbulent situation for Nigerian workers.”
The President of the National Union of Chemical Footwear Rubber Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees (NUCFRLANMPE), Goke Olatunji stated that the situation of things is critical. Noting that “Nigerians are hungry”, he charged the government to open the borders so that food can come in.
“When people are well fed, nobody really bothers about who rules.
They should create policies that are favourable to the masses, the common people in the society,” he said.
Minimum wage
The last meeting of the Tripartite Committee on the New National Minimum Wage (TCNMW) tasked with fixing the new wage, was held in the first week of April where stakeholders received the reports of the public hearings across the six geographical zones held on Thursday, March 7, 2024.
Organised Labour, comprising NLC and TUC counterpart, has sent in its demand of N615,000 minimum wages as well as the Organised Private Sector (OPS) but it could not be confirmed if the government has sent in its proposal.
The committee was expected to meet April 16 and 17 as meeting dates for a review of the reports and probably commence negotiations, but, unfortunately, the dates turned out to be public holidays for Sallah celebrations.
However with the hike in electricity, labour we gathered may be considering reviewing its proposal upward.
The TUC President confirmed that the negotiation is still on, “The work has not been concluded yet, but they should be hopeful. Also, we are hoping that government would roll out new policies that would ease the pain of Nigerian workers are facing currently.”
He expressed that government knows clearly what the problems are.
“They have put some palliatives in place. Nevertheless, as we said, palliatives are temporary measures. Yes they are ok for the short term, but we must have sustainable solution for medium-long term,” he said.
He maintained that government cannot be dishing out palliatives for years without a sustainable solution, “it shows the failure on the part of government.”
Speaking on the wage award, Osifo said government earlier paid the wage award for September/October 2023. “But after the ultimatum that we sent, they paid wage award until February.”
He added “In the meeting, we held recently, our push was that government must implement the wage award until a new minimum wage is approved. We want them to pay for March and April as well.
Meanwhile, the NLC President has lamented that some state governors were yet to abide by the National Minimum Wage Act as they could not pay the N30,000 minimum wage.
Tommy Okon, the ASCSN President said the non payment of the old wage has made it very difficult for the workers to raise money to take care of their family and meet other social needs.
Olatunji however said Governors that cannot implement an agreement especially one as crucial as paying workers minimum wage, should resign.
Conclusion
However as workers reiterate their call on Tinubu ‘s led administration today to put “People First”, they have identified economy as the major challenge.
“The increase in salary is not even the solution to our problem. Let the government finds ways to create an avenue for Nigerian workers to be able to afford three square meal a day and be able to meet their daily needs.
Campaigns are over, and now is the time for real governance,” Olatunji charged.