Restoring Core Values Of The Labour Movement- Ajaero’s Address

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AjaeroBeing the Text of Address by Comrade Joe Ajaero at the occasion of state council conference held on Thursday 23rd April, 2015

Protocol

I bring to you warm and fraternal greetings of all affiliates and the generality of our members across the country on the occasion of the state delegates conference.

As you are aware, we have tried to consolidate on building the structure for a vibrant trade union center after the misadventure of the past four years under the fraudulent leadership of Abdul Waheed Omar. We had all hoped for a reprieve with the last delegates’ conference but he was determined to foster on the NLC surrogates that will keep that tradition of non performance.  But our determination and resolve to change this narrative was frustrated by the monumental fraud and perversion of rules, procedures and the processes which culminated in the failure of the Conference of February 11 and the reconvened one of March 12, 2015.

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We are deeply concerned that the powers and influence of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in terms of the defense of workers’ rights and the poor and the oppressed in our country has been at its lowest level in the last four years. It was also observed that NLC Leadership under Abdulwahed Omar failed not only on core labour/workers issues but also lost its basic moral compass completely as manifested in the case of KRISTON LALLY Housing scam in which over Three Billion Naira mopped up from hapless working and retired citizens of Nigeria was unaccounted for, leaving the subscribers disillusioned and utterly frustrated.

It is very obvious now that the flawed processes were originally intended and deliberately manipulated to impose a particular candidate on the Nigeria Labour Congress in the face of glaring leadership failure, moral decadence and crude violation of union principles, rules and constitution and we are glad that we have taken this path to restore our core values and principles as the basis for regaining the lost glory of the NLC.

The same way I urge the state councils and our members across the country not to be disillusioned or continue to lament about failed leadership and failed conference but to stand up collectively to retrieve NLC from the jackals and restore the cherished traditions and core values of the labour movement. This is what we stand for and this is what should unite all of us across the country.

We recognize that the challenges are enormous and we have resolved to put all energies and resources together in rebuilding the NLC as a vibrant labour centre that is driven by the aspirations of the Nigerian working people and propelled by the support and solidarity of affiliates, the public, the civil society organizations and the international working class movement.

Comrades, we must work together at all levels to restore the belief and confidence of the working people in the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as the bastion of hope for the masses and as the strong voice for the voiceless people in our Country.

I therefore urge all state councils and all our members across the States to remain focused and committed to the lofty but attainable goal of restoring and reclaiming all lost grounds.  The labour movement should and must be responsive to the yearnings and aspirations of not only members/affiliates but must always be ready to provide alternative socio-political and economic policy framework that will help to galvanize increased productivity and shared prosperity for the mass of our people.

Further, I urge you to reaffirm commitment to defending the rights of workers to freedom of association and collective bargaining as enshrined in our constitution and labour laws and explicitly supported by ILO conventions 87 and 98.

On our part we pledge to assert the right of the workers to join the union and ensure that no employer obstructs and deny Nigerian workers their inalienable rights and you must do everything to uphold the principled stand of the NLC in your engagement at the state level.

As you go into the conference today, I urge you all to stand strong and steadfast as true and committed Comrades to redeem our movement and restore the lost glory of NLC. We must stand united in our collective journey to redemption.

I wish you well.

Solidarity forever.

Signed

Comrade Joe .C. Ajaero

President – NLC

Editor’s Note:Ajaero emerged as President of a splinter group of NLC after  the recent election of Ayuba Wabba

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