The President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and leader of the delegation of NLC to the ILO, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, has said the issues of endemic poverty, burgeoning unemployment , frustrating and depressed wage regimes combined with the Boko Haram insurgency have worsened the condition of the Child in Nigeria.
Comrade Wabba who was was responding to the addresses of the Chairperson of the Governing Board and the Director General both of ILO at a formal session today, said the situation is so manifestly grave, it demands immediate global attention.
Wabba argued that these circumstances were man-made and were therefore curable.
One of the ways of ameliorating this situation, explained Wabba, was the institutionalization of a robust social dialogue mechanism reminiscent of the presidency of the late Yar’Adua, which he said substantially benefitted the “industrial relations practice” in the country during the late President’s tenure.
Accordingly, he requested the ILO to avail the government of President Muhammadu Buhari “the necessary technical and institutional support to revive the culture of social dialogue in the country”, pledging that the NLC is deeply committed to genuine participation in the revival of the social dialogue.
He said NLC was eager to discuss the core issues of labour interest including job creation, migration management, social protection floors implementation and the broader issues around the structural transformation of the Nigerian economy.
The Congress President welcomed the announcement by the Director General that a Global Commission would be put in place to look at the issues within the world of work as well as serve as a debate document during the centenary of ILO.
Citing the “Mbeki Panel Report on IFF” (which says a conservative figure of $60 billion leave Africa annually through tax avoidance and tax dodging) as justification, Wabba said the terms of reference of the Global Commission could benefit from themes such as: ending illicit financial flows, secure and effective public service for developing economies, security and safety at work places and communities, as well as wholistic migration management.
Wabba maintained that for Africa, industrialization was key to development and both the State and the Public Service have an immense role to play.
