By Chimezie Godfrey
The Chairman National Union of Air Transport Employees, FAAN branch, Abuja, Abdul Y. Ahmed has described as unfortunate the appointment of Chris Ngige, a medical doctor, as Minister of Labour and Employment.
He made the assertion Monday while fielding questions from Journalists after the protest rally held by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja.
Ahmed condemned the assault on members by thugs suspected to have been sent by the minister.
“The action of Mr. Ngige is abuse of human right, violation of ILO, and also violation of Nigerian Labour Acts.
“It has never been done anywhere in Nigeria or any organization where a minister will appoint and inaugurate the board without following due process.
“He has no right based on his personal interest that is why the union is against his action. And we felt that is an abuse of law is and abuse of human rights that is why we protested today.
“It is by the grace of energy and strength of Nigerian Labour Congress, other affiliations, and other unions that made us to secure this 30,000 minimum wage.
“As a union chairman who is the leader of the entire labour in Nigeria, and a Minister, he has never in anyway shown any sign of courage or put effort to encourage what the Federal government plan for the workers.
“It is unfortunate that in the system where things should work, you appoint somebody who is a doctor to be a labour leader.
“Ngige is not a socialist I don’t know how comes about his being appointed as the minister of labour. I think this thing will serve as a lesson to Nigerian government,” he said.
The chairman said it is advisable to assign a responsibility to a professional person, so that he will not go through all these challenges in exercising his duties.
“I think is just a kind of misdirection of appointment that led to the situation we find ourselves today,” he said.
On why the Minister should use thugs on the NLC officials, Mr. Ahmed said, “It is not a new thing, we are not surprise, we have his records, when he was governor we knew what happened.
“He was kidnapped because of thuggery and his activities at Okija shrine, so, we are not surprised.
“It is just unfortunate that this person was appointed as the minister of Labour, he is not friendly at all.”
He added that the swapping of Mr Frank Kokori’s appointment as chairman of NSITF Board as an aberration and a condemnable act perpeterated by Mr Ngige.
“It is not done anywhere, you appoint somebody as chairman and you advice the person to put the appointment on hold while investigation is being carried on, and at the end of the day, only for government to swap his appointment to another one.
“It is not done at all, he has never one day resumed as a board chairman, and we do not see the reason why they decided not to put Kokori as the chairman. We are not just happy.”
