I bear witness that the Special Delegates’ Conference of the Nigeria Labour Conference held in Lagos on Thursday 19th March, 2015 at Mainland Hotel, Oyingbo, Lagos. The Conference was attended by over 300 delegates and observers drawn from affiliates of the NLC based on equal representation of industrial unions. The special delegates’ conference was necessitated by the glaring serial failure of the Secretariat of the Congress under Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson to organise free, fair and credible elections at the rescheduled 11th National Delegates’ Conference of NLC. The highpoint of the Special Delegates’ Conference was the election of new national officers of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). The officers elected are: Comrade Joe Ajaero, President, Comrade Igwe Achese, Deputy President, Comrade Issa Aremu, mni, Deputy President, Comrade Kadiri Kazeem, Vice President, Comrade Yahaya Yashi, Vice President, Comrade Kelly Ogbaloim, Vice President Comrade Khaleel Ibrahim, Treasurer, Comrade Danjuma Musa, Financial Secretary, Comrade Kelechi Otu Trustee, Comrade Okoro R.B Auditor, Comrade Ndubuaku Theophilus Auditor Comrade Amina Danesi, Ex–Officio and Comrade Comfort Oko, Ex–Officio.
Of equal importance and historic significance was the deliberation on the state of the labour movement and the nation in line with the traditions of the past successful ten (10) Delegates’ conferences of the NLC. After extensive deliberations, the Special Delegates’ Conference resolved and expressed appreciation to delegates, labour veterans, civil society allies and members of the press for the support and solidarity during the special delegates’ conference. They reaffirmed commitment to the unity of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) despite the challenges with respect to elections during the reconvened delegates’ conference. The conference also expressed deep concerns 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 under the failed leadership of Comrade Abdulwahed Omar. It concluded among others that NLC under Abdulwahed Omar lost focus, direction, discipline, sense of duty and commitment to the cause of the working people as manifested in increased numbers of job losses without union protection; Increased casual/contract employment even in the presence of ineffectual and prostrate anti-casualisation committee, scandalous delay in payment of salaries of public employees, non-implementation of the N18,000 minimum wage and above all the abysmal collapse of moral authority dramatized by hounded labour leaders over the Kriston Lally Housing scam totaling over Three Billion Naira involving helpless working and retired citizens of Nigeria.
The Conference resolved to organize, not agonize and called on all affiliates and members to stand up and restore the cherished traditions and core values of the labour movement. The conference therefore reaffirmed its 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 precarious work, the Conference issued red card to all employers who are not willing to employ on the basis of labour laws and in line with international best practices. Directed the setting up of newly reinvigorated Anti-casualisation committee with the mandate to identify and picket workplaces where workers are engaged without regards to the law and international best practices on employment. It pledged its commitment and determination to provide articulate, responsive and vibrant leadership in addressing this and other core labour issues previously neglected on critical labour market issues such as Wages/Collective Bargaining Health and Safety Issues and Policy Engagement.
Significantly in the wake of serial massive Naira devaluation, the conference observed that the five year tenure of the national minimum wage has come to an end this year and directs the immediate setting up of a committee to develop proposals on minimum wage and prepare for negotiation with the Federal Government. On the critical national elections starting this weekend,
Conference-in-Session urges workers NOT to sell their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), come out in their millions to vote during the elections and wait after voting to guard their votes while calling on all Nigerians to cooperate with INEC to ensure credible and hitch-free elections. The conference also acknowledged the remarkable success being recorded by the Nigerian Military in the renewed war against insurgency in parts of the country and the reported recapture of major towns in states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States by the Nigerian troops and calls on all Nigerians to support the efforts of the Nigeria Military and the joint regional forces to rid Nigeria in particular and neighbouring West African countries of insurgency and fixed a day of solidarity action by all affiliates in support of the gallant actions of the military in the fight against insurgency.
The Special Conference in Session commended the Federal Executive Council on the decision for the immediate implementation of the National Conference report calling in particular for the immediate implementation of all recommendations in respect of labour issues. The Special Conference in Session reaffirms the position of the National Executive Council of NLC to reclaim and reposition the Labour Party with renewed support and confidence for the interim leadership of Comrade Salisu Mohammed and Comrade Lawson Osagie urging them to work with all affiliates to mobilize our members for the labour party. Lastly The Congress reaffirms the commitment of Nigeria Labour Congress to solidarity with all global Labour movements, the Government and People of Cuba and the Sharawi Republic.
Issa Aremu, mni
comradearemu@yahoo.com
