Celebrating 2011 May Day In Nigeria
By
Charles Ikedikwa Soeze
charlessoeze@yahoo.ca
The issue of
proletarian holiday celebration to attain the eight-hour day for
workers commenced first in Australia. In other words, the workers
resolved in 1856 to organize a day of complete stoppage together with
meetings and entertainment as a demonstration in support of the
eight-hour day. The day in question would have been April 21.
Initially, the Australian workers planned this for the year 1856.
Following good things that emerged based on a strong effect on the
proletarian masses of Australia, enlivening them and leading to new
agitation, it was consequently decided to repeat the celebration every
year.
Following the
benefits derived by the Australian workers, the Americans in 1886
decided that May should be the day of universal work stoppage. On this
day, 200,000 of them left their work and demanded the eight-hour day.
Later, police and legal harassment prevented the workers for many
years from repeating this demonstration. In 1888, they renewed their
decision and decided that the next celebration would be May 1, 1890.
It is a truism to
say that workers had it tough in the early years of the American
Industrial Revolution (AIR) is widely taught in schools. Sixteen-hour
work days in dangerous conditions, child labour, exploitation, and
accidents were common; then, magically, everything became better in a
civilized twentieth century way. The forces behind the change are left
ambiguous at best and the radical labour movement isn’t discussed; too
difficult for young minds, perhaps. As a result therefore, the vision
of masses of militant workers’ parading through the streets of cities,
towns and villages on May Day is lost in the revision of history.
From records
available, Workers’ Day began from the 1886 industrial revolution in
Chicago, United States where workers laid down their lives to defend
the rights of the working people. It is crystal clear that celebration
commenced in Nigeria during the Shagari’s administration that is on
May 1, 1981. This, I think and believe, was in recognition of Shehu
Shagari’s administration significant contributions, which Nigerian
Workers have achieved and will continue to make the economic progress
of our beloved country.
It seems to me that
Nigerian workers have also had their fair share of the struggle for
enthronement of workers’ rights as well as enhanced package for
workers. Despite this, it is true to say that the road to the current
situation of workers in Nigeria has been long, rough and tortuous.
Thanks to the Jonathan’s administration for the recent increase of
minimum wage to =N=18,000.00 in the civil/public service. Nigerians do
hope that the percentage increase should be worked out for other
sectors. That is, those not in the unified salary structure.
One interesting
thing is that Unions have vast power and the right to strike has been
one of organized labour’s strongest weapons in achieving that power.
Once a union wins a bonafide election, the recognition of that union
as a bargaining agent for workers is guaranteed under the law. In
Nigeria, many trade unions and workers association like Nigerian
Labour Congress (NLC), the Congress for Free Trade Union (CFTU),
Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN),
National Union of Teachers (NUT) among others will hold their
celebration rallies at different locations.
Writing on the
workers’ dilemma in The Pointer Newspaper of May 4, 2009 page
8, its Chairman, Editorial Board, Mr. Godfrey Ubaka pointed out that
the Nigerian workers even fared reasonably well under the colonial
authorities when the shelter was part of his condition of service, his
remuneration was sure and he had the right to express his opinion on
the unfolding matter of the day. Continuing, he said that the fortune
of the Nigerian worker actually plummeted rather sharply in the long
years of military mal-administration of the Nigerian State. The
military, he went on, recognized the centrality of professionalism in
the public service and the private sector. Finally, Mr. Ubaka
summarized by advising that the Nigerian workers should get more
organized politically and be ready to play a key role in the
determination of their future and destiny. He must insist on genuine
electoral reforms. The path is usually full of challenges as already
shown by the experiences of Obama, Mimiko, Oshiomole and the few other
progressive committed to the rewriting of the political history of
Nigeria.
It seems to me that
Nigerian workers’ need each other to achieving more for this country
especially the civil/public service which is the engine room of any
democratic administration. The Organized Private Sector (OPS) are also
not left out in this regard. Whatever the case may be, Nigerian
workers need to be empowered economically and their promotions
especially in the public sector should follow guidelines not by
looking at faces especially on tribal grounds or listen to damaging
statements which have no foundation in reality.
As we celebrate 2011
May Day in Nigeria, we should always think of our pensioners
(retirees) who may be properly, respectfully, genuinely and humbly
described as senior citizens and elder statesmen of the nation. A
situation where the senior citizens stay for years without their
monthly stipends having successfully and judiciously served the nation
for years is not only frustrating but killing. It is on record that
many of them reached their early graves as a result of the inability
of the various establishments to pay their stipends as and when due.
Many could not receive their gratuities either. In fact, many retirees
in Nigeria today are walking corpses begging for death to come for no
fault of theirs in our streets due to poor and corrupt management
style and lack of leadership skills in many establishments. I know
that Nigerians must be flabbergasted when the Nigerian Compass
newspaper in its front page of Sunday, March 6, 2011 carried a story
on ‘‘=N=12b fraud in pension office-Director General, deputy
arrested’’.
It is abundantly
clear that Nigerian workers have been faced with series of problems,
many of which arose from the oppressive and obnoxious policies of
previous administrations. Happily, the current democratic structure
under the leadership of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, GCFR has
looked into the welfare of both serving and retired workers with the
increase in minimum wage, regular monthly salaries, retirees being
paid accordingly. Whatever the case may be, workers are expected to
reciprocate and support the government to ensure sustainable
development.
It is also on record
that workers are still fighting against unprogressive practices in
both the public and private sectors. Nigerian workers have had to
struggle against casualization, exploitative contract employment
especially for expatriates and out-sourcing of jobs even when
competent hands are available within. There are some organizations
where employers deny employees their right to belong to trade unions,
they work under sub-human conditions and eventually they are paid
starvation rather than living wages and often, they receive such wages
irregularly.
There is no argument
to the fact that the largest employer of labour in Nigeria is the
government, that is, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
Based on this, the government has a lot of responsibility to promote
as well as project the dignity of labour by enhancing workers welfare.
In order to effectively achieve this, it seems to me that
professionalism and excellence as well as relevant qualifications
should be taken into consideration and avoid ‘‘godfatherism’’ and ‘‘godmotherism’’
including tribalism, nepotism, favouritism among others in employments
and postings. This is to say that postings and deployments to various
departments, ministries, parastatals should take into consideration
once area of specialization in order to at least maintain minimum
standard and work ethics. In applying this, it would help to boost
corporate image of an organization and Nigeria in general, locally,
nationally and internationally. There should be short and long term
courses/programmes occasionally to make such employees relevant and
update his or her knowledge to enable an organization grow faster.
Some organizations have fizzled out or remain redundant in the past as
well as perform abysmally low because of engaging non technocrat to
manage the affairs of such specialized establishments. There is the
need to address the issue of professionalism and technocray in the
management of Nigeria’s establishments. This should be urgently
addressed by the current democratic structure under President Jonathan
to avoid waste of scarce resources both human and capital, in other
words, poor tax payers’ money.
The truth is that as
we celebrate this year’s May Day, workers and other Nigerians need to
smile because the three tiers of government need to massively
concentrate on improving the standard of living of Nigerians. Part of
this should be immediate solutions for teeming millions of unemployed
youths and those compulsorily and prematurely retired by former
administrations need to be properly paid their entitlements including
severance package based on the agreement reached. There is no need for
some of these organizations to renege that is putting in oblivion the
said agreement. It is not good enough for industrial harmony.
The only way out of
these is for government and all those who are engaged in policy
formulation to take the opportunity of the workers’ Day to reflect on
the real plight of Nigerian workers. The Nigerian Labour Movement (NLM)
must reciprocate the good intention of the government. It is only when
labour is backed with commensurate returns that the doctrine of
dignity of labour can become fully realized. In this connection,
Nigerian workers’ will have hope and future.
Finally, it is
appropriate for Nigerian workers’ to prepare and rededicate themselves
towards national reconstruction and growth, which current attitudes of
graft, corruption, lack of loyalty to employers and willful sabotage
of their responsibilities do not encourage. It implies that workers’
must be partners in the task of creating wealth. This, I think and
believe, will usher in an era of industrial peace and harmony,
improved work ethics and higher productivity on the part of Nigerian
workers.
Charles Ikedikwa
Soeze, fhnr, fcida, fcai, cpae, son, emba,
is a mass
communication scholar and Chief Officer (Administration) in the Human
Resources Development Department (HRDD) of the Petroleum Training
Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State, Nigeria.
charlessoeze@yahoo.ca
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