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