SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS, COMRADE ABDULWAHED IBRAHIM OMAR AT THE 37TH FOUNDATION ANNIVERSARY OF HAKS-IS, THE SECOND LARGEST TRADE UNION CENTRE IN TURKEY ON SUNDAY 21ST OCTOBER 2012

On behalf of Nigerian workers, it is my pleasure to be present here to celebrate the 37^th anniversary of your confederation with you and also share ideas on the development of independent trade union movement and the struggle for a society where justice and fairness is guaranteed across the world of work and among the general populace.

The Nigeria Labour Congress was formed on 28^th day of February 1978, independently by over 900 unions that voluntarily came together and restructured the unions. Though the independent effort of the unions were eventually given legal backing and authority by the Federal Government of Nigeria in an attempt to exert state control but the unions have always resisted such controls by ensuring cohesion in policy and actions, which have so far made state control impossible.

We started with 42 industrial unions affiliated to the NLC, which was eventually reduced when government infringed on the right of custom and excise workers to belong to trade unions and their union had to de-affiliate from the NLC. The Academic Staff Union of Universities was also de-affiliated following vicious attacks by the then military government of General Ibrahim Babangida. However, the union has voluntarily re-affiliated with the NLC.

We have been able to sustain our independence through capacity strengthening, which we have consistently done through workers education, research, media outreach and organizing. We have also refused to run our centre with state funding at all levels as we run all our education, organizing, research, collective bargaining and even administrative programmes and projects with funds provided through membership subscriptions as well as funds from friendly Non-Governmental Organizations that we share common beliefs and aspirations. Our total membership strength is about six million.

The history of Nigeria can never be complete without acknowledging the important roles played by the Nigerian trade union movement. The movement was a leading force in the anti colonial struggles of the Nigerian people. From 1912, when Nigeria had her first trade union until independence in 1960, the trade unions mobilized workers and their allies to consistently battle the colonialists out of power.

As you may be aware, Nigeria groaned under prolonged military dictatorship, which thrice truncated civil rule until 1999 when democratic governance was returned through the consistent struggles of the Nigerian people who fought side by side with the unions to chase the military out of power.

We were able to do these because we have a long history of a robust relationship with our allies in the civil society groups. Beyond economic struggles on wages and defence of workers’ rights, we have consistently engaged the state in popular struggles on policy issues.

For instance, we have never hidden our opposition to neo liberal socio economic policies, which are designed by the Breton Woods institutions and forced down the throat of their stooges in under-developed and developing countries. Since the early 80s, we have consistently opposed these policies, particularly the so called Structural Adjustment Programme, SAP, which we fought against alongside students, artisans, women and the teaming unemployed populace. We are able to do these because of the strong alliance between us and conscious organizations among civil society groups. Recently, in 2004 we collectively agreed with the pro people section of civil society groups to form the Labour and Civil Society Coalition, LASCO. There are three arms of LASCO – the trade union side includes the NLC and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, while the civil society arm is the Joint Action Front, which has over 100 organisations spread across Nigeria. Though we are yet to formalize the structure, but since its formation, LASCO has always been in the forefront of all our national protests, particularly on deregulation of the petroleum sector, electoral reforms, anti corruption etc.

We believe historically, that we have common issues with our allies and together we must fight against our collective deprivations and infringements. This way, we will make state attacks difficult.

As a labour centre, we have decided since the exit of the military from government in Nigeria that we must do everything possible to deepen democracy in our country. When we look back at our country’s history, we found the military guilty of contributing largely to our underdevelopment. And we have resolved never to allow military dictatorship or any form of dictatorship in our country. The people must count if we must make progress as a country and the Nigeria Labour Congress will do everything possible to tirelessly mobilize the entire populace to consistently promote and defend democracy. No country in the world has an option yet to democratic rule and we have tasted the worst of military dictatorship in contemporary history. Dictatorship in every form whether under military government or civilian breeds corruption; infrastructural decay; economic retardation; socio political instability and abuse of fundamental human rights. We will resist all these in our country.

Beyond building alliances at home, we have also extended our alliances abroad starting with the West African region. We have engaged our counterparts in the Ghana Trade Union Congress on several issues of common interests using the platform provided by our bilateral agreement. We also have a bilateral agreement with the Congress of South African Trade Unions, COSATU. And now, we have succeeded in having a trilateral agreement with COSATU, GTUC and the NLC. This has strengthened our collective voice in the African continent.

We decided to have these agreements because it has become very obvious that capital has formidable multinational focus and interest. With the advent of globalization, big business has developed transnational networks to attack trade union rights coupled with the overbearing influence they exert on our various governments.

We must also, as trade unions, be able to use these bilateral relationships to collectively mobilize progressive voices in continental and regional bodies such as the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, and the European Union to take positive decisions on decent work, trade union rights as well as all other issues relating to workers rights especially at Export Processing Zones, which is a major component of globalization.

Comrades, we need to intensify our alliances, beyond the global trade union federations if we must succeed in confronting the challenges of globalization and the threat to trade union and workers’ rights across the globe.

We are prepared to work with our comrades in HAK-IS, your labour centre, to share experiences and break our common obstacles in our countries and across the globe. We are indeed prepared to have a formal bilateral agreement with you to ensure the success of our partnership, an offer you made and which we have genuinely accepted. Both centres can commence the bilateral process immediately.

Once again, on behalf of Nigerian workers I congratulate you on the 37^th foundation anniversary of HAK-IS, the second largest labour centre in Turkey.

Thank you for your attention. 

NIGERIA AT 52: WE SHALL OUTGROW OUR CHALLENGES

PRESS STATEMENT

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) felicitates with all Nigerians on the occasion of the 52^nd anniversary of the country’s Independence as a sovereign nation. We particularly wish to salute the resilience, commitment and perseverance of Nigerian workers and working families, who in the face of harsh economic policies, exacerbated by corruption, insecurity, and unprecedented impunity by the ruling class have continued to believe in the efficacy of the Nigerian project.

This unwavering passion for the sustainability of the Nigerian nation is borne out of a deep sense of history.  It is an appreciation of the reality that agonizing, lamentations, and sloganeering on the reckless profligacy and outright betrayal of the peoples’ trust by the powers that be, will no longer suffice in gingering policy makers to building a nation of our dreams.

At 52, the aspirations of the average Nigerian, was a country that would accomplish remarkable feats in governance, science and technology, industrial and infrastructural development as well as attain a high standard of living.

While the problems of achieving these ideals have variously been attributed to prolonged years of military dictatorship, the promise of civil rule since 1999, is yet to signal attainment of these goals.

Given this dismal scenario, it is apparent that the challenges facing our country in this generation and generations unborn can only be outgrown and fulfilled not by the prevailing political class and their Brenton Woods neo-liberal economic philosophers, but by the will, resilience and pro-activeness of the working class and working families, to push for an alternative development paradigm that focuses on job creation, the welfare of the poor and other vulnerable groups rather than capital and big business.

The neo-liberal market-driven policies which decisively reared its head in the so-called Structural Adjustment programme in 1986, and has been rabidly and blindly pursued since 1999, cannot rejuvenate the Nigerian economy and place it on a path of sustainable development to deliver on peoples’ welfare. What the country requires, if it is serious about a fundamental turn-around, is a critical state-led development programme that has seen the transformation of many economies of Asia. Even the apostles of neo-liberalism, had to resort to intensive state intervention and huge dosage of regulation when hit by the recent global financial crisis. It is time for our leaders to wake up for Nigeria, and stop being guided by economic stereotypes that are arcane and have been tested and found wanting.

Nigerians urgently desire to see their country’s economy back in sound health, and have given all support required through long years of self denial and sacrifice, but are yet to see practical and reassuring steps by government towards this direction.

From the above, it is apparent that our policy makers need to free themselves of pressures and blackmail from foreign institutions whose neo liberal economic policies that were imposed on previous governments never worked in our collective interests as a nation, but ended up weakening our socio-economic structures; widened the gap between the rich and the poor; destroyed jobs and industry as well as education.

We believe that if policy is directed towards reindustrialization with all the energy and resources required, more idle hands will be engaged in productive employment. This way, we would have less challenge in crimes and insecurity.

While majority of our people can’t afford one meal a day, corruption in high places has grown to disturbing heights. No country will ever develop with economic criminals feasting on the commonwealth of the nation. The huge amount involved in reported cases of corruption when put together will be enough to rapidly wake up our economy, re-energize our education sector, create jobs and reduce tension.

Even when Mr. President continues to express his commitment to anti corruption policies, we do not see the same seriousness reflected in the activities of the administration and the legislature. For instance, those listed as having diverted or misappropriated petroleum subsidy funds are yet to face serious prosecution due mainly to undue interference by the powers that be. It will be a tragedy, and one that would have serious repercussions from the working people, if government is seen to be protecting those who have been accused of stealing public funds.

While Nigerians eagerly look forward to their immediate prosecution, some of those listed as subsidy thieves are regularly seen around the corridors of power openly hob nobbing with the Presidency. This cannot encourage any serious anti corruption struggle. We caution that workers and the Nigerian people are keenly watching the ongoing melodrama associated with the oil removal scandal. The struggle is not yet over, as an attempt to shield these fraudsters and their collaborators will be decisively resisted by the Labour Movement.

Every step taken by government on the privatization of public corporations seem directed towards justifying corruption as the process remain obviously exclusive and guided by too many secrecy. Looking at the list of those reported to have been sold properties belonging to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, we are convinced that rather than punish those who have been identified to have ruined our economy and shortchanged our people by diverting public resources to their private use, they are being rewarded through privatization. Nigeria is clearly being handed over to a few private individuals, which must not be accepted.

Corruption and the near collapse of the economy are responsible for the increasing spate of insecurity, violent crimes and the dangerous reality of the full presence of terrorism in our country. No country will successfully tackle insecurity under the reign of corruption and unemployment.

Nigerians need to be on notice that we must all prepare to take our collective destiny on our hands and pursue a quick reawakening that will rebuild our collective capacity to engage the political class who has continuously shown their inability to rescue our country from the abyss.

Workers and working families must not give up. We must be prepared to provide vision if they have none, and give them an agenda, if they have none. We must constantly demand good governance to halt their constant display of impunity and disgust for our collective interests.

We must not lose hope but renew our energy towards deepening the struggle for good governance, for together we shall outgrow our challenges.

Abdulwahed Omar                                          Chris Uyot

President                                             Acting General Secretary