The several inconclusive industrial challenges left unattended to by the outgoing regime of the President Muhammadu Buhari, may trigger unending industrial actions by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) against the incoming government of Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
NLC President Joe Ajaero has predicted that the incoming government will face several industrial crisis due to the previous government’s failed agreements with the various groups they entered into agreements with.
In his assessment of Nigerian workers’ welfare under the Buhari regime, the labour president stated, “There will be a spillover effect on the coming administration.”
Therefore, Ajaero expressed “pity” to the incoming Tinubu administration.
He added that despite the outgoing president’s best efforts, it was not enough to meet the needs of Nigerian workers.
Ajaero made this known on Wednesday when he appeared on Channels TV programme, Politics Today.
According to him, several industrial crisis seem to be looming due to failed agreements with lecturers, doctors and the power sector.
He stressed “The Buhari administration tried its best in ensuring there is industrial peace and harmony to the best of its ability and capability but it was not enough as most of the industrial disputes the government treated are unfinished.
“You are talking about doctor’s strike, the agreement signed was not implemented and is waiting for the incoming government.
The ASUU issue is pending and waiting for the incoming government. There is hardly any agreement that was conclusively decided and exhausted, and that is why I pity the incoming administration. A lot of industrial crisis seems to be looming.
There is going to be a spillover effect on the incoming government because when you apprehend issues, it is to an end that you resolve the problem.
When asked about possible solutions to avert strike actions, Ajaero explained that proper technocrats must be allowed to handle the sector, insisting that the implementation of agreements seems to be the beating heart of many of today’s crises.
“The best way to go is to sit down and study the situation. If this is done. They will be able to handle the issues one after the other and it will do them a lot of good if they bring in proper technocrats to handle that sector. Trade unions and their leaders are not unreasonable. If you have a new government that is listening and have the right calibre of people to address those issues, they will be resolved but the major problem is implementation where agreements made five, or ten years ago are not implemented.
“The implementability of agreements seems to be the reason for the crises we are having. Check ASUU, resident doctors, the power sector and other sectors. It is not usually too difficult to reach an agreement and strike a balance, but respecting the sanctity of such agreement by the government side has been a problem. Any agreement not forced on the government is expected to be honoured,” he pointed out.
NLC: “We’re Waiting For Tinubu To Unveil Agenda For Workers “
Also NLC yesterday said it is eagerly waiting for the President-elect Bola Tinubu to unveil his agenda for the country’s workers before making pronouncements on burning national issues.
NLC president Comrade Joe Ajaero said the organised labour, under his watch, will remain a fighting machine and go against anyone who steps on the toes of Nigerian workers.
He however cautioned the spokesman of the president-elect, Mr Bayo Onanuga, and the Imo State government against sponsoring malicious publications against the union’s leadership.
Recently, some groups under the aegis of Arewa Youth Assembly (AYA) alleged an alliance between the leadership of the organised labour with the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to scuttle Tinubu’s inauguration.
Ajaero, who was on familiarisation visit at the headquarters of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) in Abuja, described the allegation as the cheapest blackmail.
The labour centre accused both Onanuga and Imo government of using some names to push out publications against the NLC and its leadership and advise them to avoid crossing the red line and creating enemies for the incoming administration.
He said the worst thing that will happen to their principal is for them to see the labour congress as an enemy.
Ajaero however said the congress is keenly awaiting the incoming administration to unveil its agenda for Nigerian workers before it can comment on it.
He said, “When people try to blackmail us that we are trying to truncate their inauguration, that is the cheapest blackmail. If we want to do anything, we come out openly and announce it to the world.
“We want to plead with the likes of Bayo Onanuga, some satanic information been circulated by the Imo State government, they are now using some names to push out publications against the NLC and its leadership. We want to advise them that they’re crossing the red line and they’re creating enemies for the incoming administration”.
“If what they are praying for they get it. It will not be good, we’re still waiting to get their own agenda because if they follow it from the manifesto of the APC, they will follow what Buhari has done and if its underdevelopment that they are sustaining, then there is a problem.
What we would want to do under my watch is to make NLC a productive labour centre, a fighting machine, no apology to any human being. If you step on our toes we will fight you within 24 hours, that is our commitment. if you like you can say Ajaero is a madman, it does not matter, that’s how we want to go about it. Some people may decide to be gentleman, but is not what we’re going to do about this job.”.
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