By Nasiru Abdullahi
The organized labour was established to propagate and
protects both specific and general interest of the Nigerian Workers. And
strike actions are usually used to show the key effect of the union
against the employer (in this case the Government) as a result of
failures of the parties to a negotiation or agreeing on the terms of
contract. But, this actions are mostly resorted to when all peaceful
avenues are exhausted. strikes are used as the last resort to getting
the employers attentions for re-negotiations but of course after
exhausting every possible avenue to come to common terms.
If this is the
international best practice then I see no justification for the call
for the ongoing strike in Nasarawa state. The question most people are
asking is; “is strike the best option to drive home the labour union’s
demand especially given the negative implication on the economy and
development of our nation?” Most union and Government negotiations are
primarily about economic issues; wages, job security, payments for
Insurance etc. and in every objective negotiation, it must observe the
process of “a give-and-take” where each side tries to gain the most of
what it seeks while giving up the least.
The Nasarawa State Scenario appears to be different and it makes some of
us wonder if the leadership of these unions is really lover or foe of
Nasarawa State. If they are the former, then why the untimely call for
industrial action in the state or are they unaware of the trends of
economic events in the world especially the Nigerian economy and the
dwindling petroleum prices at the international market and the effect on
the Nigerian Economy, the states, and even the Local Governments in the
country. But if they are the latter, then we cannot be surprise by
their actions.
But as a union sworn to protect the general interest of
the workers, why deviate and tend to use same union for your political
gains at the detriment of your followers by bringing suffering to the
same people you sworn an oath to serve and protect their welfare and
interest. We would like to remind you that your actions one way or the
other would have affected the January payment of salaries to this same
workers you claim to be fighting for, thereby elongating the month and
their sufferings.
We also want to believe that the Nasarawa chapter of
the organized labour never did consultations with their counterparts in
other states especially her neighboring states like Benue where they
have even worse cases of salaries backlogs of up to 4-9months even with
the Bail-out funds where just two and half (2. 1/2) month out of 6-7
months was paid and the remaining are nowhere to be found. As i speak to
you right now, Some workers in Benue state have not been paid since
july, some september till date among other things. Don't tell me you
don't know all this, but yet the Benue chapter of the organise labour
knowing and understanding fully well the current economic crisis and the
effect on Government thought better than striking by resolving to
continous dialogue and negotiations to achieve their targets.
Please
try to find out what other states are facing and how they are handling
their situations or better still, try to consult with the central
(National Body) of the NLC before embarking on such ill-timed and
unnecessary industrial actions, if you had done your research on what's
obtainable in other states perhaps you would have appreciate the effort
of Nasarawa state Government in terms of workers welfare and wouldn’t
have dare to call for a strike.
Though the organized labour may have a genuine reason for going on
strike, but for some very important yet, more sensitive reasons, they
would have giving room for re-negotiation with the government rather
than engaging or encouraging incessant strikes knowing very well the
adverse effect it has on the economy of Nasarawa State. Generally,
incessant strikes have effects on our economy as they cause cost-push
inflation and increase in poverty level.
This is because when there is
strike, goods and services are not available while demand will be high
resulting to inflation. And when schools embark on strike, the manpower
that should be produced for the economy is affected. Sometimes, loss of
bread-winners due to doctor’s strike causes poverty and puts pressure on
families, society and the economy. Also when Academic process get
interrupted by strike, all ongoing research gets abandoned or delayed,
students dump their books in their shelves and when the strike is
eventually called-off both the students and the lecturers are mentally
weak, and at the end of the day the students graduate with just
certificates instead of the knowledge that could impact on the economy.
Apart from the local effects of this incessant strike in the state to our lives and economy, it also affects the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) because we cannot have investors trust if our system in the state is not stable due to frequent strikes, which sometimes spark or increase political agitations as opposition politicians would see this as an opportunity to criticize the Government and would swiftly cash-in on such situation. Not to mention the millions the state loses whenever there is strikes action.
Strike has been one of Nigeria’s economic
development bane as over the years we have seen how frequent strike
since the administration of Former President Olusegun Obasanjo to date
has caused the Nigerian economy to a point that it became alarming and
worrisome to economic expert as the impacts of this strikes were
becoming uncountable and one of the major reason our nation, the third
world oil producing country fall under “underdeveloped” in the World
ranking of development. We all have seen how strikes have stroked
Nigerian economy hard and bring it to zero level.
I saw in one of the strikers union press release, particularly the NUT
where the release says that “the union are not doing this for purpose of
sabotaging the government but just to drive home their demand” this
obviously shows how the NUT were eating up by their conscience, and
sense of guilt, even as they embark on this industrial action. We have
studied the press releases by most of this groups or unions and their
conditions put before the Government and we have also noticed that most
of these demands are unrealistic though some maybe justifiable like the
issue of promotion and accreditation of all courses in our state owned
Institutions and such and such.
But for claims like salary arrears for
four months owed workers in Nasarawa State, and the likes cannot be
realistic and the issue of half salary. It amaze me and sometimes
surprise me to hear that the organized labour are using this as a reason
for their so called “indefinite strike” this is why some of us have
every reason to believe this particular strike action is politically
motivated, otherwise, we expect that the union should know better than
anyone that the federal allocation to Nasarawa State for sometimes now
has been very low, even lower than the expected amount to pay full
salaries and the Governor Al-Makura’s administration have promised not
to condone or encourage financially hemorrhage by taking loans every
month just to pay salaries like we have seen in the previous
administration which led to a burden of debt of over 37 Billions Naira
on the state Government which thesame Al-Makura-led Government cleared
in his first two years in office.
The union instead of calling for a
strike action, would have reconsider the government given the present
economic situation for more time to re-negotiatiate since from all
indications they (Government) are ready and willing to come to common
terms but instead the union are subjecting Nasarawa state workers and
their families to suffering as well as the Government. As far as we are
concern, this strike is wrongly timed, unwelcome, and against Nasarawa
peoples wish as well as against the development of the State.
However, it is not late for the organized labour to make good out of its
mistake by calling off the on-going strike and return to a negotiation
table as dialogue is always the best way to resolving and dealing with
disagreement between two warring parties. We want to use this medium to
call on the organized labour to shield their swords and stop this evil
act of industrial action in Nasarawa State and embrace a peaceful and
mutual understanding on the matter, but having in mind that in an
objective negotiations, there is always a “give-and-take” and this means
that you cannot always have all you are demanding for but must have
some of your demands traded for other.
And on the side of the
Government, we are appealing to the Government of Nasarawa State to
continue in her spirit of true patriotism and good governance and listen
to the cries of the Nasarawa state workers especially in the areas that
are realistic, considerate and achievable also having in mind other
areas and sectors that are also in dire need of attention for the
purpose of fairness, equity and justice.
we the youths and people of
Nasarawa State believe that Governor Alh. Umaru Tanko Al-makura will
always do justice to this matter giving his antecedents and practical
prove that he is a man of integrity, transparency and tranquility and
has always stood for the interest and welfare of the generality of
people of Nasarawa State. Therefore, we have no doubt that he shall make
sure on the side of government, they remain co-operative and
considerate, for continues peace and development of Nasarawa State.
Long live Nasarawa state! Long live our leaders! Long live the federal Republic of Nigeria!
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