Negotiation for new Minimum Wage a collective struggle, says NLC
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), says the negotiation and implementation of a new National Minimum Wage is a collective struggle for all and not just Organised Labour.
Joe Ajaero, NLC President said this at the “lnternational Lenin Centenary” Conference on Monday in Abuja.
Leninism emerged in a tumultuous period of history, marked by the Russian Revolution of 1917.
It sought to provide a Framework for the establishment of a Socialist State that emphasis on the Class Struggle and the need for a Revolutionary Vanguard to address the concerns of the Working Class remains relevant.
Ajaero therefore said that the only chance of escaping oppression and exploitation was building a collective power in unity.
He said this would further help in building a strong resistance to alleged forces fighting to deny every opportunity of changing the Society.
According to him, it is important that at this juncture that I invite all of us as we prepare to negotiate the National Minimum Wage this year not to see it as a struggle for the NLC and TUC but a collective struggle.
“I request that we all join hands together from the beginning of the negotiation to the end of it and to its ultimate implementation.
“This is so that we can overcome those who have already made up their minds to pay Nigerians a Starvation Wage.
“We seek for a Living Wage and it is only when we work together as Comrades that we can achieve this.
“Comrades remember, when we stand alone, our chances are slim but when we stand together, we are able to achieve our collective interests,” he said.
The NLC President, however, said there was the need to collectively restrategise politically to avoid the mistakes made since 1999.
He said there was the need to deepen vigilance in order to understand the nexus between Workplace complexities and diverse manifestations of class exploitations and subjugation in the wider Society.
“How can we change our Nation if we remain deeply divided unfortunately believing in the narrative and propaganda manufactured by our oppressors?
“How can we change our Nation if we do not speak with one voice and act with one purpose as a Group that are holding the wrong end of stick at all times?
“I ask why have we found it difficult to work together under one Political Umbrella to project our Ideals, build it and use it to creatively take over the Reins of Power in our Nation?
“This Celebration offers us the singular opportunity to rethink our political strategy as a Class and make it more practical to avoid the mistakes we have made since 1999,” he said.
According to Ajaero, I therefore ask today, are there Men and Women here who are willing to tread the same path Lenin followed?
”Are there Comrades here who are not Workers in the classical sense but understand that our interests are the same.
“Have they made up their minds to join the struggle for a better Nigeria which must begin by enthroning equity in our World of Work?
“In the spirit of Leninism, I invite you to join us. In remembrance of this great Framework, I invite all Men and Women who are prepared to be beaten for the sake of Workers and the Poor among others ” he said.
He said that the Celebration would be in vain if all do not arise and resolve to work together, determined and make a difference in the Nation .
Ajaero also called for meaningful contributions that would help in creating a more just and equitable World.
New in Pictures
Nigerian Workers claim ownership of Labour Party, want Abure out
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday picketed the Labour Party Headquarters to press home its demand for the immediate resignation of the Party National Chairman, Julius Abure.
Theophilus Ndubuaku, Deputy President of NLC Political Commission while addressing Journalists during the Picketing in Abuja said the Congress had passed a vote of no confidence on Abure.
The NLC Political Commission had alleged that Abure convened a National Convention of the Party as if he had Sole Proprietorship over it.
Subsequently, the NLC Political Commission had called for his immediate resignation.
The Protesting Workers carried Placards with inscriptions; “Bye bye to Abure, Labour Party is our Party,” Our Party, our hope, “Away with Corrupt Leaders in the Party, among others.
Ndubuaku said that the Picketing at the Headquarters of the Party was to express Workers’ grievances towards Abure’s administration of the Party.
According to him, Nigeria is not the only Country that has a Political Party backed by Organised Labour.
“Why would our own be different. The essence of registering a Labour Party in this Country is not only to become a President or Office Holders but to create a viable Opposition.
“Any Country where there is no any viable Opposition, then, there would be dictatorship. The reason we set up this Party is to have Good Governance in this Country.
“There have been Court Judgements, declaring Labour Party as being owned by the NLC and there has been intervention by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), telling Abure to appoint Members of Board of Trustees (BoT).
“They have also told Abure to organise an all Inclusive Convention but what we now saw, is a Notice of a Convention that we do not know about.
“We do not know who are the Delegates that are going to be at that Convention and even the Elected Officers in the National Assembly (NASS) are not aware of this,” he said.
Ndubuakun noted that, a day before Abure issued the Notice of the Convention, he was with the NLC President, Joe Ajaero and the Members of the Political Commission at the Congress Headquarters but he did not inform them.
“All we are saying is that, we do not want Abure, he should resign and go. He cannot be the Sole Administrator of Labour Party,” he said.
Also speaking, Bello Ismail, Acting General Secretary of NLC said that the Commission had been engaging Abure on Issues concerning the Party, but he failed to inform them on the upcoming Convention of the Party.
Ismail said that Abure did not follow Due Process as it concerns the plans for the Party’s Convention.
“We were also thinking that he was going to organise a Convention in line with the understanding of Organised Labour.
“But Abure knowing that he can never agree to an all Inclusive Convention wanted to do the Convention by himself.
“Those in the NLC Political Commission has put in a lot of efforts in the Party and we would insist that all Democratic Norms are fulfilled.
“We will insist that Workers take back their Party. We want a Convention where all the Stakeholders, the Workers, Youths, Informal Workers, among others are involved.
“The Party is now in the hands of Usurpers, who are looking for N30m or N40m for the purchase of Forms. excluding the People who founded the Party,” he said.
Chris Uyot, General Secretary of the Commission said it was wrong for Abure to plan a Convention without consultation with the Stakeholders of the Party.
Uyot noted that the NLC Political Commission would not allow the Convention to hold.
We are not going to have a Dictator in our Party, it is not going to be possible. Nigerian Workers are Democratic, and they support Democracy.
“Nigerian Workers owned this Party and would ensure they take hold of their Party and will drive out the Dictators,” he said.
Credit NAN: Texts excluding Headlines
Comments
Be the first to comment on this post
Comments
Be the first to comment on this post
Leave a Reply