Fourth Congress: Labour Leaders Demand Social Justice for Workers …Buhari: Workers’ welfare on priority list

Labour leaders, who attended the fourth Ordinary Congress of the International Trade Union Congress (lTUC-Africa) in Abuja yesterday, demanded an improved working and living conditions, creation of decent jobs and real democracy as a means of ensuring social justice in the country.

The concerns of the labour leaders cane just as President Muhammadu Buhari said the federal government has done a lot to show that it has workers' interest at heart.

The labour leaders, who will spend two days in Abuja to deliberate on the way forward to resolve various issues relating to challenges facing workers, said the struggle for the welfare and decent work environment for workers have become a common thing around the world.

Speaking on the theme of the conference: ‘Unite and Make a Difference’, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, said the event could not have come at a better time than now that most workers across the world are engaged in the struggle for social justice and better wages.

Wabba, who is also the President of the International Trade Union Congress (ITUC), said the conference was calling for diligent investigation and prosecution of those who used excessive force to quell peaceful protesters.

He said: "This Congress is also taking place at a time when popular protests have for the past few months been rife in many parts of the world. The common denominator in these protests is the resolute will of the people to resist low wages and pensions, adverse labour laws reforms, and punitive austerity robes sewn by international financial institutions.

"The voice of the working people of the world through these protests is very loud and clear-we demand improved working and living conditions, real democracy, real social progress through the creation and sustenance of decent jobs. In the struggle of the past few weeks, we draw a useful lesson that "a people united can never be defeated."

While highlighting some of the potential of Africa, Wabba, while quoting report of the African Development Bank (ADB), said Africa is about the world fastest growing economy with a growth rate of 3.7 percent.

He also said the World Bank expects that most African countries will reach ‘middle income’ status by 2025 if the current growth rate is sustained.

"Africa has the world's highest youth pool. Africa has the largest reserve of unspoiled flora and fauna. Now is the time to unite and make these count for something," he said.

Amidst ovation from delegates, Wabba said Africa wants to reverse its dismal contribution to global trade which United Nations Commission on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) 2015 Report puts at 2.39 percent.

While declaring the two-day conference open, President Muhammadu Buhari said the federal government places priority on the welfare and well-being of workers and indeed ordinary Nigerians.

He said the present administration has done a lot to promote the welfare of workers since coming to office in 2015, ranging from payment of salary arrears and pensions to advancing bailout funds to states to also pay accumulated wages.

President Buhari, whose speech was read by the Permanent Secretary (General Services) in the Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Olusegun Adeyemi, further expressed commitment of the administration to ensure that the country's workforce is given its due share.

Labour leaders from across Africa and beyond, including Executive Vice President of the American Federation of Labour, Mr. Tefere Gebre; Confederation of Industrial Organisations (AFL-ClO) and a delegation led by President of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, Terry Melvin, are also attending the two-day event.