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.
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