President Tinubu, NLC and the making of partisan labour leaders

President Tinubu, NLC and the making of partisan labour leaders

The arrest of President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, and his subsequent release by the Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday, September 9, 2024, climaxed the controversy that characterised Ajaero’s hide and seek with authorities.

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the DSS, and Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA) had extended invitation to Ajaero severally to come and clear allegations bordering on terrorism, extortion and his relationship with a British national, Andrew Wynne, also known as Andrew Povich, accused by the police of masterminding the recent deadly protest. After much hide and seek, Ajaero eventually turned himself in with large entourage of lawyers, including the eminent Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN). This sent tongues wagging as to what Ajaero is really afraid of.

Just like has been speculated, if truly the NLC president is complicit in conniving with opposition leaders to make Nigeria ungovernable, it is only unfortunate. It means he doesn’t deserve the exalted office of the president of NLC. This is more alarming because the twist is coming few months after the new minimum wage was successfully negotiated and received express approval and implementation by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In retrospect, the NLC was formed in December 1978 through the merger of four trade unions. However, the military government refused to recognise the new organisation. Instead, the government established a tribunal to investigate trade union activities. The tribunal’s report led to the banning of the four original centres and the appointment of a new administrator. In 1978, the NLC was reestablished with 42 industrial unions and 19 senior staff unions.

Throughout its history, the NLC faced conflicts with military regimes, leading to its dissolution twice, first in 1988 and again in 1994. In 1996, the affiliates were merged into 29 unions. After democratic reforms in 1999, some anti-union regulations were abolished, and Adams Oshiomhole was elected president.

In 2005, the law was changed to allow other trade union federations to receive government recognition. In 2016, some affiliates left to form the United Labour Congress (ULC) but rejoined the NLC in 2020. Today, the NLC has 43 affiliates, representing over four million members. From this historical perspective, it is clear that the NLC has gone through push and pull in the past to deserve a credible leadership.

The position of leader of a labour union is meant for patriotic people – men of character and refreshing candour, and not those who speak from both sides of their mouth. This conclusion stems from the fact that trade unions, the world over, play a crucial role in protecting and promoting the rights and interests of workers in various industries. Their primary goal is to negotiate with employers for better wages, benefits, and working conditions, thereby improving the overall quality of life for their members.

Ajaero has been long in this terrain to know what the position of NLC leader is worth. If he allows politicians, whose political fortune is on life-support, to mislead him, he will be left alone to face the music when the chips are down.

Come to think of it, why was he reluctant to honour the police invitation? Or, is there any other thing we are yet to know? Nigeria, especially under the Tinubu administration, is a law-abiding country. Instead of playing to the gallery, Ajaero should have just calmed down and answer to the allegation of terrorism advanced by the police. This way, Nigerians would have filed behind him to know what the allegations are all about.

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Comrade Ajaero should know that the country’s economy is already very fragile and nothing untoward should be done to collapse it. The economic consequences of any ugly decision will adversely affect ordinary Nigerians. I am giving this warning against the backdrop of the recent protest that unleashed mayhem and carnage on Nigeria and Nigerians.

The protests was not only chaotic, unwarranted and unthoughtful but also devilish. Nigeria and Nigerians are yet to recover from that senseless protest. Many had their loved ones hacked down in cold blood. Let it be known to Ajaero and the sponsors of the carnage called protest that no responsible government will fold its arms to allow undesirable elements set the country on fire.

On the part of the opposition leaders, who want to cling to the last strand of straw to revive their dead political ambitions, especially perpetual presidential contestants among them, nobody is above the law. Let me remind them that the only kernel of a civilised society is that everyone, no matter how highly placed, is equal before the law. And only the law regulates the affairs of the state. Those brewing and dispensing division, thinking they are above the law, are making a costly mistake.

The relationship between labour unions, government policies, and political opposition can be complex. Labour unions have the right to protect their members’ interests and question policies that may negatively impact them. However, it’s essential for labour unions to maintain their independence and not be influenced by opposition leaders.

It is also important for labour unions to engage in constructive dialogue with the government to address their concerns. The President Tinubu administration has taken steps to address labour-related issues, including the recent implementation of a new minimum wage. This move demonstrates a willingness to engage with labour over concerns about workers’ welfare.

To maintain a productive relationship, labour unions and the government should focus on finding mutually beneficial solutions that balance workers’ needs with the country’s economic realities. Let’s encourage open communication and constructive dialogue to address labour concerns and promote economic growth.

Ajaero should learn from his predecessors and founding fathers of labour movement in Nigeria, who served with integrity. Some of them, like the late Pa Michael Imoudu, still have their praises on the lips of Nigerians decades after they left the stage. If Ajaero wishes to hang himself on the wrong side of history, then good luck to him but he should know Nigeria is not a banana republic. We are governed by laws and anyone proving to be untouchable, the arm of the law is long enough to catch up with them.

Is the NLC president suffering hyper amnesia to forget so soon how Comrade Oshiomhole reaped bountifully from his dogged struggle as the NLC leader? Has he forgotten so soon that it was the massive goodwill Oshiomhole garnered as the NLC president that attracts voters’ confidence to him in Edo state? Even when he was robbed of victory, the people marched to the tribunal to testify, thereby enabling him to reclaim his mandate.

This is a very wrong time for division among stakeholders. Agreed that the economic condition is biting harder; Nigeria is at a critical juncture, facing numerous challenges that require collective effort to overcome. As the president of the NLC, Joe Ajaero has a pivotal role to play in shaping the country’s labour landscape. However, recent events have necessitated the need for him to join hands with President Tinubu to address the nation’s pressing issues.

The current economic turmoil, marked by rising inflation, unemployment and poverty, demands a unified approach. Ajaero’s leadership and influence can be instrumental in bridging the gap between labour and government, fostering a collaborative environment that yields tangible results.

By working together, Ajaero and the government can develop policies that promote job creation, improve working conditions and protect workers’ rights; address the nation’s economic woes through joint initiatives that stimulate growth and investment; enhance social justice and equality, ensuring that all Nigerians have access to basic necessities like healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

History has shown that labour leaders who engage with governments can achieve significant milestones. Nigeria’s labour movement has a rich legacy of collaboration, from Michael Imoudu’s fight for workers’ rights to Ayuba Wabba’s advocacy for social justice.

It is time for Joe Ajaero to embrace this collaborative spirit, putting aside differences and working towards a common goal. By doing so, he can strengthen the NLC’s position as a key stakeholder in national development, demonstrate leadership and commitment to the welfare of Nigerian workers, and contribute to a more stable and prosperous Nigeria where all citizens can thrive.

That said, let me warn in my signature categorical manner that no one should underestimate the peace and security of our country. The leadership of Ajaero has never called out strike over political perpetrators of corruption who sponsored terrorism and created hardship that is currently telling on Nigerians.

Believe me; very soon, some of us, well-meaning Nigerians, will be forced to contact our legal team to sponsor a private bill to the National Assembly seeking to create a new labour union, Nigeria Labour Organisation (NLO). This NLO will not be partsian. Rather, the new labour movement will serve Nigerians diligently in line with the Internal Labour Organisation (ILO) standard.

On a final note, the path to progress is paved with collaboration, understanding, and a willingness to engage. Ajaero has the golden opportunity to make a lasting impact on Nigeria’s future by working closely with the Tinubu renewed hope administration to wriggle the nation out of the economic, social and political morass it is enmeshed in. Will Ajaero seize it? Let’s see how it goes! ( Blueprint)