Nigerian staff be a part of their counterparts worldwide to mark Might Day, often known as Staff’ Day, Right this moment.
Nevertheless, reasonably than celebrating, staff in Nigeria discover little trigger for pleasure. Like many different residents, the worsening socio-economic state of affairs has additional deteriorated their residing situations, leaving many impoverished.
Summing up the plight of Nigerian staff, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, lamented that for the reason that present administration took workplace, staff have been beneath extreme pressure.
Based on NLC: “It has been one anti-worker coverage after one other. From final Might Day to as we speak, it has been excruciating and painful.”
Talking on the state of affairs, NLC President Joe Ajaero acknowledged: “It’s unlucky, however the actuality is that inside the capitalist system, we’re continually compelled to reside in a society divided into two courses: the oppressed and the oppressors; the bosses and the employees; the haves and the have-nots. That state of affairs has solely worsened for the reason that final Might Day celebration. We now have been impoverished and dehumanized.
“The struggles we face as staff and as residents of Nigeria are immense—from neoliberal financial insurance policies that impoverish staff to relentless assaults on labour rights.
The ruling elite have ganged up in opposition to the employees and the plenty. They belong to nearly one social gathering and communicate with one voice—one which promotes impoverishment, exploitation, and slavish wages.
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“Right this moment, the Nigerian employee stands at a crossroads—not simply in a nationwide disaster however amidst a world assault on labour. Capitalism, in its insatiable starvation, devours jobs, strips dignity from work, and widens the chasm of inequality. The state, which must be the guardian of justice, appears to have change into the enforcer of exploitative and oppressive insurance policies dictated by Bretton Woods establishments.
“Amidst all this, nonetheless, our motion stays the strongest and most vibrant on the African continent. We now have remained united regardless of quite a few makes an attempt to sow division amongst us. We labored collectively to barter the Nationwide Minimal Wage and have remained steadfast in our engagements with the state.
“Even on this darkness, we discover our objective. The commerce union motion was not born from consolation—it was cast in resistance. Our energy doesn’t come from the benevolence of the elite however from the unity of the exploited. We should not overlook the battle to compel the state to conform to a N70,000 Nationwide Minimal Wage, which is being carried out in breach by many state governments and even the federal authorities.
“The combat for the complete implementation of the Nationwide Minimal Wage is ongoing throughout many states. We should brace ourselves to make sure that all states and the non-public sector adjust to the legislation, at the same time as we start to push for a wage evaluation past the minimal to deal with the widespread hardship.
“To those that nonetheless doubt: the time for hesitation is over. Each employee should awaken to the reality that our liberation is not going to be gifted—it have to be gained. We should act not just for ourselves however for future generations. The ruling class fears just one factor: our collective refusal to stay in servitude. Allow us to construct a motion that doesn’t merely negotiate for crumbs, however calls for a fair proportion of the bread we’ve got baked.”
