By Bimbola Oyesola, Geneva, Switzerland
Nigeria’s Government has commended the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) for non-resumption of their strike after the expiration of the five working days ultimatum yesterday.
Speaking with journalists after Nigeria’s presentation of her report to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) at the ongoing International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland, yesterday, Minister of Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, said the non resumption of the relaxed strike showed the workers’ patriotism.
“I commend them for being patriotic and knowing that a strike should not be on the table because there are people who cannot eat until they go out everyday. They had to come to the secretariat to sell bananas. That is how they can feed their children and get money to provide for their needs. So, when you close the office, how do they survive.”
She stated that labour should be commended for not resuming the strike and having hope that the president would do something.
“Everyone commends them for doing what is right. If you look at the speech of everyone who spoke here, they all spoke about having a working relationship with the government. All the countries are speaking about having a good working environment, but you cannot achieve all these when you go on strike.”
The labour minister bemoaned the challenges Nigerians face anytime there’s a strike action. “When you strike, people die. Switching off the national grid would translate to the death of many people, who are under oxygen in the hospitals.
“Even when you are declaring a strike, there are areas that should be regarded as essential services, and the strike should not affect them. You cannot shut down hospitals or remove light because some people rely on energy to breathe.”
Onyejeocha, however, expressed reservation on the way people reacted to labour’s non resumption of the strike after the expiration of the ultimatum.
She emphasised that in negotiations, none of the parties is expected to back out or say things that would hurt the other party.
“You have to be consistent and be respectful to the other party, as you drive home your point,” she said.
She said government would continue to see labour as an important ally, adding that she visited the leadership of the organised labour upon her assumption of office to see how the two could work together.
“We are the same one Nigeria, and we need to be in the same boat. Like the president said, he is the driver and we are the conductors, while all Nigerians are the passengers,” she said.
Meanwhile, she has also assured that Nigeria would continue to intensify measures that would eradicate child Labour.
“I do not know whether you are aware that the president had commissioned a whole body to take care of the ‘Almajiris.’ He is also revamping Universal Basic Education (UBE). And the government has a policy of engaging everyone, including minors; taking them back to school, whether they have money or not, and of course, implementing free primary education.”
Onyejeocha said the Federal Government had also pulled off the student loans that had never happened before. “The government is doing a lot and tomorrow being Child Labour Day, I believe we would celebrate with a lot of hope for vulnerable children.”
According to the Minister, the Federal Government has also initiated policies to punish people, including parents of children engaged in child labour.
“It is your child but the government is saying that you do not have to subject your children to such. It is bad for the child’s future, for the government, and even their parents. What do you turn those children into? They will end up becoming all sorts of things that society does not want for them,” she stressed.
