TRIBUNE
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in a recent message authored by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, harped on some burning issues that will make or mar the industrial peace in Nigeria in 2024. CHRISTIAN APPOLOS, brings excerpt:
Tittled ‘We can be better if…,’ NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero emphatically in the 2024 message asked the Federal Government to prevent industrial disharmony in the country by ensuring implementation of many agreements reached with the organised labour.
The message began by saying: “As we bid farewell to the challenges and triumphs of the past year, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) extends warm wishes to you and your loved ones. The year 2023 has undoubtedly been a test of our collective strength and resilience. We have faced uncertainties, overcome obstacles and witnessed moments that may have left us feeling disheartened.
“In 2023, we witnessed two major agreements signed between the Federal Government and NLC and TUC. The June 5 and October 2 agreements. Whether these have been faithfully implemented or not is open for every discerning Nigerian to see.
“Nigerians will judge that by our actions thus far, we have demonstrated enormous patience with this government and has been accused and labelled as having been settled by the government but we recognise that this is part of the burden of leadership which we are prepared to bear to ensure that we do not only take the right actions but that they yield the expected results, keeping our nation surviving as an entity and avoiding fifth columnists from taking advantage of the situation to destroy our nation. In all of these, this government has shown enormous unfaithfulness in keeping to agreements; the N35,000 wage award has not been faithfully implemented, the PH refinery has not come on stream as projected, while the National Minimum Wage Negotiation Council has not been inaugurated as agreed, the CNG has been distorted by agents of government for the benefit of a few.”
Ajaero further said; “Divisions along our various primordial fault lines rather than heal became exacerbated this year mainly as a result of the unfortunate activities of politicians who played them up in their bid to win elections. Our nation has, therefore, become more divided than ever with growing suspicion and increasing trust deficits along those lines. Citizens’ confidence in the government is therefore deeply wounded causing further disconnect between the…
