Labour Leaders Urge Incoming Minister to Understand Workers’ Plight Amid Economic Challenges

On Sunday, two union leaders expressed that the soon-to-be-appointed Minister of Labour should show understanding towards the workforce, particularly during these challenging economic times.

In individual conversations with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos, they voiced their opinions ahead of the inauguration of the new cabinet by President Bola Tinubu on Monday.

Mrs. Funmi Sessi, Chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Lagos, conveyed her confidence in Mr. Simon Lalong, who will oversee the Ministry of Labour and Employment. She believes his past tenure as the governor of Plateau State has equipped him with the necessary experience.

Sessi emphasizes that Lalong should leverage this past experience to address labour-related matters effectively.

“The future is bright with labour and Lalong as the minister, all things being equal, if he will not change, and with the good industrial relationship that he maintained with the labour unions in his state.

“I hope he will extend it to the labour centres in Nigeria, including Nigeria Labour Congress, all workers, not only in the public sector, but private as well; both formal and informal.

”This is necessary so that we can have the working people in Nigeria partake in the same wealth that they create; it will be a commonwealth, and that is our hope, “ she said.

The labour leader said that the sector would need a minister with compassion, and experience; one who is humane.

Sessi said, “Someone that will give all to ensure that he will create more ground for employment, productivity, high yield of productivity.”

Also, the Secretary, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Lagos State Council, Mr Aladetan Abiodun, said the new Minister for Labour would be facing an inherited tense industrial space due to the fuel subsidy removal.

According to him, the removal has impacted negatively on all fixed-income earners.

“I strongly believe that if this issue is not properly managed, it may snowball into a full-scale industrial crisis.

“It is precisely this reason that we want a minister who will hit the ground running.

“Also, we want the issue of the new minimum wage to be quickly settled; this is another area where we are going to need quick intervention.

“Furthermore, we hope under this new administration, the Ministry of Labour will wake up to some of its statutory responsibilities in the area of labour inspections.

“This includes bringing employers of labour who often breach their contract of agreement with employees to order, as well as ensuring that the laws of our land are respected, particularly by foreign companies who usually show utter disrespect to our labour laws, “ Aladetan said.