BY DAYO ADESULU
NIGERIANS labour unions have urged Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige to review Labour and Trade Union Laws. The United Labour Congress (ULC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) are at the fore front in this crusade.
Both the ULC and TUC made the call to Ngige in a letter after his re-appointment as the minister of labour. President of TUC, Comrade Quadri Olaleye signed the letter addressed to Chris Ngige.
ULC commends Ngige on willingness to review union laws
ULC President, Comd. Joe Ajaero, commended Ngige on his willingness to review the existing Labour laws during his first terms. He enjoined the Minister to immediately resuscitate the move to achieve it.
Ajaero said: “We still remember your determination in pursuing the review of all the Labour and TU Laws in Nigeria. “The initiative will plug all the loopholes that allow malicious employers to abuse the rights and privileges of Nigerian workers.”
Labour Minister urged to protect workers’ rights and jobs
Ajaero said: “It was Ngige’s desires that Nigerian workers’ rights be protected and jobs kept. You believed that all actors within the nation’s Industrial Relations show fairness in their dealings with other social partners,
“Ngige informed TUC that the weak must be protected. Overall, you said we must all have eyes on making sure that the nation’s economy made progress.”
Ajaero urged Ngige to use his office and review the extant Labour and Trade Union Laws in Nigeria which he started in the Ministry.
Labour unions want more inclusive democratic trade union movement
Ajaero requested that Ngige makes efforts to ensure that the nation runs a more inclusive and democratic trade union movement. ” It’s only by doing this that we conform to our traditions as social partners and a democratic nation,” Ajaero said.
Ajaero warned that any form of dictatorship, undemocratic practices within the sector must be purged.
The ULC is the third trade union centre in the country. Ajaero is presently seeking a legal backing to be registered as a federation of trade unions.
Ngige explained that the ULC could not be registered during his first tenure because of the provisions of the Labour Act.
He said the ULC has some affiliate trade unions under it. “The Trade Union Act asked for a brand new 12 unions. Most of the unions under the ULC were already existing unions and not new,” Ngige said.