By Comrade Samson Oyelere
For decades, collaboration has been the soul of labour, the very oxygen that sustained our struggle. It meant solidarity, collective bargaining, joint action and a common front against oppression, injustice and anti-worker policies. It meant that an injury to one was an injury to all. Sadly, that noble culture of collaboration appears to be almost off the shelves of operation these days. What we see now is competition where there should be comradeship, suspicion where there should be solidarity, and ego where there should be engagement.
One is compelled to ask: are labour leaders across the nation following the trend of discussions on what the approval given to the 70,000 Naira transportation allowance has caused among the referred gladiators? The allowance, which ought to be a modest relief for workers and a subject for joint appraisal and strategic engagement with government, has suddenly become a weapon of division, a tool for a supremacy battle between labour centres. Instead of harmonising positions to ensure effective implementation and expansion of the benefit to all workers, our centres have turned it into a contest of who is more relevant.
In as much as we may disagree to agree – because disagreement itself is healthy in any democratic movement the dimension brought to the discourse by the TUC President today on national television is worrisome, to say the least. Issues should be discussed, not personalities. When national labour leaders descend into personality attacks on live television, calling out each other rather than dissecting policies, we erode the dignity of the movement. We cannot afford to go down this path and still expect Nigerian workers to consider the leadership of the labour centres as role models.
A house divided against itself cannot breed any development. This is not just a biblical truth; it is a practical reality of the labour movement. How do we negotiate effectively with government when we are busy fighting ourselves? How do we mobilise workers for a common struggle when the top is disunited? How do we speak truth to power when our own voice is hoarse from internal wrangling?
Unfortunately, this same rivalry is noticeable among many State Councils of both centres, thereby putting those they lead, the ordinary workers, at the receiving end of their rivalry. In many states, joint negotiation councils have collapsed, May Day celebrations have been factionalised, and workers have been polarised along centre lines. The civil servant in the ministry, the teacher in the classroom and the health worker in the clinic are confused. They no longer know who speaks for them. At the end of the day, it is the worker who suffers delayed promotion, unpaid allowances and obnoxious policies, while leaders are busy protecting their turfs.
This is the time to call for a rethink. I wish to advise the leadership of the two labour centres to harmonise their thoughts and engage the veterans, the past heroes and founding fathers who laboured to build this movement, to resolve this feud before it consumes the movement entirely. Let the council of elders, former Presidents of NLC and TUC, be convened as a matter of urgency. The movement is bigger than any individual.
And if there is anyone or group of people feeding fat on this crisis or turning this unfortunate situation into a game for personal relevance, pecuniary gains or political patronage, let them remember that the spirit of the founding fathers of the Congress, Pa Imoudu, Pa Adebola, Hassan Sunmonu and others will judge such individuals or groups. History is watching.
Affiliated Unions on both sides also have a role to play. They should not remain silent while the centre collapses. They should advise their principals accordingly. I felt personally ashamed watching our leaders rubbishing themselves in the national space. If we do not respect ourselves, why should government respect us? If we wash our dirty linen in public, why should Nigerian workers trust us with their future?
The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress are not enemies. They are Siamese twins in the struggle for workers’ emancipation. Their philosophies may differ in style, but their goal is one which is the welfare and dignity of the Nigerian worker.
May the labour of our heroes past not be in vain with the recent attitude of our leaders.
My final take is simple and unambiguous: Discuss issues, not individuals.
Let us return to collaboration. Let us return to solidarity. Let us rescue the labour movement from this confused state.
Solidarity forever!
