NIGERIA WORKERS DAY CELEBRATION

As workers the world over mark the 2009local economic recession, which unfortunately
International Workers Day, Nigerian workers toosome employers are capitalizing on to exploit
held rallies to celebrate the workers day.workers. These issues are threatening the very
Rallies were held in Abuja, the federal capitalsurvival of workers.
territory and some states of the federation.This year's celebration of May Day should should
In many countries, May Day is synonymous withserve as an opportunity for careful reflection on
International Workers Day or Labour Day, whichthe seeming hopelessness of the worker's
celebrates the social and economic achievementssituation and the formulation of possible solutions.
of the labour movements.Workers have everything to gain if for instance
This year's Workers' Day is coming at athey take up key issues affecting their welfare
particularly difficult period given the globaland seek to relate them to the federal
economic crisis that has impacted adversely ongovernment's development proposals. It is no
workers and their circumstances.longer sufficient to carry placards and criticise
The combination of these has effectively reducedgovernment for non-performance.
the average worker's quality of life. Added to thisWorkers can contribute to government's current
is the challenge of unemployment made worse byeffort at revitalising agriculture, or the textile
rapid de-industrialisation within the Nigerianindustry that used to be a major employer of
economy.labour.
Government should not overlook potential areasNonetheless, organised labour must continue to
of friction that need to be addressed. Workersplay its role in protecting workers' rights,
through the Nigeria Labour Congress have forenhancing their welfare and creating more
instance been demanding a new minimum wageavenues for work and fulfilment.
of N52,000.00 per month as a cushion againstWorkers should therefore take the bull by the
rising inflation and cost of living.horns and design measures to promote their
This is yet to be resolved although workers needself-interest and by extension, the work
to engage government more constructively withenvironment. Labour needs to engage its
ideas about how to improve the economy andmembers more meaningfully and re-energise itself.
provide opportunities, rather than the yearlyIn addition, as Nigerian workers marked May Day
monotonous insistence on wage indexation.this year, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on
Government should continue to negotiate withThursday said the chapter on a new minimum
workers in appropriate cases towards averting anwage had not been closed.
unpleasant industrial situation.The union's declaration may bring relief to its
President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, whosemembers, who may have been inundated with
government will soon be two years old, hasspeculations that the Federal Government may
consistently promised better opportunities forhave rebuffed the NLC leadership on the matter.
Nigerian workers, through the provision of roads,NLC President, Abdulwaheed Omar, said the union
public transportation, housing, power supply,was still holding talks with the Federal Government
security and other infrastructure that can improveto ensure that Nigerian workers get higher pay.
workers' welfare.Omar told The Guardian in Abuja on Thursday
The challenge is for government to be focused inthat though the 21-day ultimatum given to the
providing these amenities, as a means ofgovernment on the N52, 200 new minimum
improving the work environment. Sadly, suchwages expired two weeks ago, there were
promises in the past have been observed more inmoves in government circle to raise a committee
the breach.to work out the modalities for the new salary
Workers are directly affected by the global andstructure.