Nigeria: Time to Reinvent Labour Unity

opinion

Mni — Precisely because yours comradely is involved, I bear witness that lack of unity and coherence within the labour movement has inadvertently undermined its collective response to the recent fuel price increase. It's time we reinvented labour unity to the benefit of working men and women. More than ever before the maturity and sincerity of purpose of the trade union leaders is under test. It is self-evident that if unionists operate separately, they will be defeated separately by any employer or government.

Conversely, if unionists operate in unity, they will triumph as one. The recent 70 per cent fuel increase is indiscriminate in its negative impact on transport cost and cost of living in general. This fact was also well acknowledged by the government that announced the price increase necessitating official palliatives. Legitimately the public expected that the response of organized labour must be inclusive and uniform, not disjointed as we recently witnessed. The worsening poverty, rising inflation, job losses and bad governance must task our imaginations as labour leaders to work as one instead of seeking positions for recognitions from governments and employers that do not deliver tangible results for the working men and women. It is commendable and reassuring that Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, says government had no intention of factionalizing the labour movement.

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