NAN-H-38
Dialogue
By Chinyere Bassey
Kaduna, Nov. 28, 2017 ( NAN) Some labour leaders on Tuesday advised participants at the 16th Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Hamattan School to be adequately equipped with information to proffer solution during negotiations.
The leaders spoke to about 100 participants from NLC affiliates at the 2017 Harmattan School training with the theme “Strengthening Social Dialogue for Development,’’ in Kaduna.
Mr Ayuba Wabba, President of the NLC in a keynote address, said the many challenges facing workers such as non-payment of salaries and insecurity required dialogue to be addressed.
According to Wabba, represented by Muhammed Kiri, NLC Deputy President, dialogue can be between the parties that can provide solutions to the problems or between the parties involved that can interact to bring solution.
He said that economic recession, non-payment of salaries and pension, as well as other challenges inflicted hardship on the people.
He added that “the solution is in dialogue where superior alternative arguments can be advanced and if applied, can provide solution.
“The challenges facing the country require workers to be intellectually and mentally prepared to be able to proffer alternative solutions.
“The Harmattan School provides platform for trade union leaders and activists with the opportunity to interact and equip themselves with knowledge.”
The NLC president said organised labour would continue to insist on social dialogue and other appropriate industrial actions to protect and advance the rights of workers.
Mr Isa Aremu, a labour leader and former NLC Deputy President, reiterated the need for leaders to have facts to participate effectively during negotiations.
Aremu said it was important for those in the 30-man committee inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari to know that the N56,000 minimum wage currently had no value compared with about two years ago when it was proposed.
He added that “inflation has caught up with about 14 per cent of the money. The first minimum wage was in 1981 which was N120. We need to deliberate on facts to achieve results.”
Mr David Dorkenoo, representative of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), said NLC must build its research department well to engage in social dialogue with employers.
Dorkenoo said workers and labour leaders needed capacity building for
improved conditions.
He added that “labour unions must build technical education and various departments in the secretariat to be involved in negotiation, but you must have information to go into negotiation.”
The ILO representative said leaders should be well informed and committed to any cause before they go for negotiations to be able to make relevant input. (NAN)
CHIN/FF/HA
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Edited by Fela Fashoro/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu