As Nigerian workers join their counterparts all over the world in commemorating the 2021 world decent work day, the Nigeria Labour Congress has called for adequate social security covers for workers at all levels across the country.
The President NLC Comrade Ayuba Wabba made the call in Abuja while leading a peaceful rally organized by labour as parts of its activities to mark this year’s world decent work day.
The match started at about 8am from labour house and terminated at the Head of service where the labour leader alongside other workers carrying various placards with different inscriptions that best described their grievances, presented their demands to the Head of Service of the Federation.
Ayuba stated that there is an urgent need for political class to implement policies that will impact positively on the lower class of citizens in the country.
He further attributed the present insecurity challenges bedeviling the nation to poverty and unemployment.
Comrade Ayuba Wabba noted that “Workers create wealth of the world, and therefore in Nigeria we create the wealth and if we create the wealth, it goes to say that workers must also be well taken care of. The challenge that is ravaging the world today. In fact, the effect is more felt by the workers, because as we speak, the purchasing power of workers have been reduced to nothing”.
“In other countries, senior citizens live with beauty and their dignity is recognised. They have houses for senior citizens. They are free medical care for senior citizens. They are housing for senior citizens, but in our own case, if you don’t have a family to take care of you, it’s between you and your God. That is not decent work” he added.
“All the workers must have social security cover that can take care of them when they are old, when they are aged and have no power, and that is why we will start every conversation with trying to defend our retirees”.
“The challenge that is ravaging the world today. In fact, the effect is more felt by the workers, because as we speak, the purchasing power of workers have been reduced to nothing.
N30,000 cannot buy a bag of rice, and we know how cost of goods or services have gone up. In fact, the worst is that when you retire, you have to struggle to get your benefits”.
He further added that “Importantly, we are also to address the issue of precarious work in all sectors of our economy.
Precarious work means that workers must work with dignity, workers must have Social Security. Workers must have adequate remuneration, and today, all of us are aware that civil servants are the least paid in Nigeria. When you compare to all other sectors. Yet, they are putting their best to service economy. These cannot continue and that is something that needs to be reviewed”.
“So, let me say nicely, that if the poor is allowed to be sleeping without having three meals per day. If the will be allowed to be sleeping with their eyes open, it then clearly means that the rich even if they have cumulated humungous wealth. He will also be a very good material for kidnapping. That is what is happening now” he noted.
In her response, the Head of Service Folasade Yemi-Esan, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office Dr Ngozi Onwudiwe, requested labour to present a written document of their demands and promised to fast track the implementation of all their demands.
It could be recalled that earlier this week, NLC held a round table discussion on decent work as parts of the activities to mark the 2021 world decent work day.
