The exploitation of Nigerians by both the Government and the private sector has gained prominence over the years. Organizations seek to maximize profits at little or no costs, while workers remain distraught and aggrieved for obvious reasons.
The workers who are not given documentary evidence of their engagement, work under unjust and inhumane conditions for unattractive wages.
After working for several years such workers are afflicted with terminal health conditions or even death, just as their employers ' response is contrary to expectations from labor-friendly establishments. The attitude of today's labor leaders has not in anywat saved the almost hopeless situation.
In this interview with Governance, the Founder, Spiritual Head, and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke opines that the mindset of labor leaders today brought about the precarious situation and as a result, the legacy of Pa Michael Imoudu should be revived. Excerpts :
How can Government at all levels correct the deficiencies in matters affecting workers in Nigeria?
The lack of promoting our educational programs to a functional level is the basis upon which Nigerians continue to be exploited even after colonial rule.
To date, the problem of neo-colonialism continues to make things worse for us, because we find ourselves in a situation whereby the privileged few in positions of power traditionally find it cultural to exploit those who they are supposed to serve turning governance into opportunities for business as usual and self-enrichment.
This poor attitude has made the impoverishment of the people and the land to be part of government diplomacy.
It is always highly embarrassing to see the government neglecting golden advice which may bring sanity to development. For example, commensurate parity in salary structure would have brought about the erstwhile dignity of labor and due process in procurement, whereby those in government do not make fun and feast of expenditure while going about executing projects.
Why is it that the present hike in electricity tariffs and the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit(PMS) is heavily distributed on the already choked masses, while we continue to experience government at all levels inability to raise N18,000 per month to N 30,000 in the face of a bag of rice becoming N30,000 per bag?
Why is it difficult for the government to review, downward, the salaries and allowances of political office holders, including those of the National Assembly members?
When would the country have people with a conscience for the people they govern. Without taking recourse to the above posers, this democracy will remain a ruse. This is because we are operating against the fundamental objectives of democracy.
For Nigerian workers, it is unfortunate that successive administrations have compromised formidable pressure groups such as the student and workers unions through divide and rule tactics to weaken them into becoming toothless bulldogs and less of been the voice of the people.
This is why exploitation in both the public and private sectors of Nigeria's workforce has been allowed to snowball into an abysmal state of dehumanization.
On the record in Nigeria, Pa Michael Imoudu lived to establish a legacy of fighting for and defending the cause of the workers in the hostile environment of the colonial masters. He was on several occasions incarcerated without downing tools, for him to become iconic. He was revered and respected. Today he is Nigeria's legend on labor issues. The Federal Government, on his death, celebrated him as an epitome of the dignity of labor, a labor house was built in his name. If he was so recognized and respected with all the legacies of ensuring workers' comfort and wellness, why is it that his ideas have been abandoned by successive governments, while his agility and tenacity are no longer been upheld by workers' unions today. It is unfortunate in Nigeria, that when the best of journalists are hired by the government, they easily become politically polarized, to the extent that they neglect the fundamentals of truth and the pen, for heresies to continue in the land.
The same thing is with many labor leaders who performed creditably well during their hay days, but become awfully disappointing when they happen to get into positions of power in governance.
This is why I am recommending that the difference in leadership and management need to be noted by any individual with union experience going into governance to have some orientation on leadagment, where leadership and management concept are merged to favor service for maximum realization.
Labor unions are not supposed to wait until the government fails to do its duties accordingly, they are supposed to monitor policy formulation as well as how the executives are implementing it.
Lastly, there is a need to resort to Pa Micahel Imoudu's legacy of the dignity of labor for high efficiency in productivity and profitability which is always the target of every industry to be sustainable.
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