The national president of Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI), Comrade Olusoji Oluwole, yesterday called on the Nigerian workers’ and Trade Unions in the country be prepared to endure hardship and fight for their rights as one united body in solidarity.
Comrade Oluwole, made the call yesterday while addressing workers at the 2024 world day for decent work commemoration, organised by the association on October 7, 2024 at ASSBIFI Alausa-Ikeja.
He said: “We hold this day special, because of what it stands for. The promotion of fundamental rights and privileges of the worker, decent and convenient work environment, occupational health and safety, and social justice.
“We strongly believe that decent work is a fundamental right and not a privilege. To perform optimally, the worker deserves fair wage, social protection, respect, dignity economic stability and of course security. In all these democracy plays a significant role.
The theme this year is “workers deserve peace and democracy”.
“This theme provokes deep reflection on the devastating impact of the pervading global economic crises, insecurity of lives and properties due to rising armed conflicts, social injustice, unemployment and job insecurity, work-life imbalance amongst others. These are all products of the absence of true democracy and peace.
The ASSBIFI President, who emphasised that the time has come for employers and workers to develop mutual, noted that it takes the collaborative efforts of both parties, employer (capital) and worker (labour) to generate profit.
He said: “The worker and employer should collaborate as partners in progress. While we recognise that there are senior and junior partners, none should be reduced to a subordinate role or exploited as an ordinary production or service tool.
“The worker should be treated with respect and dignity. It is imperative to note that without labour there is no value added, no gain, and no wealth.
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”Workers’ contributions to wealth creation, socio-economic development and Nation Building are indispensable.
“Nigerian workers’ and Trade Unions should be prepared to endure hardship and fight for their rights as one united body in solidarity.
“To actualise the desired workers’ rights and privileges, we have to ensure that responsive and enduring labour laws and policies are enacted to check-mate the increasing injustices and unfair labour practices in our workplaces.
“Let me remind us that the amendment of the Labour Laws which commenced sometime in 2004 is still in process, after two decades.
“We implore Government to show commitment so that the Nigeria worker can enjoy labour laws that react and capture current and emerging industrial relations issues and matters.
“The Trade Union (Amendment) Act, 2005 provides that “Membership of a trade union shall be voluntary…” but the democratic intent for which this provision was made, has become a channel of exploitation to the detriment of trade unions, whereby some employers make denial of Membership of trade union a condition for employment.
“Using systematic threats, intimidation, victimisation and oppression, workers are either dissuaded from joining the union or persuaded to withdraw their membership of trade unions.
“The plan is to vitiate and ultimately kill trade unions in the Nigerian work environment”.
