NLC warns govt against plan to reduce power of labour

By ANDREW OJIEZEL

IN apparent bid to forestall another confrontation with the Federal Government, the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has warned against toying with the idea of reducing the power of labour union in the country.
Describing those proposing the delisting of labour matters from the exclusive legislative list not only as those that are always afraid of labour based on their anti-workers and anti-masses activities but also they are interested in reducing the trade unions and use that chance to suppress workers’ agitation against anti-labour activities.
Warning government against such idea, NLC noted that the call became imperative to prevent head-on collision with the government, stressing that organized labour is ready to resist such move and that the January 2012 mass protest against fuel would be a child’s play if government goes ahead to emasculate labour.
The President, Comrade AyubaWabba, noted that labour will not allow such move to sail through because it is going to make Nigerian workers more vulnerable to attacks by unscrupulous employers of labour in the country.
Reacting to the move by the Ekiti State government to reduce the power and action of labour, Wabba stressed that such idea was only day-dreaming which will not see the light of the day.
Likewise, the NLC Chairman in Ado Ekiti, Comrade Ade Adesanmi, described the statement allegedly credited to the State Head of Service, Dr. Gbenga Faseluka, that labour matters should be moved to concurrent list as very disturbing, saying such attempt would be vehemently resisted by labour.