Workers’ Day, known as May Day, was celebrated across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with mixed feelings and agitations by Nigerian workers.
In Lagos, the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) on Tuesday said it would not hesitate to ground any airline or aviation concessionaire that refused to allow its employees to join the various aviation unions.
The General Secretary of NUATE, Mr Olayinka Abioye, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the employees’ freedom of association was guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution.
He said the union was presently having disputes with some employers of labour within the industry over their stance on the issue.
According to him, NUATE is currently compiling a list of all the airlines and concessionaires involved in such treatment of their workers.
“Compulsory register of trade unions is in our law and it is not at the pleasure of employer to allow freedom of the workers to trade union.
“This is the right that they brought from heaven,” he said.
Abioye noted that the workers day was a global freedom day for workers which came about from the 1886 market massacre of workers who were agitating for eight hours work pay day.
“Since that time and having gained freedom from our oppressors, who are our employers, May 1 every year is being celebrated as the International Workers Day to celebrate the freedom that we got since the massacre in 1886 in Chicago.
“The Nigerian situation is such that the Nigerian government acknowledges that May 1 is the International Workers’ Day.
“However, this has not been properly accentuated to the extent that all employers of labour should recognise that May 1 should be set aside to celebrate the contribution of workers to the prosperity of their enterprise.’’
Abioye said the unions were also mobilising to shut down the Nigerian airspace due to the insensitivity towards the plight of the former workers of the defunct Nigerian Airways.
“The Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, had earlier told us during a meeting that the last stage of this payment is with the Nigerian Senate.
Abioye said failure to pay the workers their entitlements after this period would therefore lead to a total shutdown of the airspace.
NAN reports that NUATE also staged a rally at its secretariat at the Murtala Muhammed Airport to commemorate the day.
In Kaduna State, workers’ unions in Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government Area of the state said lack of fund had crippled the activities of the May Day celebration in the state.
Checks by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday revealed that Jema’a local government and its environs witnessed zero activities to mark the Day as most workers remained in the comfort of their homes.
Mr Emmanuel Koli, Chairman of the National Union of Teachers in Kafanchan, told NAN that due to lack of fund, the union could not attend the annual commemoration in Kaduna.
Koli, however, urged workers to desist from truancy and redouble efforts in the discharge of their duties.
Also, Mallam Awal Sani, the Vice Chairman of National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) Jema’a Chapter, expressed regret that the economic downturn across the country made it difficult for members to pay their dues.
Meanwhile, a cross-section of workers who spoke to NAN urged government at all levels to see to the plight of workers and ensure it secured their welfare.
Mrs Jumai Abashiya, a civil servant resident in Manchok in Kaura Local Government in Kaduna State, said government should ensure rapid implementation of the proposed minimum wage, to boost workers morale.
Mr Isaac Yaro, a teacher resident in Zonkwa, Zangon Kataf Local Government, said government should prioritise welfare of workers with particular attention to the education sector, to raise its standard.
In Kogi, Dr Rotimi Fadare, a human right activist and former Director in the Federal Ministry of Works, appealed to Kogi workers to remain steadfast.
He noted that it was a matter of regret that while other workers were celebrating the day, Kogi workers were in a most sad and disheartening mood.
He described kogi workers as the most resilient and hard working group, adding that “this regime will pass away soon’’.
Fadare appealed to Kogi workers to remain committed to their work, saying that “in no time God would crown their efforts’’.
There was low turnout of workers for the celebration in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.
The 2018 celebrations, held at the Lafia Square, did not record large turnout compared to previous years.
A member of the Nigerian Civil Service Union in the state who pleaded anonymity at the venue, told NAN that the yearly celebrations had lost its glamour.
“Honestly, this year’s celebration is not colourful at all. Turnout is so low. It is as if people have lost interest in the essence of the celebration,” he said.
NAN reports that the few unions that came out to participate included the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), and Nigerian Union of Railwaymen (NUR).
Others are Nigerian Civil Service Union, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT).
In Kwara, workers agitated for better welfare to improve their well being.
Some of them who spoke with NAN in Ilorin, said both the state and Federal Government should make workers’ welfare a priority.
A respondent, who is also a state employee, Mr Tajudeen Bello, said it was only good welfare that would make the employer demand for justification of payment of salaries.
”In a situation where salaries are not paid promptly or when they are not even paid fully, how such employers can seek for justification of receipt of salaries.
A Federal Government employee, Mr Jaiye Kanmi, said the importance of workers’ welfare could not be over emphasised.
“We are just working as elephants and eating like ants which should not be so, ” Kanmi said.
The Chairman, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara, Mr Muyiwa Oladipo, called on Nigerian workers to lead in promoting unity and national development.
Oladipo made the call in a message to mark the event in Omu-Aran.
He said there was no meaningful development that could be achieved without the support and cooperation of the workers.
The council boss said his administration would continue to prioritise the welfare of workers, adding that efforts were ongoing to pay their outstanding salary arrears.
In a similar development, the Bishop of Bible Faith Evangelical Mission, David Omorinoye, said Nigerian workers deserved praises for their devotion, steadfastness.
Omorinoye expressed the need for government at all levels to reciprocate the workers genuine gesture with improved welfare condition.
He urged the workers to continue to exhibit understanding and maturity toward ensuring the sustenance of the country’s democratic system.
Omorinoye appealed to state governors owing backlog of salaries and entitlements, to settle such in the spirit of Workers’ Day celebration.(NAN)