By James Magit
Globally, every first day of May in gregorian calendar is set aside for workers to reflect and celebrate their various struggles for improvement in their employment conditions of service, which hitherto were akin to master and slave relationship. The Industrial revolution in Europe significantly influenced the workers agitations which gave birth to collective struggle out of common feeling that owners of factors of production are exploiters of labour provider otherwise known as worker. The coming together of workers under unionism redefined the worker and employer relationship. However, whatever success the workers recorded, the forbearers paid a price: arrest & detention, loss of pay, dismisal etc. On the other hand, the employer whom was seen as wielding the big stick had his own woes during the workers collective struggle: strike and loss of production, sabotage resulting into work stopagge, pilferage etc.
In a nutshell, the employer and workers relationship is repleted with clashes leading to the emergence of a third leg referred to as government or the state as detailed in Industrial Relations Management studies. Government which is expected to be a moderator and set standards in the relationship, doubled as major player and employer of labour, thereby entangling it self in the tripartite relationship. Hence, the workers agitation has become endless with severe consequencies on the economy and future development of nations. Although, governments historically posed as arbiters between labour and workers, in reality the government was invariably on the side of the employers of labour since those in government were generally agents of the employer of labour.
In Nigeria, the colonial administration applied the British pattern of relationship between labour and employer with low rating of the indigeneous workforce. Obnoxious ordinances gagging the employees and refusing them basic rights at workplace were enacted. So common, were long working hours, non payment of commensurate wages, no adequate compensation of injury arising from work, unwritten employment contract, discrimnatory pay rates, unhygienic work enviroment etc. All these compelled the indigenous workers to commence a struggle for fairness and improvement. One daring figure that deserve mention in labour struggle in Nigeria is Late Pa Micheal Imoudu. He organised the workers and spearheded a national strike in 1945. He was of the Nigeria Railway corporation. He became a nightmare to the colonial administration.
Nigeria’s political independence in 1960 has a strong imprimatur of the labour movement struggle. Unfortunately, the joy of the Nigerian worker was shortlived. An indigeneous colonisation of workers reared its head.
Bearing in mind the limitation of individual workers making a meaningful inroad to effect justice, the formation of trade unions across industrial sectors became a viable option, with federal government standing as registrar of trade unions of which they constituted an impediment to both formation and operations of the unions.
Some of the early unions were of electricity and railway workers. Gradually more unions came into being and the incursion of military into our political space from 1966 to 1979 and thereafter further suffocated labour movement. Neither, did the second republic civilian administration from 1979 to 1983, fared better. While the rest of the global workers were recognised as critical partners of nations development and were celebrating May or Workers day as is interchangably used, such practice was completely absent in Nigeria till 1980 when a true people oriented political platform, the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) produced two democrats with humane face as Governors of Kaduna and Kano in the persons of late Alh Abubakar Rimi and Alh Balarabe Musa respectively. These two gentlemen did not blink for a second before bracing the odds and adhered to their party manifesto. They realigned their workers feelings and expectations with their party’s philosopy of redeeming the proletariat from the bondage of suppression . They declared first of May as workers day in their respectives states and integrated workers as respected partners in transforming their states.
Levearaging on the PRP threshold, other political parties holding power in other states and indeed the federal government under National Party of Nigerai (NPN) cosmetically joint suit the following year, without a guiding commitment. First of May eventually got the national recognition to date and PRP remained the unsung hero. Worthy of note, is late Pa Micheal Imoudu who gave labour movement a good bite in the country and he remained a resolute and faithful PRP actor in his life time.
Unarguably, PRP gave workers an unforgettable prestige in Nigeria and by extension Africa and the globe. It is this people centred philosophy of the PRP that has kept it floating inspite of the stormy political waters in Nigeria. It has been able to keep an untainted convenant with the people especially the masses. From its initial name of NEPU in the 50’s and metamorphosing to PRP in 1978, the focus is consistent; justice and commitment to people through massive infrastructural development.
Late Mallam Aminu Kano, really laboured, though he never had the opportunity under the PRP to be Nigeria’s president in 1979, but he left no single serious minded political analyst and observer in doubt of his and the PRP genuine commitment to better the lots of Nigerians. Quite consoling, a number of his faithfuls who excelled in various endeavours abound to be saddled with public offices under the improved PRP platform. It is up to them to either pick the gaunlet & come forward to contest elections or patriotic Nigerians should prop them up. While the decision is being taken, the Nigeria Labour Movement represented by Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, United Labour Congress and several other sectoral affliates Unions, need to consider a place for PRP in their halls of fames and further debate it as political party to be entrusted with responsibilities at all levels of political leadership. The Nigerian political scientists & actors also need to devote time to evolve positive roadmap out of the over four decades of Peoples Redemption Party unwearied consistency. If the singular courage and vision of People Redemption Party culminated into giving the Nigerian workers comfort to celebrate and perform at continental and global stage (International Trade Union Congress and and International Labour Organisation) then there is the likelihood that the future of Nigerian worker will bloom under PRP Government at the centre.
Congratulations to Nigerian workers and happy may day celebration. As the celebration gathers momentum, labour leadership is advised to commence exploring mutually beneficial options which may be forced on the economy as post COVID 19 outcome. Stay safe and healthy. Aluta continua, Victoria Ascerta!
Magit a Human Resource and Labour Management practitioner based at Lagos.
Email: [email protected], 08029227757
