By Com. Richard Uzegbu, Former National President of NUPENG
Today’s most discussed issue at different fora is the devastation being wrenched globally by the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic. At the time of writing this article, the virus has left over 3,236,810 cases of infection and 228,695 deaths globally; while in Nigeria, the record stands at 1,728 confirmed cases and 51 deaths.
The pandemic has caused a global lockdown with attendant economic and social challenges. Though one of the objectives of the lockdown was to curb human to human transmission, the ripple effects are taking unimaginable toll on the people particularly the vulnerable ones in the society which comprises the working class — the peasants and workers in the formal and informal sectors of the economies.
As expected, this is not the best of times for labour whose members are the direct victims of the impact of the governments’ lockdown.
The Nigeria Labour Congress NLC and The Trade Union Congress TUC- two umbrella unions, representing the Nigerian workers, may not be able to commemorate this year workers’ day with the pomp and pageantry that usually go with the celebration. Various stadia across the country would be devoid of worker’s march-past which is usually the epitome and hallmark of the workers’ day celebration.
May Day or Workers’ Day was chosen to commemorate the Haymarket affair which occurred in Chicago on 4 May 1886 – and ushered May 1 for the legal establishment of 8-hour work for one day, thus abolishing workers’ enslavement from long work-hours.
The nature and character of the May Day celebration for this year are central to this article. The focus would be on synergy as a platform for enhancement of workers welfare through increased productivity, better wages and work conditions. This most important day for workers worldwide would be observed without the flagship march-past and funfair – no thanks to COVID-19 with its concomitant lockdown, restriction of movement and social distancing!
My guess is that the national and state secretariats of these umbrella unions would be under lock and key, in view of the lockdown/restrictions in the country. As earlier said, workers are largely the most vulnerable, therefore at the receiving end of imminent job losses due to the forecasted global economic recession due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The more likely hit would be workers from the informal sector which accounts for 80% of the workforce. Most workers in the category live on daily wages, popularly known as ‘daily pay’, while those on government payroll may continue to receive their normal salaries as their conditions of service are somehow ‘immune’ against vagaries of the economy. Be that as it may, the Ministry of Labour in particular should have had a data bank of such categories of workers as in other climes to work out palliatives for the ‘less fortunate’ segment of the workforce. Your guess on whether or not, a data bank for this category of the workforce exists is as good as mine.
The health workers on the frontline of the fight against Covid 19 deserve special commendation for their gallantry, in spite of the seemingly insurmountable challenges in this special call of duty. The commendation becomes more deservedly as figures released recently by the Minister of Health, Ehinare Osagie show that several health workers are infected by the deadly virus!
Why the forecast of recession in Nigeria and many other countries? The International Monetary Fund and its World Bank counterpart have predicted global economic recession, such that has not been experienced since World War II. Nigeria is already experiencing steep fall on its crude oil price – as low as $16 per barrel. This portends an unthinkable doom for an economy that depends largely (75%) on oil; whose budget benchmark was reduced from $60 to $30 per barrel due to dip in crude price. This would no doubt have direct negative impact on the workers. Although the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari has allayed fear of further fall, the country will nibble on the luxury of hope but the truth remains that we are in a global village. Any major economic shock would trickle down, irrespective of measures to mitigate such.
These realities and ominous signs call for sober reflection by labour leaders whose workers are already groaning under the ripple effects of the lockdown. For NLC and TUC leaders, it’s a time to work. They must rise to the occasion and get involved in the work of the various mitigating economic teams. The labour organisations should be part of the presidential taskforce on Covid 19 if the interest of their members must be served adequately. They should realize that the economic fortune of the country is directly linked to the workers; the country prospers when the workers prosper. Labour should rise above the fear of coronavirus and soar. “Workers of the world, unite”.
Happy workers day to You.