I Pity Tinubu And His Incoming Administration – NLC Chairman
By Damilola Aina
The president of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, has expressed empathy for the incoming administration due to inconclusive industrial challenges left unattended to by the current regime.
The labour president ,in his assessment of the Nigerian workers’ welfare under the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), stated, “There will be a spillover effect on the coming administration.”
He added that despite the outgoing president’s best efforts, it was not enough to meet the needs of Nigerian workers.
According to him, a lot of industrial crises seem to be looming due to failed agreements with lecturers, doctors, and the power sector.
He said, “The Buhari administration tried its best in ensuring there is industrial peace and harmony to the best of their ability and capability but it was not enough as most of the industrial disputes they treated are unfinished.
“You are talking about Doctors strike, the agreement signed was not implemented and is waiting for the incoming government. The ASUU issue is pending and waiting for the incoming government. There is hardly any agreement that was conclusively decided and exhausted and that is why I pity the incoming administration. A lot of industrial crises seem to be looming.
“There is going to be a spillover effect on the incoming government because when you apprehend issues, it is to an end that you resolve the problem.
When asked about possible solutions to avert strike actions, Ajaero explained that proper technocrats must be allowed to handle the sector adding that the implementation of agreements seems to be the beating heart of many of today’s crises.
“The best way to go is to sit down and study the situation. If this is done. They will be able to handle the issues one after the other, and it will do them a lot of good if they bring in proper technocrats to handle that sector. Trade unions and their leaders are not unreasonable. If you have a new government that is listening and has the right calibre of people to address those issues. They will be resolved, but the major problem is implementation, where agreements made five, or ten years ago are not implemented.
“The implementability of agreements seems to be the reason for the crises we are having. Check ASUU, resident doctors, the power sector, and other sectors. It is not usually too difficult to reach an agreement and strike a balance. But respecting the sanctity of such agreement on the government side has been a problem. Any agreement not forced on the government is expected to be honoured,” he stated.