The Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) has implored affiliates of the labor movement in Nigeria to make provisions for workers’ organization.
NLC President, Ayuba Wabba made the plea at the opening session of NLC Organizing Academy supported by the Solidarity Center.
According to him, “this is because organizing plays key role in protecting workers”. While noting that “Trade union density is on the decline, organizing pattern has changed due to current employment relationship” there is need for organizers to be educated and innovative to confront the new challenges.
Ayuba who was recently re-elected into the governing board of the International Labour Organization (ILO,) noted that “The first body of the worker is the union and as a matter of priority, the NLC organizing Academy forum has come to stay.” He said that the Academy shall be modelled similar to International Union Confederation – (ITUC) who provides organizing training for union organizers and Global Union Federations who are politically committed through their resources to prioritize organizing as union agenda. He assured participants that NLC shall equally adapt same.
Ayuba’s call for organizing comes at no better time than now that labor and pro-labor civil society groups recently met to explore challenges and opportunity for joint campaigns. While referencing the “American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organization (AFL-CIO) who has over the years demonstrated its ability to connect with workers organizing and political rights, he noted that face to face worker organizing is the foundation for protecting the right to organize and workers would like to sign up to the union if they are properly educated on its advantages.
Earlier, Solidarity Center Country Program Director for West Africa Comrade Sonny Ogbuehi pledged the Center’s sustained support to the project that is “expected to develop campaign plans and engage in long term mentorship of organizers”, while equally acknowledging the role Trade Union Strengthening (TUS) department of the Center has played in compiling the training curriculum.
The academy was attended by NLC affiliate unions drawn from Private and Informal sectors with active participation of two Deputy General Secretaries of Congress- Comrades Ismail Bello and Chris Uyot.
