Now, a truce

• It’s time for Labour movement and government to review their role relation

Since the advent of the Fourth Republic, the Labour movement has been playing the role of an adversary to governments at the federal and sub-national levels. Perhaps it is a spillover mentality from the military years when the men in khaki used coercion to get everyone in the country into line. Civil society groups were at odds with that culture and forged alliance with Labour, the media, the academia and students movements.

More than two decades on, Labour has allowed that mentality to define its relationship with the various governments since then. At every point when Labour felt that the public was feeling uneasy at implementation of policies, it “rolled out the tanks,” threatening to apply maximum pressure to control and direct public policy in whatever direction it preferred. The October 3 “indefinite and total strike” that failed to take off was one example. A united Labour movement said it had mobilised all its members, including those in essential services including aviation, power, petroleum upstream, among others to “shut down” the economy. Why the workers thought that to be the solution to the hardship in the country is not clear. It is good, however, that good sense eventually prevailed.

The Federal Government that is constitutionally saddled with industrial relations, too, must realise that workers are important to the production process and running the affairs of the nation. It should not wait until strike actions are declared before securing the understanding of workers’ representatives.

Governments in Nigeria since the Cost of Living Allowance strike of 1945 have failed to regard the Labour movement as a partner in progress. Labour, understandably at the time, as well saw itself as a partner of the burgeoning radical arm of the nationalist movement and was still learning to understand the transition from the colonial to the independent era when the military swept away the elected post-colonial government. The longer the military held the reins of government, the more it grew disdainful of democratic forces. At some point, it even legislated against discussing national affairs in the public space. It was in that context that Labour kicked and fought. As was the case for other sectors and institutions, the military government had no time for “tantrums” by Labour leaders who were seen and treated like irritants.

But the circumstance has changed, it is no longer the same setting. If at the inception of this Republic, Labour could not easily forge new strategies and tactics for its primary role of seeking better living atandards for its members, it has the blame for still living in them beyond nearly a quarter of a century into the new dispensation.

In under four months of the Bola Tinubu presidency, Labour has moved from the threat of a strike that was averted by court injunction on the eve of breaching industrial peace, to a warning strike that recorded partial success, and then to the October 3 aborted strike. When that tool is overused, it loses its cutting edge. So, Labour should device means of engaging with government in its bid to protect workers’ interests and project the national interest, as it understands, above all else.

Labour, civil society, the academic community as well as the organised private sector should push for inclusive governance that would protect their interests from within the system. Nigerian political parties are diverse and broad enough to represent all segments of the society, and many of those in the current ruling party had themselves been activists in the past. They should be used by both camps as links. The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) should realise that the government does not exist for workers in the public service alone. Most times that they mobilise all workers, and sometimes a wing of the civil society to bare their fangs, they only come up with demands for more wages that only push up the inflationary trend. Nigeria is currently faced with multifaceted challenges that require all hands on deck of a ship sailing at sea and being tossed by storm.

All must be ready to make sacrifices, but national leaders have to work hard at earning citizens’ confidence. The Tinubu administration inherited much of the baggage it is carrying and should be given time to sort things out. But, the government should start showing its difference from its predecessors by faithfully implementing every agreement with Labour and others. It starts with fidelity to the famous social contract.