Does Labour speak for all?

Nigerians have been reacting to the mass rally organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, which took off in Lagos on Wednesday.

The rally, which started around 8.00am had caused heavy traffic jam in major parts of the state’s mainland, especially along the Ikeja-bound carriageway of the Ikorodu road, all along Ikeja to the State Secretariat at Alausa.

Taiwo Adelekan, an engineer said the labour unions should protest until all their demands are met.

“What Labour is asking for is for the progress of the Nigerian workers and all Nigerians. It would have been better if all Nigerians joined them in the rally. Maybe the government will take them seriously. I work in a private firm and I know what I earn; ₦5,500 minimum wages is just too small.

"These politicians spend more than this amount in two minutes and they want a man to spend it with his wife and children per month? This cannot work," Mr. Adelekan said.

A commercial bus driver Akor Jacob said the union should assist the poor.

"Labour is only thinking of government workers, what about us doing daily work?," he asked. “If the government gives them all the money what will they use for other people? Labour should also tell its members to engage in other business so that they can earn more."

Meanwhile, the president of the union, Abdulwaheed Omar, said the Union will sponsor a bill to the National Assembly pressing for the full implementation of the Mohammed Uwais electoral reform report.

“We will sponsor a bill to the National Assembly for the full implementation of the retired Justice Uwais electoral reform. We will accompany the bill with 20 million signatures from Nigerians and we will ensure that the bill is passed into law,” Mr. Omar said.

The labour unions' mass protest is to stop government’s plan to deregulate the price of oil, push for a monthly minimum wage of ₦52,000 for civil servants, and demand the full implementation of the Uwais electoral reforms.