Comrade Onikolease Irabor is the number two man in the leadership of the powerful Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC. He also sits on the Executive Board of the International Transport Workers Federation, ITF Worldwide. Amidst concerns of the dwindling influence of NLC and rising tone of critics who would want a total decentralization of the Nigerian work force, Comrade Irabor decided to provide his own perspective on the changing nature and struggles of the Congress. He also addressed the protracted industrial action by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities of Nigeria, ASUU. He spoke with OLADIMEJI ABITOGUN. Excerpts :-

What is the leadership of the Nigerian Labor Congress doing to make sure that the parties to the industrial dispute between the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Teachers of Federal Unity Schools sit at table and settle the issue once and for all and ensure that the future of the Nigerian Children is salvaged?

 

We are trying to bring ASUU and the striking teachers to sit at the negotiating table with the Federal Government. All along, the dispute between the workers and the government portrays some parties to the situation like they are digging in. Particularly it looks like the government does not want further negotiations. They are not willing to go back to the negotiating table because of their own disagreement. But the Nigerian Labor Congress is not resting over the matter. And I want to assure that with the way the NLC has shown interest in the matter, they will go back to the negotiating table and then you would see results.

 

Do you have any assurance to that effect?

 

We are not sitting idly over the matter. We know that our intervention is very important. This mater can be resolved and we are going to ensure that.

 

Do you share the same opinion with some Nigerians, home and abroad, who think that there is an element of hypocrisy in the trip to Saudi Arabia, by President Yar’ Adua to attend the $12b Science and Technology University that country is commissioning while our system at home has gone into comatose?

 

If you are at the helm of affairs in leadership, such criticism is expected. I don’t think it is a crime for the president of our country to go to such a programme, irrespective of the problem we have in Nigeria. This problem that we have in Nigeria has come and it is somehow bound to go. If you are the president, it is not enough to say that you will not travel anywhere or elsewhere. It would not add anything and it has nothing to subtract. We know we have our problems, but as he goes there, it is good for him to see what is on ground, so that when he comes back, it would help him to put things in perspective.

It is good to travel. If you or if no one comes to see what you are doing, how would you be sure that you are doing it the right way. You people are in diaspora. If no one sees that you are doing or compare between your perspective and what obtains in Nigeria, how do we make ammends? Travelling has nothing to do with the situation here.

 

Traditionally, the labour movement often tilts towards Marxist Communist ideology. Is there anymore alliance between the NLC and any such school of thought?

 

The communism that you are talking about is fading away. All over the world, improving the condition of workers is the issue and any approach can be adopted in order to achieve that. It would not be totally right to think that communism has totally faded away in the struggle in Nigeria. It is not correct. But here it would not be strange to talk of “social welfarism”. It is not an issue to put nations in strait jacket ideologies. You adopt whatever gets a better deal for workers. You can adopt the socialist way or the other way round.

It is not proper to go around in deceptive garb. What is important is achievement. All the past leaders of the labour movement in Nigeria came with their own style. When Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, he applied his own unique style of leadership and he achieved what he had to achieve. People know him for what he is. Pascal Bafyau was a leader of the NLC, everybody knew him for what he was. Alhaji Hassan Sunmonu, when he was the president of NLC, had to apply his own leadership style, and when Michael Imoudu of blessed memory led us, everybody remembers his style. So I don’t want anybody to like us or to appreciate us on the basis of ideology. You have also seen the style of the leadership of the current leadership. We are pragmatic. Yes. Socialism or communism does not apply in brokering good deals for Nigerian workers.

 

What do you think of the impending removal of fuel subsidy? Why is there no strong voice from the congress to articulate the prospects and harm inherent in the decision for Nigerian workers?

 

People are saying that there is no strong voice from us because we have not erected blockades on the roads, because we are not damaging public infrastructures with bonfires or because they do not see us closing down factories. We have held series of meetings and as I talk now, the government and labour are talking on the removal of subsidy. A committee is in place working on it. It is not as if nothing is being done. That is not correct. You know, people normally want to see fire burning on the streets. That is why I told you every leader has his or her own style and approach. People would look and ask why is everywhere cool and nothing is happening? They are not satisfied with what is happening because we never called people to go on strike. Strike is always the last resort. You are aware that the NLC and the civil society will embark on a consciencialization protest across the country. We went to the East, the West, the North and the South and we met with diverse groups of workers to make their feelings known to the Federal Government, that this thing they plan to do is not acceptable to the people of this country.

As a result of that, we added all the pending matter including the need for salary increase. The attitude of the Nigerian government was that they were not going to negotiate salary increase, but as a result of the action of Nigerian workers, the Federal Government discovered that there is the need to go into talk with Labour and a committee has been constituted to discuss with and negotiate with us. For anybody to think that we are not doing anything, such a person should look at the history of what we have done from the very beginning of the crisis of fuel subsidy, increase of salary and all other welfare related issues. It is not correct to think that nothing is happening. I want to tell you that a lot is happening.

 

The Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, who word at the Ikeja Domestic Airport are strongly agitating that they must unionize and force out the Babalakin group who engineered the facelift for the once sordid facility. Don’t you think this could portend a scare in investors in Nigeria especially when they deliver on their agreement with government? Don’t you think the workers go too far at times?

 

Workers make demands based on the knowledge they have. What I discover is that the management of Airport, there is not co-ordination with the arm of government that has the oversight over domestic aviation. They are all too far from the leadership of the workers. If they are well informed, I don’t think there would be any tension. The workers were apprehensive of losing their jobs, of not having what they are supposed to have. The gap is too wide. They should work together and know that timely information is very essential to leasers and workers in any organization. The improper flow of vital information from all sides always leads to breakdown of law and order. That is what I see about happening in the crisis. The matter is under control. Everybody has the right to protect privatization, if they discover that they are confused on the contractual terms. And the contractor should not hesitate to explain to labour leaders. The management of the Airport should have properly briefed them. They could have done that through the Ministry of Labour as well. Labour leaders are supposed to be briefed and sometimes, they will go to the workers and tell them that they are not supposed to be afraid.

 

Some people think that the Labour has outlived the purpose of a nations umbrella, that it is better now to localize unionism to address the local needs of workers I local industries, corporations and industries…

 

What do you mean?

 

That the national strikes and actions often sabotage the economic capacity of the nation…

 

That is a gimmick to divide and weaken the workforce. This plan is being hatched by a particular arm of the government to destabilize the workforce. They never wanted unity. Unity means strength and they know that. They are plotting to weaken the power of labour in the country and that is not good enough. All over the world, there is always a central labour organization. And Nigeria is not the beginning and it would not be the end.

They can as well decide to destabilize the International Labour Organization, ILO., where workers converge all the time to ratify every point of need that is supposed to be applicable to every industry. You also see the International Transport Workers Association, ITWA Worldwide. Why they are not destabilized? You see the Congress of South Africa Trade Unions (COSATU). Why is it not destabilized? Why is our own different?

The suggestion is a ploy to destabilize and weaken the strength of Labour Congress in Nigeria and it is not acceptable to the whole workforce. This is the time, all over the world, not only in Nigeria, to have a central focal point for Labour. Even government itself stands to derive immense benefit in that. By the time they successfully destabilize labour, they would not have peace of mind. That is why we must make sure that this issue is not allowed to happen. We have made our point before the National Assembly. Past government, not the present one, made series of attempts. Maybe this current government is trying to burrow that dubious script to kill the Nigerian Labour Congress, to destabilize the Nigerian Labour Congress, to weaken the Labour Congress. It is not in their own interest. It is not in the best interest of the Nigerian People. It would not work for them. A government or administration will come and go, this country will remain. It is shameful to be tampering with enduring institutions. The leadership of labour will come and go as well. No one should take or even attempt a decision that is not sustainable.

I want to tell you that this decision they are attempting would not survive. If they foist or force it on the people, government goes and government comes. Another administration would come and right the wrong. They should look for other lasting decisions, implementable. If they go otherwise, their legacies would be reviewed.

 

Your primary constituency is the maritime sector…

 

Yes, I am the President General of the Maritime Workers Federation

 

Are you satisfied with the reform and innovations in the ports?

 

We had a meeting with government, it was a protracted negotiation. We first eliminated touts. Reforms have been carried out in all major ports across the world; it was not as if Nigeria was going to be run down when we demanded these reforms. Nigeria was lagging behind. We did comparative analysis based on what we researched in other countries and decided and concluded on the achievable for Nigeria. We were able to discover that we had to support the reform of our ports. As an executive member of International Transport Workers Federation, I am up to date. We discuss issues relating to transport sector, which includes the ports all over the world.

The port reform was the best thing that could happen to Nigeria. The port is the gateway to Nigeria’s economy. We are fully involved. The modalities of application of the reforms remain a huge problem. Agreeing to the reform is not a problem at all. We labour are watching with keen interest because we expect a lot of things to happen because of the reform. The operational area of the port was given out by way of concession. It was not privatized. The privatization and concession are similar but mutually different. Privatization is about outright sale to individuals, including land and everything. In this concessional arrangement, the Nigerian Ports Authority remains, they only lease out their operational areas to private terminal operators. That is what we have done. I don’t think there is something to regret about it. What we have done is for the benefit of this country, it is to the benefit of every Nigerian, it is well implemented and monitored. Since the place was conceded, the Federal Government must not fold its arms, they must have a monitoring team to know and secure what happens at the port. If that arrangement is put in place, there would be no problem at all.

 

Our little concern is that government must not allow anybody to hide under the guise of concession to do anything inimical to the country’s economic interest. We have to guide our economic interest jealously. We must insure that the economy of this country is not hijacked. The port reform is O.K. It is moving fine. A little baby must be nurtured. It is a new system entirely. We do not need to turn around and condemn what we have agreed to do. What we need to do is to give every good advice to port operators. Government also listens and must see that nothing goes wrong. I believe that as at today, the operation is different and smoother than what we uses to have.

 

Nigerian Labour Congress would traditionally frown at corruption. What does the congress do to ensure control and self cleansing? Also what do you think about the sincerity of the Nigerian government to stamp out corruption and fraud?

 

I am happy that you are a son of this soil. You know where Nigeria was when you left. Today, thank God, you know how and where we are. The government decided to deal with corrupt individuals. That decision was applauded by everyone in this country, including civil society groups. That is one of the best decisions that government has ever taken. They decided to fight corruption and uphold the rule of law. At a time, I was almost giving up on this country. There was so much lawlessness. Anything could go by. This administration has tried so much to bring order out of chaos to say that anybody who is working, private and public, must abide by the law of the land.

There was a point in time, not this administration, past leaderships, never observed any rule of law. A court would give judgment and order, some people never obeyed. It was that bad. Today, if a court rules, people comply. Nigerians love it.

 

I don’t want to take sides. Government has put in place a lot of machinery to checkmate corruption. Nothing in this world can be perfect. Only God has perfection in all that he does. Some still wallow in corruption, they cheat government, their organization, they cheat individuals; and some of them, to a huge extent, have been dealt with. Some people want to steal, whoever is caught goes to jail. And that is why the law is in place. It is in place to deal with corrupt individuals. Some people have run afoul of the law. The government is trying. What we need to do is to encourage them to do more so that the people who decided to ruin this country can be put away. Government should be encouraged.

 

Those of us in labour love the battle and what is going on. It may not yet be perfect. If it had happened ten to fifteen years aback, then this nation would have been one of the best on earth. I believe that if we continue on this path, in five, ten years, things would be different. Finally, corruption is not peculiar to Nigeria. There is no country without corruption. I dare anybody to say that his own is perfect. Such a man should be arrested because he cannot say his own country is perfect.

 

We should not be singled out on the issue of corruption. I have the privilege of travelling around the world. The countries I know, in some of the countries like where you people are, they have perfect, well trained, well behaved thieves. This issue of 419, the thing did not start in Nigeria… 419 did not start in Nigeria. 419 started from their end. They were the ones who exported it to us here. So what are we saying? They were the ones who started the corruption. They just accuse Nigeria of nothing. When some of these countries come, they lay food on the table. In terms of modern development, we have just started, but you can see how much we have achieved. We are fine. Nigeria should not be singled out and be demonized as corrupt in the extreme. There are several countries pretending to be good, but they are more corrupt that Nigeria.

 

What is the difference between the Labour Party and the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC.? How well is Governor Adams Oshiomhole performing? He happens to be the biggest revelation of the labour movement to politics in Nigeria, how well is he doing in leading the people of Edo State?

 

The difference between the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Labour Party is very clear. The Labour Party has its own leadership. It is a party that was floated by the Nigerian People. The Nigerian Labour Party is not answerable to the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress. By law, the law is clear. Attachment by name does not mean they are running the same government. Even the law does not allow for that. The party law is clear on the matter. They can decide to change their name tomorrow. Nigeria Labour Congress will not tell them not to do that. The Nigerian Labour Party is a political party. The NLC represents the Nigeria’s workforce. We have our own constitution which is quite different from that of labour party. The way we run the NLC is different from the way they run their own party. As workers, we have the right to belong to any party. The law is there. Be you a civil servant, not every worker in Nigeria belongs by registration to the labour party. That is a major contra-distinction.

 

Workers can belong to any party they feel like. Not all of us in the vanguard of Labour belong to the Labour party. It is not proper to think that the labour party belongs to the Nigerian Labour Congress. There is a question of ownership. Parties do not belong to individuals. It does not belong to an organization. Every party is an association of Nigerian people.

 

On the issue of the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, he is going to be a very good example to his contemporaries. Why people do not yet see that is because he met Edo State in a terrible state. The state was almost a complete write-off. It was a total wreck. Nothing was on ground. He did not meet anything on the ground. And we haves seen him doing well and going in the right direction as a labour leader. He has followed the best – the right direction. In the next one year, Edo will no longer be the same. To understand what I am saying, please take a trip and come and see what transformation is going on. You will see things for yourself. I know your incredible standard in terms of ethics. You will see things objectively, record things on the video and share the truth you see with the world.

 

I was in America recently. I came with Governor Oshiomhole three weeks ago and we attended the Edo Congress. Edos in the diaspora said they believe that better things are coming, better days are ahead and great things are beginning to happen.

 

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is going to be one of the living examples to every living labour leader. If you think of politics after a career in the leadership of the Nigerian Work Force, that is the man to emulate. I am Edo indigene. I am not an outsider. If you want to build a tall building, say twenty storeys, you need a solid foundation. You do ground clearing, sink the foundation. That is what they are doing now. The ground is being cleared. Foundation is being laid. And building has gradually commenced. We shall have a good structure, a shining state. Edo will be different from the Edo you normally know. It is going to be one of the best states that everybody will emulate. It has to go through time process. It is a matter of process. An elected official follows due process. Everybody’s hand in Edo is now on deck. They have agreed that something good is being done in Edo State. Everybody is happy with Oshiomhole in Edo State. This is not a party matter. We are talking about development. It is a matter of time; Edo will blaze the trail in the scheme of things in Nigeria.

 

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