Workers’ day and issues that should be addressed

BY RAHAMAN OLALEKAN

Today is not just a public holiday aimed at marking the workers’ day, it is also a moment for deep reflection on the state of employees welfare in both private and public sectors of the nation.

With the economic recession currently hitting hard, workers appear to be worst hit as most state governments are owing their employees a backlog of salary. Even with Paris Club fund coming to the rescue, it is unfortunate that we still hear reports of some governors diverting the fund.

While the governors enjoy unhindered access to security votes and other entitlements, workers are made to suffer with impunity. The reality is that an average worker can no longer afford a decent three-square meal in a day.

As the nation marks this year’s Workers’ Day, three intertwined issues need serious consideration by labour unions and the government at various levels: One, the perennial question of what should be the minimum wage.

To have a realistic minimum wage policy which is essential for industrial harmony in the country, factors such as purchasing power of currency and inflationary trend need careful consideration. Anything contrary will end up making the struggle of minimum wage increase become a permanent feature of our national life.

That said, the second issue of serious concern is contributory pension scheme. Since 2004 when the Pension Reform Act was enacted, the objectives of the Scheme are yet to be fully realised. Up till now, the Contributory Pension Scheme is yet to be introduced by some states. Even the few states that have introduced it are not getting it right.
Worse still, pension fund was at some point reportedly embezzled by the administrators.

Moreover, an average state employee doesn’t understand the letter and spirit of the Pension Reform Act 2004. Poor knowledge and understanding of how contributory pension scheme works also contributes to the negative attitude of workers to the ideals, principles and strategic objectives of the Scheme.

Again, the introduction of either zero subvention or disproportionate subvention for employees by some state governments remains a serious cause of concern for the workers.

For the zero subvention policy introduced for tertiary institutions’ workers by some states as a strategic measure to assist them achieve self-sustainability, it’s nothing but a ruse in my view. As it is, the policy of self-sustainability without seed fund for facility expansion and investment is nothing but a sort of subterfuge.

Employees’ productivity and efficiency will continue to diminish unless state governments make efforts to address the zero subvention or disproportionate subvention to tertiary institutions.

Indeed, by virtue of not being able to pay workers’ salaries as and when due, government automatically loses the moral right to complain of ineptitude of deprived workers.

Of equal importance is lack of will by government to implement Employee’s Compensation Act 2010. The Act seeks special compensation for the death of workers in the course of service delivery or for any forms of injury sustained. Despite the clauses in the Employee’s Compensation Act 2010 which entitles employees to compensation for incidents as occupational disease and mental stress in the discharge of official duties, the compensations are often waived as has been in the case in the past.

Based on the foregoing, the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) need to, as a matter of urgency, address the non-challant attitude of government at various levels towards the implementation of Employee’s Compensation Act 2010. This is to ensure that any worker that suffers injury or disability in the course of service delivery finds the needed succour and as fast as possible too.

Wishing the Nigeria’s workers all the best as the nation celebrates them today.

Olalekan, a public administrator, sent in this piece from Oyo