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Constantly regarded by many as a pace-setter for the good, the bad and the ugly in labour matters, Enugu can be rightly termed “the labour capital” of Nigeria.?
? ? It was in Enugu that the police shot ?at striking ?coal miners in 1949, for demanding better ?welfare packages. 21 of them were killed and 51 wounded.?
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? On the other side, Enugu state was once “the hen that laid ?golden eggs” for Nigeria, because of the abundance of Coal in the state.
Perhaps, the toughness of past labour leaders in the state informed the recent decision of ?organised labour to use ?the state as a ‘test case’ for states who have refused to implement the N18,000 minimum wage, as approved by the ?Federal Government.
Few days ago, precisely, Thursday September 9, 2011, the national president of the Nigerian Labour Congress(NLC), Comrade Abdulawaheed Omar declared “the mother of all strikes” in Enugu to protest the refusal of the state government to implement fully the N18,000 minimum wage.
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The declaration followed series of failed negotiations as regards the new wage between the Enugu State government and labour leaders.
Apparently dissatisfied with the results of past negotiations, the national leadership of organised labour gave the state government a two-week ultimatum in August to implement the minimum wage or “be prepared to face the mother of all strikes”.
Prior to the ultimatum, the national leadership of the union had mandated a delegation led by deputy president of the NLC, comrade Kiri Muhammed to oversee negotiations for the new wage ?and coordinate the labour leaders in the state.
The failure of the ?delegation to reach a compromise with the state government, as well as the expiration of the two-week ultimatum forced leaders of organised labour, led by the president of the state chapter of the union, ?to storm Enugu on ?wednesday, a day to the declaration of the strike, ?for a rally.
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But, the labour leaders paid for their ‘stubbornness’, as they were held hostage from Wednesday night to Thursday morning by policemen and soldiers.
The labour leaders, including the national president of the Nigerian Labour Congress(NLC), comrade Abdullawahid Omar and the national chairman, Trade Union Congress(TUC), Comrade Peter Esele, were prevented from leaving the premises of the Gold Value Hotel, where they lodged in the morning, by armed, stern-looking policemen. ? ? ? ? ?
When the labour leaders tried to find out why they were detained, the security men were said to have informed them that they were “instructed” not to allow them go out of the hotel.?
Sensing danger, the labour leaders were said to have made series of ?calls to the ?presidency for their release.
One of the Labour leaders told LEADERSHIP that the presidency intervened before they were released at 11a.m, after several hours in detention
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Angered by the ugly development, the national president of the NLC, Abdulawaheed Omar, who led the labour delegation to Enugu, ?told public servants at the Workers’ Freedom Sqaure in Enugu, ?that the strike which, accrding to him, had taken immediate effect, was no ordinary strike.
“On behalf of the labour movement in Nigeria, an industrial action is hereby declared. This is no ordinary strike; all essential duties must be stopped,” he said.
Omar disclosed that organised labour had resolved to use Enugu State as an example for all the states in ?the South-east zone.
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He stated that banks, airlines,filling stations, the PHCN, water corporations, among others, had promised to join the indefinite strike.
Omar alleged that the governor of Enugu State wanted to “act differently from other states in Nigeria ” and vowed to resist any attempt to “enslave the workers”.
Omar advised all the airlines in the country to stop operations to Enugu, and warned that ?“no airline would be allowed to land ?or take-off in Enugu State or take off from the state until the strike is called off”. ?
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He stated that since Governor Sullivan had refused to negotiate with labour on the new minimum wage, neighbouring states would be directed to commence solidarity strike. ?
He advised workers in the state to regard the recent increment to their salaries as bonuses, and insisted that the Enugu State government must “sit down and discuss”.
National chairman, Trade Union Congress, Comrade Peter Esele, in his contribution, ?stated that the indefinite strike in Enugu was “a signal to other states who were yet to pay the minimum wage”.
He disclosed that Enugu must be forced to be a pace-setter for other states.
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The commissioner of police in Enugu State, Doma Danazumi, however said the policemen were “stationed at Gold Value Hotel to protect the labour leaders and not detain them”.
He further disclosed that the decision to deploy the policemen to the hotel was informed by the high rate of insecurity in the country.
Reacting to their detention, Omar told Leadership that labour would not be intimidated by anybody, and confirmed ?that ?they were held hostage by ?soldiers and policemen for all of Wednesday night. He also added that they were “warned not to ?move out of the hotel the next day”.
In her reaction, the Enugu State government, said the strike was “uncalled for”, but that she was “still open and ready for negotiations. The state government also regretted that labour ordered for the strike action, despite the fact that Enugu ?was the only state in the South-east ?that had complied with the implementation of the minimum wage. ?
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“The attention of the Enugu State government ?has been drawn to reports that the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has ordered workers in the state to embark on an indefinite strike action over the implementation of the minimum wage.
“This is, to say the least, uncalled for. Unfortunately, it beats the imagination why the labour leaders should issue such a directive, even when it is on record that the Enugu State government remains the only one in the geo-political zone to have fully complied with the implementation of the payment of the minimum wage.?
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“The implementation was reflected in the payment of the workers’ salaries for the month of August and this is verifiable. Governor Sullivan Chime even approved N18,500 as the minimum wage payable in the state. The Enugu State government will continue to pay attention to the welfare of its workforce. That explains why it is the fourth state in the federation to have implemented the National Health Insurance Scheme. Government shall remain open to negotiation as a civilised way to resolving whatever grey areas with the workforce,” according to a statement signed by ?commissioner for information, Chuks Ugwoke.
Although many took the threat by labour to “shut down Enugu” with a pinch of salt. LEADERSHIP findings revealed that activities have been paralysed, as banks and providers of essential services refused to offer any form of service.