NLC AND THE UNION JERKS

 

NLC AND THE UNION JERKS

Events in recent times in my country Nigeria (even in my State Oyo) makes one ponder the essence of Unions. Trade Unions, Students Unions, all kinds of unions. One wonders if they still serve their original purpose anymore.

The Nigeria Labour Congress recently called a two-day nationwide strike. The sense in the demands is a story for another day. The response to the call is the question. In less than twenty-four hours dozens of affiliate unions had dissociated themselves from the industrial action.

I came across them twice same day at the State Secretariat and Total Garden. It was a show of shame. Workers everywhere went about their duties as if nothing was happening. At the Secretariat in Agodi, The motley crowd trying to look like protesters were less than two scores. They broke into praise songs on sighting the governor and were so engrossed with trying to attract His Excellency’s attention that they forgot why they were on the streets.

A few hours at the Total Garden junction, the “Protesters” were a pitiful lot. A couple of union leaders shouting into a megaphone, others doing live streaming on social media with their phones, some police presence and people passing without listening (some hissing and cursing) surely is a pathetic sight.

The strike was a failure and a shame to Trade Unionism.

Trade unions, also called labour unions, are associations of workers in a particular trade, industry, or company created for the purpose of securing improvements in pay, benefits, working conditions, or social status through collective bargaining. Labor unions have been a part of Nigerian industry since 1912, when government employees formed a civil service union.

In 1931 two other major unions were founded--the Nigerian Railway Workers Union and the Nigerian Union of Teachers.

By 1978 more than 1,000 previously existing unions were reorganized into 70 registered industrial unions under the NLC.

The existence of a strong, united and recognized trade union should be a pre-requisite to the industrial harmony and development pace of any country.

Today there are all kinds of unions under the NLC and TUC. Professional Associations like the NBA, NMA and NUJ are also very prominent and powerful.

The NULGE, a union of Local Government staff also has a very large spread, having members in the nooks and crannies of the country.

The Students’ Union is different from workers unions. Their purpose may be similar but the Modus operandi differ.

The West African Student Union (WASU) was pioneered by West African Students in London in 1925. It was, according to records, the first step into unionism by Nigerian students. WASU fought for improved welfare for all African students in London. Their influence in Nigeria brought about NUNS (National union of Nigerian Students) which premiered in the University of Ibadan. NUNS now NANS (National Association of Nigerian students) has its wings spread across all tertiary institutions in Nigeria in form of SUG’S (Student Union Governments).

A students' union government is a student organization present in tertiary institutions which protects and defends the right of students on campus. In higher education, the students' union is often accorded its own building on the campus, dedicated to social, organizational activities, representation and academic support of the membership.

The purpose of the Union is to represent students both within the institution and externally, including on local and national issues. Students' unions are also responsible for providing a variety of services to students.

Today, students' unions have become politicized bodies, and often serve as a training ground for aspiring politicians. The combination of the youthful enthusiasm of the various members, a general lack of serious consequences for decisions, and a student media (if any) that is itself often partisan, inexperienced, and under no financial pressure to slant coverage to please a broad readership encourages very vigorous campaigning, debate, and political gamesmanship. Students' unions generally had similar aims irrespective of the extent of politicization, usually focusing on providing students with facilities, support, and services.

Like other unions, the purpose of association has changed.

The interest of members is no more paramount to the Union Leaders, many of whom do not have the mindset of a true unionist.

They don’t have the commitment of Pa Imoudu, Hassan Sunmonu or Segun Okeowo.

Union positions are now seen as money making adventures. Union Leaders now live large. Many Student Union leaders no more live on the same pedestal with their members. Some skip academics totally for the period. They are busy attending meetings and selling the mandate given them freely by their colleagues to willing politicians.

I have heard of NUT executive members who don’t teach anymore.

Officials of NULGE, the association of Local Government employees are lords of the manor in 774 Local Government areas in Nigeria and the 36 states.

The NURTW members are a law unto themselves. They make so much money doing nothing but cause trouble to attract patronage from governments who need them to oppress each other and their constituents. Instead of protecting the interest of their members, they harass them into payment of all kinds of levy. The amassed wealth accruing daily is better imagined.

The end result is the desperation and brigandage involved in contesting for positions in the unions.

A couple of years back, the NBA elections were a national disgrace. I doubt if that was because the contestants loved the lawyers that much.

Student Union elections are fraught with violence and undue influence by political parties. They no longer have fellow students in mind. It is common place to see students’ union leaders going round offices of political office holders and business tycoons seeking financial inducements and would mobilize their innocent “Aluta-Spirit-Filled” colleagues for actions they have been paid for.

The NUJ elections some time ago in Oyo witnessed tactics unbecoming of that estate of the realm. So much mudslinging was employed against a particular candidate who benefited by attracting sympathy as a result. One wonders why so much desperation if it was just the will to serve.

The NULGE elections in same Oyo attracted so much political heat in the Local Government system. So much so that some contestants forgot they are still civil servants. Do they love other workers that desperately or are after the pecuniary benefits of such positions?

In Nigeria, especially in the South West, change of baton between successive administrations in the National Union of Road Transport Workers is like going to war. Deaths and maiming are not unusual. They are a terror to society. Nobody will go to this dangerous level just to serve his colleagues.

It is evident that unions in this country no longer serve the purpose they should. The interests of members are no more paramount. The bottom line is Power and Money.

Gone are the days when union leaders fought for not just their members but for society at large.

Today, when strikes are called, they fail. There is no sincerity of purpose.

Nobody can do what Frank Kokori et al did back then.

I doubt if any Students’ Union leader can match Segun Okeowo’s team mobilising millions of Nigerian students on the streets throughout the nation chanting “Alii must go”.

They had Vision and Mission. They were trusted. They were men of integrity.

Today’s Unionists are jerks.