Jonathan Snubs Nigerian Workers on May Day
by Olufemi Adeosun, Rotimi Fadeyi, Abuja and Olalekan Adejuwon
Nigerian National Mirror
Lagos on May 2, 2015
President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday failed to attend this year’s May Day celebration to the consternation of workers who had waited patiently at the Eagle Square in Abuja. It is the first time the president would be absent from the Workers’ Day celebration since he was elected in 2011.
Although no official reason was given for his absence, a source at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, who pleaded anonymity, told our reporter that it was not unconnected with the factionalisation in the labour union.
“You know there was this issue of factionalisation in the leadership of the congress and attending the rally will look like the president is in support of one faction or the other”, the source said.
Efforts to get the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, on phone yesterday to find out why the president was absent at the rally was not successful. While the Comrade Ayuba Wabba-led faction held its rally in Abuja, the Joe Ajaero-led group held its own in Lagos.
In Abuja, as early as 6:am., anti-riot policemen and other para-military forces had condoned all roads leading to the Eagle Square, venue of the May Day event, and men of the secret service were seen combing the venue, apparently to provide adequate security to the number one citizen.
As at 11:30 when it was almost certain that the president would not make it to the event, the workers who had trooped out enmasse to grace the occasion were seen discussing in hush tones why the president could have decided to snub them.
However, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senator Joel Ikenya, was introduced as representing the president. But it was obvious the presidency did not prepare any speech to be read on behalf of the president by the Minister of Labour and Productivity.
The minister’s speech was however later withdrawn by the minister’s aides and was not made available to journalists. There were also the Minister and Minister of State for FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed, and Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, both of whom are close allies of the president in attendance.
The schism in the organisation became glaring on March 14 during the congress of the NLC when at exactly 12.47am, at the Eagles Square in Abuja, the President of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Wabba Ayuba, was proclaimed winner of the election to replace outgoing president, Abdulwaheed Omar.
In a swift reaction, Ayuba’s closest rival, Joe Ajaero, in company of some of the candidates that lost out in the election, announced Friday, March 20, 2015 as a date for a fresh ‘special delegates’ conference in Lagos, where perceived ‘wrongs’ in the Abuja election would be addressed. With the development, the route to NLC having a factional leadership after years of unity of purpose may have been paved.
Meanwhile, the Congress directed its members to stay away from the ‘special delegates’ conference. A statement signed in Abuja by the NLC’s General Secretary, Dr. Peter Ozo- Eson, said the conference was influenced by individuals driven by inordinate ambition and vain glory.
He therefore advised all affiliate unions of the Labour body to steer clear of the conference. But Ajaero accused the immediate past president of NLC, Omar, and the Chairman of the NLC Credentials Committee, Isah Fagge, and Dangiwa of supervising a ‘troubled process’.
On March 19 at a parallel election held in Lagos which upheld the election of Ajaero of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, as a parallel president, the NLC finally split into two, parading two presidents.
The theme of this year’s May Day celebration held in Abuja is: “The Working Class, Democratic Consolidation and Economic Revival: Charting the Way to National Economic Rebirth.” Speaking at the occasion, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, stated that Nigerian workers would hold the incoming administration responsible for its electoral promises to the people.
He said congress had begun the process of collating its thoughts on how the Gen. Muhammadu Buhariled administration would impact positively on the Nigerian economy, particularly the working people and would present the document to him as soon as he assumes office.
His words: “We look forward to presenting our positions to General Buhari when we eventually meet with him as soon as he assumes office.
However, we must seize this moment to make pronouncement on a few urgent national issues: Social Issues: Social challenges facing the Nigerian workers are many but it appears that most compelling are uncertainties in the work place.”
In his own speech, the Trade Union Congress President, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, urged the incoming administration to fight corruption and all economic crimes, stressing the malaise were responsible for the underdevelopment of the country.
However, an attempt to hold a parallel rally at the National Stadium, Surulere by the Comrade Ajaero Joseph’s led NLC was thwarted by the Lagos State Police Command which used tear-gas to despatch them.
Ajaero, leading a factional group consisting of Comrade Issa Aremu of the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) and Comrade Igwe Achese of the National Union of Petroleum & National Gas (NUPENG), regrouped on the access road leading to the National Stadium to hold the May Day celebration.
The procession led to serious gridlock as motorists spent hours on the road. Saturday Mirror reliably gathered that the congress had made prior arrangement with the Lagos State Government and had written to the Lagos State Police for their support in providing adequate security for the workers.
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| May Day demonstration in Lagos, Nigeria. |
Nigerian National Mirror
Lagos on May 2, 2015
President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday failed to attend this year’s May Day celebration to the consternation of workers who had waited patiently at the Eagle Square in Abuja. It is the first time the president would be absent from the Workers’ Day celebration since he was elected in 2011.
Although no official reason was given for his absence, a source at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, who pleaded anonymity, told our reporter that it was not unconnected with the factionalisation in the labour union.
“You know there was this issue of factionalisation in the leadership of the congress and attending the rally will look like the president is in support of one faction or the other”, the source said.
Efforts to get the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, on phone yesterday to find out why the president was absent at the rally was not successful. While the Comrade Ayuba Wabba-led faction held its rally in Abuja, the Joe Ajaero-led group held its own in Lagos.
In Abuja, as early as 6:am., anti-riot policemen and other para-military forces had condoned all roads leading to the Eagle Square, venue of the May Day event, and men of the secret service were seen combing the venue, apparently to provide adequate security to the number one citizen.
As at 11:30 when it was almost certain that the president would not make it to the event, the workers who had trooped out enmasse to grace the occasion were seen discussing in hush tones why the president could have decided to snub them.
However, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senator Joel Ikenya, was introduced as representing the president. But it was obvious the presidency did not prepare any speech to be read on behalf of the president by the Minister of Labour and Productivity.
The minister’s speech was however later withdrawn by the minister’s aides and was not made available to journalists. There were also the Minister and Minister of State for FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed, and Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, both of whom are close allies of the president in attendance.
The schism in the organisation became glaring on March 14 during the congress of the NLC when at exactly 12.47am, at the Eagles Square in Abuja, the President of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Wabba Ayuba, was proclaimed winner of the election to replace outgoing president, Abdulwaheed Omar.
In a swift reaction, Ayuba’s closest rival, Joe Ajaero, in company of some of the candidates that lost out in the election, announced Friday, March 20, 2015 as a date for a fresh ‘special delegates’ conference in Lagos, where perceived ‘wrongs’ in the Abuja election would be addressed. With the development, the route to NLC having a factional leadership after years of unity of purpose may have been paved.
Meanwhile, the Congress directed its members to stay away from the ‘special delegates’ conference. A statement signed in Abuja by the NLC’s General Secretary, Dr. Peter Ozo- Eson, said the conference was influenced by individuals driven by inordinate ambition and vain glory.
He therefore advised all affiliate unions of the Labour body to steer clear of the conference. But Ajaero accused the immediate past president of NLC, Omar, and the Chairman of the NLC Credentials Committee, Isah Fagge, and Dangiwa of supervising a ‘troubled process’.
On March 19 at a parallel election held in Lagos which upheld the election of Ajaero of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, as a parallel president, the NLC finally split into two, parading two presidents.
The theme of this year’s May Day celebration held in Abuja is: “The Working Class, Democratic Consolidation and Economic Revival: Charting the Way to National Economic Rebirth.” Speaking at the occasion, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, stated that Nigerian workers would hold the incoming administration responsible for its electoral promises to the people.
He said congress had begun the process of collating its thoughts on how the Gen. Muhammadu Buhariled administration would impact positively on the Nigerian economy, particularly the working people and would present the document to him as soon as he assumes office.
His words: “We look forward to presenting our positions to General Buhari when we eventually meet with him as soon as he assumes office.
However, we must seize this moment to make pronouncement on a few urgent national issues: Social Issues: Social challenges facing the Nigerian workers are many but it appears that most compelling are uncertainties in the work place.”
In his own speech, the Trade Union Congress President, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, urged the incoming administration to fight corruption and all economic crimes, stressing the malaise were responsible for the underdevelopment of the country.
However, an attempt to hold a parallel rally at the National Stadium, Surulere by the Comrade Ajaero Joseph’s led NLC was thwarted by the Lagos State Police Command which used tear-gas to despatch them.
Ajaero, leading a factional group consisting of Comrade Issa Aremu of the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) and Comrade Igwe Achese of the National Union of Petroleum & National Gas (NUPENG), regrouped on the access road leading to the National Stadium to hold the May Day celebration.
The procession led to serious gridlock as motorists spent hours on the road. Saturday Mirror reliably gathered that the congress had made prior arrangement with the Lagos State Government and had written to the Lagos State Police for their support in providing adequate security for the workers.
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