By Saheed Ibrahim
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Dons and a Labour Veteran have berated the Federal Government for incessant strikes across sectors in the country.
According to them, the government had, over the years, not convinced with negotiations and this has made industrial strike a major tool for labour to get their demands.
While speaking with The Hope, a Professor of Political Science in Ekiti State University, Prof. Akinsola Agagu said industrial strike action, which was supposed to be the last resort for labour to adopt in pressing for demands, seemed to be the major language government and employers of labour understand in Nigeria.
Agagu noted that it had been an effective tool to press for labour demands in the country.
“There should be harmony of interests. It will be in the best interest of government to ensure workers perform optimally.
“But unfortunately, the reverse is the case. When we have such situation, there are also steps outlined in negotiations. It is supposed to be based on collective bargaining.
“It is avoidable by both parties. If government realises the damage done to the economy during strike, it is something government should avoid.
“Strike has, to a great extent, been effective. But it is an unfortunate thing that employers will allow employees to go on strike,” he said.
He admonished government to ensure harmony of interest and prevent industrial strike by seeing labour as an ally, rather than as rebels or enemies.
Also, an Associate Professor of Political Science and a Political Economist, Dr Bayo Fasuwon emphasised that strike had been a major tool used by labour to press for demands in Nigeria.
While citing the success of strike actions embarked upon by Resident Doctors, Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and other labour unions in the country, Fasuwon said strike brought about TETFUND in Nigerian universities and the approval of N30, 000 minimum wages would not have been possible.
“It is just that it is peculiar to Nigeria and Africa. Government will not give you what you deserve, even if it is available. So, they want to find out if you truly need it.
“So, strike has been one language they understand. Without strike, I do not think people, especially workers, can get anything tangible from the government.
He noted that there were other alternatives to press for demands, but the government had failed to yield to them, making strike to be the only way out.
“Look at the health sector, especially during COVID-19 issues, despite all pleas to government to pay health workers’ entitlements, government refused until they went on strike and people died in the process.
He pointed out that demonstrations should also be added to industrial strike to increase the intensity of their pressure, stressing that bargaining with Nigerian government has not yielded any positive results.
The Chairman, Labour Veterans in Ondo state, Apostle Tunde Taiwo noted that industrial strike should be rarely used to press for demands from government or employers.
Taiwo identified that there were established collective bargaining procedures for resolving vexed issues between employers of labour and employees.
He said, “It is a tripartite body comprising of the employer/government, Unions and Fed Ministry of Labour as moderator.
“It is expected that this process should be fully exhausted. This is to promote harmonious industrial relation practice.
He, however, stated that government and employers of labour in Nigeria had proven difficult to yield ground unless strike action was adopted by labour.
“Unfortunately, my experience Industrial Relations practice for upward of four decades is that government/ employers of Labour always prove difficult and never ready to yield ground until the threat of strike is brought in.
“It appears it is the only Language government/ employer understands. The alternative is Negotiation through the Collective Bargaining Process”, the former Chairman, Association of Principals of Technical Colleges, Southwest Nigeria concluded.