The Labour sector

SCENIC SCENARIOS: THE WAY FORWARD (6)


“I was shocked and enraged at such ingratitude,” someone lamentably concluded at my last meeting with him. Few seconds before the meeting begun, I was enraptured due to a contract I just won. But the series of lamentations that accompanied the meeting introduced an ennui. Some days after the meeting in question took place, I was privileged to be in the midst of another similar meeting. During the section for matters arising, after digesting a certain critical issue as the leader of the gathering, consequently someone submissively raised his hand. Having granted him the room to earn his view, he commenced with the clause, “if not that they tell lies and show no sign of contrition…” As if that was the end; a consequential gathering resulted immediately after the meeting. A good friend of mine who happens to be the Secretary General came from behind and whispered at my humble ear, “the meeting was very successful, but was dedicated to the chameleons.”

Brethren, if truly that one is conscience-stricken due to a war he solely initiated, then by now, he ought to devote himself to societal peace. I strongly believe that, our lovely grief-stricken public servants coupled with the vulnerable maids in their midst would have a forgiving mind if our honourable members would embrace a total repentance. In fact there’s no need for euphemism if euphoria must be ascertained; thus let’s go straight to the point.

Don’t forget, we’re discussing labour. According to the context of this edition, labour is used to refer to the people who work in a country or industry.

To begin with, in Nigeria the above tool (labour) has been misunderstood thereby resulting to the ongoing state of neglect experienced by the public/civil servants. Needless to say that, they have been sidelined. It’s not in any way funny to hear that those whom I describe as the workaholics, and who most times suffer from nervous breakdown is being treated like bunch of ignoramuses. The other day, someone was telling me that she waited so long that by the time her turn came she was already a nervous wreck. According to her, she never recovered from it, and was very nervy afterwards. Honestly, it’s not funny at all. Most times at my lonely time, I wonder if we’re just daydreaming in regard to the vision 20:20:20 because in any society, the public servants should receive any credit as regards any ongoing productivity. To the best of my knowledge, in any developed nation, their interest comes first before any other would be debated or treated.

The above mal-handling has solely constituted the incessant industrial actions embarked by the Nigerian workers. Most times, the so-called strike is either being suspended or put to stop without any tangible reason. If truly that the reason for the suspension or termination was genuine, why shouldn’t the voice of the entire workers be heard and considered by their leaders before they would be mandated/asked to go back to their respective offices? The funniest part; in most cases the concerned authorities’ tactic seems to be, to bludgeon the demonstrators into submission. What a world!

In any occasion where the labour leader chooses to be stubborn, or different from his predecessors, even the workers in question see it as an expensive measure. Which is, they believe that any industrial action should have a limit whether their cry is heard or not. In other words, we’re even afraid while biding for our right, or the payment of the job we did. Tokenism indeed!

My humble message to the various governments; if the wheel of any moving vehicle can’t function properly, the machine can never work effectively. And, it’s the users’ will that would ascertain the efficiency. We must come together and fix this bad wheel. Thus, we ought to be willing because willingness comes first. So are we truly willing?

In this case with regard to the ongoing discussion, the labour is the wheel, the country remains the vehicle (machine), while the governments and other employers of labour are the users. This is a fact. Yes, a fancy fact. Let’s abide by it and we shall see that the Lord is good.

The End!



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COMR. FRED NWAOZOR

frednwaozor@gmail.com