NECA Warns Organized Labour Against Planned Protests Says Its Ill-Advised
The Nigeria Employer’s Consultative Association (NECA) has warned that the planned protests by the Organized Labour from Wednesday is ill-advised.
It says that any form of social disobedience for now would be counter-productive, as it could lead to a breakdown of law and order with its attendant risk for the organized business sector and the country.
The association’s Director General, Adewale Smart-Oyerinde calls for an urgent action by major stakeholders including federal government.
He advocates for more social dialogue to avoid the protests strike, while federal government should roll out its palliatives to complement efforts by the state governments.
While Organised Labour is at liberty to engage with the Government on behalf of its members on issues of welfare as they relate to impacts of any economic policy, sometimes deadlock may hold sway.
When that happens, the consequential action by Organised Labour should not, in any way, hinder anyone from going about their businesses peacefully or cause anyone to be intimidated or harassed.
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“We re-emphasize the importance of Social Dialogue, a potent instrument of the International Labour Organization (ILO), and a globally accepted mechanism for dispute resolution.
While it should be noted that various ILO Conventions, Recommendations, International treaties, and local legislations guarantee certain rights and privileges to Social Partners, a call for mass action or civil disobedience is certainly not one of them.”
NECA also advised the government to arrest the planned mass protest and “as a matter of urgency, take immediate steps to ameliorate the economic trauma being faced by workers, Nigerians, and Organised Businesses.
It is no gainsaying that many businesses are shut down, and many others are on the verge of closing down, which will exacerbate the current unemployment rate and drag many further down the poverty line.
“We strongly request that a coordinated implementation of the various pro-growth and other palliative schemes should commence, without further delay, at the Federal level to complement the efforts of some State Governments and Organised businesses.
The need for transparent communication and the building of National consensus at this difficult time cannot be over-emphasized. A stitch in time saves nine.”
