Labour Leaders Demand Social Justice for Workers

Labour leaders, who attended the fourth Ordinary Congress of the International Trade Union

Congress (lTUC-Africa) in Abuja yesterday, demanded an improved working and living conditions, creation of decent jobs and real democracy as a means of ensuring social justicein the country.

The concerns of the labour leaders cane just as President Muhammadu Buhari said the federal government has done a lot to show that it has workers’ interest at heart.

The labour leaders, who will spend two days in Abuja to deliberate on the way forward to resolve various issues relating to challenges facing workers, said the struggle for the welfare and decent work environment for workers have become a common thing around the world.

Speaking on the theme of the conference: ‘Unite and Make a Difference’, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, said the event could not have come at a better time than now that most workers across the world are engaged in the struggle for social justice and better wages.

Wabba, who is also the President of the International Trade Union Congress (ITUC), said the conference was calling for diligent investigation and prosecution of those who used excessive force to quell peaceful protesters.

He said: “This Congress is also taking place at a time when popular protests have for the past few months been rife in many parts of the world. The common denominator in these protests is the resolute will of the people to resist low wages and pensions, adverse labour laws reforms, and punitive austerity robes sewn by international financial institutions.

“The voice of the working people of the world through these protests is very loud and clear-we demand improved working and living conditions, real democracy, real social progress through the creation and sustenance of decent jobs. In the struggle of the past few weeks, we draw a useful lesson that “a people united can never be defeated.”