 Welcome back, it's time for our very first hot topic and we want to take a look at what's happening between Labour and the federal government. On Sunday yesterday, 1st of October in the morning, Labour came out with a speech, a statement where they brought some questions, raised some questions about their affairs of the country. And as I said yesterday morning, it seemed that all was set for the strike which has been scheduled for 3rd of October. However in the evening of yesterday's Sunday October 1st, NLC, TUC and the federal government had a meeting and some things came out from that meeting. So we want to find out what are the changes that have taken place as a result of that meeting and those things that have taken place, are they going to lead to the cancellation of the planned strike? We have been joined by Comrade Ismail Adejimo, Chairman Ratao Lagos, Ratao is Radio Television Theatre and Arts Workers Union and he is also the PRO NLC Lagos. Good morning to you Mr. Adejimo or Comrade Adejimo. Thank you very much. We are very proud of you Comrade and I appreciate you for having me on your breakfast this morning. Happy Independence anniversary to you. Happy Independence anniversary to all Nigerians when still in the mood of a celebration since the holidays today. Back to your question, Nigerian Labour Congress and the TUC, the two Labour Centre in Nigeria are very focused and determined to be the voice for the voiceless Nigerians and that is why we are resolute in our position and this position is to get government to the table to discuss those German issues that bothers on the wage award, the issue of subsidy that has affected the cost of commodities across both and this is biting other in our daily lives and that is why we want government to dialogue. The last result for any organised labour is the strike action which we find difficult to use except when it becomes so inevitable. At this very point you observe that we had a two days one strike is to point out to the government that we are ready and we are determined and this time around it is not only Nigerian people in this struggle. The TUC, the Trade Union of Congress, the civil society organisations, all allied bodies are fully committed. Even as I speak this morning by 3 am we are going to have a joint press conference in Lagos here to address this issue. But be that as it may, our national leadership, the parent body are already in talks with the government. The government have opened up the negotiations and discussion in this regard and you can gather from the press both the online and the conventional media that as of yesterday night there were flourishing resolutions and some decisions taken to cushion the threat of this subsidy remover. And we are also the leaders to tell these resolutions and decisions to various organs of the union as announced by our national president, Comrade Joe Ajiro, that today they will call for an emergency net meeting to deliberate and analyse these positions. All this offer that was extended to us by the government, then vis-à-vis our various state council, we also need to keen to it. So as soon as the decision is taken, then they will announce the next line of action. But as we stand, it is still ongoing discussion across the two divides is still ongoing from the labour centre. We are going to meet this money, our leaders will pass their resolution jointly with all the state organs. Then we make a final decision whether to continue the strike as planned for tomorrow or we suspend it in the interest of workers and injurians. What was supposed to be the issue that will make you call off the strike? Is it more promises or action that will start immediately? Because sitting at table and talking, I understand there are agreements that were reached as far back as 2009, which means there were promises that were made. These promises keep re-echoing every year, every time, especially election cycle or election time. These problems will come, there will be strikes upon strike upon strike. So did you at this time want to go on strike based on the fact that you have not been given more promises or you were going to go on strike based on the fact that there have not been action which you wanted to happen? Because if you are going to still discuss and the government tells you that in the next six months we are going to do XYZ, the buses will come for people to be able to travel for instance, the salaries will be added to the wage, salary award that you are calling will be added in the next six months for instance, that's a definite promise with a timeline. Is that good enough for you to influence you not to go on strike? Thank you very much. If you observe very well, this trouble started with the protest rally. In liberal movement, there are procedures, there are processes before we get to the final bus stop which is going on strike. We started with the protest rally where we submit our shutout demands to the government that this had our demands vis-à-vis the subsidial removal that is having a negative impact on the lives of an average worker and the citizenry. Having done that, we observe the government to react and follow those terms of reference by implementing them in phases because we don't expect them to implement everything at go because there are short-term and long-term requests there that government is not committed to implementing them as we expected that was why the need for the two-day warning strike came on board. Despite the fact that the TUC boycotted the strike, the Niger Liberal Congress which is the mother of all struggle in Nigeria was at the forefront and the strike was successful by all indications and that is why the danger rose and moved us to the next level which is the indefinite strike as I liked it. After the 21-day notice expiration, we are expecting the government to call the Labour Leader into a table and give us a time frame as we have said. Implementation of policies has to do with time frame and that is what we build confidence in the leadership and the citizenry that government is committed in implementing the S-Y-Z as at some time and we will see it in action but the time those things are beginning to come in, look at the issue of CNG, the buses, we have been expecting it because of transportation this idea at the reach of common man, look at the prices of stable foods in the packet, it's not more affordable. What are the government doing? The various government at the state, at the components unit of the government, the state government are doing little but it is not enough to cushion the effects of this subsidiary mover in our little life. So that is why at this point in time we are not only dialoguing on the basis of promises as we have said but implementation framework, the timeline must be clearly stated. How much confidence do you have? These promises will come to fruition and we begin to all have a feel, a relief from this hashing. Comrade, how much confidence do you have in this government to implement promises that they will make to you that will come to fruition maybe in six months time? For instance, this is October, we were told about student loans. I don't know if you've heard about it or not but that is for the ordinary man who is not a worker. Now the government comes and tells you they are going to give you 35,000 Naira or 25,000 Naira as the case may be, nothing, no mention is made about things that will benefit the common man that will be implemented immediately because it is not salary. The buses have not come, the palliatives that they said they were going to give to the people, it gets to the states and sometimes the state we hear it on the news telling us that 3,000 something have benefited from palliative in a state that will have millions of people and then you are asked not to distribute unless the party chairman of that state is there which means it's going to party faithfuls which means nothing is for the general public. Now how much confidence do you have in the government that has shown this nature to implement the things that you are asking them to implement if they don't start now? Thank you very much. The major thing that is missing in the social contract between the Netherlands and the people in government is that element of trust. By the time the citizenry begin to lose confidence and have no trust in the leadership then there will be problem and that is why we, the organized labor, the leadership have much from the degree of belief and confidence in the political elites, the ruling class that we need to key into the policy trust of government, policies should be revolved around the workers and the masses, it should be our own making that you carry us along from beginning so that the processes of implementation and the formulation will all be all encompassing. As we stand now, right now, governments are beginning to, you understand, prepare for the next budget which is 2024, I'm not speaking for government, the current budget that we have of 2023 to what extent would this budget implemented to key into the vision of this new government? They are giving us excuses along that line and that was where there was a kind of bacuna at the point of where subsidy ends and when subsidy, you understand, we vanished. And the president have announced it now, somehow, somehow, that we still need for government to pay some level of subsidy to ameliorate, otherwise, with the current exchange rate we have to be, with the free flow of dollar, you understand, skyrocketing everything, there is no how the lending cost of petrol will not go close to about a thousand error. So government still need to do something because the essence of government is to bring about greater happiness to the greater number of Nigerians irrespective of our party affiliation or whatever you have said in terms of palliative. And I can assure you in Lagos here, where we are, Lagos take command of Governor Babaji Nisongulu, the implementation of, administration of subsidy, the labor leadership are fully involved. Like my child person in Lagos, Comrade Agnesesie, she's part of the monitoring and enforcement of the distribution of the palliatives. Do you know? They show that it cuts across the vulnerable, hold on. Comrade. And the quantity of administration of those subsidy might not meet the yearning and aspiration of Nigerians because the federal government, hold on, the federal government promises... No, you hold on, you're saying it's very transparent in Lagos state. I want to ask you a question. Do you know that the last time palliatives were shared in Lagos, somewhere around Ikeja, close to the local government, people who were given the palliatives first time got it for free because their names were there. The next list of the people that were given palliatives, and we have proofs for this, were charged 2500 Naira for any bag of this palliative that contained rice, beans and oil and some other things that were charged. Have you heard that information? Because it happened here in Lagos. So I don't know how much you monitor. That's why I'm asking you that question. Thank you very much. You know, when you talk about trust and confidence, the leaders will propose confidence on people to administer this at various level. You cannot be at a point and see what is going on across the world. The governor of Lagos, for clarity, have set up committee, implementation committee across all the media tendencies and interest group in Lagos to look into how this thing would be distributed. But there is no how. You will not see some people with these shady views. I heard about it, but I cannot substantiate on air to what extent this thing will be understood. But immediately that was reported in the social media. We quickly reported it to the government. And that they have to checkmate these people. Otherwise they will defeat the aims and objectives for which these palliatives have been issued. It's meant for. And moving forward, you can see now that all those kind of demand the product is written not for sale. But why are people demanding money? The engineers are so greedy. People who are entrusted with the responsibility of giving this thing to the vulnerable people also want to make money from it. It's so unfortunate. It is unfortunate. Comrade, I almost called the NLC. I have three questions for you. And I'm going to put them together because of time. One, how popular would you say the NLC is with the people now? Two, have you felt the pulse of Nigerians with regards to this strike that's shadowed? What would you say is the pulse of Nigerians towards the strike? And three, is the NLC representing all Nigerians or just the federal workers? Thank you very much. Let me start from where you stop. The NLC is the parent body to many affiliate unions in which my own union, Radio, Television, Theater and Art Workers Union is one affiliated to NLC. The same thing goes for TUC. We also have some group of unions. Most especially in the private sector that fall under the trade union Congress. And by the resolution of NLC, for any action whatsoever, we are bound to comply. And that is why we are determined and set for this strike action except very early last minute changes or a decision communicated for us to do otherwise. Are you getting my point now? Now, for the confidence or the trust of Nigerians in NLC, we don't expect anything less because the NLC, right from the military days, go and check the record, the NLC has been the only vocal point that stands for the voiceless Nigerians. And wherever it may so because we, by the foundation and the establishment ethics of NLC, we are to advocate for the webbing of Nigerians beyond the working class, beyond those who are any salaries. That is why in any struggle we are having, you will see the civil society organization partnering with us. The non-government organization, so many allies, we join us. And that was why the issue of occupying Nigeria, when it started during Durantan regime, you saw the NLC who took a very serious and a very effective position, which prompted government to shift ground. The same thing we are doing this time around, whether Nigerians believe in us or they don't believe in us, the National Assembly is supposed to be the mouthpiece for Nigerians, but I cannot assure you, are they really doing that? The only voice I have in Nigerians is to rally around now to save them is the NLC. But it would appear to many Nigerians that the NLC were more focused and more determined during the Jonathan administration when you occupied Nigeria because Nigerians are already asking, they've been asking the question for some time now, where is the NLC? Where are those people that occupied Nigeria back then? What they seem to see is NLC threatening and then they meet government and then they shift ground and then they threaten and then they meet government and then they shift ground. It's becoming something that Nigerians are no longer fighting for. Thank you very much. The position of NLC today most perceived by Nigerians as political, let me be honest with you, because of the just concluded general election, the position NLC took, you know, I don't want to talk politics because I'm not here for that, but I cannot assure you by the fundamental principle and objectives of NLC in which we are to struggle for the interest and the webbing of workers and Nigerians we stand by it and nothing will deter us. If Nigerians want to believe because the current government, we want to give them benefit of doubt. For 100 days, six months, one year in office, they will give an account, stewardship of what policies have really translated into the webbing and the benefit of Nigerians. But every government will have its own only mood and that is the first three or four months to set you down. They constituted the cabinet. We can see they are just settling down before we don't have a minister of labor when we started this trouble and that was the reason why oftentimes you see the labor leader, they will quit the negligence table because you don't want to speak into the T.A. and all what you have agreed will not come into fruition. How would you respond today? We are people who hold responsibility. Hold on. We are people who hold responsibility. Hold on, hold on. We are people who hold responsibility. Now we have a minister of labor and employment who will be responsible for the resolution reached with the government and all these things will come culminate into what next action the labor leaders will take in implementing the policies that we have agreed or not. So Nigerians have the choice to support the NLC as its own advocate to press on their demand because it's only the working class that are suffering and every Nigerians are suffering. The people in government to understand that we are suffering but they have to be compelled and pressurized to do the right thing so that all of us will have a better Nigerian that we desire. Alright, so how would you respond to the allegations that NLC has been compromised? Never will NLC be compromised because we are not political parties. Let's get it right. We are organized labor. We are professionals. You saw what happened in the Ministry of Works recently when the government decided to lock out the workers without following down the lay procedure or lay down procedure. If workers are not coming to workers at the right time the public service rules is very clear. You follow the process. You should inquiry. If they are not responding you should do the necessary process that we give them the necessary sanction not locking the gate using those measures that are the workers we can never be compromised. We can never be compromised. We cut across different backgrounds. We are professionals in our midst. Alright, just before we go I want to ask you the question I had asked earlier before you came on and it's one of the headlines on The Guardian this morning. Casualization, concerns over exploitation, high demand for cheap labor. Over the years we've seen how Nigerians have been exploited by contractors, foreigners and Nigerian contractors. What has labor done to protect workers who have been exploited and who are exploited in the country? Thank you very much. Before this trouble in labor movement for you to know that even the labor law of Nigeria frowned at casualization at any level and for that reason the Nigerian Labor Congress have a separate department an organ called anti-casualization which beam is such light on any organization. Have you arrested any of these contractors? Over time we picket them you know in Lagos here we have picket too many companies that are indulging in casualization and in human treatment to workers especially these foreigners for treatment and we are more focused now because as cases are reported we are going to visit them under this new leadership of Comrade Joa Jero and the chairman in Lagos Comrade Agnes Essi a very gallant and dogged Comrade we never take any form of casualization as it is formally reported because we will not work on ESC. Once it is formally reported to the secretariat of NS in Lagos it will be referred to the anti-casualization committee and they will swing it to action. I can assure you from now going forward any form of casualization of Nigerians in any organization that public or private will be met with a stiff resistance. So if it's not reported it has to be formally reported by those experiencing it before you can get action. Yes it won't be formal because we are organized labor we are not just street workers we work on reported cases that are verified. Is there any kind of sensitization from labor to these people to know that look we've got your back wherever you are if you are being abused if you are being exploited write to NLC and we'll treat your case. Is there any form of sensitization but it does appear that there's nothing like that. Otherwise it wouldn't be going on as it's been going on. Thank you very much that brings me to the question of unionization. You showed the privilege of establishment even in the media where you are are you unionized? I am working in the media stream mainstream media of the government and I am unionized I am a member of the union. If you are under a union you are covered you are protected for any form of victimization or oppression either from your management or anybody. But often times when we move on organizing this we go into a union they will say we don't want to do this however it is by collectively soft of workers that we have power to challenge the authority and that is why the union slogan and stands first stands up of union solidarity so we said when union inspiration the workers' blood shall run they can give power without any weapon in it. So people are united in whatever form in 10, in 20, in 30s we want to give power. Thank you Comrade Comrade thank you so much this is it. Look at what you have put to a minister of work he apologizes to the workers. Time is no longer on our side but thank you so much you've spoken so well and we look forward to hearing from NLC today from your joint meeting to find out exactly what's going to happen tomorrow. We are expecting you to be there to cover the event so that we lay down our positions. No problems thank you so much Comrade. Thank you. Comrade Ismael Adejimo Chairman Ratau Legos and PRNLC Legos has been our guest on the first hot topic we'll be back with our second hot topic in a moment stay with us.