Labour leaders by their calling and duties are exposed to a lot of hazards associated with fulfilling diverse mandates for the people, especially members of their union. Occasionally, while in the pursuit of bettering the lot of their members and the cause of the common man, labour leaders insist on views that are at variance with some authorities and interests who are unwilling to give in. For instance, during the oil subsidy removal strike during the days of Obasanjo regime, it was alleged that some security forces shot at the then NLC President Comrade Adams Oshiomhole from a distance but divine providence saved him by whiskers.
Labour leaders by their calling and duties are exposed to a lot of hazards associated with fulfilling diverse mandates for the people, especially members of their union. Occasionally, while in the pursuit of bettering the lot of their members and the cause of the common man, labour leaders insist on views that are at variance with some authorities and interests who are unwilling to give in. For instance, during the oil subsidy removal strike during the days of Obasanjo regime, it was alleged that some security forces shot at the then NLC President Comrade Adams Oshiomhole from a distance but divine providence saved him by whiskers.
This ostensibly was targeted at dampening the morale of the striking masses lead by the labour leader that once the lead figure and mastermind is gotten rid of, the agitation would fizzle out or die down as naturally nobody would want to die. Unknowingly to some secular leaders, the followers of various unions usually boast of articulate and conscious members who cannot be intimidated and more so willing to carry on the struggle in the face of unwarranted assaults, even the death of a leader. Like some would say, it is like a long line of ants with one and the same goal: a better deal and welfare structure. These aspirations cannot be compromised even in the unlikely event of the death of one of the leaders or any other circumstances.
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Interestingly, the resolve is usually strengthened under such circumstances. So, the most national leaders can do is to work harmoniously with labour leaders to better the lot of workers and the masses and not to resort to acrimony. What therefore matters is superior argument backed by remarkable improvements. As the late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo once said: ‘’People who always want to have their ways at all costs and never provide better arguments but rather want to force their petty ideas on others are anarchists and pocket despots who will ultimately fail.” This means that some leaders have often worked against aspirations and demands of organized labour using very crude means to cage the popular will and often times personalizing the demands as an assault to their ego, positions and dreams.
That labour leaders are selfless in the pursuit of the goals of their unions is not in doubt. Therefore their safety and security is of utmost importance to the populace whom they strive to improve their welfare either directly or indirectly. Hence it is worrisome that a labour leader from a Federal Polytechnic in Bayelsa State could be gunned down for his alleged steadfastness in seeking for better welfare from the authorities.Whatever his sins, this is most despicable and condemnable. Historically, but hard to forget is the curious circumstances under which an ASUU President, Dr Mahmoud Tukur died in a purportedly motor accident during the Babangida regime. Not long ago, some comrade journalists on their way back from Abuja had a ghastly motor accident that claimed the lives of many. All these heroes died in the course of duty of trying to improve the welfare of others who have limited or no voice of their own for an improved welfare.
Then just recently the tragedy of Dr. Tukur repeated itself again by consuming Professor Iyayi, a former ASUU President and very vocal academic for the betterment of university system in Nigeria under very curious circumstances again at the alleged hands of the notoriously reckless convoy of a governor in the north central Nigeria. This is most tragic and very unfortunate. This same convoy had nearly led to the amputation of the leg of the state executive in the past in a motor accident. Does it then means that where governors tread, other road users become lesser mortals? Must convoys be notoriously reckless to the extent of hounding others out of existence before we know they are in power even on the road? Does the immunity clause for governors also cover recklessness of convoys? Or is the accident a hoax to deceive the gullible? If so, what manner of desperation is this and what do they hope to achieve?
Thus whether on the road, in the air or sometimes by water, these vagaries of safety affect labour leaders who are constantly traveling to get things done for the common good. Given the snail pace or level at which our system responds to labour issues, these heroes have their exposure risks to accidents and other hazards increased to immeasurable limits to which only God can protect them. For instance, it took four months of ASUU strike for government to respond at the highest level. Nigeria would not have lost Prof. Iyayi and scores of students through accidents during this period if there was a quick response without politicization and prolongation of the strike by government. In the United States where there was a government shutdown for sixteen days in October with unquantifiable losses, no day passed without the president of the country making efforts and offers to convince the republicans to see reason. Here the swiftness is anything but placatory as the mediatory role of the Benue Governor in the ASUU strike turned out to be.
Again, in carrying out their duties as labour leaders there is often a clash of interests between them and the powers that be. The mistake usually made is that the union leaders are self-serving whereas it is the popular will and aspiration of thousands and sometimes millions of people. For instance, it is an open secret that the power of agitation and also to call off strikes in ASUU resides in the members not the leaders. Thus, the human weakness that labour leaders are a thorn in the flesh does not arise as they too are reasonable in the course of negotiations for an amicable solution. Knowing the workings of the various unions is important to understanding the feedback mechanism of the decision making process that is very crucial in resolving strikes. It is therefore tantamount to error through under information that labour or union leaders hold the ace in calling off strikes without wide ranging consultations and occasionally calling for a referendum from the members. Foolhardiness therefore accrues to whoever goes out of his way to get at the innocent and often powerless labour leaders. Surprisingly, the power of the agitation rests in the membership and not the labour leaders who can only articulate their views before them. There is therefore no need to target any labour leader for marauding, assault, cajoling or coercion during agitations. Based on this the safety and security of labour leaders must be assured, however we do not operate in an ideal environment though as we are in Nigeria.
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The fact that labour or union leaders have gone ahead to serve the country well in other various capacities after their sojourn in unionism shows that they are very valuable human assets and resources for the country and must be protected by one and all. The examples of Prof Jega at BUK, then INEC and Comrade Oshiomhole in Edo State are just a few examples of how former labour leaders have continued to transform our communities and country at large. Therefore safety and security of labour leaders counts and must not be compromised for any reason. This week’s incidence of the death of renowned Prof Iyayi calls to question the immunity clause for governors as everyone knows some of these convoys take the law into their own hands while on the road by monopolising two lanes into a one lane passage thereby pushing all other road users into the bush.
I would like to conclude that labour leaders must be protected by everyone including government agents. They should be insured for life just in the case of an unlikely eventuality, their children and family members must be catered for adequately. Government and her agents must see labour leaders as partners in the progress of the country never to be antagonized. While joining ASUU, Nigerians and the family in mourning Prof. Iyayi, there is need to investigate the remote causes of the said motor accident as well as conduct an autopsy on the body by a team of independent medical experts comprising of ASUU consultants and others for the public to know in order to safeguard the future and prevent a reoccurrence. Those found culpable must be made to face the full wrath of the law as only the governor is covered by immunity clause.
Emmanuel Tyokumbur. Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan 07041466464
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of SaharaReporters
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