People Reporters Reaching out to the People in Nigeria
The United Labour Congress (ULC) has petitioned the International Labour Organisation to compel the Federal Government to register and recognise the congress as a Labour center in Nigeria.
Deputy president of ULC, Igwe Achese who led a protest at the ongoing 107th Session of International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland, said Nigeria government has continue to denied the group it due registration.
It would be recalled that some unions who are not satisfy with outcome of last delegates conference of the Nigeria Labour Congress, pull out from the congress to sought for registration as a third Labour center in the country.
The protesters carried placards with different inscription as “Unchain Nigerian workers, make our workplaces free’’, “ILO Stop, Nigeria Government from threatened monopolies in trade union movement’’.
Others are “Nigerian Workers demand full democratisation of Nigerian’s industrial relations sphere’’, “Freedom to form unions is a fundamental rights’’.
“As you are aware, we submitted our application for registration two years ago..
“We complied with all processes as required by law and we were denied registration. We were denied our due place as far the labour centre is concerned in Nigeria.
“Each time you go the ministry they tell you we are processing your form. There has no been any reply, ‘’ he said.
He said: “I do not know why we are considered as an illegal union. We have rights as enshrined in the constitution, as enshrined in the ILO conventional treaties that have been signed by Nigeria as well.
“We are here to tell ILO that all the petition written against the ULC are false and fraudulent, diversionary, and that the Nigerian workers are suffering.
“We need the intervention of the ILO to compel the Nigerian Ministry of Labour and the government to register the United Labour Congress and other applications before the Ministry of Labour for registration.’’
Comrade Achese who is the immediate past President of NUPENG, further disclosed that in May, the group wrote to the ILO through the Labour Attaché to Nigeria on the ULC’s plight.
According to him “we expect that the necessary response would be given”.
