N70,000 minimum wage, dollar equivalent is paltry $45 – Goke Olatunji, NLC Auditor 

Bimbola Oyesola

With the Nigeria currency nose diving and crumpling everyday under the foreign currency, the value of recent N70,000 Minimum Wage negotiated for the workers has further deteriorated. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Auditor, Goke Olatunji, in this interview with Daily Sun Workforce lamented that the minimum wage in exchange to Dollar is paltry $45.
According to him, this has further exposed the vulnerability of the workers and their economic incapacitation. 
Olatunji, who was the immediate President of the National Union of Chemical Footwear Rubber Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees (NUCFRLANMPE) warned that labour would resist any tyranny agenda that seems to shut the mouth of the oppressed as workers are further being impoverished.
He also bares his mind on the fate of chemical sector as many factories are at the verge of closing down due to high electricity tariff, adding that nothing less than 40 companies have closed down due to the harsh economic issues caused by the government in the last few tears
Olatunji who speaks on other sundry national issues charges the government to be more responsive to the socioeconomic challenges in the country.
Excerpts:


Economic situation 

We thank the God Almighty. It has not been very easy and smooth because of the economic problem in Nigeria
Most especially our sector the manufacturers sector. Our employers have not been finding it easy. No free assess to forex . The electricity tariff hike is not helping  the matter. Many of our factories are closing down and majority of them are moving away from Nigeria to other countries.

Legacy leaving behind as president 

The leadership should understand the situation of the economy we are facing now. Then they should deploy maturity in discharging their responsibilities. For everyone that lives in Nigeria now, they all know that things are not easy so both the employers and the union must be understanding if not many companies wil continent to close down. Like l said the other time . Right now almost about seven letter from companies are on my table and they are saying they want to close down because of the increase on electricity.
Every month they are asking them to pay about 20 something million as a bill. How do you want them to survive? So these are the problems. So, I will advise the union to display maturity. 
It may interest you to know that in 2011 when minimum wage was eighteen thousand Naira (N18,000), its dollar equivalent was $117, in 2019 when minimum wage was thirty thousand naira (N30,000),the dollar equivalent was $98 but at the present seventy thousand naira (N70,000) minimum wage, its dollar equivalent is paltry $45.
Workers and masses are not finding it easy again, the hardship is appalling. Government of the day should respect fundamental right of peaceful assembly. Dissent voices and opinions should not be criminalised as a treasonable offence or financing terrorism charges. We shall resist any tyranny agenda that seems to shut the mouth of the oppressed. The recent arrest of the NLC President was more of a vindictive motive instead of addressing the issues that impoverish Nigeria masses. Nigeria workers and masses are waiting and at the appropriate time,we shall react.
However, we appeal to the Federal Government of Nigeria to live to her responsibilities by addressing insecurity, fixing our refineries, building and repairing roads, strengthening modern railway transportation, revamping electricity/power sector to meet the needs of the populace. These can be achieved if high cost of governance is drastically reduced. Too many ministers and bureaucrats who are not adding values should be disengaged 

Achievements

In spite of the economic instability, I thank God that our Union is still keeping her head above the sea level. During our tenure of office; we built a guest house and ensured the completion of our multipurpose shopping mall; it only remains finishing works like windows, burglary doors for it to become fully functional. The National Secretariat is wearing a new look by equipping it with modern facilities. We also fixed solar panel and CCTV cameras.

Moreover, the court cases instituted by Comrade Lazarus Opara and Cajenthan Opara have been determined and judgement had been passed in our favour. The other two (2) cases that relate to organising are still pending in the Courts; in which we pray it favours us.
Our Organising and Industrial Relations Departments have been up and doing despite challenges arising from economic instability, technological advancement, climate change and natural causes that frustrates organizing and harmony.
During my tenure, we did our best. Before I assumed duty our secretariat was bushy, but now it has been well taken care of. We have put structures in place of the bush and made the place very beautiful. We have put furnished the buildings and installed CCTV cameras etc. We have also built a guest house of about 40 something units as a way of diversifying to boost the IGR of the Union. We have also employed workers to boost our capacity. I have also completed the shopping mall which my predecessor left uncompleted. It is now a three stores building and well roofed with iron sheets. I also made borehole. Payment of salaries was a priority for me and l made sure that l paid as at when due. I do not owe anybody any kobo or his or her salary. 

Challenges and surmounting them

We have had issues like protests, like the one caused by Baba ljebu and also in Mouka foam. We have surmounted all these issues because we deployed social dialogue to solve the challenges. 
We have also made sure that we train our members and we save for training and furthering the education of our members. You can see that we haven’t missed any of our annual congresses which involve trainings. We have ensured that there is peace during our time. This was not the case before we came on board. 

What should labour leaders do to ensure government does the needful in the face of present economic challenges 

You see the way the government is harrasing Ajaero. Ajaero has not committed any offense, the foreigners they are looking for have been there before Ajaero came on board. Meanwhile, Ajaero was not there when the issue they are harassing him for was created. Ayuba was the one there. Things are not done that way. We as unions must continue to engage this government. They are not friendly at all. They are deceptive. They can turn black to white and they will insist on that. Tinubu as we all know is a product of protest, he became a Governor as a results of protests, he because a Senator as a result of protest, even he became the President on the basis of protests. And now he doesn’t want anyone to protest against his short comings

Difference between workers in private sector and public sector in terms of comfortability

In terms of salaries and remunerations, when you talk about salary those of us in private sectors are better paid than those in public sectors. Presently , government is proposing 70,000 as minimum wage, but in private sector in our sector, they have been paying 87500. So we are still appealing to our employers to increase that the more. In fact, one of our achievements is this increment and the subsequent ones being planned because we signed the agreement to review the payment since last year. As at the time we signed that agreement, the public sector was being paid N30,000 as minimum wage. So, in terms of payment of salaries and minimum wage, my sector of the private sector are better paid. 

How many companies have closed down ?

As at today, nothing less than 40 companies have closed down due to the harsh economic issues caused by the government and this has happened within about three years now. This has caused our check off dues to go down drastically. And that is the only source of our income. 

Future of the chemical industry with the state of the forex as most of the raw materials are imported

We shall continue to shout and complain to the Federal Government to allow the employers and manufacturers in the chemical industry to have assess to forex . The government should allow our sector to have direct assess to the CBN directly not that the CBN will pay to commercial banks and then commercial banks will turn it to business. 

What should government do to make life easy for Nigerians

Government should endeavour to make policy that would make life easier for Nigerian masses. People are hungry now and they want food on their tables. The government can just open the border. Why opening only the border in the north and close that of the south?
I mean the South West border. Allow rice and other foods to come in. Many Nigerian masses just want food on their tables. And this is what government should ensure it does in all ways. President Tinubu should do a proper and urgent follow up for any policy he makes to ensure that they are implemented to the letter. Those around him are only telling him what he likes to hear, not the harsh reality on ground, not the truth about what is happening in the country. Petroleum, more worrisome is the fact that the crude oil is exported in its raw form without value-adding. We have four (4) public refineries but none is working, more pathetic is that Dangote Refinery and other modular refineries are not getting the support of government and some of their agencies and cabals that enrich themselves through dubious means of oil and gas shady business.
Another hydra-headed monster that is affecting both businesses and individuals in Nigeria is the high tariffs of electricity. While Electricity that is not generated adequately to power the economy is one misnomer, the other one is the high tariff regime that has just been introduced with band categorizations. Many factories are at the verge of closing down due to high electricity tariff. We wish to sound a serious warning to the Federal Government to quickly look into this critical infrastructure. Manufacturing is winding down in Nigeria because of diminishing infrastructures which has become a push-factor to the investors and therefore relocate to countries that provide enabling environment for them to do their businesses.
Bad roads also constitute a block to smooth movement of goods and services from the source of raw-materials to the manufacturing plants and finally to the market. 
Insecurity is equally a clog in the wheel of our economic growth and development. I recall that one of our former leaders once said ‘if an insurgency last for more than 24hours, the Government is having hand in it’s. It is saddening that Boko Haram, Herdsmen bandits, kidnappers and all sorts are having good days with their nefarious activities. Finished goods and services are being transported from one part of the country to the other with a great risk; farmers cannot do their farming again due largely to brutal attacks from bandits and herdsmen. The resultant effect is high cost of food.
Good Governance is expected by the masses even if it only addresses their lower needs according to Maslow’s theory that guarantees feeding, housing and clothing. Majority of Nigerians live below poverty level of 3dollars per day. Inflation has drastically reduced the value of Naira.


Relationship with other affiliated unions? 

We shall not rest on our oars as more staffs have been employed to strengthen organising activities.
It is my joy to inform you that we have a very good relationship with our Employers’ Federation through social dialogue that has become our watchword in our industrial sector.
Our affiliation to NLC and IndustriALL Global Union is daily concretized through 
our commitment towards the realization of goals of these two bodies. This 
earned us recognition by electing me as Auditor of the NLC, Chairperson 
IndustriALL Global Union-Nigeria Council while Comrade Tolulope Fagbamigbe is 
the chairperson of NLC Youth Committee. We promise to give our best in 
supporting the organisations for the betterment of our members and general 
public at large.
In conclusion, let me appreciate all the Central Working Committee members for 
working with me with unalloyed support and cooperation. Thank you so much.