(TuesdayRapAround)2018 Workers Day: Are There Anything To Cheer?

By  Michael Ayotunde

Can an average Nigerian worker, with all sincerity, beat his or her chest that the situation of things in the country truly calls for celebration?

Are there anything to really cheer in today’s Nigeria?

Certainly, it is not yet Uhuru.
No doubt, the unfortunate economic meltdown has left most homes with sad memories, with many still unable to find their footings economically.

A government that is never prepared or worried about the basic things of life for the people is also out there, at the federal level and across the states of the federation, perpetrating untold hardship for the nation’s workforce.
What is considered as take home today in Nigeria is nothing when paired with what’s obtainable elsewhere around the globe.

Only recently, the founder of Microsoft, Mr Bill Gates was apt in his submission that the government of Nigeria has failed over the years in the areas of capacity building and human development.

A nation with skyrocketing population explosion like Nigeria but without corresponding capacity building and human development is only existing for the now. Life hereafter for such a nation is better imagined than experienced.

Are people still surprised about the turn of event in recent time in the country? Especially with the deterioration of security in Nigeria? The answer is very simple and clear.

The moment security challenges came, they readily found fertile ground – an army of people governments have neglected over the years. These people are more than ready to do anything out of sense of survival, vengeance and or both.

An idle hand is a devil’s workshop, goes a saying.

Issues bothering on minimum wage, better remuneration, to this end, have been on for a while. In fact, the topic has refused to go.

But governments have repeatedly paid lip service to it, and in most cases, used it as bargaining tools during electioneering campaigns. Yet at the end of the day, they reneged, leaving the workforce at the mercy of treasury looters and Shylock government officials.

A man that has several dependants, other financial burden is then further condemned to eke out a living from this a rather pathetic and gloomy situations painted above. Why would this not affect his productivity level?

At this point, one glaring fact that can’t be disputed is – government is responsible for the unfortunate situation a typical Nigerian worker founds himself or herself. With social amenities, infrastructural facilities that can make people happy at all times unavailable, but are provided uncomplimentary salary structure, devastated and degraded environment which are provocative at sight are found everywhere.

As for the Nigerian worker, it is not yet Uhuru. The situation is pathetic, and not something to write home about. Some of them are being owed several months of unpaid salary arrears; some being paid half-month or segregated salary.

For a nation like Nigeria to truly develop and compete favorably among committee of nations, governments at all levels must be prepared to retrace their steps, and do what’s just, fair and appropriate for the workers.

This is because these are the classes of people that truly effect the needed change in any given society. Where these wonderful set of people are now being subjected to hardship and unwarranted economic realities, then government should expect nothing other than failures.

The simple message today is very clear – the Nigerian workforce deserves more than it is currently getting from the government at the centre, state and local levels. The private sector, too, is not exempted.

The effort and exemplary services being put into nation-building by the workforce is incredible. This is the more reason why their dignity must be protected and respected at all times.

A special salute to the ever resilient Nigerian workforce – even in the face of debilitating challenges, the spirit is never cowed.

Happy Celebrations!!