COMRADE Emmanuel Ademokun, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Edo State has several worries, and paramount among them is the welfare of Edo workers, casualization, contributory pension scheme and the continuous enhancement of their remunerations. He is also bent on leaving legacies that generations of Edo workers would reckon with, having traversed the labour corridor for a while and massively enjoying the support of workers.
The Labour helmsman surprised the duo of Assistant Editor, Tunde Eigbiremolen and Principal Features writer, Ijeoma Umeh when he stated that the recent factionalization of the Edo NLC, a trend which appear to be simmering into other chapters from the top, is a non-issue and is definitely not one of his least worries. Excerpts.
Background, Early Days of The Struggle
My name is Comrade Emmanuel Ademokun, when we actually started this struggle, I was elected in 2001 as the Chairman of Almagamated Union of Public Corporations Civil Service Technical and Recreational service Employees. (CUPTA). That year 2000 our elders in the struggle who we revered were among those affected by the retirement exercise carried out by then governor, Lucky Igbinedion, so it became our turn to step into the ‘big shoes’. As at that time, I was even campaigning for someone else, hoping to work with him as Financial Secretary. But luckily the retirement exercise affected him and I stepped into his big shoes as Chairman. Barely a year later, I was asked to come and lead in the Joint Council, I declined but the pressure was on me to accept the Joint Council position and I accepted, taking over the council for good seven years, the joint council was made up of public sector unions. I left the joint council, but with some years still ahead of me, I decided it would not serve the interest of my people to just sit back and fold my hands, so I contested in the NLC with the incumbent, Comrade Kaduna Eboigbodin, that was in 2011, and I won. My tenure actually expired a few days back, and the workers, convinced that I had done well, decided to return me for a second term.
How Do You feel About This Second Mandate?
Well, I think it is not easy for workers to re-appraise a leader in a complex union as the NLC with its diverse arms and decide to re-elect that leader. It is indeed not easy, and I must say that since the creation of Edo State and the onset of the labour movement here, this is the first time it is happening.
Earlier, you mentioned you stepped into big shoes, now, you have this second mandate how big are those shoes you have stepped into?
Sure, we have been coping! Indeed the shoes are getting bigger based on our antecedence in office and the achievements recorded over the years. Sincerely speaking, prior to 2001 when the struggles started in earnest for me, I actually wanted to be a king maker rather than a king, but the pressure kept mounting, and propelled by the people’s desire that I led them, I succumbed. I am sure that this renewed mandate is based on the people’s realization that continuity follows performance and therefore they asked me to continue for another four year term. So, here we are. That is why I said I have stepped into big shows. I also saw the election in 2001 as stepping into big shoes because the man I contested against was more experienced than I.
What are your personal philosophies?
I hate to see people being oppressed. I am a Technician, I read Electrical/Electronics and as technicians we believe if you must do anything do it well. I do not belong with those administrators who engage in the witch-hunt of people, and I believe that the freedom of every man, their right to make choices, to associate should not be denied then
What were the challenges you met on ground and how were you able to surmount them?
The truth is, we actually met nothing on ground! When I was Chairman of JNC, we were able to record several achievements. It was at that time that we achieved the civil service club, and it was by a dint of hardwork and by the support and co-operation of the Head of Service, Dr. Simeon Imoukhemen, we rallied round and the Civil Service Club became a reality, a rallying point for workers, like a workers village. This was under my tenure as chairman of the Joint Council, and one of the major reasons the workers wanted me as NLC Chairman.
When we assumed office in the NLC, there was nothing on ground. The first major challenge was the urgent need to hire a secretariat for the union. During congress we would squat and make our deliberations. It was unhealthy. No one handed over anything to me as is the norm elsewhere, and it was not funny at all, we saw it as a challenge to take the bull by the horn. And we did. Today, even if I should be required to hand over I would have much to hand over to my successor.
What are those achievements and part of what would form your handover note?
Yes, we now have a functional secretariat, well-furnished with offices for the chairman and other executives, and there are chairs to sit on. The office also has a functional ICT unit, a 100 capacity hall that we use for seminars. And talking of seminars, we realized that in the past, workers were not participating in seminars and workshops. We changed all that and now periodically we send our workers for seminars and workshop, with the support of the state government sponsored by the NLC.
In the past, NLC could not bite, it could only bark. It was not a formidable union, it was not a union that had the will to agitate and carryout a successful strike. When we came on board we changed all that and have been able to carry out successful strike actions, protests and get the implementation of certain dividends of democracy for the people.
Under the present administration, we have carried out successful actions, be it protests or strike actions, up to five are recorded under Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, if there are areas where we needed certain actions to be taken by government we were able to issue ultimatum and then where we have issues with government we work out modalities for resolution. You recall the fuel subsidy saga; we led protests and were on the side of the people. Now NLC had taken over from the sub-unions under it who now report to us because of the trust they have in our capacity to lead.
At the end of this second mandate, what would you want to be remembered for?
First of all, I want to be remembered as the man who came on board and changed the game. Prior to my era, NLC was always in the background simply growling without acting, without facts to substantiate whatever agitations they silently did. Like I said earlier, under my administration, NLC had led more than five consecutive strikes and what we demanded for were achieved. Recall also the episode with the teachers; the sack and all that. We also agitated some of the actions that were taken by the government in that regard, particularly in the area of their salary and allowances, we got government to rescind on the decision to conduct competency test for teachers.
Again, it is on record that it is in my tenure that the NLC would have the Labour House. Edo Line was closed down and we ensured that it is opened without a single sack of a worker. That is an achievement. There were some C.I.Es, others who were sacked by the state government and we made pleas on their behalf and they were reinstated. There are so many people that were helped through my office and it is only when they start praying for me that I actually remember their cases. They are too numerous to remember.
There are so many achievements we have made for Edo State workers and that informs why I was returned unopposed. Anyone who intended to contest with me had their defeat starring them in the face. People simply advised them not to try. I was voted for and I must use this medium to appreciate the entire workers who left their engagements and came canvassing on my behalf. That is highly remarkable.
While you were making your inaugural address after the recent election, you mentioned that casualization would soon be a thing of the past. How far has your administration gone to correct this anomaly?
Yes, on the issue of casualization, we are still bent on insisting that it does not pay, or do anyone any good to remain as casual in any system that they should be absorbed as core staff, but the economic shortcomings of that system may be put forward as an excuse. We have been working round the clock to ensure that the welfare of all workers is of utmost priority. We have ensured that salaries are enhanced and that they are regular. Casualization is a painful thing here and we have me the state government severally on that. The Permanent Secretary was able to collate the list after a committee was set up for it and now we have a comprehensive report on that, and government has assured us that they will be regularised, but despite the assurance, their employment has not been regularised and that is my pain. During the period around the elections the matter came up again in our congress and we were urged to take it up with the state government but we try not to be seen as partisan, or trying to work against the progress of the state, so we held back; we maintain our neutrality, but we have scheduled a meeting in that regard, in a few days, during the May Day (Workers Day) we will make our intentions known to the state government.
There is another disturbing trend, though, it is not in Edo State alone, and that is the issue of factionalization in the NLC, at the National level and this seems to have trickled down to the states. What is your impression on this, particularly as it affects Edo State?
Personally, I am not worried about that. In Edo State, the workers know their leaders, ask any worker who the NLC, Edo State Chairman is and they would tell you it’s Comrade Emmanuel Ademokun. Go to the Ministries and parastatals, go the NUPENG territory and they would tell you they don’t know who Comrade Osai is, even the Comrade Osai himself knows and recognizes me as his chairman, even though there is a directive from his factional leader at the national that they should form their own body, they know their limits, so I don’t blame Osai or anybody. It’s the prevailing circumstance around them. However, there is only one option left for them to explore and that is to retrace their step and come back to the only union of the workers nationwide.
Where did it go wrong?
It’s all arising from interests. We have a president, Comrade Waba who emerged from a free and fair election, all the 42 industrial unions under NLC, including NUPENG and others participated in that election. The Comrade Governor of Edo State came there as an observer, and election was conducted within 48 hours. The observers from the relevant ministries, representatives of various authorised groups were there. In labour we don’t rig, what we religiously observe is one-man-one-vote and that election went accordingly. For anyone to come forward to say it was rigged was preposterous and most of the unions saw it was such.
That is why the Ajaero group, I don’t want to refer to them as dissident, are parading themselves as NLC with only five or so unions out of the vast majority of unions under the NLC. In every contest, winners and losers must emerge, in this case the loser refused to accept defeat. In the credential and other committees Ajaero had two members each, they were part of the process, he had agents, did his agents agree with him? He said he was leading when the counting began, but all of a sudden Waba began to lead. That is laughable, it is only at the end of counting that you know how you had faired. The margin was narrow, but Ayuba Waba won.
Rather than going to congratulate him they went and regrouped and said they are forming a parallel administration without the Federal Ministry of Labour being aware. We have rules. You cannot form a leadership at whatever level without going by the rules and the rules are clear. The so-called factions, whether at National or state level, do not exist, if you ask me, but I maintain that they have an option and that is to retrace their steps home. Again, that is why we Nigerians should continue to appreciate what our President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan did by conceding defeat and congratulating his opponent, the President-elect, General Muhamadu Buhari. Every Nigerian should learn lessons from this.
On Contributory Pension Scheme
In Edo State, we have not commenced the Contributory Pension Scheme yet. When the government wanted to begin the scheme in March last year, we stopped it. However, it is now a law in Edo State. The way it is expected to run is that 10% contribution will come from the government while 5% will be contributed by the worker to the PFA – Pension Fund Administrator.
The advantage is that unlike in the past when gratuities are not being paid, with this scheme, it will put paid to unpaid gratuities. For now, we need to sensitize our workers on the workability of the scheme before it takes off in earnest. However, if you have five (5) years to leave the service, you will not contribute. But when you are retiring, all your contributions will be granted to you. This is the enlightenment we need to carry out before take off.
