By Comrade Ogbu A. Ameh
“Unity”, the central purpose of unionism over the centuries has been dogged by internal and external adversaries. The trade union bureaucracy itself is characterized by the role of “Janus” the gods of peace and war, the gods of beginning and end of year.
Another divisive tendency is the role of religion, lifestyle and its effects on collective workers struggle. Against this backdrop, the major challenge is for Nigerian workers to overcome the divisive factors that undermined the core purpose of collectivism in unity.
The challenge is to address the political side of trade union struggles. There is no way trade unions can be apolitical as this would be a negation of not only the essence of trade unionism but also, the very circumstance of their emergence. This formative background makes it imperative for labour movement comprising the formal and informal workers to mobilize on the platform of a socialist ideological oriented political party.
This may be more rewarding as it will address political issues from the perspective of how workers’ rights and social justice be guaranteed. The low level of trade and political consciousness among Nigerian workers and the absence of a massive workers education programme for the rank and file stifles labour party vibrancy.
The existing one benefits only union officials and the leadership who hijacked the party for their selfish gain. Until a labour party built by the commonality of interests of workers derived from the fact of common deprivation imposed by the predatory capitalist system, workers shall be in chain.
Workers common enemy is the employer who enjoys the massive backing of the state. The role of “State” as symbolizes in any government of the day is to undermine the unity that binds workers together.
State actors know this art too well like diplomats in the arts of international politics. It never hesitates to take advantage of the inherent divisive fault lines in trade union centres.
The odds are stacked against workers, trade unions and trade centres. It is only UNITY, the core essence of workers social power that can resist the onslaught of globalization through its proxies “The State” and Trans-nationals. The last showdown between the Nigerian government and Nigeria Labour Congress is a case in point.
Comrade Ameh, Convener, Generation for Change Africa, wrote in from Abuja
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