•Institute to honour labour friendly leaders, says Aremu
DIRECTOR-General of Michael Imodu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Issa Aremu, has said President Muhammadu Buhari should be appreciated for dignifying the organised labour unions.
He said under the Buhari administration, labour unions freely exercised their freedom to declare and suspend strikes without victimisation by government.
Aremu applauded Buhari for managing the economic crisis without retrenching civil servants.
He spoke in Jos, Plateau state capital during a retreat organised by Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity at National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS)
Speaking with reporters, Aremu said: “One of the things which Buhari’s administration has done is that despite COVID-19 challenges, recession one and two, crude oil theft, and collapse of oil revenue, he never retrenchd.
“It is commendable he has ensured job retention. In 1999, we never had it as bad as we are experiencing. The Obasanjo administration declared war on the public service. He stated that it was over-bloated and he started downsizing and right-sizing.
“This administration deserves commendation because the best way to dignify labour is to let people have something to do. Don’t criminalise employment or turn workers into commodities which can be thrown away. But Buhari has shown that despite the fall in oil revenue, he kept jobs and not only that he pays salary as due.
“He went further to look at the plight of workers in uniforms. Also, when some governors in 2017 were complaining… he gave them bailouts. These are facts. You may not like Buhari, but these are his legacies. And I hope any future government will uphold these legacies and promote labour.
“President Buhari paid consequential adjustments. Some states have done that. Let’s commend Governor Lalong, who, as a result of prompt payment of salary and clearing the backlog, is named “Governor Alert”.
“We are willing… to honour employers of labour … who have respect for decent work.
“We would honour President Buhari who has kept to the spirit of decent work. Even in ASUU President Buhari allows freedom of association, and he has never harassed any labor leader on account of their union activities.
“You know that when we were confronting Obasanjo, he was willing to dissolve NLC. All must work together with responsibility. As you cannot overuse your power, the government cannot overuse its power, and unions cannot abuse their power,” he said.