Every sector in Nigeria is battered – Emir Sanusi
By Johnbosco Agbakwuru
ABUJA –THE Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness, Mohammad Sanusi 11, has lamented that the economy is biting harder by the day and every sector in the country battered and going down.
The Emir also said that the labour movement is facing a changing and challenging times in the Nigerian history and in a dwindling fortune, regretting that the movement that used to be the only vocal point representing the common people is nowhere to be found again.
The first class monarch stated this in his remarks at the 51st regular National Executive Council, NEC, meeting/training and workshop organized by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU at the Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Kano State.
The Emir, who was represented by Dr. Comrade Auwalu Mudi Yakasai, Danmalikin Kano, a labour and human rights activist, said to fight for the right of labour members in the present day Nigeria has become a difficult task.
He commended the Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim led SSANU for holding regular NEC meetings with his members to share ideas, reflect and review their activities.
He also reminded labour leaders of the three C’s in labour movement collective bargaining, cooporation, contestation and confrontation, which he said were their weapons.
He said: “I know I am not here as a resource person, but I have just been given some few minutes to give a remark, just a remark, how I wish I could be given three hours to stay with you and discuss labour.
“We are all labour leaders. We are in the business of labour. What do we do in labour? What is our responsibility? We are in a changing and challenging times in the Nigerian history. Not only labour, every other sector in Nigeria is shrinking and going down. Every other sphere of human endeavor in Nigeria is now being battered. It’s now catapulting down.
“The economy, social life generally, education, health, every other sector, including the labour movement. We are under a dwindling fortune. Those days are gone. We are now in a new era of challenges.
“Even to fight for the right of our members is now becoming difficult. The economy is biting harder and harder by day. I think two or three days ago, fuel price was increased with about, I think 45 naira or thereabout, if I am right.
“In the past, when such things, such economic policies, are introduced by a government, the labour used to be the only vocal point, representing the common people of Nigeria. What is happening today.
“In those days we were one, the laboir, the student union movement, the market men and women, the Ulama, all other people, and the labour will remain the vanguard, the labour will sparehead the struggle for the emancipation of not only the working class, but the downtrodden masses of this country.
“What is happening now? So I would want this meeting to consider, discuss, x-ray and review this situation.
“What is happening? We are no longer united. Yes, you are lucky. Some of you that are in the business now, you are lucky. I believe that most of you came by air to Kano because labour leaders are now rich men, and it’s good. It’s good.”
Nothing that the luxury of going by air was not there in time past for labour leaders, the royal father said, “we should take advantage of this development and try to ensure we improve the lot of our members. Now you have polished, educated and most of the time you will find that union leaders are now just in charge.”
While speaking on the principal of collective bargaining in labour struggles, he said: “There are three cardinal principles of collective bargaining. Let me remind you the three C:s of labour. That’s cooperation, contestation and confrontation. It’s part of our arsenals, it’s one of our wrapons we use to advance our course.
“You start with cooperation, relate well with the management, be simple, be modest, be friendly, be humble as a union leader. If that didn’t work, you contest, you say no, I can’t take this and if that does not work well, you then go for the killing. If cooperation didn’t work, contest, if it didn’t work, just go on confrontation.
“And through confrontation, we have so many weapons. Strike is one of them and the number of strikes varies. There are quite different types of strikes,” he said.
The Emir representative, who said he cherished his Comrade title than any other title or degree he has acquired, said, “I want to mention, even when we used to say in the business of aluta, gentlemen, but nowadays, the labour is filled up with gentlemen and distinguished ladies … but that comrade is what I cherish most.
“And as we all know, there are things you can buy, but to be a Comrade you must earn it you can’t buy honour..fulfilling and discharging this fundamental obligation of every union.”
He said that Kano is a peaceful and accommodating state and urged SSANU members to feel free. “I hope you will take time to explore Kano. Kano is a peaceful state even though they say we are Sharia compliant, but sometimes there are some waivers. Feel free, enjoy Kano,” he said.
He commended the union for keeping fate to its regular meetings. He said: “There are unions who do not even call this kind of meeting because they operate a closed end policies. But where union leaders invite their members to share views and review, reflect of their events in the past year, I think this is commendable, and it’s an open and transparent leadership style. So I appreciate the President for this wonderful gesture.”
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