Nigeria Labour Congress President, Joe Ajaero, on Wednesday, warned that the incoming administration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu will face multiple industrial crises due to the failure of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to honour various agreements it reached with the various unions and groups.
Ajaero, therefore, said he pitied the incoming Tinubu administration.
He said there were several inconclusive industrial challenges left unattended to by the outgoing Buhari administration.
The NLC president in his assessment of Nigerian workers’ welfare under the Buhari regime, stated, “There will be a spillover effect on the coming administration.”
Ajaero also noted Buhari’s efforts were not enough to meet the needs of Nigerian workers.
Ajaero stated these while speaking on Channels TV programme, Politics Today.
He warned that several industrial crises were looming, especially with the Buhari-led government’s failed agreements with lecturers, doctors and the power sector.
The Labour leader said, “The Buhari administration tried its best in ensuring there is industrial peace and harmony to the best of its ability and capability but it was not enough as most of the industrial disputes the government treated are unfinished.
“You are talking about doctor’s strike, the agreement signed was not implemented and is waiting for the incoming government. The ASUU issue is pending and waiting for the incoming government. There is hardly any agreement that was conclusively decided and exhausted, and that is why I pity the incoming administration. A lot of industrial crisis seems to be looming.
“There is going to be a spillover effect on the incoming government because when you apprehend issues, it is to an end that you resolve the problem.”
Asked how the impending strikes could be averted, Ajaero said competent technocrats must be allowed to handle the sectors.
He insisted that the implementation of agreements seems to be the crux of many of today’s industrial crises.
He added, “The best way to go is to sit down and study the situation. If this is done. They will be able to handle the issues one after the other and it will do them a lot of good if they bring in proper technocrats to handle that sector. Trade unions and their leaders are not unreasonable. If you have a new government that is listening and have the right calibre of people to address those issues, they will be resolved but the major problem is implementation where agreements made five, or ten years ago are not implemented.
“The implementability of agreements seems to be the reason for the crises we are having. Check ASUU, resident doctors, the power sector and other sectors. It is not usually too difficult to reach an agreement and strike a balance, but respecting the sanctity of such agreement by the government side has been a problem. Any agreement not forced on the government is expected to be honoured.”