Union decries increasing employment casualisation, job losses

NAN-HE-29
Conference
By Emmanuel Acha
Enugu, July 20, 2017 (NAN) The National Union of Civil Engineering, Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers has decried the increasing casualisation of employment and job losses at work places in the country.

The National President of the union, Mr Amechi Asugwuni, made this known at the 5th State Quadrennial Delegates Conference of Enugu/ Anambra/Ebonyi Council in Enugu on Thursday.

Asugwuni, represented by Mr Akinwande Oladipopo, said that the current situation was challenging to most Nigerian workers and their families.

According to him, the unstable economic development in the country has heightened the situation and made a new National Minimum Wage most imperative.

“Workers are under a precarious condition, under limited contract duration, sub-contracting and social insecurity.

“We have also noted that some employers work hard to further fragment and weaken strong unions and this, we shall continually resist.”

Asugwuni stressed the need for the Federal Government to expedite action in fixing a new national minimum wage for workers.

“We believe this will go a long way to ameliorate the current harsh effects of the economic realities on Nigerian workers.”

He commended efforts by the Federal Government to navigate through the harsh period as well as strengthen institutions in the country.

He said that efforts by the government to secure the country from insurgents were mostly appreciated, adding that the union strongly believed in one united Nigeria.

“However, the union calls on the government to urgently address the underlying factors that led to the agitations in different parts of the country.

“We also use this opportunity to call on employers of labour in the construction and wood sector to uphold quality standard in their job delivery.”

The president appealed to relevant agencies of government to strengthen their oversight functions and supervisory role, to ensure that quality job specifications were not compromised.

In a valedictory speech, the outgone Chairman of the council, Mr Godwin Anikwe, commended members of the union for making his tenure eventful.

Anikwe said that the strides achieved during his administration would not have been possible without the good followership his tenure enjoyed.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the council elected Mr Edema Edward as its new Chairman.

The theme of the conference is ‘Economic Woes: What strategies for Nigeria and Trade Union’. (NAN)
EOA/OFN/NKO
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Edited by Felix Nwadioha/Nkechi Okoronkwo