The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has celebrated the contribution of Nigerian workers towards the development of the country.
The group in its 2024 May Day celebration, urged the Lagos State government to rethink its dismissal of 391 permanent staff at the Lagos Water Corporation.
CAPPA in a statement by its Media and Communication officer, Robert Egbe, encouraged the Nigerian government to lift the heavy yoke of pain from the backs of Nigerian workers by speedily concluding negotiations for a new minimum and living wage, to help workers maintain a decent standard of living.
According to the CAPPA, despite the numerous contributions of Nigerian workers to national development, the harsh economic realities that define their social and living conditions continue to undermine their job security and devastate the communities they serve.
“Amid escalating economic hardships and rot of social safety nets in the country, the national minimum wage remains pitifully stagnant at N30,000 a month—equivalent to roughly $20—with negotiations for a fair living wage perpetually at an impasse.
“Consequently, more workers are thrust deeper into the dingy crevices of poverty and misery. The abrupt removal of fuel subsidy last year without corresponding cushiony measures exemplifies the nature of attacks on the working masses.
“Presented as a strike against corruption—orchestrated by thieving oil merchants —and as a measure to redirect funds towards essential services and basic infrastructure, the subsidy removal has instead burdened working people with soaring costs of goods and services.
“The irony deepens this May Day with the prevailing image across many bus stops and major cities across the country: one of desperation, endless, snake-like queues of workers stranded on the road, and buses and cars immobilised at filling stations as petrol scarcity worsens in an oil-rich and resource-abundant nation as ours.
“Added to this is the country’s worsening power situation despite the privatisation of electricity and its touted gains. Only a few weeks ago and despite its unavailability for many, electricity prices soared by 300 per cent, with its distribution now governed by a profoundly unequal allocation formula that favours the haves over the have-nots.
“This scenario and inequity extend beyond the energy sector, affecting education, housing, and water—all groaning under the heavy hammer of an ongoing privatisation agenda.
“Unfortunately, this direction signals dire straits for workers, whose livelihoods and very existence are continually jeopardised in the face of the rampant commodification of essential services.’’
The Executive Director of CAPPA, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said: “The working class, the backbone of our economy, faces diminishing returns on their labour. The water sector clearly illustrates this problem. Not only is it grossly underfunded across various states, but its workers also suffer gross neglect and frequent attacks.
“With specific regard to Lagos State, this year’s Labour Day commemoration is marred by the recent and wicked layoff of permanent workers at the Lagos Water Corporation. This follows closely on last year’s abrupt termination of 425 contract workers.
“These actions by the Lagos State government are indicative of a broader disregard for the workforce that is prevalent across the country.
“We also know very well from our historical monitoring of the Lagos water sector that the termination of the jobs of these workers is intended to pave the way for the state’s privatisation of this essential public utility and service.
“This is not only an act of injustice but also a declaration of violence against the families and communities dependent on these jobs, particularly in this economically depressed period.”
