Former Labour Leader Urges Unions, Workers To Play Politics

Former Labour Leader and former Secretary to Delta State Government, Comrade Ovuozourie Macaulay, has urged professional, and trade unions including workers across the country to get involved in politics to complement their struggle.

He spoke on Tuesday in his Asaba residence, saying that only willing and capable leaders can efficiently effect the change workers seek, hence they must participate actively in selecting and electing such leaders.

According to statement made available to BigPen Online, Macaulay, advised unions to be more active in politics, especially in view of the 2019 general elections, as that will make their struggle for victory easier. “it is only with the involvement of unions in politics that the interest of the workers can be better protected.”

The former NLC State Chairman, commended the unions for their resolute poise in protecting the interest of workers against all odds and described them as potent tools for reorienting the Nigerian people on the need to be liberated from all forms of exploitation and domination.

The statement quoted Macaulay as saying that for ages and even now, unions have, through sweat and blood, fought for the the collective interests of the Nigerian workers adding that though they are yet to attain total victory, they should consolidate on the little much they have achieved.

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The veteran labour leader, however, called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to actualize his September, 2018 deadline of a new minimum wage for workers.

He stressed that the demand for a review of the current N18, 000 minimum wage by workers was genuine, hence government cannot afford to renege on its promise.

According to him, the demand for the review of the current N18, 000 minimum wage was borne out of the current reality of higher cost of living, the fall in purchasing power of naira, and high cost of goods and services.

In the same vein, Macaulay charged workers to resist any attempt to frustrate the current moves, aimed at giving workers an improved minimum wage.