COMRADE EUGINE MANJI, THE PLATEAU STATE COUNCIL CHAIRMAN OF THE
AMALGAMATED UNION OF PUBLIC CORPORATIONS, CIVIL SERVICE TECHNICAL AND
RECREATIONAL SERVICES EMPLOYEES, AUPCTRE, SPOKE WITH AFRICAN DRUM MAGAZINE ON THE MAIN
REASONS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF LABOUR UNION AND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES FACING
AUPCTRE.
- EXCERPTS.
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| Comr. Manji
You celebrated
workers’ day yesterday, what would you say is the difference between this year’s
celebration and previous years?
For us on the Plateau, it was unique for the fact that for
many years, we have not had the governor of the state celebrating with workers
on the day. But this year, Governor Lalong celebrated with us. So I can say
that the relationship between workers and the government is being consolidated
this time and that also shows the difference between this year’s celebration
and the previous years.
How has been the
relationship between workers on the Plateau and the administration of Governor
Simon Bako Lalong?
Governor Simon Bako Lalong is a labour friendly governor and
has demonstrated that in many ways to the admiration of the workers. First, you
can see that he has personally celebrated the day with workers unlike what we
experienced in the past. Second, the governor has also demonstrated his
consideration for workers by offsetting backlog of salaries and pension arrears
and so many other issues. So, in summary, I can say that the relationship
between the workers on the Plateau and the governor Lalong led administration
so far has been cordial and I pray that it continues in this manner.
In a nutshell you are
satisfied with the way and manner Governor Lalong has handled the activities of
workers on the Plateau.
Well, to some extent. You know as workers, we are like
Oliver Twist; always asking for more and as it is clearly indicated by our
motto: “Aluta Continua”, we shall continue to struggle for many things. Most of
the issues I am talking about are not peculiar to Plateau State only. But I
think with commitment and due diligence, Governor Lalong and his counter parts
in other states can address the pressing issues facing not just the workers but
the masses. One important aspect of Labour Union people don’t understand is
that the Labour Union is not just out to struggle for salaries of workers only.
Our struggle is holistic. We try as much as possible to put government on its
toes to ensure that it addresses every facet of the economy. The health,
education and tourism sectors as well infrastructural development. Take for
instance, the issue of fuel and kerosene. A liter of fuel is
Look at the State of Education in Plateau
State. At a point in time the quality of Education in Plateau State was high
but today the reverse is the case. Now, if the past administration in the State
neglected education, what is current administration doing about it. One expects
that the Lalong administration would have reconsider the issue of education and
revive it, because any society that is not educated becomes vulnerable to all
sort of societal ills. We also want this administration to look at agriculture
and infrastructural development and so many other developmental issues and that
is why I said we wouldn’t give the government pass mark completely. But I know
a lot of issues are on the pipeline.
However, we must also appreciate
governor Lalong on the issue of security. Peace has been restored and we urge
him to sustain that. Whatever means or strategy the governor had adopted we
call on the government to consolidate on that because peace remains fragile and
if you have gotten it, you must handle it with utmost care to ensure
sustainability.
Our recreational sectors have come
to live and this is because there is peace. Look at the area of sports,
especially football where Plateau United is on top of the professional League
table all these because of the encouragement of this government otherwise, they
wouldn’t have achieved this. So, we want the government to sustain so many good
things they have started. Those programmes or projects the government cannot
solely execute should collaborate with the Federal Government to ensure the
execution of these projects.
What are some of the challenges of your Union?
One of the major challenges of my Union is the HND - Degree dichotomy
among members. You know we are technical people and government in its wisdom
established the technical colleges of education, polytechnics and so on to
produce HND graduates and graduates of other certificates. However, some people
out of mere administrative mischief have decided to relegate HND holders to the
background. But I have said this severally, if the HND is not important then it
should be scrapped. That is one major challenge members of my union are facing.
But let me tell you, if government actually has the intention of diversifying
the economy without given consideration to technical aspect of it, I can assure
you that we are going nowhere, because anything that has to do with diversification
of the economy (that is moving away from one source of income which is
petroleum), must be achieved through technology with experts trained for such
delivery and these experts are the HND holders. And if you don’t give them the
motivation then there would be a problem. However, the National Council of
Establishments has already given the go ahead to state governments and other
institutions of government to take HND holders into considerations. The
Nigerian customs has taken the lead by placing the Degree and HND holders at par
and that means HND holders can go beyond level 14 which hitherto was the last
level one could attain as an HND holder. Diploma holders can rise up to level
13 while the HND holders to 14, so, what kind of injustice is this? Why would
one suffer to obtain HND certificate that will only guarantee just one level
difference with OND holder? Now, the customs has effected that change and I hope
the entire system will also key into this development and also do the needful.
AUPCTRE as a union has been championing this cause and fighting against this
injustice. The National Assembly has already passed a bill breaking the
dichotomy between the two certificates but I don’t know why a circular has not
been issued out by the office of the Head of Service of the Federation to that
effect.
Another challenge is that our
members are always exposed to risks and all sort of health hazards. For
instance, JMDB who are engaged in all sort of environmental activities need
good packages so as to encourage them. The government needs to reconsider their
hazard allowances and other incentives to encourage them and not the peanut
they received despite exposure to all sort of dangers.
What is your advice
to workers on the Plateau with regard to their relationship with government?
Ideally, relationship is supposed to be reciprocal. Now that
the government has shown some degree of commitment towards the needs of workers,
the workers too should reciprocate by fulfilling their part of obligation so as
to encourage the government. In any case, who are the government? We ourselves
are the government. So, it is erroneous if you engage in a negative action
believing that you are doing that to frustrate an individual in government. We need
to deviate from that kind of mentality. However, I must give kudos to the
workers in Plateau State because they have demonstrated high degree of maturity
in their conducts and in performing their duties whether they are paid or not.
To me this is the highest form of patriotism. Another issue I need to raise is
in the area of training and retraining which government needs to make a
priority. For instance, if you go to ministry of works yard, you would see a
lot of machines being manned by very few people who would soon retire without
training others. So, government should employ more people to be trained by
these technical people before retirement otherwise they would go with their
experiences and talents. I am calling on the government of Plateau State to
employ more people in technical areas and have orientation by the old hands
before they leave service. In all, I have the conviction that Plateau and
Nigeria would be great again.
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