Nigerian elections – hearing the workers’ side!Felix Owie, Principal Assistant General Secretary of the Steel Engineering Workers Union of Nigeria (SEWUN) spoke to Woody Aroun about the recent Nigerian election.
Nigeria has just concluded its national elections. Independent observers and contesting political parties have registered their concerns about the election process and dissatisfaction with what they consider to be voting irregularities. What are your views on this?The elections have been characterized by rigging, violence and hijacking of ballot boxes. This naked display of being inpower by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears to have blemished and discredited the election process.
There have been calls from the coalition political parties (ANPP, AC and others) to have the election results cancelled, to remove the Inspector General of Police from office and to disband the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The coalition forces have also called for this year’s Labour Day to be used as a day of peaceful protest to register their dissatisfaction with the ruling party and the election process. How have the unions responded to this?The unions will have to make their own assessment of the electoral process – this will include an assessment of alleged “˜political manipulations’ and the extent to which these violations have affected the democratic process. If the democratic process has been trumped up (faked), then the unions will call on political parties to use the judicial process as a means of resolving their disputes. There are flaws in the democratic process, but democracy is still the best form of governance. Once we have the results of our own assessment (the unions have appointed their own observers) then the unions will pronounce themselves on the matter. In the meantime we are steaming ahead with our preparations for May Day.
What is the relationship between the trade unions and the Labour Party?The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has some leanings towards the Labour Party, but this is a new political party that still has to make its mark in Nigerian politics. Be that as it may, no political party can stamp its authority on the trade union movement, as the movement cherishes its independence from political officialdom.
How do you locate this violence during the elections… is it linked to Muslim-Christian conflict, or do you think this conflict is exaggerated by some political commentators as the source of Nigeria’s political woes?The violence is more an expression of political supporters trying to display their blatant loyalty to their financiers. I don’t think that the Muslim-Christian conflict has made a significant impact on the elections. It hardly has anything to do with the political violence that has occurred during the course of these elections. I think that the issues of the Niger-Delta regions must be seen in a proper context. They should not be made out as if they are the source of all our political misfortunes.
Tell us about the problems in the Niger-Delta?About 90% of Nigeria’s oil resources come from the Niger-Delta. It is Nigeria’s richest, oil producing community. The people want jobs and education, but the oil producing companies like Shell (British), Chevron (British) and Texaco (American) exploit our reserves while the people live in poverty.
Basic facts about Nigeria
1960
Nigeria gains its independence from the British. Initially there were three major political parties: these were the Nigerian People’s Congress (NPC), NCNC (National Convention of Nigerian Citizens). The NPC and the NCNC formed a coalition, while the Action Group (AG) was the main opposition. The first republic was based on a parliamentary system.
1966-1983
Country was ruled by a military regime.
Between 1983-1999
The political system fluctuated between bouts of civilian rule and military decree.
From 1999
Country has since returned to civilian and democratic rule.
Population: 128 million (2004). The country is made up of 36 states, each state elects its own Governor. The central Federal Government is constituted along the lines of state representation headed by an Executive President. Presently the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leads the federal government, while parties like the All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP) and the Action Congress (AC) are of sizeable political importance. There are about 30 other smaller political parties of less political significance.
Increasing the workers’ voice!The merger of metal and energy unions in Zimbabwe earlier this year “was to increase the voice of the workers”, Jethro Mpofu, newly elected president of the Zimbabwe Metal Energy and Allied Workers Union (ZMEWU) told Numsa writer, Nkhangweni Masutha.
Why did you decide to merge?Merging was a resolution of the Zimbabwe trade union federation, ZCTU, to overcome the weakness and segments of organized trade unions and begin to build a strong labour movement.
It was the right time to implement such a resolution to focus our traditional energy and increase the voice of the workers.
When did you commence this process?It was a long walk to be where we are today. We started this work almost 4 to 5 years back.
The federation was at the centre of the whole process. It has brought the affiliates that organize in the metal, energy and other allied sectors together.
Zimbabwe trade union federation organizes successful stayaway
Zimbabwean trade union federation, ZCTU, says that its 2-day April stayaway was 65-70% successful. It said that it had evidence that government had threatened companies that it “would deal with those that closed for business” on the stayaway.
It had also received reports of workers who had been picked up by police and severely beaten for participating in the stayaway. Others were harassed, questioned and then released.
When we started this process we were almost seven unions. Out of seven, only three did not make it due to the internal challenges that they experience.
How did you address the question of leadership?With the assistance of experienced union leadership like Numsa’s, we managed to harness the question of putting leadership together. We used a quota system to accommodate all and sundry in the leadership.
How do you envisage bringing the remaining three unions on board?We have a programme that seeks to continue to engage them to come on board.
Earlier on you spoke about how Numsa played a critical role in the process. What was its intervention?Numsa played an important role in terms of its experience and availing its human and material resources. We hope we have established an umbilical cord relationship that will continue to nurture the newly-born baby until it becomes a giant!
What was the mood of your inaugural congress in February this year?There were ululations and jubilation on the faces of everyone who attended the congress because a giant was born.
Finally what are the challenges that still face you?The challenge is to continue to strive for working class unity of workers in the metal, energy and other related sectors to the end and continue to build a strong shop stewards movement and organize unorganized workers.