By Joan Nwagwu

A former President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Ayuba Wabba, has called for strong, independent unions that will protect workers across the country.

Wabba made the call at the 42nd National Union of Food Beverages and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE)’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Sunday in Abuja.

The theme of the NEC meeting is, ‘Strategic Partnerships Between Unions and Employers: A Potent Catalyst in Unlocking Exponential Growth Opportunities in a Depressed Economy’.

Wabba said that it was important for unions to strive to be strong and independent, not depending solely on checkups dues rather investing to generate revenue for their unions.

According to him, only strong and independent unions can protect workers’ rights, stressing, “if the union is weak, not independent and cannot pay their bills, their members will not respect the leaderships.

“To harness yourselves towards building a stronger union that can defend workers, instead of wasting your resources in all manner of things, you must continue to build on the successes of what our forefathers have built.

“That is, by investing. This is what has been happening globally with trade unions.

“For example, the Local Government Union in Canada has an investment that is over a trillion dollars.

“As we speak, they have bought an entire power sector with workers’ money, which is an investment.

“All over the world, some unions also have the largest hotels, construction companies because they have continued to invest with the workers money and knowing that only strong unions can defend workers,” he said.

Wabba, who is a former global President of the International Trade Union Congress (ITUC), urged unions to ensure that the income of the workers are secured through investments.

He added that, without check dues, the unions can defend workers, as it is being done in other countries such as Germany, China among others.

“Who told you that trade unions cannot fund airlines. Who told you when workers go on strike, their unions cannot use their resources to pay all their members within the period of the strike.

“Through their investments, they can, and even their employers will be afraid of them. That is why you must build a strong union because you have all it takes,” he said.

The labour leader urged members of NUFBTE to support the leadership of the union and ensure peace and tranquillity strive in the union.

Mr Garba Ibrahim, National President of NUFBTE, said there was the need for harmonious relationship, mutual respect, understanding, open dialogue and tolerance among the members.

Ibrahim said efforts had been made to reconcile aggrieved members of the union.

According to him, the current leadership had embarked on reconciliation process of all identified aggrieved members.

He added that with painstaking efforts and prudent management, the leadership had been able to reduce the huge financial debts of the union. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi