Tasks Before Trade Unions Today
PERESSA Holds Annual Industrial Conference
On Wednesday April 9, 2025, the Precision, Electrical and Related Equipment Senior Staff Association (PERESSA) held its annual industrial conference in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Below is the opening speech of Comrade Rufus Olusesan, the National President of the union, which is an affiliated member of the Trade Union Congress TUC. Rufus is also a leading member of the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) and the National Chair of the Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR), a campaign platform of the DSM.
WELCOME ADDRESS
BY COMRADE RUFUS OLUSESAN,
THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF PRECISION, ELECTRICAL AND RELATED EQUIPMENT SENIOR STAFF ASSOCIATION (PERESSA)
ON THIS YEAR 2025, ANNUAL INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS CONFERENCE
AT
NUJ SECRETARIAT, IWE IROYIN, IBARA HOUSING ESTATE, ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE
ON
WEDNESDAY, 9TH APRIL, 2025 .
Chairman, Ogun State Council, Trade Union Congress (TUC),
Chairman, Precision, Electrical and Related Equipment Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PEREAN)
Members of PEREAN,
PERESSA, members of National Executive Council (NEC)
Invited Organizations,
Gentlemen of the Press,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On behalf of the Central Working Committee (CWC) of our great union, Precision, Electrical and Related Equipment Senior Staff Association (PERESSA), I wish to welcome you all to Abeokuta, the Rock City, Ogun state capital for this year’s annual industrial conference.
We thank God for journey mercies from our respective locations in the country especially in the face of deplorable roads and insecurity everywhere ,indeed, our dear nation is going through a very difficult period which appears to be devoid of immediate solution .
Comrades, this year’s seminar is very unique in the sense that our union is experiencing a new look after a long period of lull and inactivity.
We wish to thank our Resource Company, Centre for advanced management studies, University of Ibadan, for partnering with us in order to improve on the process to impact knowledge and reflect on the happenings in our industries in particular and the nation at large.
The theme of this year’s seminar “Negotiation skills and Collective Bargaining Strategies with Trade Union in Nigeria” is very apt given the present circumstances of economic hardship which has put much pressure on the process of negotiation. It is imperative for trade union leaders to be conversant with negotiation procedures and processes required skills in order to achieve robust collective bargaining strategies for result oriented.
THE STATE OF THE NATION
As workers, we must be worried about the sorry state of our economy of our country, Nigeria , we must be concerned about the high level of insecurity, high cost of living, high rate of hunger and extreme poverty.
In the global hunger index, Nigeria is on the list of the first 10 most hunger-ravaged countries in the world. In fact, in 2018, Nigeria overtook India as the global poverty capital with 86. 9 million citizens living below the poverty line. In December 2024, inflation hit 30 year high of 34.80 per cent, in 2022, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) calculated that 133 million Nigerians lived in multidimensional poverty. The World Bank added seven (7) million to that in 2024 after the effect of the removal of petrol subsidy and floating of the Naira raged.
The removal of the fuel subsidy on May 29, 2023 and the floating of the Naira exchange rate devastated and push many companies into closure while others are operating below utilization capacity, In fact, the full blown implementation of neo liberal economic policies of the present government has further worsen our working conditions. Those companies that are still in business are struggling to survive as the purchasing power of the people is eroded. Even in the face of these uncertainties, electricity tariffs were increased with the categorization of tariff based on access to electricity hour per day. As this was not enough Telecoms providers hiked their tariff by 50%.The nation is going through a very difficult period.
Amidst this deep and widespread poverty, the political ruling elite have even heightened their opulent lifestyle at the expense the public fund. For instance, the president added another expensive aircraft worth $150 million to the presidential Air fleet. The new residential apartment for the Vice President gulped N21 Billion. National Assembly members went home soon after their inauguration with sports utility vehicles worth N57.6 billion, in fact, each costing about N160 million while top political office holders paid themselves jumbo salaries and allowances and move in a convoy of luxurious vehicles, the government subsidizes the 2024 Hajj with billions of naira but cannot subsidize basic needs like electricity, fuel, agriculture – this is shameful.
Nigerians are subjected to excruciating hardship and misery under the present government as a result of neo liberal policies. But the Tinubu government is attacking rights to freedom of speech and criminalising legitimate protest against its bad leadership.
The country is experiencing insecurity, mass poverty, high cost of living and mass hunger in the midst of plenty, we therefore, call on the federal government as a matter of urgency to address the economic hardship as no serious nation will just abandon her citizens to continue wallowing in abject poverty and misery living.
We also seize this opportunity to call on the Federal government to immediately drop all frivolous and malicious trumped up changes including treason which carries a death sentence, against the eleven (11) Endbadgovernance protesters currently on trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja, and also total freedom for all Endbadgovernance protesters across the country. We condemn the trial because it is a ploy by the government not only to criminalize peaceful protest, but to deter Nigerians from protesting against the hardship and misery caused by the capitalist policies of the present government. There is no way, you will inflict hardship on the people and expect them to be quiet. As we all know Peaceful Protest is part of our democratic rights. Therefore, under section 40 of the Nigerian constitution protest is a right, and government must stop harassing or intimidating protesters.
PERESSA also joins Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC ) to condemn the undemocratic imposition of state of emergency rule in Rivers State by the Federal Government .We call for the immediate withdrawal of the emergency rule, which is the latest assault on democracy and anti- democratic action of the present government. It negates the principle of democratic rights of the people to elect those to lead them.
The President in a desperate bid to push through his anti – poor economic reforms and maintain political control , wantonly undermines democratic rights.
THE STATE OF OUR INDUSTRY
It is pertinent to say that our industry is not immune from economic hardship unleashed on the nation by the ruling elite, ranging from high cost of raw materials needed to drive the sector as a result of floating of the Naira, hike in electricity tariff, high interest rate to low patronage of finished products due to low purchasing power of most Nigerians, As we deliberate extensively on matters of interest that are affecting our industry and union, we should also give a thought on the social economic and political situation in our nation, which include the spiral inflation, endemic poverty among the masses of our country, corruption and other social malaise. If, we want to keep our jobs, the unions, Cable Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (CAMAN) and other groups of employers of labour must join hands to resist anti industrialization policies of the government such as multiple taxation, incessant increase of customs and exercise duty. Also importantly, the moribund Ajaokuta Steel Rolling Mills, which supposed to be the bedrock of industrialization, should be revived for production of aluminium and copper of a cheaper and affordable prices.
PROCEDURAL AGREEMENT / NJIC NEGOTIATION
When we assumed office in year 2022, we found there was no procedural agreement and National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) agreement for the purpose of negotiating the sector’s minimum wage and other benefits, we immediately switched into action, and we can report today and we have signed Procedural agreement while NJIC agreement is almost concluded.
It is our ultimate goal to lay the foundation for an improved union with better protection of rights of members with fair wages and allowances, improved working conditions and access to social dialogue.
With the economic downturn, unions have to struggle harder to improve the working conditions of members, must be resilient and tenacious in defending the interest of workers in the face of daunting challenges confronting the country and our industry.
Comrades, I wish to thank you for your interest to be part of this year’s Industrial Seminar and be assured of enjoying your stay in Abeokuta.
Comrades, the struggle continues as we shall never surrender to neo-liberal forces and their local collaborators.
FORWARD EVER, BACKWARD NEVER!
PEOPLE UNITED CAN NEVER BE DEFEATED!!