November 07, (THEWILL) — The President of the National Union of Civil Engineering, Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW), Comrade Stephen Igho Okoro, says the union is committed to the decasualisation of workers in the industry.
Okoro stated this while declaring open the 7th Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the Kano/Jigawa chapter of the Union held at Kano Hilton Place Hotel.
“Casualisation is a plague, Comrades! It’s time we take a stand”, Okoro said, amid standing ovations and solidarity songs from delegates of the conference.
He said some employers have been exploiting members of the union for too long, “Treating us like disposable tools, but we won’t take it anymore! NUCECFWW is here to fight for our rights, for our dignity, and for a better future.”
He said NUCECFWW’s membership drive was in full swing, calling on members to give their support to the union’s infrastructure development drive.
“We know that some branches have been compromised. Employers think they can silence us with contracts, but we won’t be bought.”
In his remarks, the re-elected Chairman, Kano/Jigawa chapter of the Union, Comrade Yahaya Muhammad, described the Kano Governor as labour-friendly.
“Governor Yusuf’s projects are really changing the game, providing jobs for our members, and boosting the local economy. We call on the labour-friendly governor to intervene so that the Federal government settles all completed certified projects in Kano State”, Muhammad said.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC), Kano State Council, Comrade Kabiru Inuwa, also commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for commencing the construction of a hall at the NLC secretariat named after the late Governor Muhammad Abubakar Rimi as a significant milestone for Kano state.
Inuwa said the hall, when completed, would serve as a hub for workers’ activities, including meetings, conferences and cultural events.
The District Head of Rimin Gado Danmalikin Kano, Dr Auwalu Mudi Yakasai, described as apt, the conference theme, “Building Trade Unions’ Future Through Strategic Organising and Investment”.
Dr Yakasai, a former Secretary of the Kano NLC, said that considering Nigeria’s current economic climate, strategic organising and investment are crucial for trade unions to navigate challenges and capitalise on opportunities.
In his address, the Assistant General Secretary of NUCECFWW, Comrade Hussaini Buda, described the conference as a huge success.
Buda, who is also the Acting Secretary of Kano NLC, expressed appreciation to guests and participants for their support, including the Controller, Federal Ministry of Labour, Jigawa State, Alhaji Murktar Abubakar.
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
