The Nigerian Union of Mines Workers has advised the Fayemi administration to works with the union and sector professionals, stating that it will enhance the quality of achievements while ensuring its sustainability.
The National President of the Union, Comr Mohammed Hamza who gave the advice during an exclusive interview with Blueprint in Abuja also congratulated the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and the Minister of State, Abubakar Bawa Bwari on their appointments as well as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Musa Istifanus.
While commending President Buhari for selecting Dr Fayemi and Bwari to lead the sector, the unionist described Fayemi as a ‘golden achiever’ and expressed confidence in the ability of the former governour of Ekiti state to turn around the fortunes of the sector.
“We advice the minister and his formidable team to remember to take the union along, both in policy making and execution,” he said, adding that the union has been a progressive ally and watchdog of the sector, stating, “it is the workers who will carry out the actual task of mining.”
Explaining further, Hamza stressed the importance of workers in realizing the huge task before the new team. “Workers are very important; and you will find them in both public and private sector of the economy.”
He said the NUMW shares president Buhari’s vision of diversifying the economy from oil using the solid minerals sector adding that the union is particularly interested in ensuring that workers get their due as and when due. Speaking further on the need to carry union workers along, Comrade Hamza said government cannot achieve its objective without a viable workforce.
According to him, the importance of workers cannot the overemphasized in a productive sector such as solid minerals because it is the workers who dig out the solid minerals, he said adding that government has to be mindful of taking the workers along.
Giving further reasons why the new administration should partner with the union, Comrade Hamza attributed the Zamfara lead poison tragedy to the failure of the past administration to work with the Nigerian Union of Mine Workers. “The non inclusion on the Miners Union in decision making led to the death of over 400 children in five communities in Zamfara state,” he said, and explained that the lead poison tragedy could have been averted if the umbrella union for workers was part of government’s sensitisation efforts.
“If workers were included, the tragedy would have been averted because workers would have been aware of the danger within, early enough,” he added.
Many mines are operating illegally and the NUMW is already working to ensure an end to illegal mines. We are unionising workers across quarries nationwide as wel as enlighten them on the correct mining methods.
Hamza said: “A progressive collaboration will ensure end to the menace of mine accidents and illegal operation of mines which has remained a perennial problem, he said adding that the NUMW is already education its members on processes of securing and operating mines legally. We are laying emphasis on educating members on the how to process and get a valid license, he stated adding that it will help to place miners on a secure path of doing mining according to the law.”
“To this end, we are ready to partner with the federal Government and governments at all levels,” he added.