The Nigerian Union of Mines Workers (NUMW) scored a goal with the setting up of a new branch at the National Iron Ore Mining Company, (NIOMCO), Itakpe, Kogi state, thereby repositioning the workers to reap the benefits of unionising. FRANCIS ADINOYI KADIRI reports
The need to unionise mines workers in Nigeria’s mining sector became necessary folowing flagrant abuse of workers rights and privileges as was the case for many years. Moreso, the influx of foreign invertors into the Nigerian mining sector has given rise to serial abuse of human and fundamental rights of the workers ranging from denial of pay, denial of the freedom of association among others.
In this regard, the Chinese have become very notorious for flagrant disobedience of rules and regulations guiding operations in the country’s mining sector.
As a result of these problems, the NUMW restrategised to defend the rights and needs of mine workers nationwide. The Nigerian Union of Mines Workers is an umbrella association that exists to advocate for the needs of mines workers, especially in companies where indegenous or foreign employers are notorious for abuse of local staff.
In line with his campaign promises, the President of the NUMW, Hamza Mohammed set out to establish branches of the union in mining companies accross the country. According to the president, who spoke to Blueprint shortly after inagurating NIOMCO branch of the NUMW, ‘unionising workers in the mining sector is a key that will unlock the potentials of the sector as it will lead to the delivery of the dues of the mines workers.’
He stressed the importance of mines workers, stating that they carry out the actual task of mining which leads to the harvests of solid minerals.
The move, which has been widely acclaimed as a noble policy direction of the union will lead to the delivery of numerous advantages to workers while giving rise to the activation of a mining industry where the rights and preveilages of mines workers will be protected and respected.
In a related development, the union has called for the resumption of progressive industrial activities at Ajaokuta Steel Company and NIOMCO, stating that it is not patriotic to abandon such gigantic national treasure. According to Hamza, ‘the Federal Governmnt must rise up to the challenge of ensuring that Nigeria begins to reap the fruits of the abandoned large scale investment at NIOMCO,’ he said, adding that revilalising NIOMCO will be very beneficial to the sector and the country at large.
“If NIOMCO is revitalised, it will create alot of jobs for nigeria’s teeming youth thereby significantly reducing the unemployment rate,” he said adding that it will also play a pivotal role in national economic regenration by providing a suitable alternative for foreign exchange.
Lamenting the comatose state of NIOMCO, Hamza said: “As a union, we were at NIOMCO and we saw the workers; the workers are ready to work, there are large scale deposits of solid minerals, but work was stopped there and has not resumed for a long time.”
While saying that the non-producing status of NIOMCO is one of the burdens inherited by the Buhari administration, he urged the Buhari administration to restore the project to fruition, saying that it has huge economic potentials for the country and the world at large.
The union president recalled the absence of electrcity in the entire complex saying that it is sad that there is no light in NIOMCO. “Providing electricity is very important in NIOMCO because the equipment and machineries can be powered only by stable power supply, we therefore urge the government to attend to the need of power supply as well as complete the project for the benefit of the country,” he said.
According to a staff of NIOMCO who spoke to Blueprint on condition of annonimity, the unionisation of NIOMCO workers by Comr Hamza-led NUMW is a welcomed development. “NIOMCO workers are happy to join the NUMW because they looked forward to sharing their problems with the union in order to be free from inhumman treatments and bad conditions of service,” he stated.
The new interim branch executives have a tensure of 6 months during which they are required to conduct an election. The national executives expressed the non interference in the choice of leaders of branches, stating that it was only intrested in putting in place a viable union. They however explained that it is only the members of the brach that can decide to re-elect people into office, if they wish.
‘The interim executives will manage the affairs of the workers by making representation of the union to the management of NIOMCO. This means they will discuss with members of the branch and present decisions to the management.’
‘They will look at everything concerning workers in the union. They will interact with management in order to solve problems of the union.’
While commending the two ministers in the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi and Alh Abubakar Bawa Bwari for the regard they have shown for miners welfare by recognising the NUMW, Hamza commended the Sole Administrator for cooperating with the union, adding that the success of the mission was a result of goodwill for miners. He promised to extend a hand of partnership to any administration that has goodwill for mine workers.
While stressing the need to sustain the peaceful atmosphere of NIOMCO, the president quoted the Sole Administrator of NIOMCO, Engr Y. A. Ibrahim as saying that peace is vital for the sustained development and restoration of industrial activities to the company. He therefore advised the miners union to manage its affairs and resources responsibly.
‘Itakpe iron ore will increase the economic value of the country. It will create jobs for the teeming youth. It will bring more money for our foreign exchange. We want Buhari to look at mining affairs without wasting time so that the sector can make quick progress,’ Hamza said.
Discussing the need for the Buhari administration to take urgent action, Hamza recalled that the administration has spent nearly eight months since its inauguration. “Time is fast running out,” he said, adding that President Buhari and his team must act early enough.”
He thereafter called advised the President to set up a committee to examine the state of affairs of the sector so that there will be positive results for the sector by next year.