Coronavirus Oyo state labour congress inaugurates 12-man labour-civil society situation room

Segun Showunmi in Ibadan

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Oyo State chapter has inaugurated a 12-man Labour/Civil Society Situation Room to guide against paycuts of salaries and layoff of workers due to the poor economic condition in the state caused by coronavirus pandemic.

Penpushing reports that this was made known c in a communique issued by the congress chairman, Comrade Bayo Titilola-Sodo, which was made available to journalists on Saturday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The Chairman, while inaugurating the body at the congress secretariat, Ibadan, said the body would provide advisory services to the government  on the best economic approach towards gradual and systematic opening up of the economy of the state.

Penpushing further reports that, Titilola-Sodo disclosed that the step was a response to the coronavirus pandemic, necessitating the setting up of the  Labour-Civil Society Situation Room by the national leadership of the congress.

“The Situation Room will serve as an engine room for information dissemination and sensitization of workers and citizens on COVID-19 reality, prevalence, prevention and containment measures’, he said.

“To protect jobs, wages and means of livelihood of Nigerians and serve as a think-tank to liaise and advise government on the strategy going forward, and to maintain surveillance on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the workforce and adopt appropriate positions’,the communiqué stated.

“To embark on advocacy and social dialogue with government and private sector employers to promote public health and employment/income protection for workers. It will also partner with all relevant stakeholders in the state in order to enable it achieve its set objectives’.

“To support workers who are in the front line of the COVID-19 with information and occupational safety kits. To maintain a feedback relationship between workers, organizations, government and employers in the private sector’.

”To protect jobs, wages and means of livelihood of Nigerians. To engage the government on how to gradually and systemically open up the economy for business and production’,the communiqué emphasised.

“To support effective control and protective measures against further spread and fatalities of the novel coronavirus disease and serve as think tank to liaise and advise government on the strategy going forward’.

Penpushing also reports that the labour leader explained further that the body would lubricate its feedback relationship with workers, their unions, government and employers in the private sector, appealing to everybody to join hands together in order achieve the desired target.

The Secretary of the situation room, Comrade Mohammed stressed the need for optimum publicity for the group to achieve its objectives, while other unionists who bared their minds on how the group would attain its objectives  included Comrade Demola Babalola, Comrade Kayode Gbenga and Comrade Olubunmi Folorunsho

Penpushing  reports that  the congress boss was nominated as  the Coordinating Chairperson of the situation room while  Comrade Femi Aborisade from the Civil Society became the Vice-Chairman, and the Secretary of labour congress in Oyo State, Comrade Ibrahim Mohammed is its secretary.

The members of the team were drawn from the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Civil Society Organisations (CSO), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT),  Nigerian Medical Associate [NMA],Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigerian (MHUWUN) and National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM).

Penpushing further reports that,others are Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), Nigeria Union of Air Transport Employees(NUATE), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers Associations (AUFCDA) and Civil Society organizations.