A labour leader, Mr. Phillip Agbonkonkon, said in Lagos on Monday that selfish interest had made labour leaders to abandon Nigerian workers.

Agbonkonkon, who is the General Secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service, Technical and Recreation Services Employees (AUPCTRE), made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

According to him, workers in Nigeria have been on the receiving end because of plurality and a lack of focus in the labour movement.

Agbonkonkon, whose tenure as AUPCTRE scribe expires on July 31, said that labour leaders had become merely interested in the wealth they could amass for themselves.

He said: "The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has become a cash and carry organisation. There is problem in the leadership of the NLC because of power tussle. This is not good because it has left a gap between what unionism is today and what it used to be. It is unfortunate.’’

The unionist said that workers in the country were being short-changed by various administrations in the country because the NLC had failed to play its role.

"Some administrations misappropriate funds and blame government’s dwindling fortunes on workers.

"Meanwhile, such administrations spend fortunes keeping retinues of political appointees and special assistants yet labour keeps quiet.’’

Agbonkonkon said the issue of workers welfare would have been addressed if the body had elected a proactive leader to fight for welfare of workers.

He lamented that the vibrancy of labour in Nigeria was fading away, urging the NLC to resolve its crisis to make more impact.

On governance, the union scribe urged the Muhammadu Buhari administration to make positive changes that would improve the lives of workers.

He said that workers did not benefit much during Buhari’s military regime, expressing optimism that the president would now make the difference for workers. (NAN)

•Photo shows NLC President Ayuba Wabba.

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