The plight of Nigerian workers

Sometimes one wonder if those in government are really serious about bringing to an end the multifarious challenge facing this nation. If not, the solution is straightforward: live by the right example and transparency.

The other day I was looking at a video of a preacher castigating the attitude of workers in this country, blaming them for the collapse of manufacturing companies, he was full of praise.

Nigerians were quick to catch in on the debate, destroying the reputation of average Nigerian worker; dismissing him as a thief who cannot be genuinely entrusted with the responsibility of running businesses. I reflected over the situation and was confronted with the following question: Is it the attitude of the Nigerian worker that drove Michelin and Dunlop out of the country?

Is it the Nigerian worker that has made over 450 businesses to fold up in a spate of three years? Is it the workers attitude that has influence the decision of the

Shoprite super market to sell off its Nigerian investments? And is it the attitude of the Nigerian workers that has made Shell, chevron and other international oil companies to decide to cut their investment in the oil and gas sectors of our country economy?

We keep applying the wrong diagnosis and that has made us to lose sight of the bigger picture. The Nigerian worker is not the right model if we are to place them on a scale with their counterpart from outside the country. We failed to consider the fact that the environment conditions the behavior of people and such can be adequately addressed if properly pinpointed.

Different model have been tested over time to condition workers behavior and in some of the private sectors, some have been implemented to satisfactory levels.

It has failed in government and certain private establishment because the leadership of such institution has not proven themselves to be clean and transparent. We cry to the government that we want indigene-ship control and we are given a catering contract to feed workers in one of off shore location; barely five month into the contract, the quality of the food start to deteriorating to the extend the workers are no longer getting half the quality they had when the foreigner were in-charge. Who is responsible?

You agree with your principle to be paying workers N180, 000 per month. But at the end of the month you are paying your workers between N40, 000 and N60, 000 and pocketing the remaining as commission. Who is killing the businesses?

Government establishment is even the worst; the system there is rotten all through. Situations were top officers share the money and leave crumbs to the workers, what is to be expected? Politician, entrepreneur and big business leaders have not come out clean with the worker and this goes a long way to determine workers behavior.

Everyday in the news were are confronted with the threat of one strike to the other, if not judiciary workers, it we be doctors or ASUU, this workers embark on this strike to force government to accede to their request.

The government, apart from being a major umpire in the whole system, is also an employer of labor; it is suppose to lead the way by setting the right examples in all ramifications: right wages, employee benefits, workmen compensation, work environment standard, safety, pension/gratuity etc. government believes in making others to effect compliance without bothering about itself and the image is painting.

Government is the biggest killer of business in this country. If you are doing business in Nigeria and do not know how to meander the through the terrain, your business is as good as dead.