Workers at the National Insurance Commission in Abuja recently protested against the victimization of Com. Abdulateef Ibrahim, the AUPCTRE chairperson and other branch executives. The union had organised a strike action and protest in March demanding reforms in the insurance industry that would promote transparency and ensure better working conditions for employees of insurance firms.
The federal ministry of finance had to intervene in the matter at the time, and some concessions were won. A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed to the effect that union leaders would not be victimised. But this has been in vain. Union executives, including the branch chairperson were punitively posted to distant outstations.
The workers blocked all entrances into the workplace on Wednesday 23rd November 2016, to protest this. The protesting workers were seen with placard with various inscriptions such as Muhammed Kari must go”,
“NAICOM BOSS indicted in N54 billion scam”
#Bring Back our Chairman”
“George Onekhema must go”
“President Buhari saves NAICOM from collapse.”
After a short while a team of DSS operative came and whisked the commissioner away. The workers speaking through the state secretary of AUPCTRE, Com Sikiru Abdulwaheed said the only condition for negotiation with the management is for the branch chairman to be made to lead the negotiation, and it should be done in good faith.
A major lesson for workers is that the bosses will always do everything they can to get back with their right hand what is forced out of their left hand with struggle. We must always be vigilant and never stop resistance against all attacks, subsequent to our victories over specific battles. The struggle continues until we are totally victorious over the capitalist system.
by Peter Adejobi
