Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, has asked Nigerian workers
to stop “agonising” about the country’s problems and participate in politics.
Falana said this in a statement to commemorate 2022 Workers
Day.
He said the dividends of democracy promised by the ruling
class have snowballed into “worsening insecurity, gross economic mismanagement
and grand corruption”.
Falana added that section 40 of the 1999 constitution gives
workers the right to join the Labour Party (LP) for participation in electoral
politics.
“The dividend of democracy promised by the ruling class
parties has turned out to be worsening insecurity, gross economic mismanagement
and grand corruption,” the human right lawyer said.
“Since the resolution of the labour movement to mobilise the
oppressed people of Nigeria to get organised and participate in the electoral
politics of the country is going to be questioned by the ruling class.
“It is pertinent to point out that the fundamental right of
workers to belong to the Labour Party is recognized by section 40 of the
Nigerian Constitution which provides that “every person shall be entitled to
assembly freely and associate with other persons, and in particular he may form
or belong to any political party, trade union or any association for the
protection of his interests.”
“Notwithstanding that
the Constitution is silent on the right of workers in the private sector to
participate in politics, it is submitted that they are equally entitled to
contest elections without any legal entanglement.
“However, like civil servants, private sector workers who
wish to contest elections are advised, subject to agreements reached with their
employers, and/or the applicable conditions of service, to resign their
positions or ask for leave of absence.
“It is therefore incumbent on workers in the private and
public sectors to stop agonising about the problems confronting the country.
This is the time to get organised with other pro-labour, radical and human
rights forces and insist that a new Nigeria is possible.”
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