We welcome you to this press briefing on the state of the Construction industry. The two Unions namely – The Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association (CCESSA) and National Union of Civil Engineering Construction Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW) affiliates of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) respectively are the unions representing the Senior and Junior Staff in the Industry.
The construction industry as you are aware is the second largest employer of labour in Nigeria after the Government, but with the recent development in the industry, we deem it necessary to let the world know of our plight in order to avoid a total collapse of an already distressed sector. This joint press release is to alert and inform the appropriate quarters and the public at large of the developments in the construction industry and the subsequent effects.
DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN THE FEDERATION OF CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY (FOCI) – OUR EMPLOYERS AND THE MINISTER OF WORKS
Today, there is a total slowdown in the industry due to disagreement between the contractors handling various civil construction projects for the Federal Government and the Ministry of Works as a result of unilateral imposition of new standard conditions of contracts by the Minister, contrary to the existing conditions as approved by the Bureau of public procurement (BPP). This has affected employment in the industry, leading to the mass sack of Nigerian workers who are members of our unions. This is in contrast to the Renew Hope Agenda of the present regime of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Currently, we have lost over fifty per cent of our members as a result of the disagreement; this situation is bound to further increase the poverty and insecurity that the country is grappling with.
We are using this medium to appeal to the Honourable Minister of Works that what is needed now is a form of bailout to a distressed construction sector rather than any form of conflict. The two unions are also concerned about the effect of a prolonged unresolved conflict on investor confidence in the stability of the country’s business environment. Moreover, the Federal Government should as a matter of urgency come up with a clear policy of strict adherence to payment terms.
Arising from the foregoing, we call on the federal government to:
* Immediately resolve the conflict in the industry by involving all stakeholders in contract awards like Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Works, Council for Regulation of Engineers in Nigeria (COREN), Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI) etc.
* Put an end to banditry, kidnappings and killings that have been going on in the country, and ensure the safety of our members and all Nigerians in any part of the country.
* Curb inflation that makes the meagre salary of workers worthless as regards its purchasing power. The cost of commodities in the market has constantly been on the rise with workers’ salary depreciating in value. The government should do more to stabilize the economy.
* Government must device means of stabilizing the Naira against foreign currencies and encourage local production and consumption.
Finally, we urge the Minister of Works; the Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI) and all concerned to amicably resolve the current conflict within twenty-one (21) days. Otherwise, the two Unions will be compelled to declare industrial actions in the construction industry in Nigeria to address these issues and prevent further loss of jobs for our members.
Thank you all.
Comrade Engr. Ayodeji Adeyemo PhD Fnse fnli fims fnimme Comrade Stephen Okoro
National President – CCESSA National President – NUCECFWW