There was a mild drama as Ngige got into an altercation with the TUC president, who accused him of using “divide and rule tactics” to create a breach within the labour unions.
Ngige in his welcome address had reiterated that he has not received TUC’s letter whose notice of industrial action was addressed to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.). He explained that his attention was drawn to the letter on social media by an aide.
The minister stated, “I want to reiterate that the country belongs to all of us, it is not Buhari’s country. Whatever we want to discuss, we will discuss dispassionately in furtherance of the welfare of Nigerians.
“I will even assume my role as a conciliator: if the government side did not play ball, I will tell them, and if labour also crosses into a lane that will lead to the collapse of the entire economy, I will also bridge the gap.”
But Olaleye in his remark dismissed Ngige’s claims that the country belonged to all Nigerians, stressing that the workers were being used as sacrificial animals by the political elite.
He said, “I heard when the minister mentioned that the country belongs to all of us. I, as a person, except you change my impression, I believe the country belongs to the few politicians that take decisions and make policies that are very hard for us to live in this country.
“If the country belongs to all of us, the question is, why are people running out of this country? Our youths are running out of this country despite all the dangerous obstacles on the road, many have lost their lives.
“Can somebody run out of his father’s house when nothing is pursuing him? So, definitely, the answer is no. Let’s make the country to belong to all of us so that we can be a bona fide owner of our country.”
He asked the labour minister to withdraw his comment over the letter, pointing out that the issues were beyond Ngige, hence the decision to address it to the President.
He noted,” I want to disagree with you; with due respect to your office, we honour your office and we will not do anything to undermine your office.
“But the issue is issue that Mr President himself has to handle, we are not talking about the minimum wage, increase or any price with the government. We are talking about economic issues and we have elected Mr President to lead and that is why we have addressed that issue to him.
“But if you want to insist sir, that because the letter is not referred to you, then TUC can excuse you. I know it’s a statement of divide and rule which will not be acceptable to this congress sir.
“I will prefer that you withdraw the statement and let us continue the meeting. If the letter is not addressed to you and you invited us here, I don’t know how we can reconcile this statement.”
An obviously indignant Ngige took time to lecture Olaleye on his knowledge of International Labour Organisation’s practices, stating that he had attended all ILO sessions, governing board meetings and general assembly, insisting that the ‘competent authority’ for labour issues in any country is the minister of labour.
He stated, “My friend, the new president of TUC, I don’t want to start altercations before we start the technical session but I want to put the records straight for you so that if your general secretary has not educated you properly, then, he better go home and do so.
“You have no business with the President of Nigeria. Your place of business is the Ministry of Labour. You have said the issue is not labour dispute or wages negotiation, but in the same breath, you said your earnings are being eroded.
“If you want to address social issues, the civil societies are there, the political parties are there and you can write or castigate Mr President, but when you talk about the working class of Nigeria, erosion of their wages and anything that has to do with their welfare, you are dealing with the ministry of labour. So, there is nothing to withdraw from my earlier statement and I still stand by it.”
But the SGF, Mustapha, said no government decision was intended to hurt the citizens, arguing that the price hike “was taken in the interest of the people and the country.”
