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Award-winning journalist Sharon Ijasan recently launched her book, ‘The Tripartite’, where she shares her decade-long experience in covering and reporting on labour in Nigeria. In this interview with Biodun Busari, she discusses the interplay between the government, employers, and organised labour, along with the achievements, challenges, and expectations in the world of work
You just published a book titled, ‘The Tripartite’. What motivated you to write it?
This is my first published book. My first piece was a novel written during secondary school, but it was never published. I’ve always found myself in environments that encourage writing and participating in debates, and I have always had a flair for writing.
The Tripartite is a book for everyone and can serve as a guide for students in tertiary institutions. What motivated me to write the book was my understanding of the interplay among workers, employers of labour, and the government.
This understanding grew out of a decade of covering the labour beat and creating a programme called Labour Lens.
From my journalistic perspective, many people do not fully grasp what labour encompasses. Some avoid talking to or engaging with you when they learn you are a Labour Correspondent, as they often associate the term only with strikes or protests.
However, labour goes beyond these events; it involves policymakers, employers, and workers. While many see the workers’ side, which often demands rights, we must remember that without employers, there would be no work or workers.
The private sector needs to create jobs and industries, while the government must foster an enabling environment for these industries to thrive.
Importantly, the government serves as both an employer and a regulator. It’s crucial to understand the laws and regulations that guide workplaces, whether local or international. This book is a must-read for all, as it illustrates that labour is an all-encompassing concept that intersects with various aspects of life.
What are your expectations for the book?
I expect this book to serve as a guide for everyone—federal, state, and local government appointees, traders, artisans, students, business owners, and all categories of workers. It aims to expose readers to the laws governing work and the interactions among the groups involved in labour.
It’s a one-stop book that reads like a novel, revealing what is expected of employers, what workers can anticipate in the near future, and what the government should do to ensure an inclusive sector.
Is there anything wrong with using strikes and protests as tools for labour to press home demands from the government?
According to labour laws and best practices, a strike should be the last resort, not the first option. The law typically requires a 21-day, 14-day, or seven-day ultimatum before a strike can be initiated. However, if a union has previously suspended an industrial action without any government response to their demands, they may resume the strike without notice.
While strikes are common in Nigeria, many developed countries experience strikes more frequently. In France, for instance, workers often strike, and one can encounter closed airports due to aviation workers downing tools. Though we recognise the role of strikes in advocating demands, we must also consider their impact. For example, when patients need urgent medical attention in hospitals or students are on the streets due to university closures, we see the truth in the adage that when two elephants fight, it’s the grass that suffers.
Legislation in other countries often mandates that conciliation and mediation procedures be exhausted before a strike is called. Such requirements align with the principles of freedom of association and the right to strike, encouraging further negotiation. However, these procedures should not be so slow that lawful strikes become impractical or lose their effectiveness. There is much more to be done within the labour sector, including presenting a stronger case. On the government side, it is crucial to honour agreements. The government must continue to uphold agreements made with previous administrations, as respecting memoranda of understanding between labour and government fosters trust.
There are alternative ways to assert rights without resorting to strikes. I believe strongly in the importance of lobbying and continuous engagement from both government and workers. Options like sit-at-home actions, where workers go to their offices but do not work optimally, peaceful picketing, overtime bans, slow-downs, and work-to-rule measures can all be effective. These methods are also legally protected. It’s important to note that approaches to dealing with issues may differ slightly between public service and private sector workers.
Do you think the Federal Government has been fair to Nigerian workers in terms of negotiations for their demands?
The Nigerian government might not have scored 100 per cent in honouring negotiations and agreements with the workers, but I think it’s also important to appreciate the country for following laid-down principles and ratifications from the international community and the International Labour Organisation.
There are African countries like The Gambia, Gabon, Namibia, South Sudan, Egypt, the Central African Republic, and others that have labour unions acting as stooges of the government. They have labour leaders whose aims and objectives align with those of the government. They are merely statutory. So, to a very large extent, we have vocal labour leaders in Nigeria.
However, despite the activism of these workers, when it comes to collective bargaining agreements, the government, in most cases, doesn’t honour most negotiations. This may be why labour leaders need to be firmer regarding expected timelines when sitting at the negotiation table with the government.
For instance, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions had an agreement with the Federal Government in 2009 that has not been implemented as of 2024. Do you know how many presidents have come and gone? This illustrates how many such agreements go unattended to by the government, as presented by different labour groups.
So, as an observer, my recommendation is that there should be a timeframe for meeting demands whenever a Memorandum of Understanding is signed. No government should enter into an agreement that it will not be able to fulfil within a short period. The laws can also be amended to provide the MoU with greater elasticity regarding deadlines.
Must labour unions engage in activism before their demands are met by the government or stakeholders?
There is nothing wrong with labour adopting an activist outlook. Even this country’s independence was fought for through the activism of the labour union at that time. You may not be able to separate activism from labour. However, we have some professional unions, such as the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Nigerian Medical Association, which may not want to see themselves as activists.
What I have observed over the years is that the government and the organised private sector usually speak with one voice, while labour is positioned at the other end. As a result, labour leaders often do not bend. They want to secure the best outcomes from the system, which drives them to explore activism in seeking better welfare for their members. The private sector sometimes aligns with the government because it considers the profit-making aspect of agreements before signing. The government, as the policymaker, will also think and consult before proceeding with anything.
That is the essence of my book, The Tripartite—these three entities determine the conditions for Nigerian workers through negotiations, policies, compromises, and more. I have seen cases on the international stage where labour leaders, without resorting to confrontation, have intelligently argued for their rights and achieved results. In fact, I believe we are in dire need of credible activists within the labour union. As I mentioned, it has to be inclusive.
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