The Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association and the National Union of Civil Engineering Construction Furniture and Wood Workers have said that over 52,000 construction and furniture workers have lost their jobs in the past year.
The two unions represent the senior and junior staff in the construction and furniture industry.
This was disclosed by the National President of CCESSA, Comrade Engr. Ayodeji Adeyemo and the National President of NUCECFWW, Comrade Stephen Okoro at a joint press conference in Abuja on Friday, according to Vanguard.
In the statement, Adeyemo and Okoro said the Works Minister, Engr. David Umahi unilaterally imposed new standard criteria on contracts that were not in line with the conditions that were set and approved by the Bureau of Public Procurement.
The joint statement read to newsmen said “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 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.
“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 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.”
The unions said, “Currently, we have lost over fifty percent of our members as a result of the disagreement; this situation is bound to further increase 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,” the prepared text read by the union leaders said.
Therefore, the unions urged the federal government to among others, “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); 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.”
Also, the union charged the government to tackle inflation which renders workers’ pitiful wages worthless in terms of their purchasing power.
“The cost of commodities in the market has constantly been on the rise with workers’ salaries constantly depreciating. Government should do more to stabilize the economy,” they added.
The unions insisted that the “Government must device means of stabilizing the Naira against foreign currencies and encourage local productions and consumptions.”
“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 days. Otherwise, the two unions will be compelled to declare industrial actions in the construction industry in Nigeria to address these issues to prevent further loss of jobs of our members,” the union said
