- Says as movers of the economy, members need protection
By News Editor
National President of the National Union of Scrap and Wastepickers of Nigeria (NUSWON) Comrade Friday Oku, has called for more recognition and protection for its members nationwide, in view of the critical role they play in recycling sub-sector of the economy.
He said rather than protect his members, governments at all levels, are in the habit of frustrating, victimizing, hounding and arresting its members who are going about their legitimate businesses and helping in the growth and development of the Nigerian economy in the waste and recycling sub-sector.
He made the call at the ongoing two-day event, which is the first National Educational Conference and the inauguration of Northern leadership of NUSWON which took place at the Green Minds Hotel and Conferences, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
He said, it is time for the government to recognise that some Nigerians are working at the lowest rung of the waste and recycling ladder, and without their contributions, it may be impossible for the recycling industry which is just coming up in the country, to operate optimally.
He said this is why the scrap and waste pickers have come together under one body to agitate for a change of perception regarding their work, especially from the government and to ask that its members be protected rather than hounded about like common criminals.
He said the union is constantly working to sanitize its membership and to ensure that they weed out anyone with criminal tendencies from infiltrating its rank and file.
Among other measures being put in place to reposition the scrap and waste pickers, he said, members would soon have a common uniform nationwide which distinguishes them as members of the union and this they must adorn anytime they are carrying out their legitimate duties.
Oku while congratulating the newly elected Northern leaders of the union from the three gor-political zones of the North West, North East and North Central, urged them to work at promoting the interest of the union and to speak to their members in their respective states that the union will not condone any act inimical to the peace, unity and prosperity of the country.
The delegates have among others Imam Ibrahim Mumini, the Wanban Katukan Katsina and Alhaji Usman Bakawu, from Adamawa.
Bakawu later emerged as the interim Vice President of the union.
Three delegates each came from all the three geo-political zones in the North Nigeria.
The well attended conference had delegates from Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Katsina, Kaduna, Kano, and Nasarawa States.
The conference which came to an end today, also saw NUSWON national officers paying a courtesy visit to the National Headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), where they were received by the National President Comrade Joe Ajaero.
NUSWON National President Comrade Oku said they had come to the NLC headquarters to acquaint themselves with the requisite tips needed to make them more effective in the discharge of their responsibilities as a trade union and member of the labour family in the country.
In his response, the NLC President Comrade Ajaero assured that NLC will collaborate and support all efforts to get NUSWON registered under the Trade Union Act.