The Nigeria Labour Congress has said it will resist any act of violence against women across the country, saying violence against any woman is violence against the society.
NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, while addressing women on a road show to mark the international women day in Abuja, said the congress will continue to canvass for equality between men and women, pointing out that Organised Labour was against any firm if discrimination and dichotomy against women.
“We have canvassed for equality between women and men in the past, we are further saying there should be no discrimination and dichotomy between men and women.
“We should be able to respect our women because of the fact that they are nation builders.
Therefore, we mark this occasion in furtherance of protecting women against violence because it’s obvious that violence against women has been on the increase.
“We are denouncing violence against women in totality and also saying that we will resist any act of violence against women across Nigeria, because any women’s rights violated is a violation against the society at large.
“This auspicious occasion is avenue for us to continue to unite and advance the common course for the advancement of all issues against women.
” “When, in our country, people are trying to make sure that there is no democratic space for trade unions and citizens to exercise the right to freedom, Germany, a country led by a woman, has the largest trade union centre in the world, yet their economy is one of the best.
So certainly, trade union’s right is synonymous with national development.
“So, giving the same opportunity to Nigerian women, we are certain they will deliver the best and change the narratives.
So it’s time for us in Nigeria to make sure that women are also placed in appropriate places of authority so that they can be able to use the tenderly touch to change the policy narratives of our country.
This is possible and doable and therefore, a message we must continue to advance.
“In fact, there should no distinction between men and women because we have good examples of women who are leading their country around the world.
These women are making headway and many of them have turned their countries around for good, even better than most countries where men head.
” The NLC president disclosed that congress was currently involved in the negotiations of a new national minimum wage for Nigerian workers, revealing that the tripartite committee on minimum wage has resumed its sitting, assuring the women that “at the negotiation, I will make sure that gender perspective in the minimum wage will be duly highlighted because ILO’s Convention for Equal Pay for Work of Equal Value, is completely against women being paid less than the men W folk for an equal job done.
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