Ouagadougou: Nigerien workers celebrated, this Wednesday, May 1, 2024, the 138th anniversary of International Labor Day under the seal of the reconquest of the country’s sovereignty.
Several demonstrations were organized in the capital Niamey by the various trade union centers, including the Democratic Confederation of Workers of Niger (CDTN) and the Intersyndicale des Travailleurs du Niger (ITN). Concerning the CDTN, this year’s itinerary was shortened due to the heatwave that the capital of Niger has been experiencing for several days.
To this end, the CDTN, with its 61 affiliated unions, organized its parade starting from the Mali Bero interchange to arrive at the Seyni Kountché General Stadium.
On this occasion, the public came out in large numbers to cheer the passage of the different unions.
In his speech for the occasion, the Secretary General of the CDTN, Mr. Djibrlla Idrissa recalled that the commemoration of May 1 always offers us an opportunity to express our views on the progress of our countr
y and the rest of the world and to submit the grievances of the workers as enshrined in such a long and rich union tradition.
Djibrlla idrissa to make it clear that since July 26, 2023, our country has experienced, for the umpteenth time, a military coup which put an end to the democratic regime which was in progress.
The reasons put forward to justify this coup are insecurity, bad governance in all its forms, the absence of social justice, illicit enrichment and many other evils.
‘Nine (9) months later, any Nigerien or any civil society or trade union organization can, in our opinion, evaluate the actions taken by the National Council for the Protection of the Fatherland (CNSP),’ he said. -he said while adding that for our part, at the Democratic Confederation of Workers of Niger (CDTN), we note that, on the security level, we have recorded some progress. However, terrorist attacks continue here and there in different regions and especially in the three border areas.
In terms of governance, Mr. Djibrilla
welcomed ‘the denunciation of the various military and mining agreements; denunciations for which we ask the National Council for the Protection of the Fatherland (CNSP) to verify their implementation and to take the necessary measures to avoid falling into the same pitfalls as in the past,’ he called.
However, Djibrilla noted that since his arrival, the Transitional Government has been able to ensure the regular payment of salaries.
Nevertheless, “we note that no round of negotiations has been organized with the trade union organizations on the workers’ concerns contained in the various platforms and for the implementation of the agreements previously signed, including in particular the revaluation of the compensation system for State agents , the payment of financial implications, the increase in the minimum wage, the Decree implementing the General Statute of the State Civil Service, recruitment to the Civil Service, the organization of professional competitions, etc., he noted.
He also took advantage o
f this platform to challenge the Transitional Government regarding the inertia that characterizes it in terms of dialogue with workers’ union organizations.
The Secretary General of the CDTN subsequently denounced the violation of the Labor Code by a Minister of the Republic in charge of the public service and labor who, however, should ensure its compliance.
‘This is why our Confederation intends to use all legal means to defeat this attempt to call into question an achievement for which our organization has fought since its creation,’ he warned.
Source: Burkina Information Agency