Catholic Bishops in their solidarity messages to Nigerian workers have decried the rising unemployment rate as well as economic decimation of the Nigerian working class. They lamented a situation where the Nigeria working class is faced with economic hardship and poor working conditions. Most Rev. Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Oyo and his counterpart, Most Rev. Francis Obafemi Adesina, Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Ijebu-Ode in their respective Workers’ Day statements observed with concern the conditions of the Nigerian workers that have become increasingly worrisome, considering the socio-economic climate pervading the country. Bishop Badejo said, “Important and fundamental though work is however, too many factors deny millions of workers of the joy and fulfillment which they should derive from the work they do. Regrettably today, conflicts, discrimination, unjust structures, scarcity of jobs, bad management and greed, hamper the integral human development that work ought to bring to individuals, family and the society. This, to say the least, is unfortunate and deserves urgent attention.” His May1statement read in parts, “Integral human development, the ideal of all humanity, will remain a mirage if contentious issues concerning work are not resolved. The Catholic Church teaches that just wages are a legitimate fruit of work. It can be grave injustice to withhold or refuse it. “Remuneration for work should guarantee man the opportunity to provide a dignified livelihood for himself and his family on the material, social and cultural levels…”
The prelate further stated that just wage is a panacea to national peace warning that there cannot be sustainable development without respect for human dignity. “Governments and peoples cannot honestly desire peace or authentic development without ensuring just wages for work done. Exploitation of others or their resources, forcing down prices of raw materials, inhospitable conditions of work, unjustly taking over the property belonging to others or the like, impugn human dignity, damage social trust and offend the moral law of God. “In Nigeria, the condition of most workers remains pathetic. Government insensitivity to the plight and demands of workers like doctors, nurses, teachers, journalists, and security agencies is nothing short of cruel, especially when compared to politicians’ remunerations. ‘This sadly affects the entire masses who rely on the services which those workers provide. In fact, working conditions in both the public and private sectors yearn for serious and urgent overhauling. Nigeria, so to speak, needs a moral blood transfusion. Nevertheless, with the imminent dispensation, employers and employees must embrace a new “regime of merit” and rebuild the crumbling labour fortress.” He advised, “Only a just relationship driven by dialogue and sensitivity can guarantee an escape from the quagmire of resentment and suspicion which currently characterises the relationship between employees and employers in the country.” In same vein, Bishop Adesina lamented the high rate of joblessness among Nigerians, emphasising on the need to improve the employability of young people to re-invigorate them with hope and confidence.
The Bishop of Ijebu-Ode in his letter for Workers’ Day 2023 celebration and in commemoration of the memorial of St. Joseph the Worker, called on government to advance the value of human dignity as well as deepen engagements with people for workers-friendly policies to curb further hardship on its citizens and workers. He said,” It is important after the general election to reflect on the present ills of our economy, but also to espouse the value of human dignity as the bedrock of Catholic social teaching with responses to human need, both locally and globally. “Nigerian Bureau of Statistics evaluated the national unemployment rate at 33.3% and that it is projected to be 41.6% before the end of the year 2023. This is coupled with the 4 to 5 million graduates that are thrown into the labour market every year. We must curb this ugly trend. “We emphasised the importance of making our youths to be more employable by looking at our educational curriculum for effective designs. We must prioritize organised labour and continued protection of workers’ rights. We also call for the legislation that addresses the ecological crisis that impacts all workers amidst the announcement of the removal of subsidy with its attendant difficulties. It is not right to ignore the poor and not allow their pleas to touch our hearts.” “Government at all levels must build a better kind of politics by entering into dialogue with the people, calling them to an authentic politics that is rooted in the dignity of the human person and promotes the common good.” The high ranking cleric urged government to address the plight of unorganised workers who also create wealth for the nation. In his words, “We should also consider the plight of those whose back-breaking labour brings food to our tables, those whose work in the vast field of health care, farmers, fishermen, petty traders, and those who hawk on our streets who appear to quench our thirst even in traffic situations. Some families have lost their breadwinners and are now more financially vulnerable. The Government must be creative at this point.”
Bishop Badejo remarked that Workers’ Day accords yearly opportunities for evaluation of work, workers and working conditions all around the world. According to him, work is one indispensable resource by which God made man and by which man sustains the world. He beckoned on workers to work with all sense of responsibility and justify their wages. The prelate said, “Conversely, at the personal levels, workers too must do just work for the wages they receive in order to fulfill the social contract and in order not to be guilty of dishonesty and stealing.” The Bishop of Oyo recalled the Catholic Church has always taught that there is dignity in labour and that work is a vocation with a spiritual dimension. He stated the position of the Church. “Every worker in some way participates in the divine project of advancing the work of creation. According to Pope Francis, May 1st, each year, the feast of St Joseph the Worker, is the day the Church remembers the world of labour. On that day, the Church demands “that work be dignified everywhere and for everyone,” and that the work of men and women everywhere “inspire the will to develop an economy of peace all over the world.” “The Church also prays for all those who in the course of their work have lost their lives, limbs, and properties, especially victims of corrupt and unjust systems, that their sacrifice be not allowed to pass in vain, he noted” On his part, Bishop Adesina recollected Pope Francis’ stance in proper understanding of the dignity of labour. “Pope Francis in his Encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, reminds us of the ethical foundations for our economies and societies as it concerns labour. The beautiful account of creation in Genesis 1 demonstrates God’s work and artistry. It reveals God’s generosity: God gives humanity dominion over all He has made. By giving us fertility and the command to multiply; God invites us to work as co-creators.”
