There is sense in integrative bargaining, argues Dayo Sobowale
It is most intriguing that the word ‘ palliative ‘ which in its simple meaning should convey succor and relief from a present suffering is the most maligned word globally , after COVID , and most especially in Nigeria given the on-going government effort to cushion the effect of the hurried removal of fuel subsidy at the beginning of a newly elected government. I take issue with this attitude today and align it with the right of dissent in any democracy as well as the need for compromise and dialogue in resolving nagging political and socio- economic issues, in the global quest for making democracy work well and making it serve the collective good of all of us especially the electorate, as it is really in theory expected to do.
· I will examine the nature of perception of palliatives in Nigeria on a political divide of support by those on government side in pursuing the urgent release and relief of palliatives ; and those in the opposition who query vociferously the integrity of the last elections and have no sympathy or understanding of the unexpected but much desired removal of fuel subsidy , that hitherto has been roundly accepted on all sides to be in the larger public interest, at least on the eve of the last presidential elections. I will compare this with the removal of Kevin Macarthy the Republican Speaker of the US House of Representatives by a powerful minority in his party and the bold defiance of the opposition Democratic Party to come to his aid. This is in spite of the glaring fact that he came to the aid of the Democratic Biden government to pass a temporary relief budget package to avert government lock down a few days ago . In effect then I see palliatives not only in terms of mitigating economic sufferance, but in dialogue and right of dissent terms, and the need for compromise in solving democratic problems in an integrative, honest and principled manner, as much as that is pragmatically possible.
· Certain global events as well as negotiations and end products of such arrest my attention in illustrating the objectives I have set for myself today. They start with the recently concluded negotiations between government and labour in Nigeria that culminated in TUC and NLC calling off the strike scheduled to begin on September 6 and tailored to protest government’s perceived inertia in putting palliatives on the ground fast enough to cushion the effect of the most unexpected fuel subsidy removal. There is also the issue of the brisk but disgraceful dismissal of the US Speaker Kevin Macaarthy in historically bizarre fashion founded on the mistrust of his close colleagues in the House while a bemused but vigilant Democratic party watched at the ringside and washed its hand off the matter like Pontius Pilate in a clear way of telling the Republicans most callously to stew in their own urine. The dispute in Canada too in which the former Speaker was replaced by the first black Speaker in Canada’s Parliament because the former wrongly poured accolade on an old man with a Nazi past in Canada’s Parliament , will not take much of our time especially as the issue has been satisfactorily resolved with the removal and apology of the erring former Speaker .
· The aborted strike in Nigeria and the removal of the US Speaker at the instigation of his own party are worthy of an analysis that I at the onset find very exciting and illuminating on the style of government, the political culture , and unique nature of the execution of the principle of separation of powers in the presidential system of government practiced in both democracies. This is made more interesting by the fact that Nigeria has just concluded a presidential election dogged by litigation awaiting adjudication at its highest court , the Supreme Court while the US is on the eve of the 2024 presidential election which is beclouded ominously with unresolved issues from the last presidential election of 2020 . It is therefore my considered view that lessons from collective bargaining and industrial relations are not mutually exclusive in resolving both industrial issues and political logjams. Indeed unexpected consequences from either or both may be a boon or a bane in resolving nagging political and industrial conflicts and disputes.
· A cursory look at the mood of the opposition in Nigeria showed the belief that since the president unilaterally announced that fuel subsidy is gone he must face the consequences of the attendant effect and probably be consumed by the envisaged political instability ensuing from his brash action. The government party sees things differently and is asking the populace at large to show understanding and empathy, and vowed that the president meant well in announcing the fuel subsidy removal from day one. The labour leaders are under pressure to make the president walk his talk and have threatened twice now to stage strikes that would close the economy and bring the government to its knees . Integrative collective bargaining however prevailed and the government climbed down from its high horse of seeming indifference and lack of haste and gave some concession in terms of wage increase, transportation measures and other palliatives that stayed the hand of labour at the last minute to call off its strike . Thus while competing demands on government have largely been met integrative bargaining is ongoing to put a focus on the direction of government action and commitment henceforth . Such that there may be no need for another mass strike threat in the nearest future as labour has vowed to unleash if government does not honour the agreements that made it to call off its last strike.
· On the other hand the collaborative style that resolved the strike threat in Nigeria was totally absent in the way and manner the US House of representatives removed its Speaker this week. The removed Speaker bent too backwards with his colleagues in the House to get the Speaker’s gavel . In a politically competitive environment polluted by hatred of the two parties for what either stands for, bitterness prevailed and the Speaker got no mercy from either his party or the opposition . Indeed his initial sin in getting the Speaker’s gavel after a hectic 15 house votes was that he was perceived by the powerful minority in his party that ousted him for not being loyal enough to Donald Trump, the leading candidate of the Republican Party for the 2024 presidential election. Even though majority of his party stood by him he could not survive the wrath of those who did not forgive him for once criticizing Trump sometime in the past .Obviously in American politics nowadays it is winner takes all syndrome .’ Everybody for himself, the devil takes the hindmost ‘ . That indeed is the recipe or algorithm for the politics of bitterness. A real pity indeed.
Sobowale is of Arise News
