It has been given to humans from
creation to labour. In five days God created all things but humans. Creation
was not complete until God had brought in one who could ‘till the ground’ (Genesis 2: 5). God planted a garden in
Eden where He put Adam to take care of it. God took the initiative in labour,
and by that taught us the dignity of labour. Labour is not intended to be punishment
but an occupation to keep all living active in creation. It is part of God’s
programme of replenishing and subduing the earth. Thus, all creation, ants
inclusive, participate in the divine agenda. There is an end in labour, and
that is productivity. Labour is not merely for the sake of it. We expect good
result from our work. The fruit of our labour contributes to increase in the
system. This should be the proper mindset at work.
It is a great thing to be appreciated. There are not many who don’t like it. We love compliments and expect some form of reward for our labour, be it financial or material. Rewards motivate for higher productivity, and where they are lacking, morale is low.
But it appears ethical values have
been thrown overboard as far as work is concerned. Employers and employees seem to always be at
odds. Their expectations differ. There is little understanding between them,
and this results in tension at work. Employers represent the organization.
Their primary aim of engaging labour is to promote and grow the organization,
fulfilling the organization’s aims and objectives. To this end they look for
the best hands at possibly little or no cost to them. Employees, on the other
hand, mostly seek their own welfare. Their interest is basically their salary
and allowances, promotion, job security, freedom and peaceful retirement with
prompt payment of retirement benefits.
Nigeria’s Civil Service was a
stable system up to the early 1970s. There was sincerity on the part of both
employers and employees. For this reason, one rarely heard of Strikes as are so common today. The
International Labour Organization, in 1919, adopted a maximum of a 48-hour
week, which many European countries ratified. However in Nigeria, we operated a
35-hour week up to 1974 when the Yakubu Gowon government changed it to 40 hours
a week. Thus, workers work 8 hours a day for 5 days.
But how many Nigerian workers keep
to this? Do we not go late to work and close early even when there is still work
to do? Do we not skip days of work without permission, and have others sign the
Time Book for us? In some places, workers do not even report for work until it
is about time to pay salary. Others are just lazy, moving in and out of offices
aimlessly, visiting or being visited, whiling away time, and waiting for
closing time. God admonishes such to learn a lesson from the ant. “Go
to the ant, you sluggard; consider her ways and be wise” (Proverbs 6: 6). Yet others are
dishonest, defrauding their employers and falsifying records. There are many
cases of indiscipline among employees which need be corrected. Workers need to
know that if they are unfaithful to their employers, they are very likely to
carry that attitude over to their own businesses, because what a person sows is
what they reap.
On the other hand, some employers
cheat their employees. They require of them extra hours with no additional pay.
They employ them at a salary less than the statutory. They accumulate months of
unpaid salary, and when they pay, do so piecemeal. They threaten, and so create
an atmosphere of job insecurity. They are like slave masters. Some outgoing
State governments are owing their workers months of unpaid salaries. Some pay
half salary, complaining of lack of money. One cannot but wonder what happens
to the Federal allocations said to be given the States on a regular basis. Even
when a worker is disengaged, they are left without money due to non-payment or late
payment of retirement benefits. Some employers, the Church inclusive, have sent
their workers to an early grave by this.
An equitable labour system is one
in which employers grow the organization while also seeing to the improvement
of the worker. It is one in which the workers aim at growing the organization
as they also look to their rise at work. Where everyone strives for the good of
the other, peace and harmony prevail, but where one cheats the other, there
will be tension and disharmony. This has plagued the Nigerian labour system for
decades. It is now fashionable for workers to go on Strike, and for their employers to call them for dialogue. It
appears Strike actions are now a
political tool in the hands of the Opposition to discredit the incumbent
government and run down the State economy. This is counter-productive. Workers
should contribute meaningfully to the economy of the land by being diligent at
their posts.
We expect Nigeria to be one of the
top twenty economies of the world by 2020, and that can only happen when
workers contribute their quota at work meaningfully. Employers also need to
motivate their workers by giving them their due on time, and exposing them to
further training. There will be less agitation when employers do this. Some
workers who reject posting to rural areas do so because of neglect and poor
work environment. Employers are too often guilty of this. They concentrate on
improving the workers and the work environment in urban areas, and so create a
disparity between the urban and rural areas. Government should improve
infrastructure in rural areas and equip institutions there as much as they do
in the urban areas. Additionally they should introduce extra incentive not
given to those working in urban areas. Good infrastructure like housing, electricity
and clean water, work equipment as available in the urban areas, opportunities
for continuous education, regular salary and the additional incentive payable
only at the station will motivate any worker to bring out their best.
May we come to terms with this
divine perspective of what God intended labour to be. May we be refreshed in
work, and may those who have given their full years in the service of their
nation through public, private or Mission establishments be amply rewarded. May
you not labour for another to eat. May the fruit of your labour abound. Your
labour shall surely be rewarded.
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