African Trade Unions through the International Trade Union Confederation, ITUC-Africa regional office, has called on Nigeria and other African governments to ensure that industrialisation translates into improved living standards for workers and ordinary citizens.
Speaking in Nairobi Kenya, at the new energy for Africa convening: African workers contributions to energy sovereignty, green industrialisation and a common Africa for COP31, ITUC-Africa general secretary, Akhator Joel Odigie frowned at Nigerian government’s plans to remove subsidy on electricity by 2027.
It’s a gathering of Africa Trade unions, civil society groups, journalists, climate change campaigners and other stakehokders from across Africa on Energy justice, climate change and industrialisation
Organisers, the ITUC-Africa on behalf of trade unions of 53 Countries, say economic growth must lift Nigerians and other Africans out of poverty rather than deepen inequality.
The Workers group faulted the plans by the Nigerian government to remove what it calls so-called subsidy on electricity by 2027, arguing that it is aimed at satisfying the Bretton Woods institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, IMF, and the World Bank.
The gathering also interrogated the sincerity of Mission 300 electricity for Africa. The mission 300 is a joint initiative by the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank launched to bring electricity to 300 million people across Africa by 2030. According to Mission 300, Over 50 million people have already been connected across 40 countries in Africa, backed by up to $30 billion to $35 billion in public and partner financing.
The Nairobi convening also hinted on Africa’s position ahead of COP31 climate negotiations, where various speakers and participants called for closer collaboration between organised labour and the African Group of Negotiators, AGN, saying trade unions are partners in governance rather than adversaries
The three-day event had participants from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Cameroon, Uganda, Tanzania, Botswana, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Somalia, Senegal, Guinea Conakry, Algeria, Tunisia, Mozambiqu, Ethiopia, Togo, South Sudan and Mali.
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Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu
