ARLAC is an acronym for African Regional Labour Administration Centre, a body set up by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in 1974 as part of its institutional framework to build the capacity of labour administrators in English Speaking African Countries. With its headquarters in Zimbabwe, the South African nation, over the years, appropriated this privilege with shrewd but active support of mostly English speaking neighbouring countries, running the organization in an imperial style for forty-three years. An organization whose sustenance Nigeria has majorly contributed to, Zimbabwe did not only corner its executive powers, but also monopolized its senior administrative structure, leading to the frustration of a Nigerian, a Director with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment posted to its management cadre early this year. Elections into executive offices according to the constitution governing ARLAC is to be held every two yeard.
But it was at the June 2016 International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention in Geneva that Nigeria’s Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige who was attending the conference for the first time, posted a timely warning that ARLAC must democratize or Nigeria would reconsider participation.
The main ILO convention has just ended and the meetings of the sub-regional groups followed; one of such being the ALARC Governing Council held at Labour House in Geneva on June 8, 2016. Mid way into the meeting that had all the member nations in attendance, Nigeria raised the issue of the executive and the administrative structure of the regional labour body. ARLAC’s chairperson and the Zimbabwe’s Minister for Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Hon. Priscah Mupfumira, who usually make no pretence of her disdain for plural views, especially coming from Nigeria, would have none of that. Her mine-is-bigger-than-yours bravado is astounding. With hands raised thrice and ignored by the Chair, Sen. Ngige, not meant for half measures, and fully aware of a possible deflation of a diplomatic ego, flatly shunned subsequent overtures by the ARLAC Chair and directed the Permanent Secretary of his Ministry, Dr. Clement Ilo to rather speak. He only watched for the rest of the meeting, while within, decided that this soft but brash dictatorship, arising from the permanent chairmanship of Zimbabwe, maintained through the active connivance of mostly English speaking neighbours, must be broken.
And the opportunity came at the just concluded 43rd ARLAC Governing Council Meeting and High Level Symposium on Fundamental Principles and Rights At Work held at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Before the meeting, the Minister had gone on bridge building, knowing that English West Africa comprising Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Gambia; with Sierra Leone being inactive, and Gambia, a non-member, would not muster the numerical strength to break South – Eastern bloc with many English-speaking Countries. He was undeterred however, having elicited the active support of Ghana and Egypt. The technical sessions took place between 27th February to 1st March, preparing the agenda for the Ministerial Governing Council. Then, came Thursday, 2nd March, when the opening session broke with an awakening address by the ILO Assistant Director General and Regional Director for Africa Mrs. Aeneas C. Chuma who stressed the need to make the ILO more responsive to the needs of Africa while the tone for the crucial stage of the conference was set by the chairperson and Zimbabwe’s Labour Minister.
The tea break of 15 minutes separated the opening from the crunch. Nigeria had the floor and a frozen panic appeared on the faces of ‘conspirators.’ Sen. Ngige , “ the unfinished business of June 8, 2016 which is on the paper as a matter arising from the 42nd ARLAC meeting … the democratization of the structure of our organization…” The silence was deafening, pin drop could be heard. Nigeria’s Minister went on and on and landed. Overpowered by superior argument, the southern alliance began to give way, and the need for what ought to, broke down behind-the-scene understanding.
Bottom-line, while not making it an outright antagonistic challenge, Nigeria was elected Vice Chair and conceded to that Zimbabwe continue as chair but no more as an emperor, rather, a slot, subject to timely democratic elections. One of the three slots for Deputy Directors in the interim management body was also given to Nigeria.
Reacting to the development, Sen. Ngige said, “you are aware that Zimbabwe has been the chairperson of ARLAC since formation by the virtue of the fact that its headquarters is domiciled in the country. However, Nigeria reasoned the need for full democratization of the body to enhance freedom and encourage efficiency. While we ceded the chairmanship to Zimbabwe and Nigeria unanimously elected Vice, it stands that periodic elections which we galvanized support for, has replaced an era where Zimbabwe or any other country would appropriate such privilege as a right.
He added, “the election shows a lot of respect, trust and faith in Nigeria’s leadership role in the continent. They appreciate our concern for Africa, our unity and our commitment to the economic and socio-political development of our continent and above all, our commitment to decent work practices where, Nigeria has domesticated almost all the ILO conventions.” By the sidelines of the meeting, Ngige was overheard telling a colleague, “any day the chair strays or lolls to her old bully habit, she would be voted out.”
-Obidiwe lives in Abuja