Featured post

Listen when God speaks (He speaks all the time)

Image
We must never be manipulated by secular thinking because God our creator has some impressive and undeniable ways to make us sensible in His presence. God's creative power is visible and audible. The voice of God is a call to worship.  The One who not only rules the universe but also gives strength to His people. LISTEN WITH THE EARS of FAITH, YOU WILL EAR THE VOICE OF GOD. READ PSALM 29 WAHT BECMOES OF THE TERRORISTS IN OLORUNSOGO, MOLETE, IBADAN, NIGERIA? What becomes of the terrorists in Olorunsogo, Molete, Ibadan, Nigeria? Terrorism is one of the products of lack of parental care for young people. Human decimation is evil and the outcome of depraved minds in leadership positions. However, the government at all levels do not respect human lives. They forcefully take from the poor to enrich themselves and their cronies. Already, the socialization process is broken down. Violent crimes still persist in every part of Nigeria, this is very disturbing, unfortunate, pitiable and a ver...

Workers Welfare : Michael Imoudu as a Role Model 2

 


The need for an increase in wages and better working conditions prompted Michael Imoudu to lead a demonstration from the locomotive yard in Ebute metta, Lagos to the Government House situated at Marina, Lagos Island, Lagos.

The Governor General of the Colony of Lagos, Bernard Bourdillon, noticed that any form of industrial action at that period, could disrupt railway supplies to the coalition, during the Second World War in 1941. It was on this premise he acceded to a 50 percent pay rise for the workers.

This success, further inspired Imoudu to put forward more demands, among which were conversion of daily casual labor to salaried employment, Saturday work with pay, permanence of daily labor, holiday travel grant and payment of arrears to cover from 1932 to 1942 unpaid entitlements.

This did not go down well with Bourdillon, who facilitated the termination of Imoudu’s appointment on 23 January 1943 and also ordered his arrest under the Nigeria General Defense Regulations, 1941.

In quick succession, he was relocated and remanded at the Benin prison. While in prison, he influenced inmates to demonstrate against poor feeding and other deplorable prison conditions.

In response, the British Colonial Government in 1943, restricted Imoudu’s movement to the palace of the paramount Chief of Auchi and made an order for him to report twice a week to the Auchi Police station.

As a result of a face off with the District Officer of Auchi and his moves to facilitate the establishment of peasants’ cooperatives for the benefit of peasants in Etsako and Ora, he was again remanded in the Auchi prison.

Some of his comrades, including T. A Bankole, openly spoke against Imoudu’s action, to the hearing of the Chief Secretary of Government.

After spending two and a half years in prison, the labor activist was set free.

A mass rally was held at Oko-Awo, Lagos to celebrate his release from prison, while nationalists such as Herbert Macaulay were on the ground to grace the occasion.

In June 1945, he successfully led over 30,000 workers to down tools for 44 days.

The industrial action hinged on the inability of the colonial government to actualize the promise of Bourdillon in 1942, to review allowances according to an index.

Bourdillon's successor, Arthur Frederick Richards, vigorously refused to pay the allowance.

This resulted in the abrupt end of the unpopular Richards constitution, and set the stage for self government.

Comments

Read This

Ceaseless Prayers

Education-Gov Makinde has provided an enabling environment for teachers-Oyo NUT Chairman