The Construction and Building Materials Workers Union (CBMWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has entered into bilateral agreement with the national unions of Nigeria to fashion out strategies and proposals towards speedy economic development.

This was contained in a communiqué issued after the signing of the agreement with the National Unions of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers of Nigeria (NUCECFWW).

The Unions called on the Governments and Parliaments of both nations to expedite the passage into law of the Freedom of Information Bill which would ensure the sustenance of fundamental human rights.

The unions further proposed the stoppage of importation of labour by foreign companies in the two countries which abounded in skilled and unskilled personnel.

The communiqué said that was not only in contravention of the labour laws but militated against efforts to generate employment for the nationals.

Signed by executives including Mr Pius M.K. Quainoo, General Secretary of the CBWMU and Mr Samuel O. Adeoye, President General of NUCECFWW, the communiqué named construction companies from China and Korea as those who engaged most in that practice.

The unions appealed to the Nigerian Government to allow Collective Bargaining Agreement which was not in operation to prevail in accordance with International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 98 concerning the right to collective bargaining.

In order to ensure transparency, the unions suggested that their governments involved them in the enactment of public procurement and contractual agreements and international and multinational agreements.

By so doing, the communiqué said, the chances of fraud would be minimal and that would express zeal for participatory democracy.

The unions urged their leadership to embark on membership drive, to bring into their fold, unions in other African countries who were in the same sector to form a bigger union.