2006年VOA标准英语-Nigerian Workers Brace for Mass Firings

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
11 September 2006

Federal workers in Nigerian are bracing¹ themselves for mass layoffs² following a weekend announcement that some 15,000 workers are to be let go this month. Union officials are reacting angrily to the plan and are demanding that it be suspended.

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The surprise announcement that 15,000 workers are to be laid off this month has provoked an angry backlash from groups and unions representing workers.

They claim the government acted in bad faith by announcing retrenchment³ plans at a time the government and unions were still discussing details of the proposal.

Another 34,000 workers who have allegedly offered to quit their jobs are also set to leave public service in the next couple of weeks.

Fidelis Edeh, national president of the Federal Civil Service Union, says the arbitrary nature of the cuts could lead to social tensions.

"I think the federal government has been insincere in this and I think it is not in the spirit of democracy," he said. "We were able to speak to the chairman of the bureau team, el-Rufai, and from the meeting it was established that the criteria⁴ were faulty and that due process had not been followed and these people were not given fair hearing, which is a constitutional provision. And we had agreed to put up a committee to look at these issues and we are surprised. But I think if you want to at what is happening in the Niger Delta⁵, there are no parallel but you can see why at times Nigerians like to take the laws into their hands, because they cannot obtain justice."

The government says public sector⁶ reforms are essential to achieve efficiency in Nigeria's bloated and corrupt⁷ civil service.

The Nigeria Prisons Service, for instance, is said to have a total of 22,000 wardens⁸ taking care of some 41,000 prisoners.

Edeh says the unions welcome the reforms in principle but are upset about how they are being applied⁹.

"I think we want to speak out now on this issue because we can no longer hide the facts. I believe in reforms," he added.  "I believe that these reforms are needed for the civil service. But it is about institutional reforms, its about clear guidelines, its about a legal framework which even the next government will not be able to subvert¹⁰. But now, a lot of discretion¹¹ is allowed and that is not due process and it is not the rule of law."

The unions are expected to meet in the next few days to decide on a response to the mass dismissal. Fired workers have been directed by the unions not to accept dismissal letters until a consensus¹² is reached on how to proceed.

The federal government has about two million staff on its payroll¹³ and has provided nearly $200 million to pay off entitlements of those to be dismissed.

1 bracing   

adj.令人振奋的

参考例句：

• The country is bracing itself for the threatened enemy invasion. 这个国家正准备奋起抵抗敌人的入侵威胁。
• The atmosphere in the new government was bracing. 新政府的气氛是令人振奋的。

2 layoffs   

临时解雇( layoff的名词复数 )； 停工，停止活动

参考例句：

• Textile companies announced 2000 fresh layoffs last week. 各纺织公司上周宣布再次裁员两千人。
• Stock prices broke when the firm suddenly announced layoffs. 当公司突然宣布裁员时，股票价格便大跌

3 retrenchment   

n.节省，删除

参考例句：

• Retrenchment will be necessary. 有必要进行紧缩。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Defense planners predict an extended period of retrenchment. 国防规划人员预计开支紧缩期会延长。 来自辞典例句

4 criteria   

n.标准

参考例句：

• The main criterion is value for money.主要的标准是钱要用得划算。
• There are strict criteria for inclusion in the competition.参赛的标准很严格。

5 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。

6 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

7 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

8 wardens   

n.看守人( warden的名词复数 )；管理员；监察员；监察官

参考例句：

• Air raid wardens in tin hats self-importantly stalked the streets. 空袭民防队员戴着钢盔神气活现地走在街上昂首阔步。 来自辞典例句
• The game wardens tranquillized the rhinoceros with a drugged dart. 猎物保护区管理员用麻醉射器让犀牛静了下来。 来自辞典例句

9 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

10 subvert   

v.推翻；暗中破坏；搅乱

参考例句：

• The rebel army is attempting to subvert the government.反叛军队企图颠覆政府统治。
• They tried to subvert our state and our Party. This is the crux of the matter.他们是要颠覆我们的国家，颠覆我们的党，这是问题的实质。

11 discretion   

n.谨慎；随意处理

参考例句：

• You must show discretion in choosing your friend.你择友时必须慎重。
• Please use your best discretion to handle the matter.请慎重处理此事。

12 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

13 payroll   

n.工资表，在职人员名单，工薪总额

参考例句：

• His yearly payroll is $1.2 million.他的年薪是120万美元。
• I can't wait to get my payroll check.我真等不及拿到我的工资单了。