. TUC promises to fight for improved living conditions
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday again bemoaned the state of the nation, especially high poverty rate, rising employment, anti-workers' policies and insecurity in the country.
The Trade Union Congress, TUC, also said it would continue to fight for improved living conditions for the Nigerian citizenry. In a goodwill message to the nation on the 53rd anniversary by the NLC President, Abdulwaheed Omar and Secretary, Chris Uyot, lamented that the societal changes that had occurred within Nigeria's 53 years of existence had been traumatic.
The union said that despite the growth figures being bandied about by the handlers of the Nigerian economy, the country had remained on the edge as many people, particularly the low income earners, live in abject poverty.
NLC said: "In spite of the figures justifying economic growth, unemployment rates have more than quadrupled in recent years, making not a few to conclude that the country has never had it so bad.
Congress demands that economic growth must come with jobs. "Congress believes time has come for the state to reexamine the total surrender of the economy to neo-liberalism as this has not yielded the desired results. It has instead created massive unemployment, bloody conflicts, unprecedented crime wave and other unpleasant consequences.
"The private sector which is expected to drive the process of economic development/ growth is weak, choosy, rabidly profit-oriented and cannot guarantee shared prosperity among Nigerians."
The congress also lamented the increasing loss of lives in the country, particularly the recent killing of over 50 students in the College of Agriculture, Yobe State by the members of the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram.
The statement reads in part: "Congress appreciates the challenges our security agencies are facing in the course of maintaining the peace during these moments, but condemns in strong terms the incessant and protracted senseless killings of helpless and innocent Nigerians, the latest of these, being the Apo killings and the murder of over 50 students in the College of Agriculture, Yobe.
"Unacceptable levels of crude oil theft have virtually left the economy prostrate. Congress observes with shock that government's promises of checking this ugly trend has not yielded the desired result because of the involvement of the high and the mighty.
"The turbulence in the education sector is worrisome as it has literally ground to a halt all activities.
Our students have been at home for three months. In due course, other unions, including the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, and the Polytechnic unions are expected to resume or join the strike action except government addresses the issues of agreement, unpaid salaries and other fundamental problems.
"One of the gains of Independence was the prescription of a national minimum wage and the placing on the Exclusive List labour issues.
It is worrisome that against every grain of wisdom, the Senate has proposed its removal from the Exclusive List. The consequences of this singular action will create unfathomable turmoil as well as a pool of the working poor.
"Similarly, government rather than adopt a pragmatic approach to solving problems, especially labour issues, seems to be more comfortable with a resort to legalism. "While we are not opposed to the judicial process as a mechanism of conflict resolution, its abuse renders the outcome vain.
The recent threat by the Presidency to emasculate labour through reviewing labour laws in the face of strike actions, is not only ill-advised, but will be met with resistance by workers and the labour movement. "In spite of these pains of independence, Congress believes all hope is not lost as in the long run, we are the masters of our fate.
We must rise with a collective resolve to do right, those things we have been doing wrong as a people. "We must get our priorities right and be committed to the cause of the people and not our selfish motives. We must believe in our country and in our capacities to excel.
"We must hold our leaders accountable for their acts of commission or omission. We must fight corruption in every facet of our national life with a common accord. We must hold free and fair elections, making our votes count. We must not only say no to impunity but fight impunity with all our strength."
Meanwhile, the TUC has assured that it will continue to fight for the interest of Nigerians.
The TUC President, Mr. Bobboi Kaigama, in astatement issued on the occasion of Nigeria's 53rd Independence Day anniversary, said, "We shall not faint in our struggle towards leading Nigeria back to the path of development. We shall continue to interrogate them on their policies.
"We shall continue to query each and every one of their actions and analyse the motives behind every one of their moves at all levels. We must gird our loins and put an end to further plundering of our national resources".
Source: NLC laments rise in poverty, joblessness (http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/nlc-laments-rise-in-poverty-joblessness/)