BY GBENGA OLARINOYE
OSOGBO — GOVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, weekend, said the country would remain poor despite the huge income from crude oil as long as the leaders failed to properly utilize the income to better the life of citizens and generate decent employment for the teaming unemployed.
This came as organized labour in the nation's textile industry called on government at all levels to put the peace and unity of Nigeria above personal or sectional interest to ensure sustainable development.
Speaking at the 24th Annual Education Conference of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, in Osogbo Governor Aregbesola said it was an illusion to claim that the country was rich.
According to him, "Our nation is very poor today despite the huge income made from crude oil. This is contrary to the claim that Nigeria is very rich. If revenue derive from crude oil is not properly utilize to engage people in productive activities, then the country will continue to remain poor till eternity. The average income in Nigeria today is less than N7, 000 monthly. It is even less than what an average one day old baby can live on. This situation is very pathetic. If we must get out of this mess, Nigeria must invest in infrastructure, power, communication; education with proceeds from crude oil; failure to do this the country will continue to be miserable."
Earlier, the President of NUTGTWN, Comrade Oladele Hunsu noted that the nation's push for industrial development and job creation would not yield any fruit in an atmosphere of insecurity.
He enjoined the federal government to create enabling policy frame work and incentive that would stimulate long term investment, reward investment and generate jobs.
Vanguard Nigeria
For me, the nation is still poor all because of our politicians corruption
we are rich, but the money is with our pot_bellied politicians