A member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Issa Aremu has said that the organised labour was more interested in a successful Nigeria through good governance as against allegations of failure credited to former president Obasanjo.
According to a statement signed by Aremu and issued to news men on Wednesday, the labour could not diatribes between serving and former leaders about which leader is successful or not.
“Organized labour eagerly desires and works for a successful Nigeria through good governance rather than alluding to the alleged failure of the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as recently credited to the former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“Organized labour cannot afford the luxury of diatribes between serving and former leaders about which leader is successful or not. Certainly we derive no pleasure in celebrating alleged failure of the President, governors, legislators or even local government chairmen. Labour is more concerned about the success of Nigeria as a prosperous, just and fair Republic. Labour is eager to celebrate Nigeria’s success and good governance,” the statement read.
The NLC posited that Obasanjo’s discourse, sensational and news worthy as they might seem, would not help Nigeria as a developing nation.
“The personalization of governance discourse as promoted by former President Obasanjo might be sensational or even news worthy but it is not helpful for Nigeria as a developing nation. For better, for worse, today Muhammadu Buhari is the President of Nigeria. As President of Nigeria, his failure is Nigeria’s failure while his success is also Nigeria’s success.
“The truth however is that with all the rich endowment of Nigeria and efforts of the successive leaders including past Obasanjo administration Nigeria is far from its potential. Few are getting richer, mostly through corruption and non- value adding sharp practices while majority are wallowing in deprivations through mass unemployment and income poverty. Indeed the class divide is deeper than our so-called religious and ethnic contest for state resources by the ruling elite. Of course together with social and economic insecurity, we are also dealing with physical economic Security challenges,” it further stated.
According to the NLC, “Labour is not impressed with wars of attrition of militicians in or out of office. But Labour is rather concerned with job-led growth and development, decent jobs, productivity, industrialization and good pay for work done. We should elevate national discussion to higher levels beyond pointing to alleged failures without pointing out what should be done to make this huge potential called Nigeria a success story.
“He (including Obasanjo) who asks for equity must come with cleaner hands. Nigeria grappled with electricity failure under his administration between 1999 to 2007 just as it was under regimes before him. There cannot be industrialization without electricity. Under Obasanjo railway did not work despite grandstanding with endless plans to revive railway. So no easy self praise on the part of any Nigerian contemporary leaders.
“There is no doubt that nation building is work in progress. Undoubtedly President Buhari administration has recorded some achievements particularly in the areas of security and anti-corruption. Nigeria remains united. The administration is consolidating on the railway project of the former President Goodluck Jonathan administration. More than ever before, we have now realized the need for diversification of the economy,” Aremu stated.
He however observed that in spite of these achievements, Buhari must translate policies into tangibles by way of reviving labour intensive industries.
“However Buhari must work the talk and translate policies into tangibles with the revival of labour intensive industries like textiles. The government should also urgently address the issue of new National Minimum Wage before the end of this first quarter. Without effective demand by well paid workforce, economic recovery is a mirage for Nigeria.
“However more than ever before, President Buhari must take bold steps and initiate non-partisan pan Nigerian engagement on the critical issues of development namely, industrialization, widening Great Divide between the rich and the poor, Security and anti Corruption. If Nigeria works, it is to the benefit of all and it just must work. We must replace the proxy wars of overfed ruining elite with peaceful democratic consolation for development.
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